Via FFG
“We commend our souls to the Emperor. Let the story of our sacrifice burn across history like a shooting star. For death and for glory– for the Ultramarines!”
–Lucian Ventris, Ultramarines’ Terminator Sergeant. Codex Space Marines
Among the stars of the Herakon Cluster are invaluable ancient relics, lost vaults of archeotech, and untold billions of humans who have endured millennia without the Emperor’s protection. Now a passage between the Herakon Cluster and the rest of the galaxy has opened, allowing not only Imperial troops, but terrible armies of Chaos, Eldar, and Orks to occupy countless unclaimed worlds. As the commander of the Ultramarines, you must defend the Herakon Cluster from the vicious onslaught of invading xenos and bring the sector’s planets into the safe dominion of the Imperium.
Today’s preview of Forbidden Stars surveys the steadfast armoured units, technologically peerless vehicles and massive interstellar ships of the Ultramarines armies within the Herakon Cluster. You’ll learn about the devastating tactics of their strike forces and how the faction’s unfaltering faith in the Emperor manifests as military excellence.
We’ve also added the Learn to Play and Rules Reference books to the support section of the Forbidden Stars minisite. Download them today and make your plans for war!
Mobile Fortresses
The Ultramarines enter the Herakon Cluster with a complement of four units of Scouts, one unit of Space Marines, and a Strike Cruiser to quickly convey troops to battle. Together, these units are adept at invading planets and eliminating enemy units during skirmishes early in the game. You also begin with a factory, so you can arm new units and manufacture more vehicles for your war machine. The Space Marines’ ancient and systematic organization, backed by the Imperium’s might, enables you to enhance your armies more efficiently and easily than any other faction. Whenever you issue a dominate order (discussed in our second preview), you can spend one materiel to transform a unit of young, lightly-armed Scouts into fully-fledged Space Marines, or to outfit your Space Marines with adamantium-plated Land Raiders.
Among the most destructive machines in the Space Marines’ arsenal, Land Raiders are impervious to most enemy weapons and impressively armed. These mobile fortresses excel at smashing through enemy lines in order to disgorge battle-hungry Space Marines deep in the heart of the foe’s formations.
What Land Raiders accomplish on the ground, Battle Barges achieve in the void. These heavily armoured ships are designed for executing Orbital Strikes and breaching planetary defenses. But the most powerful unit the Ultramarines can deploy in Forbidden Stars is the colosssal Warlord Titan, whose mere appearance on the field inspires other Ultramarines towards incredible feats of valour. Once you send Land Raiders and Warlord Titans into battle, very little can prevent you from securing planets for the Imperium and claiming your objectives.
For the Emperor
An Ultramarine’s selfless dedication to his fellow troops, to the Emperor, and to Macragge fuels him beyond what his gene-seed and power armour can provide. That dedication enables every unit of Ultramarines to withstand enemy firepower and rally at the last minute in the direst circumstances. The Ultramarines’ Combat cards of Forbidden Stars translate this unflinching bravery into powerful battlefield tactics.
Show No Fear
The once-lost worlds of the Herakon Cluster offer you the chance to perform deeds of unprecedented battlefield glory in the service of the Imperium. Strengthened by their training and faith in the Emperor, armoured and armed with wargear forged through forgotten science, the Ultramarines are humanity’s greatest hope for victory in the brutal wars of Forbidden Stars.
Protect the Herakon Cluster’s profound wealth and numberless human lives. Pre-order your copy of Forbidden Stars today!
One of the most anticipated board games of Warhammer 40k will be coming soon! Don’t miss it.
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
