Category Archives: Necromunda

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Necromunda, Sci-Fi, Warhammer 40k

Book Review Low Lives

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A Necromunda novella by Danny Flowers

Necromunda is back on my reading desk, and this time it’s Denny Flowers from the 2nd Novella Series. With our ‘hero’ Caleb Cursebound.

From the Book

Caleb Cursebound, the Underhive’s ninth-most-dangerous man, and his ratskin partner Iktomi are in hiding, having deposed the tyrannical lord of a Necromundan noble house. Pursued by relentless bounty hunters, the pair descend to the remote mining settlement of Hope’s End, the last place anyone would think to look. They soon learn, however, that all is not well in Hope’s End; the people are being terrorised by a powerful Orlock gang, and in desperate need of a hero. Caleb cannot resist the opportunity to prove himself, but there are those who would see his reputation forever tarnished…

Review

Caleb Cursebound is a rogue extraordinaire. But, he has a problem. He is on the run, and he likes to play as a Hero. Not the best combination in the dark of the Underhive of Necromunda.

After a drink or two (or three) in the tavern of his new hiding place – Hope’s End – he promises to remove a powerful gang of Orlocks from a nearby mine… and when he wakes up the locals remember his promise.

All the while his pursuers – bounty hunters – are getting closer… although also mysteriously ending up dead. Does Caleb have a guardian angel… or something much scarier stalking him and his Ratskin partner – Iktomi.

With the great ‘Wanted: Dead’ in the first Novella series I was looking forward to this one as well. And Danny Flowers did not disappoint. Caleb does have some competencies but also has a lot in common with Caiphas Cain of Warhammer 40k. He is another epitome of the acccidental Hero.

It all unravels quickly and Caleb learns that you can’t please everyone in the Hive all the time (or even some of the time). And often blood (or House loyalties) run deeper than water… although sometime not.

Warhammer 40k is at it’s best when writing about human characters with human flaws. And Caleb certainly joined those ranks… even if he is only still there because of Iktomi.

Verdict

As a writer you can’t waste time in a Novella and every scene and chapter has to have a place. That makes them great fun to read and I often finish a novella wanting ‘more’. Either more of the character, more of the setting, or more of the adversary!

This definitely hits that spot, and is a fun addition to the Necromunda fiction produced by Black Library.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

— Declan & Eeyore

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Necromunda, Sci-Fi, Warhammer 40k

Book Review Wanted: Dead

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A Necromunda novella by Mike Brooks

Necromunda is a classic gaming system and – despite some changes between editions – remains mostly with its roots in old editions of Warhammer 40k. The support from the Specialist Games Studio is also superb with new gangs and models released regularly.

And the stories are great fund also – including this older gem by Mike Brooks from the Novella Series that Black Library produced some years ago.nto a Book Review A Line in the Sand by James Barr.

From the Book

In the teeming hives of Necromunda, from the highest peaks to the lowest depths, life is a constant fight for survival. When an ambush in the Underhive goes wrong, and a Guilder gets killed, an Escher gang suddenly find themselves outlawed. Now the hunters have become the hunted, and everyone is after their blood – enforcers, bounty hunters, even other gangs. With their leader dead, Jarene has to take control and save the lives of herself and her sisters in arms, as well as restoring the honour of their gang. For the fateful ambush was no accident, and the true culprits need to face justice.

Review

Jarene’s gang is (mostly) entirely dead. Caught in an ambush by Goliaths after the death of a Guilder. She has two choices, hide forever or avenge them.

But Necromunda isn’t a Hive that allows people to disappear if the Guilders are after them and so despite her best efforts she is forced to prevent the danger… but who can she trust?

When writing Warhammer 40k novels, I always enjoy reading about things that aren’t from the tabletop. (Or at least not common on the table top). Mike Brooks does a great job here of describing the Underhive, the tunnels, passages and creatures that reside. And the peril of just existing.

The ambush and destruction of the Escher gang is a great start as this would often be the end of a story in Necromunda the game. But here it is a starting point. He captures the rivalry between the Houses of the Hive, but also the competitions with the Houses themselves. So Jarene is left with the fundamental question – who can she trust.

