Grundstok Thunderers lore is all about some insane dwarves who just can’t help but bring the biggest weapons!
Even though they haven’t don’t look to be in the new Broken Realms book, we still wanted to show some love to these awesome minis! Get out your biggest airship, and let’s learn about some lore.
IN THE WORLD
The vast fleets of the Kharadron Overlords soar through the skies looking for adventure and wealth. This means they will often carry valuable cargo, which others look upon with jealousy. To stave off any daring pirate or raiders, the air fleets employ the services of the Grundstok Thunderers. Don’t judge them by their size, or you will regret it. Trained to a standard most soldiers can only dream of, they’re well worth their cost.
With their Aethermatic weapons and deadeye aim, they can dispatch any foe with speed and precision. If you’re lucky enough to witness them in battle, the metallic clanking of the Grundstok Thunderers getting into line followed by the booming of weapons fire will ring in your ears for days. They can deploy anytime, anywhere with Arkanaut Frigates or Ironclads, making sure to strengthen your defences or breaking the enemy’s back.
Professional Soldiers
Each Grundstok Thunderer gives the word “professional” a whole new meaning. Each one has taken endless training, tests, and drills at the Grundstok Academies. Resulting in their unmatched skill and efficiency. They will follow the commands of their sergeants and captains to the letter. Such discipline is only to be expected from one of the Grundstok Company’s most expensive services. With their top-notch gear, training, and price tag, they’re one of the most elite soldiers one can employ.
The Grundstok Company outfits their elite with the best armour and weapons available to the Duardin. From unstoppable, Aethershot rifles to the aether spewing shotgun aptly called the Decksweeper. Even heavy Grundstok Mortars are never far away from a Thunderer. One can fire a mortar from the deck of a ship while being boarded shows how skilled they really are. Due to their reputation and skill, there are dozens of songs and stories about the Grundstok Thunderers’ exploits.
ON THE FIELD
On the Tabletop of the Mortal Realms, the Grundstok Thunderers are a good source of sustained firepower from a distance. They’re also a Battleline choice for any Barak-Nar army. Not that you’ll be going into melee a lot as the Overlords anyway, but should you do, the Thunderers can smash skulls as well as shoot them. Take them in any group of 5 to a total of 20 per unit. That’s a ton of angry Duardin your foe has to fight.
The Grundstok Thunderers have a ton of weapon options which all hit like a truck. Out of the box, they all have their standard Aethershot Rifles. These are also not to be trifled with. Those two attacks and -1 Rend will surely scare any lowly pests. But they can also march into battle with a Decksweeper, Grundstok Mortar, Aethercannon, or Aetheric Fumigator. All with their strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Decksweeper has 4 attacks while the Aethercannon needs only a 2+ during your wound rolls. They can carry enough heavy weapons to fit any situation they can find themselves in.
Leading the Thunderers
The unit is led by a brave and experienced Sergeant who carries a Double-barrelled Aethershot Rifle, doubling his firepower. He also has a little bird companion called a traditional Drillbill, who will quite literally drill into the eyes of his foe in melee. One in every five Thunderers can be chosen to be their Honour Bearer whose standard recalls the unit’s history. Making you able to re-roll any battleshock test for his unit. They also get special abilities depending on what weapons they bring to the field. Such as a choking gas pumped out by the Aethermatic Fumigator, making your foe subtract 1 from their hit rolls in close range.
These mighty Duardin are a solid and diverse unit to increase the defences of any air fleet brave enough to adventure and plunder.
