Hive Secundus Review
I ordered Hive Secundus and received the product about a week after it launched. Upon opening the box, it was different than the smaller boxes I previously opened. The box itself, while beautiful, it was flimsy. That only matters to someone like me that stores their terrain in sturdy boxes. This one, however, can be discarded without further thought.
Once the box is opened, we’re greeted with sprues! The beautiful Malstrain Genestealers, Van Saar Tek Hunters and Spyre Hunters. The models are nothing short of beautiful, although my anxiety dials up a bit when looking at all the small pieces. It’s going to take a few hobby nights to get all this assembled and ready for paint.
The set contains 29 plastic miniatures, 18 Malstrain in total consisting of 6 Genestealers, 8 Brood Scum and 4 Tyramites. The Secundan Incursion Gang has 2 Orrus Spyre Hunters, 8 Van Saar Tek-hunters and a Caryatid Prime. Again, the models are incredible and that plays well into the setting.
The setting of Hive Secundus is a descension into a ruined Hive City. Part of your Secundan Incursion force is looking for archeo-tek, the other hunting for sport. The horrors they encounter in the form of these Genestealers sets a wonderful stage for combat and survival. The campaign is laid out in a 176 page softback book that includes the rules for Necromunda, but no things such as the trading post. In this campaign, let’s just say they are closed for business. It’s very similar to the rulebook included with Dark Uprising, slimmed down and giving you a taste of what is to come.
You’ll also receive bulkhead terrain, tokens, a two-sided paper gaming mat, a flex ruler, which honestly, I find very important for games of Necromunda, templates, reference sheets, 16 beautiful Necromunda dice and a deck of 88 cards. All of this at the retail price of $170. What’s not to love?
Well, a few things in my opinion and no, I’m not going to harp on a box. First, it’s really a self-contained game, at least for now. If you’re buying this or splitting it with someone, it may be a bit limiting. This is always subject to change with new releases of books and updates, but for me these games need to be a stepping stone to something greater and the models should carry over. This alone has given me a bit of buyer’s remorse.
In addition, Necromunda, for me at least, is a 3D world, and not one I imagine but one I play in. The bulkheads do not do this game justice. We’re descending into abandoned ruins and the 2D element provided with the box is a miss in my opinion. The Dark Uprising box is hard to compare as it came with a lot of terrain and had a hefty price tag. That box is, however, what captured my imagination of what Necromunda is and what it can be. Providing some of the new ruined Zone Mortalis terrain I think would have been a big plus, similar to Hive War.
For comparison, Hive War can still be purchased from Games Workshop at a retail price of $178.50. It has 20 plastic miniatures and modular terrain but lacks a campaign. In short, the Hive Secundus box feels like less for more. That was my initial thought in opening the box and rifling through the contents.
If you are looking to start Necromunda in a self-contained campaign then Hive Secundus would be a good starting point. I’m just a bit underwhelmed with what the box contains, however, and I wish it would have been done a bit differently, even if it raised the cost a bit.
Rating: C
A good starting point but a bit narrow on the focus. The miniatures are fantastic but so much value is placed on the campaign. The lack of 3D terrain doesn’t give me a Necromunda feeling and the bulk heads do not fit the setting. I want to be “wowed” when I open a box and this did not give me that feeling. I hope it does for you!
