Squats in Specialist Games Rules and Magazines, Promotional Items, and Novels: Historia Squataticus Appendices 5 Through 10

Squats in Epic 40K Rule Books, Codexes, and Boxes

Historia Squataticus : Appendix 5

Adeptus Titanicus Box (Epic 40K 1^st Edition)

Included basic rules for battles with Titans and plastic Warlord Titans. I am not sure if any Squats material was included since there were no Epic-scale Squats miniatures available at the time.

Space Marine Box (Epic 40K 1.5 Edition)

Added basic rules for infantry and vehicle use. It also included Infantry and Transport vehicle sprues from the 3 available Epic Armies – Imperial, Eldar, and Orks. These were the boring sprues with basic troops and transports, Space Marines troopers with Rhinos and Land Raiders, Ork Boyz and Battlewagons, Eldar Guardians and Falcons (though this was the first appearance of the Eldar Falcon). 

 

At this point, I don't believe that any Squats-specific materials were included. But by this point the various Imperial Tunneling vehicles were available, so there may be some Squats related fluff comments.

Big Old Epic Armies Boxes

The earliest infantry sprue supplements were large boxes of what today would be an inconceivable bargain and variety in one set.

The Epic Armies Battle Group box contained 20 sprues.

5 of the second Space Marines sprue, with Command, Land Speeder, Assault Troops and other troop types.

5 of the Imperial Guard sprues, from when Beastmen were part of the gang and Guardsmen could fly like Space Marines. And Robots for both Marines and Guard.

5 for the Eldar, Aspect Warriors, Warlocks, Scouts, Harlequins. And in another case of Epic being the vanguard, the first rendition of the Eldar Support Weapon (labeled Grav-Mounted Vibro Cannons on the box) and Vyper (labeled Assault Jet Bikes).

And finally, 5 Chaos sprues, from when Chaos was wise enough to field many Chaos Squats in Power Armor with Bolters (5 per sprue) yet dumb enough to include Trolls and Minotaurs. Yep, Space Trolls. Why not some lesser daemons instead? We will never know.

Both Chaos and the Imperial Guard fielded Beastmen at this time, both of the boring Goat-Man type. IG Beastmen used Space Halberds or the popular Las Pistol and Space Sword combo that lasts to this very day. Chaos Beastmen used a Space Axe and a Space Shield.

The Epic Armies Attack Force, also containing 20 sprues, was a replay of the sprues in the Space Marine set, 5 Ork Boyz and Battlewagons, 5 Eldar and Falcons, and 10 Space Marines, 5 each of the Rhino and Land Raider sprue variations.

The Epic Armies War Horde box (20 sprues too) included the newer Ork sprue, featuring Command, various Odd Boys, Gretchen, Boar Boyz and the like. The Stompers sprues were also included, with their Mole Mortars. This box also included the Squats sprue, full of Battle Brothers, Thudd Guns, Bikers, and other masters of the battlefield.

All of the Army Boxes featured advertisements for the all of the Army Boxes, as did the Epic Battle Titans box. Thus the Epic Armies Battle Group, Attack Force, and War Horde Sets all show or mention Squats on the bottom half, as did the Battle Titans box.

In the early 1990s, there were large boxes of 10 sprues for the existing Epic armies, with some armies getting two (So there was an Eldar Legion box of Guardians and Falcons and an Eldar War Host box of Aspect Warriors and Support Weapons, but no Tyranid sprue was available at the time).

These boxes advertised the other boxes on their bottom halves, so the Squats Army, Chaos Horde, and Stompers are shown on the Eldar Legion box and the others. These boxes varied in color, with the Squats Warriors box being red.

At this point, the going name was Space Marine, maybe, as the Space Marine box itself was also advertised as “the core game of the Epic Hobby”.

