Squats in Non-GW Magazines, Historia Squataticus: Appendix 13

Squats in Non-GW Magazines, Historia Squataticus: Appendix 13

Le Héraut Citadel.

This was a French language magazine published by Agmat (maker of the Agmat Thudd Gun) on an irregular schedule in the mid- to late 1980s. I have only issue 5, dated June 1988. Like White Dwarf at the time, this magazine was shifting from a mix of TSR, Chaosium, MERP, and Games Workshop content toward being entirely devoted to GW. I am not sure how many issues were published; issue 5 is the only one I have.

Issue 5 features a black & white picture of the Squat Mole Mortar (unpainted) on p. 15 along with other black & white and color pictures of Warhammer 40K and WFB models.

Inquisitor (Epicast / Armorcast).

This 18-issue magazine was published at an erratic schedule by Tim Dupertuis. Tim was the man behind Epicast and then with Armorcast, so it is understandable that there would be some trade-offs between publishing issues and production of models. Armorcast still produces a fine range of wargaming terrain and miniatures (http://www.armorcast.com/), some of which can be seen in Hungry Ghosts posts, particularly the Alien Plants series.

The dates on the covers of the issues do not necessarily correspond to the actual time of publication, but may reflect the intended date rather than the actual date as was common for small publications of this time.

Number 1 (June 1991): No Squats

Number 2 (September 1991): Squats-free

Number 3 (January 1992): Disturbing absence of Squats.

Number 4 (April 1992): Advertisement for Epicast U.S.A. Termite and Falcon, page 10. This is probably the first ad for the Termite ($20). Given the overlapping ownership between Inquisitor and Epicast, all future issues feature an ad for the Termite somewhere in them and will not be included here.

Page 18: points values for various Squats-associated weaponry included in a Space Marine Army record sheet, including the Mole Mortar, Thudd Gun, Rapier, all Tarantula variations, and the Leviathan for those ambitious enough to construct such a monster (500 pts). Note that we are dealing with the Rogue Trader rules at this time.

Number 5 (June1992): Page 5, Q&A with Andy Chambers, including Squats questions about Exo Armor, Power Lance, squad and ally options and requirements.

Number 6 (September 1992): Page 4 notes the sad absence of Squat Champion units.

Page 14 index of White Dwarf articles from issue 93-151 reveals the conspicuous absence of Squats articles, limited to the Army List in 111 and the Land Train rules in 151. But it also foolishly includes the Mole Mortar in the Imperial section, along with generally shared systems Rapier and Tarantula, and bikes of all sorts.

Want Ads on page 19: Dwarf-friends in Alaska and Hawaii are still searching for Squat Musicians and Heavy Weapons Trikes. Good luck sirs, Inquisitor's publication numbers were measured in the low 100's. We had trouble in NYC getting minis in the 1980s and early 1990s, Alaskans and Hawaiians must be truly in dire circumstances.

Number 7 (February 1993): Article on pages 6-9 on Scout and Recon units. Provides rules and stats for Squats Scout/Recon squads. Reports that Squats do not distinguish between Scouts and Recon types, related to their heavy-handed approach to gathering information. Rules and Stats for a Jeep type recon vehicle in use by the Imperials and Squats (basically, touch it and it explodes).

Page 17 Want Ads. Our friends in Alaska and Hawaii continue their searches. Their pleas will continue, but will no longer be reported here.

Number 8 (Spring 1993): Squat Engineers on Bikes appear on the cover.

Pages 5-7, article on Combat Engineers, including Squats rules & stats. Squats also have access to specialized Rhinos with engineering modifications (bridge-laying, mine-sweeping), as well as Termite, Mole, and Hellbore tunnelers and the Gorgon (rules for which were promised in issue 9 but never appeared, except for Gorgon).

Page 13, Q&A with Andy Chambers notes that the Mole Mortar as detailed in the Battle Manual is far more accurate than any other weapon.

Page 18-19: Updated points values and equipment lists for Squats armies.

Number 9 (Summer 1993): Pas des Nains d'espace.

Number 10 (Fall 1993): Warhammer 40K 2^nd Edition appears with minimal army lists. Page 5 notes that it is likely that a full Squats army list will not be seen soon...

Pp. 16-17, updated points values for 2^nd Edition.

P. 18: Vain hopes for new Squats miniatures in 40K 2^nd Ed.

Number 11 (Winter 93/94): Page 4, Squats Living Ancestor Dark Millennium psychic powers noted, as well as vulnerability of tightly clustered Squats armies (among others) to Virus Grenades.

Obstacles and Line of Sight rules on pages 10-14 discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being shorter than Humans, Orks, and Keeblars. Features illustrative photographs including Squats.

Number 12 (Spring 1994): No Squats.

Number 13 (February 1995): Vehicle System Update (pages 14-29) provides generalized rules for military vehicle classes and attempts to rein in the (literal) overkill allowed to Imperial Land Raiders and Dreadnoughts. Vehicle weapon points are adjusted for BS of crew, including Squats.

Also, the particular converted-into-superheavy-APC Soviet T34 tank shown in the picture on p. 13 was purchased by Hungry Ghosts and is now in their service. Counts as Gorgon (with the traditional 40K “Bag of Holding” troop carrying capacity compared to transport size), with stats on p. 26.

Number 14 (September 1996): Cauldron of Blood ($40) and Cannon of Khorne ($30) are now available from Armorcast (p. 2) and featured in an article on adapting WFB Chaos for 40K fun (pp. 5-7). Exo Armor Chaos Squats appear prominently in the army photo on p. 5.

