The Crimson Slaughter Supplement – A Review

The Crimson Slaughter might be the last of the “old school” 6th Edition-style supplements, as “supplements” (or should that now be “sub-Codexes”?) from here on out appear to be stand-alone Militarum Tempestus style books.

The Crimson Slaughter book also has a bad rep, mostly because it exists, and the Night Lords/Iron Warriors/whatever-supplement doesn’t.

However, it is not really a bad supplement, and the tale of a “small” chapter being corrupted in 40K – not in a Legion in 30K – is a story worth telling, I think. On the other hand, it’s not really “good” either, and failed to truly capture my imagination.

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Once the loyal servants of the Imperium of Mankind, now the Crimson Slaughter leave only destruction and despair in their wake. Tainted by the genocidal purging of Umidia they are plagued by the voices of their victims. Only through butchery can they silence the voices that haunt them – but the whispers of the dead always return.

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#1 – The Story: Crimson Sabres to Crimson Slaughter

I was curious to read the story of a Space Marines chapter turning traitors, though it turned out to be a rather overcrowded story in the end.

The Crimson Sabres were despised by other Imperials for being ultra-orthodox by-the-book-Codex-fanatics (sorta extreme-Ultramarines). They also were possessed by evil spirits, are manipulated by Tzeentch, and mess with the Fallen (because one obviously cannot be an enemy of the Dark Angels, if you aren’t into their not-so-secret secret history).

It’s a lot going on, and only have of it might’ve made a leaner story.

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#2 – The Miniatures Showcase

One recent change by GW was the switch on all the Chaos Space Marines product-boxes from the old Black Legion paint-scheme to a new, red Crimson Slaughter scheme.

I personally like the new scheme, and the Crimson Slaughter supplement shows it off very nicely. Some terrific miniatures to see here.

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#3 – Crimson Slaughter – The Rules

Similar to other older supplements – such as the Iyanden book – the book provides a few new rules, alternative warlord traits and relics.

For the most part, they are pretty powerful (whether they are enough to redeem the much-maligned Chaos Marines Codex is another question). Crimson Slaughter can field Possessed as troop choices, with an alternative mutation table that is plain better in every way.

Likewise, the relics are interesting, such as ‘The Balestar of Mannon’, which grants a Chaos Sorcerer access to Divination, as well as a range of killy weapons.

There’s a strong theme of heavy mutation running through these rule, but if you run with that theme, I can see these rules being a lot of fun.

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#4 – The Crimson Slaughter Missions

The supplement concludes with an ‘Altar of War’ section, which includes “historic” missions to play from the Crimson Slaughter’s history (not few of them against other Chaos-forces!).

They obviously lack the “emotional impact” of being able to re-play, say, the Fall of Iyanden. I probably would’ve preferred it, if these missions had fewer different enemies for the Crimson Slaughter, possibly just one (Dark Angels?), so it would be easier to play it as a campaign with a small group (or even just two players). As it is, I haven’t tried these campaigns yet.

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#5 – Thoughts?

I am a bit torn on this one. Especially after reading the Militarum Tempestus mini-codex, I feel like the “historic-supplement”, first introduced with the Iyanden book, was better than many people gave it credit for. Its a good format to tell a little piece of Warhammer 40K lore.

I also like the Crimson Slaughter paint-scheme, the Possessed-heavy rules and I think that the story of a Chapter falling from grace has – in theory – lots of potential for fantastic or at least interesting (e.g. Soul Drinkers) 40K-storytelling.

That said, a strong central theme that gets you excited to read more, and to build an army, was missing (for me) with the Crimson Slaughter.

Z.