Codex Titanicus: This book contained all of the supplementary rules that had been published in White Dwarf since the release of the Space Marine boxed set. I don't think there was any new material in here. This was the trend at the time, similar to the Warhammer 40K Compendium and Compilation books, as well as the 3 Orks books (Waaargh! The Orks!, 'Ere We Go!, and Freebooterz (Yes, beardlings, there was a time when Orky kultcha was so varied and detailed that 3 full books of material existed (5 different army lists!). Even an angry Squat will shed a tear in his beer at the horrible degradation the Orks have experienced since the turn of the century. Almost better to have been dropped from the game than turned into green gorillas with no sense of the value of a good set of teef.).).

If you believe the cover of this volume, this game with little men and many names was known as Epic Battles at this point. One must suspect that the Epic Naming Committee had been stuffed with representatives from the Tzeentch faction.

Epic 40K: Early 1990s Rules Supplements

Soon enough, the already scattered rules of the game-of-many-names were replaced by boxed sets full of rules, army cards, special power and weapon cards, counters and other cardboard critters designed for specific pairs of armies.

First released was the Armies of the Imperium Rules box, which included rules for the Squat-sourced Termite, Mole, Thudd Gun, Mole Mortar, and Hellbore. There were undoubtedly a plethora of comments about the Squats in here, but I do not own the set to provide the details.
The Ork and Squats Warlords box included rules and cards for all Squats troops and vehicles available at the time.
The Renegades (Eldar and Chaos) box featured rules and cards for Chaos Squats. More specifically:

Page 8 notes that allies are permitted, with Squats among potential allies of the Eldar.

Page 45 is a full-color battle scene pitting Chaos against Eldar, with Chaos Squats present on the high ground. Page 48 displays A Mighty Army of Chaos, including again our Chaos Squats, as well as some traitor Imperial Guard.

Page 66 supplies rules for the Chaos Android, more-or-less the first incarnation of the Necrons, but more-than-less a direct grab from the Terminator film.

The Chaos Android's “cunning construction is a secret known only to certain tainted Squat fabricators” working with Chaos Sorcerers, resulting in “a tiny bound daemon, [as] an animating spirit imprisoned within its plasteel shell [which] hates being trapped in this way and will do anything to escape”.

Page 69 details the critical role of the Chaos Squats within the Armies of Chaos:

“Chaos Squats are the armourers and artificers of the armies of Chaos. With devilish cunning they construct weapons and engines of war which defy sanity. Each new creation is magnificently built to evoke the correct aura of terror and majesty. It is thought that the Chaos Squats are responsible for the maintenance and construction of Chaos Titans and the fearsome Daemon Engines of Khorne.”

In addition to the technological masterpieces, “Chaos Squats also fight with unparalleled ferocity in the field of battle, favouring heavy fire power to slaughter their foes.”

Page 72 disperses the mystery, reporting that “the Cannons of Khorne are one of the most hideous engines of destruction created for the Blood God Khorne by the Chaos Squats.”

The back page provides the data sheet for Chaos Armies, including the stats for the Chaos Squats and their war machines.

The Tyranids Hive War box was the last released. I have not seen it, so can't comment on the contents. Though I'd bet my beard that it doesn't say anything about over-abundant snacking upon Squats.

Titan Legions (Epic 40K 2nd Edition (sort of))

This is another item I don't have. These rules were designed to be compatible with the existing Army Rules Supplements sets, so there is most likely an assortment of Squats content. The Titan Legion box included Imperial and Ork sprues and Titans.

Sometime around this point, the boxes of infantry sprues for the various armies were reduced to 5 sprues each, with the boxes featuring only information on the army inside. The Squats box is now orange, like the Super-heavy Vehicle boxes.

Additionally, in the early to mid-1990s, Epic 40K blister packs included color inserts featuring assembled and painted examples of the models on the front and brief black & white assembly diagrams on the back side. The borders to the color side of the inserts were the same orange color as the Epic Squats boxed items. The blister card backs were the mid-90s Citadel generic style - a Red back for new releases and a Blue back for older models.

I am not sure when the Squats blister packs and boxes were removed from the shelves and available only by mail order, but they were most likely off the shelves by the time the Epic 40,000 box of rules and miniatures appeared in the late 1990s.

Epic 40,000 (Epic 40K 3^rd Ed)

Published in 1997, this edition contains only wisps of Squat possibilities.