Review of Galaktik Taktik spacecraft from Pewtercraft USA of Jackson NJ (p. 11) notes that the Colonial Forces ships would work well for Squats. Hungry Ghosts says, yes, but needs more skulls and tentacles.

Number 15 (August 1997): Armorcast High Tech Walls now available and seen in the background of many Hungry Ghosts blog posts (p. 2).

More importantly, this issue is devoted to remedying the missing Squats Codex for 40K 2^nd Edition (pp. 5-24). A b/w illustration of an angry Squat with a large Bolter by Joel Phillips appears on p. 3.

The Squats Army List starts on p. 5. It is broken up into a Brotherhood Army List (pp. 8-13) including an assortment of converted WFB minis filling in the gaps in the product like, and an Engineer Guild Army List (pp. 14-17).

The Squats Army is equipped with vehicles from Simtac's Kryomek line of Nexus Marines, in pictures as well as rules.

The photographs included reinforce the belief that only a few Iron Claw Squats appeared in North America (Numbers 1, 5, 10, 17).

The illustrations by Joel Phillips seem to indicate that pictures or copies of the unreleased 2^nd Edition Squats had been seen, or at least the Champions and Trooper.

Number 16 (November 1997): No Squats.

Number 17 (February 1998): Update of Combat Engineers article for 40K 2^nd Edition rules, including Squats units (pp. 5-9).

Squats Army List errata on p. 25.

Number 18 (May 1999): In 18 issues Inquisitor has traveled from Rogue Trader to 40K 3^rd Edition.

Page 12 gives a system for determining points costs of troops based on a average human model with additions for improvements. This system was used in assigning points costs in the Squats army lists that appeared in Number 15.

Page 25 Q&A includes discussion of weapons access for troop types in the Squats army lists.

Australian Realms.

From the vast wilderness of Western Australia, a bimonthly magazine covering all sorts of fantasy and sci-fi games – miniatures, RPGs, CCGs. I have only issue 21, dated January/February 1995. No Squats here.

The Dark Library: A magazine for the Warhammer 40,000 gamer.

Issue 1 from Autumn 1994 includes an article on boats in Warhammer 40K which reports that Squats do not have specialized Frogmen-type troops, as “squats rarely have much experience with water” (p. 6). But they do have much experience with beer, and have specialist Grogbrothers, who maintain the integrity of the vast beer production facilities found on every Squats Homeworld, expeditionary base, and spacecraft. They also care for the Beerquariums common to Squats entertainment parks (“The Happiest Fish in the Galaxy”).

The inside back cover reports that the next issue will feature Squats material, noting that “Squat players haven't had much to play with for quite a while now – the only new squat miniature released by GW in the past year or so was the mark 2 motorbike – and we hope to remedy some of that.

However, it goes on to state “If you're a squat player and would like to contribute something on squats, please send it in!”.

Open solicitation for material for the next issue is never a good sign in terms of maintaining a regular publication schedule.

Issue 3 from Spring 1995 is a much improved publication in terms of quality of content and format.

A scenario named “Irregularities on Vauxhault II” forbids allies for the mixed force of Imperial Guard and Space Marines, including Squats, which does not bode well for the humans.

An article on “Warhammer 40,000 Night Battles” reports the obvious – the superior genetic composition of the mighty Squats includes Infravision, “a second sight which allows them to not only see colors as humans do, but to see heat as well,” allowing them to function in the night without any deficit. On the other hand, it states that flashlights are useless to Squats. This is simply not true for a race as ingenious as the Squats. Amongst other functions, they can be sold or traded, used to make the ignorant think that Squats do not have Infravision, used to temporarily blind others by shining the lights in the eyes, or as a general whacking stick (pp. 21-22).

Page 26 features an ad for Nick Tompkins's Epicast U.S.A. resin vehicles, including the Termite ($22.00).

Page 29 introduces the new regular feature “Toshe Tales: Great Squat Lore”, concerning the mighty deeds of the Toshe Clan Stronghold. In this issue, the defeat of Ork Blood Axe Clan Kaptain Ironlung's Kommandos by a combined force of Squat Gyrocopters and Sky Surfers(!), taking special advantage of their geologic knowledge of the terrain.

The article includes rules (40K 2^nd Ed) for Squat Sky Surfers troop type in addition to the story, as well as the Camo-Cloaks, Power Boards, and the Longrifles used by the Sky Surfers and Squat snipers. (pp. 29-32)

Issue 4 (Winter 1995) starts off with an editorial whining about the price of the Rhino transport used by Squats and other less important beings - $15! (p. 2).

Page 7: another ad from Epicast offering the Termite.

Page 11: a little complaint about the allies system for 40K 2^nd Ed, noting that former enemies Squats and Eldar can now cooperate, and that Squats will condescend to ally with Space Marines.

Pages 21-35: Space Slann are back! On pp. 28-29, there is a sidebar discussion of an entity known as Saul of Nenuphar, a very ancient entity who appears in legends from just about every known race, including Squats. Saul is believed to have been a Slann. Or maybe a Dragon.

Imperial Dispatches: A Warhammer 40,000 Fanzine.

Broadcast from Alameda California, said to be quarterly. I have only Volume 2 issue 1, dated February 1992. Features a less-than-flattering illustration of the Emperor of Mankind on the cover.

A brief article titled “Artillery, the King of Battle” concerning artillery in (Epic) Space Marine notes that the rules are intended to be for general use, including Squats (p. 6).