Verdict

As a Novella it is short, but that results in Mike Brooks ensuring the pace is kept high – and there are no spare chapters in here. It is a great story, that brings Jarene’s struggle to the reader in quick, sharp vignettes. As she lurches from one crises to another, as there is no respite in the Hive.

My only critiscm is of Black Library – when these were first relesed the series was great value, with 10 books costing £30, but they are now only available electronically at £5 which seems high. Equally it is a shame they changed the format from paperback to hardback for Novella Series 3 later – but that is a different gripe.

If you are looking for a fun Necromunda story or just love Escher gangers then this is a great story – and a must for the collection.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

— Declan & Eeyore

Games Workshop, Necromunda

How to Paint – Cawdor Gangers (2)

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Cawdor Gangers for Necromunda

A few weeks ago I showed off some Cawdor gangers, and good news — I’ve added some more recently. So onto my second How to Paint Cawdor Gangers.

Necromunda

Necromunda is the game of gang-warfare in the brutal grim darkness of the 41st millennium – it’s also a campaign!

House Cawdor

Necromunda has a large number of gangs (or teams) to play with. Initially there were six but this has rapidly expanded and the latest release sees the Squats get a much needed update.

Cawdor worship the God-Emperor and are the most numerous House, gaining power because of these numbers. They see nothing wrong with throwing their Juves (Bonepickers) into the fray – if they live it’s their faith in the Emperor, if they don’t then there are plenty more. I won’t surprise people to know that I love horde armies and so when we decided to start a 2nd Necromunda campaign locally they were the obvious next step after Van Saar.

Pictures

4 old style metal Cawdor Gangers
Cawdor Juve with stub-gun

How do they play?

Cawdor swarm their enemy. They have the cheapest Juves and give these a pistol and weapon (if they are lucky) and told to run forth. If they survive they may even get armour later in the campaign although this is unlikely.

Cawdor are the House of Faith and include Redempitionists in their number which are available in their own box. I have some, but none painted yet. They purge the enemy with the Emperor’s light… which means flame weapons.

So check out the rules for templates (no rolls to hit) and Blaze (4+ and your opponent is on fire and acting randomly on their next activation) and throw everyone else at the enemy… maybe they’ll even win.

These 4 gangers have weapons from the original Necromunda so 2 of the gangers have lasguns, and one has a shotgun… and they can’t use these anymore, so the lasguns are ‘counts as’ reclaimed autoguns and the shotgun will be a sawn-off variety.

Paints Used

My recent armies have been red, blue and green but I haven’t painted yellow since my attempt to do a Stirland army back in the day of Warhammer Fantasy — but that was a long time ago. So I chose to go yellow with these – there’s been a lot of good yellows released in the last years which actually have pigment and coverage and so it is now possible to paint a force in that colour.

Undercoated in TT Combat – Muscly Muscles – a light biege colour – although any light undercoat will do – I then washed the models entirely in Nazdreg yellow to add some depth to the colour and allow me to build up.

I then tackled the yellow clothes with Averland Sunset highlighted by Phalanx Yellow and then contrasted with Orruk Flesh and Scorched Brown. If you want to add depth to these apply a light shade of Agrax Earthshade, but avoid the yellow.

I pick out the ropes in Rakarth flesh (on the weapons and on the main models) and finally add Leadbelcher and Balthasar Gold to the weapons. An all over wash of Agrax Earthshade on the weapons helps tie the three colours together.

Finally the bases are very simple – black undercoat, Leadbelcher and Balthasar Gold and a wash (or 2) of Nuln Oil — all with an Abbadon Black rim.

And I say finally, but as these are lead models from the original Necromunda I have given them 4 (!) coats of Matt Varnish to give them some protection.

So that’s How to Paint Cawdor Gangers! — graphic below.

Buying a Box?

Whilst the current Cawdor gangers are available everywhere – try your local FLGS or our affiliate link with Element Games, these 4 guys are out of production and cost about £10 each on Ebay (also an affiliate link)… so a little expensive for what they are – by the nostalgia makes them fun for me.

— Declan and Eeyore