Forge World New Release: Tartaros Terminator Armour

Another day, another new Forge World release.

Tartaros Pattern Terminator Armour
with power fist and twin linked/ storm bolter.

Today Forge World announced a new pattern of Tactical Dreadnought Armour, the Tartaros pattern Terminator armour.

They are available for pre-order now, and for those who are fortunate to be able to attend the Forge world Open day, will be available there in limited numbers.

Tartaros Terminator Squad

The history of Terminator armour goes back to the years of the Great Crusade, where heavy industrial protective suits were adapted and modified for combat use. Several of these designs have already been presented by Games Workshop, in the form of the Box Body Terminator and the Bullet Head Terminator, as they have become affectionately known in some quarters by some of the older 40K enthusiasts.

Variant metal terminators, circa 1989, including "Boxy" #410610,

and "Bullet Head" #410609.

Now Forge world adds to that history, as can be seen by this text block quoted from their website:

"Of these, the Indomitus pattern is perhaps the most widespread, due to its template being held on key Forge Worlds such as Mars, although Tartaros Pattern Terminator armour is also issued to the Veterans of a Chapter’s 1st Company. Perhaps the most advanced form of Tactical Dreadnought Armour, the Tartaros pattern shares many systems with the MkIV ‘Maximus’ pattern of power armour, and provides greater mobility for its wearer than the Indomitus pattern with no loss in durability or protection."

A side by side comparison with an "Indomitus" pattern Terminators shows the Tartaros to be somewhat lighter and less bulky. But that is clearly intended as this armour is meant to be lighter and more maneuverable, with more advanced materials and technologies.

Size comparison, MKIII Iron Armour, Tartaros, and Indomitus pattern Terminators.

Style wise, it more sleekly mimics many of the details we've come to expect in contemporary Terminator armour. But, there is also a strong resemblance between the gorget details of this armour as with the new Asterion Moloc miniature, and even seems to pick hints up from the Grey Knights plastic Terminator line as well as stylistic hints from the Maximus pattern power armour. Clearly this armour is meant to be a generational step difference, perhaps between them, to show the evolutionary connection that would come with design advancements during that age.

There is another design cue that we can see, as the torso very closely mimics the bell shape of the Contemptor Dreadnought torso. Probably meant as a reminder that these are Tactical Dreadnought Armour, so named because of their durability and perhaps due design connections with what is straight out called a Dreadnought.

I'm sure that there will be mixed feelings regarding this pattern of terminator armour, as I think without having a lot of previous artwork, or matching anything that we see in the Collected Visions artbooks of that era. Much like there were mixed feelings about the changes to the Grey Knight terminators when they first appeared.

Sleek and standing up straight, these Space Marines
don't have to slouch to use their armour.

There are things I do like a lot about these miniatures. The first is that they stand up straighter than a contemporary terminator, which always had that forced hunched look. They do look lighter and easier to move around in, and they still convey a sense of badass and ruggedness. Though I think they look a lot more sleek than we are used to for the Imperium, which we have long come to associate with backward regressive technology and culture. Of course, these are reserved for the elite of the elite 1st Company Space Marines, so they do convey that sense of rarity and awe that such advanced technology would garner.

I think what gnaws at me most about this pattern is that Forge World hasn't gone back and done new versions of Boxy or Bullet Head, or even released patterns based more on the artwork of the Crusades and Heresy. Of course, that is just my nostalgia speaking, though it may still be in the works.

Links:
Games Workshop
Forge World

*Legal* Forgeworld Tartaros, Iron Armour, and Terminators images owned by Forgeworld and Games Workshop and used without permission for the distribution of hobby news. No challenge is intended.