Louis Porter's Fallout

I have Issues 3-6, March May July September 1995.

Issue 3 (March 1995): Page 7, picture of Imperial Commissars who have stolen a Squat Termite.

Page 12, article on efficient Space Marines point spending advises use of the Thudd Gun.

Issue 4 (May 1995): Page 8, quiz offering fabulous prizes for answering questions about Mole Mortars and less important things. Also discussion about people wanting GW to make some vehicles for armies besides the Smurfs and Imperial Grots, including Squats. Notes that Epicast offers such things, including the Termite, with ad for Epicast with Termite on page 12.

Issue 5 (July 1995): 40K scenario, Mission Delta: Assimilation, features Squats battling Tyranids for possession of a Squat Homeworld alternatively referred to as Drun Kale or Darmer, said to be closest to the Tyranid infested part of the galaxy (pp. 8-11).

Epicast ad for Termite etc p. 12.

Pages 14-17 feature 40K rules for the Blood Slaughterer of Khorne and the Holocaust tank, created by Khorne Cult engineers (i.e., Chaos Squats Adeptus Mechanicii).

Issue 6 (September 1995): Rules for Termite on pages 11-12 and 14. “Virtually invulnerable and invincible” while underground.

Mars: Adventures in Miniature

A quarterly magazine focusing on miniatures-based games from all companies, published in Vancouver Canada. I have only issues 3 and 4, from Summer and Fall 1997.

The letters column of issue 3 (“Martian Mail”) includes a silly idea from a reader, combining Battletech miniatures with Warhammer 40K. Noting that the Battletech mecha are of similar size to a Space Marine, our reader created a new race of tiny Gnomes. Our Gnomes pilot the mecha against 40K opponents who will tolerate such nonsense. The same reader reports that he is busily working on a Squat Codex, which would be of dubious quality from someone who would play silly Gnomes instead of just using the Battletech mecha as Epic 40K Squats Knight Titans, as any sensible person would do (p. 2).

A snippet on page 39 notes that the home planet of the White Scars Space Marines, Tengri, is near the Squat Homeworlds.

No Squats in issue 4.

Squats Epic 40K Update

Just a brief update to the Hungry Ghosts revue of the Squats models for Epic Warhammer 40K. Though Hungry Ghosts is on the mission to paint all of the Squats miniatures for Warhammer 40K, he has no foreseeable prospect of assembling and painting an Epic 40K army.

So the Hungry Ghosts Epic Collection is destined to be kept in nice blister packs for posterity.

The Epic 40K models are interesting from a packaging point of view. As the range of miniatures expanded in through the first half of the 1990s, Epic miniatures were produced with a special package insert, despite the fact that the rules for the game remained a sprawling mess. 

Rules were fractured into the Epic Space Marine set, which covered Space Marines, Orks, and Eldar forces, released in 1990, with some cardstock building terrain to fight for.

After that, White Dwarf was a source of regular rules updates to include other major factions – Chaos, Squats, Imperial Guard. Many of these updates were gathered into the Adeptus Titanicus book.

The Epic Titan Legions set came in 1994, with new rules updates. It also brought forth the mighty Imperator Titan and the Mega-Gargants of the Orks, as well as a gaggle of plastic Imperial Knight Titan Paladins (nice bits for Squat conversions). And continued to include not very impressive cardstock buildings.

Entire armies were available for Chaos, Alaitoc Craftworld Eldar,

http://solegends.com/citcat1993/c93582-01.htm

Imperial Guard of Barbarius Prime (with some Ultramarines allies) and Squigbreff's Ork Horde

http://solegends.com/citcat1993/c93583-01.htm

But the Epic Titan Legions rules were not enough. Thus rules supplements appeared for the various faction – Armies of the Imperium, Chaos and Eldar Renegades, and Ork and Squats Warlords (deliberate pairings of ancient enemies), and Tyranid Hive War.

But that is all prelude. Here we have our new additions:

The Overlord Airship in its blister pack.

 The mid 1990s brought full color inserts for the Epic range, displaying the Overlord in glorious assembled and painted form.

So too with the Goliath Mega-Cannon.

– as with the remainder of the Epic 40K models.

 Where's Our Land Train? Yes, We Know Trains Generally Remain Land-Bound.

Meanwhile, both the 40K and WFB miniatures were shafted with most boring packaging, red for new releases and blue for older miniatures, with no inserts. Yawn.

An unwelcome trend toward less and less differentiation for the sake of cheaper printing costs. Echoed by the awful "we're just standing here" plastic troops of the time.

This was a let-down even from the earlier packaging, shown here with the Mole. The Mole came with a small Thudd Gun, making the claim that this was an “Imperial” armament an even more Grudge Worthy action.

 The Imperial Lies did not cease with the new packaging.

Most images are from the 1996 Epic 40K Catalog, which also taunted the Eldar enthusiast with Exodites and new versions of Grav-Tanks and Flyers that would be scrapped when Epic morphed again to become Epic 40000 in 1997.

Thus, our Epic 40K products from the 1990s foreshadowed the packaging for the transformation from metal miniatures to Finecast miniatures of today. Truly an advancement in packaging, as for the rest...

The Squats Who Might Have Been

It is a bright new year and it is time to ask: Was there a place for the Squats in the Warhammer 40K Galaxy after the Rogue Trader era and its d1000 Tables of Mutations and endless Vehicle Targeting Grids gave way to saner rules?

