Warhammer: The Island of Blood review

The Island of Blood has to be the most hotly anticipated release of the year, both at Big Orbit games and the gaming community at large.

Warhammer: The Island of Blood is the new Warhammer starter set for the 8th Edition rules set. It comes with 74 miniatures, a mini rulebook, a getting started guide and all the gaming accessories you need to start playing Warhammer.

First impressions

The first thing you notice after tearing off the cellophane and opening the box is, as with previous Warhammer starter sets, just how much you get for your money.

Along with the rules and equipment required to play the game, the box includes five sprues, two of sprue 1 and one each of the other three sprues.

Casting my eyes over the sprues it is also immediately apparent that you are getting quality in the Island of Blood as well as quantity.

Will this boxed set do no wrong? Read on to find out…

Miniatures included

The shear number of miniatures included is impressive, see list below:

High Elf miniatures

• A High Elf Prince on Griffon
• A High Elf Mage
• 10 High Elf Lothern Sea Guard
• 10 High Elf Sword Masters of Hoeth
• 5 Ellyrian Reavers

Skaven miniatures

• A Skaven Warlord
• A Skaven Warlock Engineer
• 40 Skaven Clanrats
• A Skaven Master Moulder
• 2 Skaven Rat Ogres
• A Skaven Warpfire Thrower
• A Skaven Poisoned Wind Mortar

Miniatures quality

While cutting the miniatures from the sprues I was genuinely impressed with the quality of the sculpts, these models are far superior to those included in the old Battle for Skull Pass boxed set, the Warhammer 7th Ed starter set.

Building the models was simplicity itself, as it should be in a starter set, the push fit working very well on most models. Oddly enough it was some of the simpler models that needed a touch of glue to stay together, the arms some times falling off the Skaven Clanrats.

I was also very impressed with the imaginative ways that the more complicated models fitted together, particularly the the High Elf Prince on Griffon, the High Elf Mage & the Ellyrian Reavers. Games Workshop have produced some high quality models here that are easily of equal quality to their regular plastics, not something that could have been said about the Battle for Skull Pass.

To put it another way the miniatures in the Island of Blood are easily worth the asking price on their own.

Books

So the miniatures are brilliant, what about the other contents of the boxed set? Well, for a start we get the 184 page pocket-sized Warhammer rulebook I’ve been looking forward to, I’ve been having to visit my chiropractor on a weekly basis while carrying the huge 528 page hardback rulebook from game to game.

The Island of Blood “Read this first” booklet differs quite substantially from the one included with the old Battle for Skull pass, rather than a series of introductory scenarios it includes a broader introduction to the Warhammer hobby. I suppose it depends on the individual gamer which approach is preferred, I would imagine that younger gamers would have benefited more from a series of introductory scenarios whilst older gamers may appreciate the approach taken in the Island of Blood more.

Gaming accessories

The boxed set also includes some dice, templates and range rulers. The templates are basically the same as Games Workshops universal templates which retail at £5 on there own. There’s not much you can say about the dice, they do exactly what you would expect them too… The range finders however are disappointing, they are the same ones that have been included in older boxed sets but personally I’d rather see a tape measure of any description.

Summary

As with last years Warhammer 40,000: Assault on Black Reach release, Games Workshop have really stepped up a gear with their latest Warhammer starter set.

The miniatures included are of superb quality, easily a similar standard to their regular plastic models and they don’t have a cheap “starter set” feel at all.

Considering everything that you get in the Island of Blood boxed set, 2 armies, the pocket-sized rulebook and all the other bits and pieces required to get started with Warhammer this set represents exceptional value for money.

The presence of the mini rulebook virtually makes this an essential purchase on it’s own.

Overall score: 10/10

*Accurate as of 26th August 2010

EDIT 18th September 2010:

Thanks to Oli here’s an Island of Blood scenario >>link