With the ruthless advance of Haarken Worldclaimer’s armada through the Nachmund Gauntlet – one of the very few safe passages through the Cicatrix Maledictum – the forces of Chaos are nearing their goal. Only a few faltering obstacles stand between Abaddon the Despoiler and supremacy over the entire Imperium Nihilus.
Now the Warmaster begins his play for this vital strategic objective in Arks of Omen – the next major narrative leap for Warhammer 40,000.
With his forces spread across warzones at Vigilus, Dharrovar, and beyond, Abaddon needs one good knockout punch to destroy the loyalists once and for all. The arrival of a mysterious ally provides the break he needs, and work begins on his new Balefleets – swarms of heretic warships, reinforced by the mighty Arks of Omen.
These colossal void craft are built around the cavernous bodies of space hulks fished from the warp, heavily weaponised and augmented with the means to steer them through the stars. Each is awarded to a favoured warband – seeded, naturally, with loyal enforcers and informants – and dispatched to claim artefacts of mysterious provenance. What’s the ultimate plan for these vast warships and the artefacts they seek? Abaddon’s not telling.
Arks of Omen is a forthcoming multi-book series that will take the story of Warhammer 40,000 further into its perilous future, starring a cast of new and returning characters with an epic narrative and some truly incredible miniatures.
It’s all exciting news for fans of Warhammer lore.
But what does it mean for your games?
Following player feedback from across the community, this series won’t include extra rules for standard games of Warhammer 40,000. You’ve told us that you don’t want to juggle army rules spread over multiple books. No worries – we hear you.
Instead, you get something better. The first volume of Arks of Omen presents a self-contained expansion – a whole new game mode called Boarding Action. These rules will allow your armies to fight intense Boarding Action battles through the claustrophobic corridors of voidcraft, space hulks, bunkers, and more, using standalone sets of the new terrain first found in Kill Team: Into the Dark.*
Boarding Actions are bigger than the shipboard skirmishes you’ve enjoyed in Kill Team. Forget small squads of subtle operatives – we’re talking whole armies smashing into each other, locked in the claustrophobic and utterly lethal scenario of full-on ship-to-ship boarding action.
Boarding Action battles open up a whole range of confined conflicts. The forces of the new Chaos armada are charging aboard embattled ships and orbital stations to cripple defensive systems and claim choice loot – but they don’t have it all their own way. The Arks of Omen are a big target, and will soon be facing Space Marine strike forces, plucky Militarum boarding parties, inscrutable Aeldari raiders, and anyone else with a close range-weapon and a death wish who fancies their chances inside the belly of the beast.
Each book in the series will introduce new developments for both the story and tabletop experience, adding new missions, expanded rules, and extra options for your Boarding Actions games. If you’re wondering how Boarding Actions will play out in practice, you’ll just have to stay tuned for more Warhammer Day reveals.
Remember, you can get your own copy of the first Arks of Omen book – alongside everything else shown off today – by entering our newsletter competition. All you need to do is log into your MyWarhammer account and sign up below before 11:59pm (BST) on Monday the 10th of October – and one lucky winner will scoop the lot.**
You’ll also get a regular bulletin of the latest news and happenings from Warhammer Community, so really, everyone’s a winner.
* Not to mention the modular additions to the Gallowdark terrain that’ll arrive in upcoming Kill Team sets.
**16+. One winner only. Geographical restrictions apply. Existing subscribers will be entered automatically and the winner will be contacted within 7 days of entries closing. Terms and conditions apply.