There's Squats in those there Citadel Journals

Of course there is a bias here in Hungry Ghosts Country, but Games Workshop was basically right- there was no reasonable way to make the Squats a distinct army.

A large part of the problem would have been financial risk. Really putting effort into the Squats would likely have involved turning the Epic-scale Squats vehicles into 40K form. And the Epic vehicles that were unique to the Squats tend toward the gigantic and expensive to produce. And the basic transport and tanks would still have to be created. Even the Termite would require special rules for underground movement. I think if there was a great enough demand for Squats vehicles other than the Termite, Epicast or Armorcast probably would have made some steps to fill those gaps.

A Squat Can't Survive on Termites Alone!

So the Squats fail at a Codex Army level. But the Squats could, and should, have been kept in the game by giving them a lower-level position in the Imperial Guard. The Squats would be like the other initial abhuman strains, the Ratlings and Ogryns. Reflecting the nature of the Squats, a nice choice would be tank and transport drivers. This would have had no practical effect in gaming terms, there would just be bearded little heads popping out of the hatches instead of clean-shaven humans.

We Demand More Jobs for Retired Blood Bowl Players!

Squat drivers could even be just an option on the tank sprue along with human types.

Smoking, Drinking, & Driving. Don't try this unless you are made of Metal.

Squats are superior Adeptus Mechanicus Tech Priests!

This AMTP made an appearance in the Chicago Golden Daemon contest in 2006. The Paranoia Scrub-Bot continues to dwell in obscurity. But don't let his Disney Eyes fool you, that right arm is a Melta-Gun.

Squats are enthusiastic operators of stationary artillery!

The motley band of rapscallions and scallywags known as Lt. Shaffer's Last Chancers would have been a welcome home for a Squat with a big gun. That is my Darksider version of Lt. Shaffer shown above.

And finally, with its vast range of possibilities, the Inquisitor game could have used a Squat character. No, I have not been crazy enough to convert an Inquisitor scale Squat, but now the genie's out of that bottle...

Great Job, Games Workshop!

Let us remember 2010 as the year Games Workshop gave us a Squat version of The White Dwarf. And a fine figure it is, one that says GW is also more relaxed about the strictness of the GRIMDARK Warhammer Universe, letting out a few GRIMDARKgiggles.

(See The White Squat painted at http://solegends.com/citle/citle2000/wdsub/sub2010wdspace.htm)

Offering a new variant of The White Dwarf each year with the subscription sounds like a great plan to me. I would be very pleased by a White Dwarf Skier reminiscent of the Alpine Ski Dwarf below (a limited release from 1989).

Be very very quiet, we're hunting assassins.

Squats in White Dwarf 1992-1995, Historia Squataticus Volume 2

Here we have the Second Half of our investigation of Squats in the pages of White Dwarf.

Part 5: The Second Epic Explosion of the Squats Army, 1992-1993.

This period sees the flowering of the Epic Squats Army as a unique force, rather than a sprue with access to Imperial equipment. The Epic game was reorganized with the publishing of a collection of earlier White Dwarf articles and the Epic Space Marine boxed set, which focused on infantry, transports, and tanks. This set contained new rules, and sprues for basic infantry and tanks/transports for Space Marines, Eldar, and Orks.

The development of the Epic Squats Army, like the other Armies, continued in the pages of White Dwarf, and as part of a series of rules supplements containing counters and cards for two armies in each box (SM & IG, Eldar & Chaos, Orks & Squats) for the new vehicles and big guns produced for the Squats.

Given all the attention paid to developing the Dwarfs and Chaos Dwarfs for their other games, a new round of 40K was still in the plans at this time, in the “once we've made it through all the other games” stage. But GW was a gushing torrent of different ways to play with their core creatures & mythos, seeming to be trying to include every type of setting (fantasy, sci-fi, naval, outerspace, football, etc.) and every type of gaming (board, solo, tiles, minis, etc.).


White Dwarf 150 (June 1992)
Back Inside Cover: Painted Mole in ad for Epic Battle Paint Set

Back Cover: Epic Battle Scene Orks assault Squat Stronghold
***

White Dwarf 151 (July 1992) Cover Art from Ork & Squat Warlords Supplement
p. 38-49: “Mekboyz and Squats” for Epic Space Marine by Andy Chambers, Squats content below.
p.41: Template for Land Train Dragon Firethrower
45-48: Fluff, Rules, Stat Cards, and for Epic Land Trains and Iron Eagle Gyrocopters by Andy Chambers p. 47: A mighty Squat Land Train forges into attacking Evil Sunz Orks, B/W art by John Blanche (full illustration of picture on Land Train card)

p. 50-53: Squat Land Trains, plastic Infantry & Support Units ('Eavy Metal, by Tim Prow)
“Each carriage of the Land Train is dedicated to one of the revered Squat ancestors...” “Banners form a very important part of Squat Tradition. The large banners on the Land Trains show the most revered ancestors of a particular stronghold while the pennants display runic slogans.” (p. 53)

p. 54: Ork and Squat Warlords Supplement for Epic Space Marine (Color Ad £12.99)

p. 59-61, 64-65, 68-69: Battle for Armageddon: The Chaos Wars- additional Chaos counters and cards, including Nurgle Chaos Squat units, for BfA boardgame by Jervis Johnson

p. 78: B/W Catalog Page for Land Train Engine (angled prow), Battlecar Chassis (thick section at rear), and all 4 Battlecar weapons (Berserker, Dragon, Bomb, Mortar (designed by Norman Swales, 4.99 for Engine & Car, 1.75 per Car)
***