Page 41 of the Rule Book contains a picture of a Khorne War Machine with a strong Squat-like appearance.

 Coincidence or Evidence?

Sure, he's converted, but look at those faces

The Battles Book page 112 provides a brief history of the Epic-scale gaming saga, noting the grotesque complication that had been erected by the many supplement, with the mighty tower of rules becoming too impossible to maintain under the weight of the Titan Legions edition. The saga mentions the Squats Warlords rules supplement in its retelling.

The Armies Book contains much vague implication. Pages 24-25 provide the details for the Adeptus Ordinatus machines. These are known to have been supplied by the Squats to the Adeptus Mechanicus. Specific reference is made to Ordinatus Golgotha, named for the Squats Homeworld it was first deployed upon against the green hordes of Ghazghkull Thraka. Page 43 reports that Imperial data reports that Thraka was killed during the Armageddon campaign were false, as Thraka reappeared to continue his battle on Golgotha.

The Tyranids are described as “so utterly apocalyptic that nobody is safe, whether they are human, Ork, Eldar, or any other race” (page 95, emphasis added).

The book ends with encouragement to players to innovate: “if there's some troop type or army choice not in this book you should have a go and send it in [to White Dwarf]!” (page 111).

The wait for Squats rules would not be long, with an army list appearing in Citadel Journal issue 20, from Spring 1997, mere months following the release of the Epic 40,000 game. As reported “the demand from ardent Squat players was overwhelming” (pages 32-46, quote from page 35).

Squats in Space Fleet and Battlefleet Gothic Rule Books, Codexes, and Boxes

Historia Squataticus: Appendix 6

Space Fleet Box: Nothing in the very brief rules pamphlets. There were no specific space ships released for the Squats.

Battlefleet Gothic Box: I don't have BFG but it is most likely Squats-free. The same is likely true for the Armada, Invasion, Planet Killer, or Warp Storm supplements, as well as BFG Magazine.

Squats in Other GW Boxed Games

Historia Squataticus: Appendix 7

There have been numerous boxed games released by Games Workshop's, particularly between around 1985 to 1995. Many of these were under license (Judge Dredd) and are irrelevant for our purposes - though it is easy to imagine some Chaos Squats constructing a Radioactive Materials Mining, Manufacturing, and Mutation Facility in the Cursed Earth. Many others were based on the Warhammer Fantasy World (Oi! Dat's My Leg!) and would also require some warping of the space-time-cardboard continuum to involve any Squats.

Other games based on the Warhammer 40K Universe may have some Squats content, but none included Squats as a major feature.

Most prominent were Space Hulk and its supplements - Deathwing, Genestealer, Space Hulk Campaigns, Tyranid Attack – and Space Crusade and its supplements – Advanced Space Crusade, Mission Dreadnought, Eldar Attack. These games featured combat inside of space ships between Space Marines and an assortment of foes, most commonly Tyranids, but also Eldar, Orks, and Chaos. 
 

It is possible that Chaos Squats played some role in these games. Fluff-wise, the Chaos Dreadnoughts that were released for the games would have been engineered by Chaos Squats.

Smaller games include Battle for Armageddon (and supplement Chaos Attack), Bommerz Over Da Sulfur River, Doom of the Eldar, Lost Patrol, and Ultra Marines. Again, the most likely way that Squats may have made an appearance is as part of a Chaos force.

Squats in Specialist Games Magazines

Historia Squataticus: Appendix 8

If a publication or issue is not listed here, then I don't have it. But there is little reason to expect Squats material in Necromunda's Gang War, Battlefleet Gothic Magazine, or Fanatic.

Epic 40,000 Firepower

Issue 4 (2000): Termites, Moles, Hellebore rules p. 34-36. Letter on p. 38 refers to Squat Army List appearing in Epic Firepower 1.

There were only 4 issues of Epic Firepower before the change to Epic 40,000 Magazine occurred.

