Games Workshop Van Saar Gang Necromunda

Edit: Originally gave these guys a 5-star, but removed a star. While constructing the weapons allows for cusomization, many have less then sturdy glue points. It also feels like a cheap way to avoid including more pieces so people can't kit bash as much with the new "Bounty Hunter" themed faction due for release.First and foremost, this review is on the MODELS that you are receiving, not the rules around them or their playability. I may touch on those things, but they aren't reflected in the 5-star rating with the exception of one piece of bleed over that affected both.If there is one thing you can say about Games Workshop it's that they know how to do Plastic Kits. This contains two identical sprues that are capable of putting together 10 models. These sprues each contain 10 unique heads, more then a dozen weapons options and loads of extras like grenades you can glue on. So all in all there are 1000s of ways that a particular individual might choose to put together their 10-man squad from this kit. And the quality of all these pieces is very high for HIPs plastic.The news rules for Necromunda definitely create a more particular feel and look for each gang out the gate. While there is still a bevy of options to explore, making it difficult for two gangs sponsored by the same house to be built exactly the same, the look is MUCH sharper then what you might find in the older rules. How this impacted the kit itself is only a positive. While the Goliath Kit has a Rustic look and the Orlock kit has a modern look, the Van Saar kit definitively has a futuristic techie look and feel due to these unique weapons list. Your gang actually looks like an outfit who not only got their clothing and armor from the same sponsor, but also their weapons and other gear. On top of that, your model of lasgun and laspistol look markedly different from what we've seen from other gangs and 40k models using those weapons. It's a fresh take, and a welcome one, just like AK stocks look different from an AR stock.Moving on more purely to the rules around the gang: anyone who played these guys in the past knew they were going to be toned down a little bit, but as I said above they still retain a very "techie" strong range weapon feel. Plasma weapons, personal shields, and high damage heavy weapons are in no short supply. The rules for this gang can be found on Games Workshops website (I think they still can) or in the Gang War III suppliment. Other gangs are going to prefer to have HEAVY amounts of cover and corners to be able to move in a Van Saar position, while Van Saar players will try to opt for open areas with little cover. This is where compromises will have to be made depending on your set-up process, and both sides need an understanding that the terrain can't just benefit their group. This will help address arguments (not outright preventing, but avoid ignoring the elephant in the room) before gameplay and hopefully keep things civil. Allowing the Van Saar too much space, or making the board overly claustrophobic can determine a winner before the fight even starts. Do your best to prevent this.Don't be shy when building your gang and putting models together. This new rule set seems to be a bit easier on gangs investing in a few heavily equipped models early, versus the old rules where every gang just attempted to pull off hoard tactics. BUT, when giving a leader and champions some beef, ensure that there some expendable scrubs up forward preventing you from getting overrun. Those Rad Cannons and Plasma Guns aren't gonna do you any good with a half dozen Esher melee specialists in your face. Protect them. With a tri-layered strategy, even if all three layers are mostly gunners, they'll take enough gangers and juves to force you to bottle out if losing before they puncture deep enough to wound your beef.Expect to fight a lot of melee centric, aggressive gangs since that's what was provided in the base box this time around. If they DIDN'T turn their gang into that.......make them pay!! You'll be able to pummel almost any Esher or Goliath gang at range. Orlock gangs are much more flexible and can give a much more contested fire fight, but not as many of these will be fielded at this juncture since they are found in a later supplement (gang war II) as well.And lastly, DON'T FORGET THE GRENADES!!! I can't stress this enough. A Juve with a pair of knives and a grenade can work wonders for a Van Saar gang. Again. all these other gangs will be trying to encroach and flush you out of an entrenched position. Grenading the hell out of them will help thin them out in the very least. And be aware they will be trying to grenade you as well, so don't pack your troops in too tight whatever you do.

Way too tiny! These minis are pint sized. I thought they be a little bigger for ease of painting but they're smaller than the Death Guard pox walker zombies. The only positive is the customization other than that I'm pretty disappointed. So small they could be used on a monopoly board, these are old school mini small...

As usual with current Games Workshop plastic kits, the models are quite well sculpted and fit together exceptionally well. The models do have a limited number of ways they will fit together so there is less customization than with some older kits but the minis are terrific.

Great product.

models came in one piece, no damage to box

I really like the direction GW went with these figures for Necromunda with the first game the ranges available were not so good.

Great

Shooty McShootyface.