White Dwarf 152 (August 1992)
p. 3: Converted Squat Adventurer (SmurfHat) by Massimo Colombari ('Eavy Metal)

p. 40-42: Epic Battle Scenes of Chaos army attacking Squat Stronghold (scratchbuilt from polystyrene and cardstock, painted mountains in background), Modelling Workshop Hills and Woods article and terrain by Adrian Wild.

p. 78: B/W Catalog Page for New Releases-Land Train (Train & Car £4.99, £1.75), Colossus with Iron Eagle Gyrocopter (£7.99, £1.75 for Gyro) (designed by Norman Swales)
***

White Dwarf 153 (September 1992)
p. 2: notice that Agmat is the official importer and translators for GW in France. Agmat produced a rare alternate version of the Thudd Gun (notice is in French)
http://collecting-citadel-miniatures.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Limited_Release_-_Imperium_Imperial_Thudd_Gun.jpg

p. 11: Squat Epic War Machines- Colossus, Goliath, Iron Eagle, Overlord, Infantry ('Eavy Metal)
“The Guild of Engineers is a powerful part of Squat society. It knowledge and experience in the art [of] mechanical construction is legendary.”

p. 32: Ork and Squat Warlords Supplement for Epic Space Marine (Color Ad, £12.99)

p. 74-75: B/W Catalog Pages for Land Train (Train & Car £4.99, Car £1.75), Colossus with Iron Eagle Gyrocopter (£7.99, Gyro £1.35), Goliath Mega-Cannon £3.99), Overlord Airship (£3.99)
***

White Dwarf 154 (October 1992)
p. 34-50: Epic Battle Report: Battle for Golgotha Squats vs Orks, Johnson vs Chambers.
Squats led by Commissar Yarrick, many Battle Scenes, recycled art, B/W Illustration of 2nd Ed Squat on p. 49, Squat Army deal for £51.90 on p. 69

p. 71: B/W Catalog Page for Goliath, Overlord, with Mark Gibbons pencil art Squat Infantry (in gear similar to the few 2nd Edition Squats) vs World Eaters, dated 1992.
p. 72: B/W Catalog Page for Land Train, Colossus, Gyrocopter (same prices as WD 153)
***

White Dwarf 155 (November 1993): None
***
White Dwarf 156 (December 1993): None
***

White Dwarf 157 (January 1993)
Front Inside Cover: An Epic Eldar Force Launches an Atttack Against a Squat Stronghold
***

White Dwarf 158 (February 1993): None

White Dwarf 159 (March 1993): None
***

White Dwarf 160 (April 1993)
p. 72: B/W Catalog Page for Leviathan
***

White Dwarf 161 (May 1993)
p. 11-21: Chaos Dwarfs Blast Forth from The Dark Lands and Dominate White Dwarf for 1993!
“The gates [of Zharr-Naggrund] are almost as high as the walls and massive beyond any obvious need.” (p. 13)

Center Insert: supplemental Warmaster rules & counters for use with Horus Heresy boardgame, includes a Chaos Squat squad.

p. 59: Vikas Ingram and plastic Squat with Helmet head in 'Eavy Metal Painting Guide
***

White Dwarf 162 (June 1993) p. 17-20: Tyranid Attack Dreadnoughts by Jervis Johnson
“Relatively few [Chaos Dreadnoughts] survive and they are carefully maintained and repaired by Chaos Dwarfs artificers”

p. 44: Squats Warriors & Chaos Horde Epic Boxed Sets (Color Ad for small version, $12.99)
Squat Warriors has 20 Bikes, 5 Guild Weapon Teams, 5 Thudd Guns, 5 Mole Mortars, 130 Infantry; Chaos Horde has 105 Chaos Infantry (incl Chaos Squats), 30 Riding Beasts, 10 Minotaurs, 10 Trolls
***

White Dwarf 163 (July 1993)
p. 2: News including picture of prototype of Banelord Titan, text saying Leviathan variants are being worked on.

p. 9: New pewter range for North America, blister of 2 Squats $4.99, 2 bikes $9.99, 2 Heavy Weapons $5.99

p. 48: Squats Warriors & Chaos Horde Epic Boxed Sets (Color Ad for small version)
***

White Dwarf 164 (August 1993)
Front Inside Cover: Chaos Squats in Epic Host of Khorne ('Eavy Metal)

p. 84-end: B/W Catalog Pages for entire Epic line, including Squats, Tunnelers, Chaos Engines and Titans
***

Part 6: The Last Chance for New Squats in Warhammer 40K, 1993-4.

Warhammer 40K 2nd edition was released in the Autumn of 1993. This basic rules set contained “get-you-by-until-a-Codex-is-published” army lists for the various forces, including Squats. However, while the other armies got their codex and promotion in White Dwarf, the Squats were on the sideline waiting for development. Squats received some attention in the Dark Millenium supplement, but did not develop further as a 40K army.

Attempts at development of new 40K Squats resulted in the creation of at least 8 new Squats (3 Champions, 3 Berserkers, 1 Exo-Armor, and 1 Trooper). These were very briefly available, but the Squats never received a 2nd Edition Codex.