Epic 40,000 Magazine

Issue 2 (2000), p. 18-22: Rules for Super-heavy Vehicles, including the Leviathan.

p. 44: Index of issues indicates that the Squat Army List appeared in Epic Firepower Issue 1.

p. 48: Mini catalog with pricing includes Squat metal models – Leviathan (8 GDP/15 USD), Colossus (9 GDP/15 USD), Thunderfire Cannon (2.50 GDP/3.50 USD), Cyclops (10 GDP/17.50 USD), Land Train (7 GDP/12 USD)and Berzerker, Dragon, Bomb, and Mortar Battle Cars (1 GDP/2 USD each, that's a big gap between that Land Train price and its Battlecars), Goliath Mega Cannon (6 GDP/10 USD), Overlord Armoured Airship (6 GDP/10 USD), Iron Eagle Gyrocopter (1.75 GDP/3.50 USD). No indication as to whether both variants of the Land Train Engines and Battle Cars are available.

Issue 3 (2001), p. 16-17: Reader letter hoping for Squat Army List and production of Squat Titans. Jervis Johnson reports that Squat Titans are something he “can't see us ever doing”.

p. 19: Index of issues indicates that the Squat Army List appeared in Epic Firepower Issue 1.

p. 24: Mini catalog with pricing includes Squat metal models – Leviathan (8 GDP/15 USD), Colossus (9 GDP/15 USD), Thunderfire Cannon (2.50 GDP/3.50 USD), Cyclops (10 GDP/17.50 USD), Land Train (7 GDP/12 USD)and Berzerker, Dragon, Bomb, and Mortar Battle Cars (1 GDP/2 USD each, that's a big gap between that Land Train price and its Battlecars), Goliath Mega Cannon (6 GDP/10 USD), Overlord Armoured Airship (6 GDP/10 USD), Iron Eagle Gyrocopter (1.75 GDP/3.50 USD). No indication as to whether both variants of the Land Train Engines and Battle Cars are available.

Necromunda Gang War

Gang War Issue 2 (1999) Reprints optional rules for Squats in Van Saar Gangs from Citadel Journal 19, on p. 18-23.

Gang War Issue 4 (Jan 2000) p. 4-12. “Hi-Ho! Squats Miner Gangs” as Outlanders, featuring Prospector/Leader, Miners/Gangers, and Slaggers/Juves. Special Equipment includes Mining Demolition Charges, Chainjack, Mattock, Shovel, Lascutter, Rock Drill, Sonic Cleaser, Miner's Map; also Outlaws Trade Chart.

Squats in Games Day, Golden Daemon, and Promotional Items

 Historia Squataticus: Appendix 9

None of the items below have any Squats material. If a publication is not listed here, then I don't have it.

UK Games Day and Golden Demon Programmes: for 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2010 - No Squats.
White Dwarf Presents Golden Demon Winners: for 2003, 2005, and 2006 – No Squats.
Skulz Collector's Cards: UK 2000, North America 2001 – No Squats.
Forge World Catalogs – Nope. But the Mole Mortar and Thudd Gun have made symbolic returns in the Imperial Guard Death Korps of Krieg army.

Squats in GW Novels, Graphic and Otherwise

Historia Squataticus: Appendix 10

 

I have not read any novels, and only a couple of graphic novels. Since they were largely produced after the Squats were dropped from the ranks of playable armies, there are most likely only a few brief references.

For example, the Warhammer 40K Lexicanium provides an article on Planet Golgotha, which notes that the novel Gunheads, by Steve Parker makes reference to “curious artistic depictions in ancient ruins” on pages 228 and 234.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Golgotha#.TuLLBfL6NdR

 

This dubious retconning parallels the cover-up of the Endor Holocaust in the Star Wars Universe (look it up, beardlings).

Squats in The Citadel Journal 1994-1998

Squats in The Citadel Journal 1994-1998:
Historia Squatitcus Appendix 1

Starting in the mid 1990s, Games Workshop began expanding its array of periodicals, first with magazines devoted to “unofficial” rules by staff and readers, and on to a vast range of graphic novels and fiction. For most of the 1990s the focus was on mixed coverage of different games or lines of miniatures, many of which would eventually have their own periodicals (usually of short life).

