Outside Necromunda’s great hive cities, the Ash Waste Nomads have had it up to here. They are sick and tired of all you punks tearing up their nicely manicured front dunes with sick drifts and doughnuts, and now they’re mad. Here’s Road Captain Owen from the Studio’s toughest (and only) Necromunda gang to explain more.
Owen: In Tribes of the Wastelands we delve into the history and society of the deadly Ash Waste Nomads. As an enigmatic terror of the Outlands (just who or what is under those masks?), we wanted to present a variety of theories of their origins yet keep their true nature a mystery. To this end the background is presented as a collection of excerpts from the three most significant books written by Necromundans about these outland marauders: On the Subjekt of the Nomade, Apocrypha Necromundus Addendum IX and Tales Around the Gunk Tank.
Each of these was written centuries apart by different authors, but they all explore the many theories as to the origin and nature of the Ash Waste Nomads (often conflicting wildly with each other). One idea states that they are ancient outcasts from the hive cities or the remnants of the true people of Araneus Prime – before the planet was subjugated by the Imperium and had its name changed to Necromunda). More outlandish theories claim they are insects in human skin, or even a massive hoax (hivers in masks spreading fear and discord).
These excerpts collect scores of anecdotes from all across the world, painting a picture of a people that probably make up a significant percentage of the planet’s population, and hinting at their culture and society via the myths of their Great Spirits or their strange affinity for Necromunda’s insectoid creatures.
The rules
As with the previous ‘House of’ books, Tribes of the Wastelands introduces a host of new fighters and rules for Ash Waste Nomad players. Some, like the Sha’dar Hunters and their Spinewyrm pets, give your raiding parties -a new dimension, excelling in stealth and close quarters combat. Combined with expanded weapon lists and their own Nomad Trading Post, the Ash Waste Nomads gang is now well rounded with plenty of options to tailor your gang to ranged combat or melee mayhem.
The book also introduces two new Nomad Hired guns: the Nomad Outcast and the Nomad Harrier. These take the place of Bounty Hunters and Hive Scum in more traditional gangs, granting your gang some disposable firepower while also offering exciting modelling opportunities.
Not to be outdone by other gangs, Tribes of the Wastelands provides the Ash Waste Nomads with their own skills, gang tactics and scenarios, as well as their own unique set of special rules: Warrior Spirits. These allow players to customise their leaders and champions by aligning them with the Great Spirits of the Ash Waste Nomads, of which there are 25.
The miniatures
We wanted to build on the aesthetics that had already been established. This can be seen across the range but is most prominent in two of the new kits, the Sha’dar Hunters and Ashwing Helamites.
The Sha’dar Hunters expand on the relationship between Nomad fighters and their insect companions. While previous models had included elements clearly taken from the Dustback Helamites, the Sha’dar Hunters took this a step further, pushing it to a symbiotic level by mimicking the insectoid appearance of their companions.
The Ashwing Helamites* were especially exciting and great attention was paid to extending the design language of the Dustback Helamite, Duneskuttler and Spinewyrms to make them feel like they were part of the same family of giant wasteland insects. We were even able to include some interesting additions to the kit, including a lure (for directing your murderous flying insects to their prey) and some components to upgrade one of your nomad fighters into a Ashwing Handler.
Thank you Owen. The full range of Ash Waste Nomads, including new fighters, weapons, dice, gang tactics cards and their own book, will be available to pre-order this very Saturday.
* The what?