White Dwarf 165 (September 1993): None
***
White Dwarf 166 (October 1993): None
***
White Dwarf 167 (December 1993)): None
***

White Dwarf 168 (December 1993)
p. 40-44: Warhammer 40K Assault Squads by Andy Chambers. “All Squats are excellent hand to hand combat troops by nature.” (p. 40)
***

White Dwarf 169 (January 1994)
p. 11: 'Eavy Metal Painting Guide to include pages for Squats.
***

White Dwarf 170 (February 1994)
p. 3: Squat Cyclops (Color Ad, New Release $14.99)
“Armed with the Hellfury Cannon, the Cyclops is able to pulverize even the largest of Titans into bubbling piles of slag.”

p. 5-8: Squat Psyker Powers briefly discussed in intro to Dark Millenium Andy Chambers

p. 11-13: Squat Cyclops rules & pictures (by Chambers & Thorpe). Includes Mark Gibbons pencil art Squat Infantry (in gear similar to the few 2nd Edition Squats)vs World Eaters, dated 1992.

p. 39-45: Epic Eldar Tactics by Mark Watts, p. 45 Battle scene with Leviathan under Imperial command against Eldar.
“Squats are particularly difficult opponents as they have lots of firepower (greater to some extent than the Imperial Guard), good mobility and reasonably good close combat abilities plus a very high breakpoint.” (p. 45)
***

White Dwarf 171 (March 1994)
p. 7-11: Squat Psyker Powers briefly discussed in intro to Dark Millenium Andy Chambers, on p. 11 with Ink & Wash ill. of Squat Leader by John Blanche. Illustration is likely for 2nd Ed Squat design development.

p. 25-35: Epic Chaos Tactics by Mark Watts, many pictures and illustrations. p. 26 shows Squats defending stronghold from Chaos.
“One of the races where many of their number fell prey to the temptations of Chaos were the Squats. The twisted brethren of this noble race are responsible for constructing many of the special weapons and war machines that feature so strongly in all Chaos armies. On the battlefield Chaos Squats fight with great ferocity, favouring, like their still loyal brothers, the use of heavy weapons to eliminate their foes.” (p. 28)
***

White Dwarf 172 (April 1994): None
***

Part 7: The Epic Squats Army Stalls, 1994.

Throughout the first half of the 1990s, the Epic Squat Army appeared more frequently than the 40K Squats because GW had built their Epic terrain table with a Squat Stronghold on it back in 1992. Despite this privileged terrain, the Squats did not develop much further as an Army, perhaps due to the creation of an additional Epic Ork Village terrain table in 1994. The Squats were included as a separate force in the revised Epic Titan Legion rules, but the expansion plans reported in White Dwarf were never completed. The 1993 Cyclops and 1994 Thunder-Fire would be the last models produced for the Squats Army.

In Warhammer 40K articles, Squats would continue to be mentioned as adversaries in updated rules for the more favored Armies for several years, and would make the occasional appearance in Golden Daemon entries and unofficial rules publications until the current day.

White Dwarf 173 (May 1994)
Front Inside Cover: Epic Battle Scene - A Squat Army in Combat with Blood Angels Space Marines

p. 37-40 Epic Q&A, several questions involve Squats.
“Squats would never deliberately shoot at one of their own units. This rule doesn't apply to... Chaos who regard casualties caused by their own weapons as an acceptable fact of war, or simply bad luck.[Also as a cure for boredom, for the sheer joy of explosions, for satiating the red thirst, or just to see if you can hit them, according to General Stalkarlik]” (p. 39)
***

White Dwarf 174 (June 1994): None
***

White Dwarf 175 (July 1994)
p. 19-22: Epic Q&A by Mark Watts,
p. 19 has a Battle Scene of a Squats Army assaulting an Ork Town, p. 22 reprint of Warlords box art. p. 21-22 have Questions re Barrage Weapons, Overlord, and Cyclops Hellfury Cannon.
***

White Dwarf 176 (August 1994): None
***

White Dwarf 177 (September 1994)
p. 29: Golden Demon 1994: Overlord Airship by Jeff Durocha, 1st Place Epic Model

p. 31-34: Epic Tactics by Mark Watts, with Squats & Eldar vs Chaos Battle Scene (p. 31)
"The Squat Army is an extremely tough force.....don't let the Squats dictate the battle, take the fight to them. Because of their extremely high break points the only way really to neutralize them is to wipe them out." (p. 34)
***

White Dwarf 178 (October 1994)
p. 6-12: Epic Titan Legions introduction rules & models boxed set by Andy Chambers
“the Squats were tenacious and commanded the most awesome firepower imaginable” (p. 8)
“Norman Swales is also hard at work creating a new range of Adeptus Mechanicus super heavy war machines [the Ordinatus models] and Squat Juggernauts [Who knows?].” (p. 12)

p. 80: B/W Catalog Page for Colossus, Gyrocopter, Goliath, Overlord
***

White Dwarf 179 (November 1994)
p. 74: B/W Catalog Page for new release Thunder-Fire Cannon (2 for $7.99)

p. 80: B/W Catalog Page for Colossus, Gyrocopter, Goliath, Overlord
***

White Dwarf 180 (December 1994)
p. 31: Mole, Thunder-Fire, Leviathan, Scene of Stormhammers & Squats vs Host of Khorne ('Eavy Metal)

p. 79: B/W Catalog Page for Colossus and Leviathan
***

Part 8: Squats Disappear into the Core of Warhammer 40K, 1995.

The common belief is that the Squats as a race were simply gradually forgotten about once new Squat Army models were no longer produced, or, more amusingly, that they were eaten to extinction by the Tyranids because they had a silly name. But a closer look reveals that the Squats, instead of being forgotten, infiltrated the core functions of both the Imperium's Cult of the Machine God and the War Engines of the Ruinous Powers.