The two longest lasting not-White Dwarf magazines were The Citadel Journal and Troll. The Citadel Journal consisted of 50 issues, starting in 1994 and ending in 2002, with several changes in page size and page count. Though it appears that The Citadel Journal was intended to be a bimonthly, some years have only 4 issues (according to copyright date), and some years have 7 issues (which makes dates after 1998 particularly fuzzy). Only issues 22 to 25 are labeled with a precise date, the others only contain a copyright year. So some publication dates are probably off a bit, but the order is correct. I have provided the issue number of White Dwarf at the start of every year to help keep track of their contemporaneous content.

We are concerned here with the second incarnation of the The Citadel Journal. The first Citadel Journals were released from 1984-87 at irregular intervals, containing WFB miniatures, rules, scenarios, painting guides, before the Rogue Trader 40K rulebook and WFB 3^rd Edition were released. At this point, some of you are thinking, “WFB miniatures, rules, scenarios, painting and converting guides? That sounds like White Dwarf?” And you would be right. But the 1^st Citadel Journals were published at a time when the Dwarf was a general gaming magazine, featuring much excellent content for Middle-Earth Roleplaying, Call of Cthulhu, Paranoia and other popular games from beyond the shores of Britain. So the CJ gave a chance to focus on content for GW's own games, which would become the standard for White Dwarf by 1987.

Ye Oude Citadell Yournall

Anyway, Citadel Journal Mark 2 was devoted to experimental and unofficial rules from GW staff and readers. It also provided material for the smaller Specialist/Fanatic games that were not featured in the pages of White Dwarf.

In the first few years, The Citadel Journal provided substantial amounts of original material ranging from multiple-part army lists to extremely detailed conversion guides, with much content from GW employees. In its Middle Period, there was a much stronger focus on publishing reader-submitted material. In the late 1990s, Citadel Journal was redirected toward "experimental" rules by GW regulars, in particular providing the first source of rules and catalogs for the Forge World models and books.

Once the internet was widely available, much of the point of these tree-pulp publications, and similar ephemeral zines by Warhammer fans, evaporated into the Tiny New Land of Tron. Now there are internet fanzines devoted to almost every army type, and more ways to be involved in the worlds of Warhammer than ever before.

As a consequence, printed publications would have to become more artistic and luxurious, or contain exclusive information, to be successful, or both.

Today, we will look at the first 4 years of The Citadel Journal.

Welcome to Forge World, You May As Well Just Give Us Your Wallet Now.

The Squats in The Citadel Journal

The Citadel Journal would provide a temporary home to the Squats in various ways, from army lists to incidental references. The Citadel Journal provided similar refuge for the forces of the Imperial Adeptus Arbites and Adeptus Mechanicus, as well as the old favorites Eldar Harlequins and Exodites. It was nice to see those prancing clowns come back, but I miss the days when there were 30 different individual miniatures in series instead of 7.

Variety is nice but there are still too many Farseers!

*****

For most of its first 3 years, The Citadel Journal was printed on what I believe the UK calls A4 size paper, with 48 black and white pages. The Citadel Journal at this time also featured full color covers that contained additional gaming or artistic material, frequently expanded into multiple-page gate folds of tables, rules, and counters.

Citadel Journal 1 (January 1994, White Dwarf 169)

The Squats army is included in an article about selecting Epic Armies with random card draws (p. 26).

Mark Gibbons's 1992 drawing of 2^nd Edition -style Squats fighting World Eaters appears on p. 35.

*****

Citadel Journal 2 (Mar 94)

Epic Space Marine article “Storm the Breach” about urban warfare in Epic includes rules for Squat buildings and weapons (p. 30-41).

Back cover shows an Epic battle-scene featuring Squats fighting Khorne Renegades.

*****

Citadel Journal 3 (May 94)

Warhammer 40K “Assault” article includes rules for the Squats Mole Mortars. (p. 24-31)

Replay of the Squats v. World Eaters drawing, p. 39.

*****

Citadel Journal 4 (Jul 94)

Warhammer 40K “Assault Part 2” article includes rules for Squat Gunners and Mole Mortars (p. 12-23).

