Thanqual Returns (Update)

So they just updated again with a better picture:

Whether both sets of horns are part of his head or the helmet I can't tell, but the fact they are becoming warpstone is really awesome. Blast, now I really want one. Still, I think I can add an extra bit here and their to put a little more 'Skryre' feel to it to better theme it with my Skaven. Even so, Thanquol looks like he's got more of an aggressive streak to him. Perhaps he feels more impervious with the blessings of the Horned Rat in greater focus?

Update: 06/01/15

Figure I just update this article instead of making a new one. Seems the rules for Thanquol have been leaked too, though my thoughts on them is slightly mixed. Stats seem equivilant to an average style monster with good strength, toughness and wounds, but with only basic weapon skill and ballistic skill and the leadership of Thanquol is the same (Bonerippers stats but Thanquols leadership). Thanquol's still a deadly caster and is still protected by The Great Horned Rat, but it's Boneripper which is basically the change to all this. The pictures above have him with Warpfire Projectors which are nice as he can fire them at two different targets and can cause some nice wounds, but can go off course and kill friendlies on a miscast (something which shouldn't surprise a Skaven player). The only problem is that I think it More or Fire rule and I don't think a monster can ignore it, so it means standing still and opening him up to attack in order to fire the projectors.

However, there is another option called Warpfire Braziers, which is apparently the melee version to the cannons. People have wondered if the model can have both, but given the pictures above, I must assume you can only have one or the other. The Braziers themselves give Boneripper some serious damage in melee, though would be better suited to fighting other monsters as a monster killing character (a tooled up Chaos Lord for example) could still make short work of him if given the right equipment. That and ranged weapons. Also, has a fumes rule similar to Censer Bearers, so would not be healthy to allies.

This leads to my mixed view: Having Choice. See, unlike a nameless hero who should have variety, named ones shouldn't have many options. This is due to having a set personality and reflecting that through the visual representation and in the rules. I like the miniature, but now I can't decide if he should be ranged focused or melee focused, and it doesn't look like the kit is designed to allow magnetic arm replacements (not very well anyway). This one will be tricky to decide.

Update 09/01/15:

$112AU for this guy....ouch! I still plan on getting it, but considering the rulebooks are sold out (not to mention that they're over $100AU as well), I'm going to just screw the rules and make it my own way, with two top arms as flamers and the bottom ones with braziers. Might add a few extra bits and then paint it. A nice display piece, just never going to use it on the battlefield. Perhaps it was the 9th edition rumours, but for some reason now I'm not as keen on it as before.