The Adeptus Mechanicus's Epic Ordinatus war machines are revealed to have been largely created by Squat members of the Cult. The Squat Tech Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus battled back the mighty Ghazghull Thrakka, and remain the rulers of the mighty Imperial Forge World of Golgotha.

Similarly, Chaos Squats remain integral to the creation and maintenance of not only the massive Chaos Titans and Khorne's War Machines, but also to the armor of Chaos Terminators and Dreadnoughts. Chaos Squats have been a welcome source of heavy infantry since the Horus Heresy as well.

White Dwarf 181 (January 1995)
p. 23-30: Imperator Titan by Gavin Thorpe. p. 27 contains vile lies about how to kill Land Trains and Leviathans with the Imperator Titan

p. 40: Imperial Termites in 'Eavy Metal

p. 74: B/W Catalog Page for re-release of Imperial Mole ($8.50) and Termites (3 for $8.50)
***

White Dwarf 182 (February 1995)
p. 16-24: Waaagh Da Orks Epic tactics guide by Gavin Thorpe.
p. 22-23 provide unreliable rumors about how to combat Squat Super Heavy vehicles.

p. 52: 1995 Golden Demon Guide with Overlord Airship by Jeff Durocha from 1994 GD
***

White Dwarf 183 (March 1995)
Front Inside Cover: Cyclops and Squat Infantry assault Trygon and Gargoyles
***

White Dwarf 184 (April 1995)
p. 37-40: 1995 Games Day / Golden Demon Guide with picture of Overlord Airship by Jeff Durocha from 1994 GD. Squat Superheavies invited for Epic Group Battle vs Tyranids

p. 77: B/W Catalog Page for Thunder-Fire (2 for $8.50)
***

White Dwarf 185 (May 1995): None
***

White Dwarf 186 (June 1995)
p. 19-20: 40K article on Ratling Snipers, with comparison to Squats.
“Extreme cases of physical adaptation have produced mutant populations which are no longer human. Squats are the most important of these mutants and the most widespread.” (p. 19)
***

White Dwarf 187 (July 1995): None
***

White Dwarf 188 (August 1995)
Congratulations to Papa Nurgle on his exciting new Plague Towers!

p. 79: B/W Catalog Page Imperial Mole and Termites
***

White Dwarf 189 (September 1995)
p. 19-21: Epic Irresistible Onslaught Tyranid tactics.

Gavin Thorpe foolishly underestimates the power of the Squat Super Heavy Tanks against Tyranid Bio-Titans, while praising efficacy of Eldar Doom-Weavers. You are in The Book of Grudges now, Mr. Thorpe.
***

White Dwarf 190 (October 1995)
p. 21-24: 40K Callidus Assassin rules, Polymorphine Wargear allows Assassin to appear as a Squat.

p. 26: Epic Squat League Defends Stronghold against Tyranids ('Eavy Metal)

p. 37-41: 40K Tyranid Warriors tactics by Andy Chambers.
p. 38 falsely accuses Squats of being slow-witted, like Orks. Slow-footed is not slow-witted. Book of Grudges for you, el Andy.
***

White Dwarf 191 (November 1995)
p. 40-46 Dwarf Tacticus (for WFB) by Jeremy Vetlock.
“After my Dwarf Army was well underway...I began keeping my own Book of Grudges. This is great fun! … It's very pleasing when you avenge yourself and can cross off a past dishonor!” (p. 46)
***
p. 48-53: Epic Ordinatus rules and tactics by Gavin Thorpe, showing Squats to be the creators of Ordinatus technology.

p. 48: “This huge tunnelling machine [Ordinatus Priam] was assembled during the siege of Priam, a city overrun by the traitor forces in the Horus Heresy. The immense creation was designed to tunnel through the planet's crust and and then navigate through the white-hot mantle underneath. This rendered it undetectable to Priam's defences and allowed four companies of elite Imperial Guard troops to storm the city's Generatum Vulcanis, breaking the siege. However, Ordinatus Priam was irrevocably damaged during the attack, as parts of its heatshielding gave way.”

p. 50: Epic Battle Scene - The Hellfire missiles of Ordinatus Golgotha devastated the Ork army of Warlord Ghazghull Thraka, driving him from the Squat Homeworld of Golgotha and freeing the inhabitants from slavery – Squat Stronghold terrain with Bikers, Russes & the Ord.

p. 51: “Ordinatus Golgotha was constructed in the recaptured strongholds of the Squats. Golgotha's terrifying Hellfire missiles devastated the Orks, slaying thousands over the course of a week. The Orks were routed from the Squat Homeworld and since then the Ordinatus Golgotha has always been in the forefront of any battle against enemies who have a strong numerical advantage.”

p.52: “Geronimus Undersen devised an Ordinatus [Armageddon] as a defence against the marauding war machines [of Chaos]. Undersen mounted a massive starship weapon onto a land-bound chassis, giving the Imperial forces an immense machine powerful enough to destroy even the largest and most heavily armored foes. This idea was by no means original, and followed the concept behind the famous Squat Titan-killer – the Cyclops.”
***

White Dwarf 192 (December 1995)
p. 51-56: “Death from Above” Epic Air Tactics by Gavin Thorpe, includes discussion of Squat Overlord and Iron Eagle, battle scenes vs Eldar and Orks showing most of range of minis.
“the Overlord can lay down a murderous curtain of fire before the enemy can even try to shoot at it...Groups of Overlords are capable of obliterating whole companies of enemy troops at a single blow!” (p. 56, excited, though logically inconsistent)

p. 97-109: Eldar vs Chaos Epic Battle Report, Eldar player reported as usually Squat Commander (Steve Anastasoff)

p. 120: B/W Catalog Page for Adeptus Mechanicus Ordinatus Mars, Golgotha, and Armageddon
***

Conclusion?