Re-Replay of the Squats v World Eaters drawing, p. 30. What secret does this picture possess? It appears in White Dwarf and p. 58 of the 40K 2^nd edition Wargear book as well.

What does it mean?

Warhammer 40K “Tinboyz” (p. 42-43) features rules for the 3 Ork Tinboy models (Squat, Eldar, Space Marine).

*****

Citadel Journal 5 (Sep 94)

“Epic Special Characters” includes the Squat Ancestor Lord (p. 16-21).

*****

Citadel Journal 6 (Nov 94): None

Citadel Journal 7 (January 1995, White Dwarf 181): None

Citadel Journal 8 (Mar 95): None

Citadel Journal 9 (May 95): None

*****

Citadel Journal 10 (Jul 95)

The front inside cover displays a color battle-scene of Epic-scale Squats fighting Tzeentch Renegade Titans. The Tzeentch Titans are excellent conversions by James Funnell.

“Mega Wars” a set of rules for combining Epic and 40K includes Squats in the mix (p. 4-15). Unfortunately, the rules torpedo the Squats by making anyone allied with them suffer the same movement penalties (also known as “Fat of Foot”).

Ratlings and Ogryn are said to keep up with the human IG without explanation. But presumably the Ratlings use their slick buttery skin to wriggle into crevices in the back of the Chimeras. Thus causing the Ogryn run after the tanks, drawn by the irresistible smell of hot buttered Ratling.

*****

Citadel Journal 11 (Sep 95)

Part 2 of the “Mega Wars,” the Epic-and-40K linking rules supplement (p. 4-17), which includes the Squats army throughout the article.

Since the article is Human propaganda, though, the special scenario for the Squats is a raid against a Homeworld to steal more of the higher technology of the Squats. The authors falsely describe Squat Homeworlds as “dark and desolate” places, but accurately warn that fighting the Squats in their homes will be “particularly deadly” (p. 12-13).

Most interestingly, the authors state that the Tyranids would be the race least likely to attack a Squat Homeworld (p. 13).

The Squat-created Leviathan is briefly referred to in an article on Epic Imperial Guard characters and troops (p. 37).

Squat Leviathan. No Guardsmen Need Apply

*****

Citadel Journal 12 (Nov 95)

Consistent with the “Difficult to Differentiate from Dwarfs” hypothesis of Squat Extinction Theory, the 2nd Ed 40K Squats symbols used in CJ 11 (e.g., p. 45) and 12 are very similar to several used in this issue in Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Blood Bowl articles in this issue (p. 14-16, 22) and others.

40K, WFB, or Blood Bowl?

40K, WFB, or Blood Bowl?
40K, WFB, or Blood Bowl?

*****

Citadel Journal 12a/13 (January 1996, White Dwarf 192)

Part 1 of “Avast There! Ye Scurvy Dogs! Pirate Armies in Warhammer 40,000.” Though the stats for the Pirate Squats appear in CJ 14, the entry for the Pirate Captain provides the interesting editorial interjection below:

The Captains “are the biggest, meanest, most evil pirates that ever charted the seven segmentums (that's including the Eye of Terror and the Squat Homeworlds for those about to write in with 'there are only five segmentums in the galaxy'- Ed).” (p. 26)

An illustration of a Squat Pirate, perhaps a Captain, by John Blanche appears on p .25 as well.

Hungry Ghosts from the Squat Pirates 1990 series

In addition to Pirate Squats, this issue of The Citadel Journal is also honored to include rules for the Daemon-Titan Abominatus, Khorne's Despoiler of Worlds, so mighty It looms over 8 pages of rules.

*****

Citadel Journal 14 (Mar 96)

Epic Squats were the topic of many submissions to Citadel Journal in response to the Editor's call for reader article submissions in issue 13/12a. These are compiled in an article titled “Steel and Stone” which featured new rules for two Gyrocopter variants named Steel Hawk and War Hawk and additional Specialist Land Train Battlecars named Fire Shield, Skyhammer, and Iron Eagle, as well as several vehicle upgrade options.

