We crack open Armageddon, break down new Space Marine rules, and discuss the latest GW AI controversy.
Another Long War Two-Fer is here: Keep those hobby muscles strong with this week’s webcast and the latest exciting podcast of table-top wargaming awesomeness, mostly centered around Warhammer 40k.
The Long War: Episode 514
Article Table of Contents:
Show Summary:
This week, the crew covers the new 11th edition Armageddon news along with some AI controversy. Here are the key takeaways, section by section:
- (00:02) The crew opens with hobby talk, including a retro arcade painting night, a Starry Night Pac-Man piece, and a surprise Jeff Hardy sighting. Naturally, this spirals into wrestling talk about El Grande Americano and how the gimmick became way more entertaining than expected.
- (06:34) The “would you rather” segment asks whether it’s worse to lose your thumbs or your knees. After some hobby-focused hand-wringing over painting, airbrushing, typing, and basic bathroom logistics, the room mostly realizes that no knees is a mobility nightmare, and thumbs may have to be sacrificed.
- (15:10) The news segment kicks off with Warhammer 40k 11th edition products going up for preorder, including the Combat Patrol Companion, terrain area rules, the Dominatus deck, and the Chapter Approved deck.
- (16:34) The hosts discuss the passing of legendary Games Workshop artist John Blanche, framing his work as foundational to the visual soul of 40k and contrasting old-school hand-drawn hobby art with today’s cleaner digital and possibly AI-assisted look.
- (20:22) GW’s AI art controversy becomes a major talking point, with the hosts calling out suspicious details in recent Horus Heresy-style art, including a six-finger Space Marine and other artifacts. Their issue isn’t AI existing; it’s that GW should be setting the creative standard for the hobby, not looking sloppy while charging premium prices.
- (23:42) They run through upcoming tabletop and gaming releases, including Total War closed beta access, Dawn of War 4 timing speculation, upcoming 40k campaign content, Space Marine and Ork releases, Horus Heresy items, Halo Flashpoint expansions, and rumored Series 2 OneStep paints.
- (27:09) Rob unboxes the new Armageddon box live, noting it’s an eight-pound beast packed with sprues, bases, decals, a lore book, instructions, cards, and a smaller paperback core rulebook with an index. The crew sees it as a strong value box, especially for Space Marine or Ork players, splitting the contents.
- (31:36) The Chapter Approved deck includes objective markers, primary and secondary missions, twists, deployments, and force disposition cards, but terrain layouts appear to be missing, meaning competitive players will still need the tournament companion.
- (41:32) The Armageddon launch sounds unusually healthy by GW standards, with many stores apparently receiving close to what they ordered. The hosts argue this shows GW can make enough product when it chooses to, which makes scarcity around other releases feel a lot less accidental.
- (46:30) The episode wraps with early 11th edition Space Marine rules talk: faction packs are live, “Vect”-style CP tax auras now require more deliberate use, Stormraven and Corvus Blackstar lose Aircraft and gain big move-blocking implications, detachment point costs create new list-building tension, and some three-cost detachments, especially Grey Knights’ Warp Bane Task Force, feel overly restrictive.
Engage with us!
Sign up now and become a FULL VETERAN for around $6 a month, enjoy the mind-blowing hobby features below, and of course, full access to The Long War’s Hall of Veterans, videos weeks early in an ad-free experience!
🔗 Related Reads From the Show:
- Adepticon 2026 Previews
- Bourbon & Bolters Retreat
- Monument Hobbies Paints
- Get your Warhammer and hobby supplies from Fabricators Forge
- J15 Games Has Your Game Aids, Tokens & Templates!
Connect With Us
Each Week, You’ll Get The following:
- Access to the weekly pre-game “Afterhours” show and podcast. Performed live, this VOD is available only on Patreon or Twitch for subscribers.
- New “Before the Afterhours” 15-minute segments, where all the spicy stuff happens, are available only on Patreon.
- New Listener Q&A: Patreons can now submit questions for us to answer during the show.
- You’ll get Ad-Free access to the downloadable videos and the video player on Patreon.
Sign up now and become a FULL VETERAN and, of course, get full access to The Long War’s Hall of Veterans over on Patreon!
🔗 Support and Engagement Links:
- Become A Veteran of the Long War Today!
- Join our Discord
- Heretic Swag
- Essential Hobby Products & Tools List
- Long War 40k Doubles Tournaments