So now we've made it halfway through the 1990s, and roughly halfway through the history of Warhammer 40,000 and Epic Space Marine. Many of the Rogue Trader Era 40K armies have their 2nd Edition Codexes already (Eldar, Orks, Tyranids, assorted Space Marines) or would soon have them (IG, Chaos, more Marines), with only the Squats and Inquisition/Arbites left out. The Inquisition/AAs would have their own bumpy ride splitting them into multiple codices and introducing new types of troops. They would eventually have an interesting range of miniatures develop. Then stagnate. But that is someone else's war.

Our sturdy Squats had already seen some R&D that resulted in 8 Squats, most of which were much more similar to their contemporaneous WFB and Blood Bowl Brother-Dwarfs than the Rogue Trader Squats had been to the WFB & BB Dwarfs of their time. Whether due to neglect or lack of interesting ideas, this narrowing of design was in contrast to the general trend toward increasing the variety of the other forces, the endless fractination of Space Marines that look alike but fight different, the endless stream of Imperial Guard that look different but fight the same.

1995, however, also saw the introduction of a new game that was destined to greatly expand the variety of Citadel miniatures in type and individual appearances for years to come: Necromunda.

While the semi-serious official line is that the Squats were eaten by Tyranids, the true story ends with the Squats digging deeper into the fabric of the Imperium and the warp of Chaos to let us explore human jungles of The Underhive.

Though it was a worthy trade of Squats for Necromunda, we all know that those 3 Squat Berserkers would have made much more sense as Underhive Outlanders than the Eldar Farseer and Fire Dragons.

Squats in Epic 40K Part 1: Tunnelers and Troopers

This will be the first in a series of postings about the Squats in Epic Warhammer 40K. The Squats continued to be an army in Epic for several years after they were abandoned in regular 40K. As we shall see, this is because the different scale allowed the production of an interesting range of war machines unique to the Squats.

It would have been impossible to produce many of these war machines in 40K scale due to their size, and there probably wasn't enough demand to make them financial feasible as well. In the end, the only Squats vehicles made in 40K scale were those they shared with the Imperial Guard. But the 6mm Squats Army did have a glorious time in the 1990s.

Hopefully this series will be of some use to Squats fans, I don't think there is a website that has examples of all of the Epic Squats miniatures.

We'll start with the Squat Warriors sprue, released in July 1990, in White Dwarf issue 127. Which is far more famous for the Eldar Army List in it than the Epic Squats Army List.

Here is front side of the sprue. Originally 10 of these sprues came in the Squat Warriors sprue. The sprue had 1 each of a Standard Bearer, Hearthguard, Exo-Armor, Missile Launcher, and a Gunner for the Mole Mortar or Thudd Gun. For the fast attack wing, there are 3 Bikers, 1 Exo on Bike, and 1 Trike Weapon Team. On foot, 5 Assault Troopers (with a Bolt Pistol in each hand), 5 with Heavy Bolters, and 9 Lasgunners. Below is the other side of the sprue.

Here are some pictures of the front and back of the box.

Recycled White Dwarf cover art

The back of these boxes look oddly prescient with their "content in the middle & ads on the side format". The Thudd Guns and Mole Mortars have gained some bulk, probably due to limits on casting small plastic items in the early 1990s. Later, the box set would be reduced to 5 sprues.

Robots & Big Guns

Once upon a time, there were robots in the Warhammer 40K universe. But they were crushed under the pages and pages of insanely complex rules for using the metal buggers. Here are Epic versions of all 5 Robots - Conqueror in the bottom row, Colossus , right abovenext Cataphract, Castellan, and Crusader. These were released in spring of 1989, with Epic rules in White Dwarf 112.

Also shown are both versions of the Rapier, and the Lascannons part of the Tarantula (the base got used as a cyberfoot for one of the Hungry Ghosts troopers). There were also metal versions of the Thudd Gun and Mole Mortar that had Space Marines attached, so they are not shown here.

Tunnelers Small, Large, & Jumbo SizeHere is the smallest underground troop transport, the Termite. Released in the Summer of 1989 with rules in White Dwarf 116. Below is the Termite on its transport vehicle. The 40K Termite from Epicast is almost identical to the Epic Emerging Termite. Seats 10 comfortably.

Next is the grand Mole ready to be launched with its cargo of 20 troopers.

The Mole in pieces.

The Mole and Termite together.
The giant Hellbore Heavy Mole
Still in its package, note GW's lax sticker proof-reading.

Here is the Hellbore next to the Termite and Mole. The Hellbore was released in February 1990, with rules in White Dwarf 120. This underground monster had a carrying capacity of 40 Infantry, 8 Dreadnoughts, 4 light vehicles, or 2 Rhinos. I don't know what they meant by "light vehicles" but shooting some Land Speeders out of an underground attack vehicle sounds fun to me.

These Tunneling machines are of the most fun war machines in the 40K universe. It would be nice to see more of them, but underground assault vehicles are not easy to integrate into gaming rules. The next Epic 40K post will take a look at the vehicles released especially for the Squats Army.