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| I am Alpharius. |
Most of the episode is spent discussing some of the newer Forge World Alpha Legion models, particularly their Primarch Alpharius and their new terminator models. We talk about how the Alpharius model falls short of the other Primarch models and what aspects set it apart from the others. We also touch on the Lernaean Terminators, and how they do nothing for the model range, only serving to emphasize how comical the terminator models look. We end the episode talking about Fantasy Flight Games’ Star Wars Legion, focusing on the quality of the models and how they chose PVC over GW’s prefered polystyrene.
- Eric Wier
Good detailed evaluation as always. I honestly hadn’t looked at the Alpharius model much but it is very confounding that they went with the horrible proportions they reserve for standard space marines. Disappointing to say the least especially after how glorious Dorn turned out to be. Guess they can’t all be winners though :/ look forward to hearing more about Star Wars legions perhaps!
ReplyDeleteYeah, they can't all be great. Simon Egan shouldn't have to spend the next 5 years of his life sculpting primarchs, ha ha. As for Star Wars Legion, I am excited to explore it a little more and have a post or two!
DeleteThe designers are somewhat confined by existing artwork of Primarchs. Once this picture was printed all wiggle room was removed: https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/a/a5/Alpharius_Pythian_Scales.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140410023824
ReplyDeleteYou can dislike the aesthetics of the Alpha Legion ( From a background perspective they probably shouldn't have aesthetics at all, just unadorned suits- but its a tabletop game and there are concessions to be made to style) but this is a faithful execution of them. You have chains, hydra heads, a double(triple?)headed spear.
I think the criticism of the pose is valid. Its nice that he's backstabbing a guy (judging by the bulletholes Alpharius did not shoot the wolf) buy it looks like he's finishing guys off after the battle rather than participating in a fight.
I guess it is hard to execute a primarch that is supposed to be able to pass as a marine. It would have been a hard sell if they had released a resin recast of a plastic MkIV marine on a massive scenic base...
You make some good points. FW's hands have always been tied a little due to previous artwork, Blanche's pieces and the BL covers and such, and when their own book had that helmet sketch, there was not much that could be done. I would prefer more unadorned aesthetic, but I understand why they did it the way they did. And honestly, if they were going to do scales, they were executed pretty well on this Primarch.
DeleteFurthermore, as you point out, making a Primarch that would fit alongside normal marines would have never worked. Therefore, they just ignored this (which was wise). They, however, did not give him an abdomen. More than anything else, that is the most egregious error, and why I think the model ultimately falls so far short of the other Primarchs. If this was changed, I think the model would ultimately be pretty strong, better than many of FW's character models. Sure there would be a few details I am not fond of, but the entire model as a whole would have worked. But unfortunately they did not, and now whenever I look at the model, it looks like a caricature, some comical representation of a character that is supposed to be terrifying and iconic.
Good episode. I do not like the model at all (or any of the Alpha Legion models really). Aside from the proportions though I think the designer was stuck with the aesthetic choices already made (which are not good). For a chapter so cool on paper the models really suck. The versions on Ironsleet are probably the only Alpha Legion that really look anything like Alpha Legion, in my view.
ReplyDeleteYeah I think you are right. The FW designs are weak and uninspired; like many of the HH legion designs, it is clear no one really had any ideas, but they needed to push something out. Migs certainly has some of the best Alpha Legion models; it helps that he was inspired by Dan Abnett's vision of them, which I think was the most nuanced.
DeleteNo, I'm Alpharius.
ReplyDeleteAnd so's my wife.