This article also provided a detailed system for experience-based improvements and new skills for Squat vehicle crews (a flocking million pointy-eared Autarchs cry into their BS3-brand beer). Finally, a special Titan-killer squadron formation, and a special character, Grand Warlord Grimtrek.

The article features the usual recycled art, several 2^nd edition style Squats symbols, the Gibbons World Eaters attack, and an illustration of a couple of 2^nd edition style Squats by John Blanche (p. 27-31).

We Invoke the Power of the Gibbons Illustration thru Our Humble Replication!

“Ahoy There! Ye Mutinous Dogs! Pirate Armies in Warhammer 40,000 Part 2” provides rules for Squat Pirates and Pirate Captains (p. 41-48).

*****

Citadel Journal 15 (May 96)

Editorial apology for not crediting Lee Garner for writing the Grand Warlord Grimtrek material (p. 2).

In a 40K Tyranid-player strategy guide titled “It's Good to Stalk!” by David Camburn, the Tyranid general writes “Except for Squat Hearthguard and Terminators, I have never come up against any real assault squads.” (p. 43-48, quote from p. 45)

Hungry Ghosts from the Squats Hearthguard series

A notable Tyranid defeat is also described (p. 47):

“In one battle versus Squats a result of “Something wrong with Trooper Jones...” [on the Event Tables] meant that six Squat Hearthguard, the Squat Warlord and their chief Librarian ally were all under the Strangler's template. Eight targets needing a 4+ to hit. I missed every single one of them.”

Some say coincidence. I say those eight owe a blood-debt to Khorne for his capricious favor.*****

Citadel Journal 16 (Jul 96): None

*****

Citadel Journal 17 (Sep 96)

An article on Epic Eldar Special Characters reports plans for future articles featuring Squats and Space Marines Special Characters (p. 47-48). Vapor Rules!

***** ***** *****
With issue 18, the Citadel Journal changed to a much smaller but fatter A5 format with 96 pages, while full-color content was limited to the smaller covers that were used for displaying painted or converted minis rather than gaming material. As time went on, more and more space was devoted to topics like painting, modeling, and scenarios rather than the new armies, units, and rules that dominated the Journal earlier. The digest-size lasted until 2000's issue 39, when the CJ reëmbiggened.

Citadel Journal 18 (Nov 96): None

*****

Citadel Journal 19 (Winter 1997, White Dwarf 204)

Necromunda article “House Specialties” provides an alternative to the standard gang advancement rules (p. 18-23). The technophile House Van Saar is given the option of having up to 2 Squats in the gang, Squats who “enjoy the chance to show humans who is the superior race.” The Squats are further praised as “notoriously stubborn and full of self-belief.” (both p. 22)

*****

Citadel Journal 20 (Spring 97)

This issue and Issue 21 supplement the newly released Epic 40,000 rules with material that did not make it into the official rulebooks. Issue 20 presents a Squats army list with stats for the various vehicles (p. 32-46), which are advertised as available from Mail Order (p. 34 ).

Jervis Johnson, one of the great expositors of GW's dragon-like beer-spilling thrashing about in the Strongholds of the Squats, explains (p. 32):

“So why exactly did we leave out the army lists printed in this issue [and in 21] of the Journal, especially the Squats? Fortunately, there is a fairly simple answer to this, which is that we were not at all happy with the way the Knights and the Squats have been presented in the past, and we wanted to put them on a 'back-burner' for a while so we could do a good job on them. The alternative was to 'bash out' a couple quick army lists and simply ignore the problem...”

Johnson says that the GW Overlords made the decision to leave out the Squats & Knights until they were further developed (p. 32), but Warwick Kinrade reports that “the demand from ardent Squat players was overwhelming,” compelling them to produce an army list for the many Squat armies already existing (p. 35).

The background fluff accompanying this Squats army list places their divergence from Humans “over fifteen millennia past” and provides another source of evidence for the technological superiority of the Squats (suspicions of the Adeptus Mechanicus, p. 35).

And consistent with a comment from one of the Hungry Ghosts blog readers, the tunneling Moles and Termites follow the drop pod rules in this Squats army list (p. 36).

