White Dwarf 42 First Look

This week's White Dwarf features the new Tyranid dual kit of the Zoanthropes and Venomthropes. The kit includes the leaked rules and background for the more or less replacement for the Doom of Malan'tai, the Neurothrope. Additionally, this issue announces the upcoming 40k Campaign, the Shield of Baal.

Back Cover image is just too cool, in my Opinion 

The issue leads off with the host of new releases, the majority of which are various bundles for the holidays. Within this is the first book of the Shield of Baal campaign, which is largely expected to include a campaign box and at least one other book.

The first book in the Campaign, Shield of Baal: Leviathan, follows the opening stages of the Tyranid invasion and the defense of the Shield Worlds of Baal. The rules in the book set include updated Death From The Skies rules along side City Fight rules and a Tyranid Supplement including the compiled rules for recent releases, new Warlord Traits and Detachment, along with 6 new Formations. As you might expect, most of us here at FTGT are excited about this book.

After the extensive new releases section is a quick article on Cities of Death, part of the Shield of Baal: Leviathan book. To me, there's nothing more cinematic than the feel of a true city fight game. Looks like I need to make more buildings. 

Next is an article using the updated Death from the Skies rules to pit flyers against each other in a series of 1 on 1 games. Following the brief encounter reports for each games is a quick discussion of the new rules and how they interacted in the course of the challenge. 

Following that were the widely leaked rules update for the Zoanthropes, allowing broods up to six and one to be upgraded to a Neurothrope if the brood is 3 or greater. 

This is followed by a Paint Splatter article which looks to take a detailed sample from the Invasion Swarms: Tyranids Painting Guide also being released next week. This shows how to paint some Tyrant Guard in the updated Behemoth splinter scheme, Court of the Nephilim King, which has flatter, darker blues on the carapace, with yellow streaks.

Next is an article introducing the named characters in the Shield of Baal campaign and the overview of the opening moves of the invasion. This is followed by the usual little snippets and showcases from each White Dwarf.