*****

Citadel Journal 21 (Summer 97): none

*****

Citadel Journal 22 (Oct/Nov 97)

In a 40K anti-Chaos tactics guide, “Dealing with the Damned III: Vehicles and Daemons” it is noted that the best method of isolating a Daemon-host in bloom is that of the Squats Living Ancestor's Force Dome psychic power, while the Grey Knights or the Inquisition will have a hard time (p. 15).

*****

Citadel Journal 23 (Dec/January 1998, White Dwarf 216): none

Citadel Journal 24 (Feb/Mar 98): none

*****
Citadel Journal 25 (Apr/May 98)

A letter from a reader containing a lengthy parade of house rules for Warhammer 40,000 includes a rule that the Mole Mortar and Thudd Guns use similar targeting rules as the Whirlwind.

*****

Citadel Journal 26 (Summer 98)

Reader Daniel Hill provides a Warhammer 40K campaign outline that illustrates the typical ineptness we have come to expect from the Human Empire (p. 5-15). “The Caudrax Campaign” takes place on the planet of Caudrax Tertius, which lies just outside the Squat Homeworlds Segmentum of the galaxy. The Adeptus Mechanicus uses Caudrax 3 as a research station where they can “obtain exotic new materials from the Squats to use in their experiments” (p. 6).

Unfortunately but predictably, concentrating a bunch of military R&D development projects with exotic materials in one city attracted the attention of a huge Chaos Fleet. And then, another unfortunate oversight, the city is right on top of a gateway into the warp bound shut by a trapped Greater Daemon. Who is waiting for that Chaos Fleet to come open the warp-gate and “bring forth an unstoppable torrent of Daemons, Chaos Marines, and Chaos Titans which would turn transform the tranquil, idyllic planet into a living hell where the oceans burn with fire and mortals are tortured horribly under the rule of their Daemonic masters (p. 6-7). So Marines of all colors come and blow each other to bits with the help of Daemons and their Hunters.

Daemon Worlds with Oceans of Fire! From $99/night!

As attractive as all this bloodshed is to Hungry Ghosts, the Squat part of him must point out that this is why you do the engineering surveys before colonization.

Now let us move on from stupidity to treachery. In “Outriders: The Ultimate Gamers?” two brothers from the USA (Scott and Jason Hill) describe their Warhammer obsession, and provide some rules and special characters made by them (p. 44-55).

First, a Warhammer 40K campaign featuring the Imperium fending off the invading Tyranid Kraken Fleet with the assistance of their Squat allies is discussed (p. 46). Then, in typical Human fashion, the brothers go on to describe a new unit for the Imperial Guard, the Patracian Demolition Team. These Patracians “were first utilized during the Crusades against the Squat Homeworlds just after the Emperor gained power and formed the Imperium. They were deployed as small strike teams to infiltrate the Squat mines and tunnels to cut off escape and supply routes (p. 50).”

*****

Citadel Journal 27 (Early Fall 98)

“Get Yer Motor Runnin'” provides rules and conversion advice for using Motorcycles in Necromunda. The author, Isaac Tobin, prefers the Squats cycles for their more ramshackle and Harley-Davidsonesque appearance compared to the Space Marine bikes (p. 30-38).

This issue includes several Convention Reports for late 1997 and early 1998 events (p. 54-67). Mr. Ian Roberts reports on the “Mighty Empires Campaign Weekend” held at GW Headquarters in Lenton UK on 21-22 March 1998.

Roberts (p.60) writes that he “hung on to the bitter end” of the event, drinking at Bugman's Bar, listening to discussion about the event and upcoming Warhammer releases. During this barroom chatter, it was revealed that “the Squats are to be left out of the next issue of 40K so they can be totally re-written for the issue after.” However, “At that point we were literally thrown out and the weekend's events faded into legend” much like the Squats themselves ...and Mighty Empires for the next 10 years.

3 kinds of Squat Motor Bikes Head for the Sunset

*****

Citadel Journal 28 (Late Fall 98): none. But isn't that a crazy place to put an explanation in CJ 27?

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