Warhammer 40.000 – Battlezone: Manufactorum – Vertigus

For the 9th edition Games Workshop released a new series of starter sets, covering two forces and terrain in different tiers. You can choose for example the Command Edition or just the Battlezone terrain from that boxed set, or if you want to go all-in, the large Battlezone: Manufactorum - Vertigus boxed set that we're going to take a closer look into today.

It is a massive almost 3 kg boxed set, filled to the top with sprues and a large card board game plan. If you're familiar with the Kill Zones sets, this is very similar in scope, providing the gamers with a proper terrain setup for a match. At a price of 120 EUR you receive the following pieces:

• Auto-choral Transmitter
• Thermo-exchanger Shrine
• Set of Manufactorum ruins to build a Storage Fane, Sub Cloister and Engine Shed
• 14 Thermo Pipes

The card board game plan is 30 by 22 inch in size, which is identical with the Kill Zone game boards, and double sided as well. The only difference is, due to the larger box size of the Vertigus set, the plan is not split into two plans, but a single one with a twice the size foot print. One side is a red desert and the other a manufacturom wasteland.

As for the sprues, these are casted in grey plastic and manufactured in the UK, thus providing a proper production quality. You receive a total of 8 sprues, spread across two for the thermo pipes, one for the transmitter, one for the shrine and four for the manufactorum ruins. So far, the transmitter is exclusive to this kit and the shrine only available through the command edition or matching terrain kit.

The Thermo-Exchanger Shrine is a melting pot that connects to the thermo pipes. Due to the size of the pins and other guides on the kit, you can not mess up the build. It can stand on its own or be attached to the thermo pipes. In case you're thinking about using it for example for Necromunda, it might be interesting to not glue the lid and maybe convert it into a Protein Reclamator. The kettle is supported by side beams and the base has two side plates, one covering a wheel.

Fit is well done and in spite of the size of the pieces, the plasticity and details are well done, and more than sufficient for a terrain piece.

As for the thermo pipes, these are an updated / alternate design of the thermic plasma conduits. There are three different designs of the longer straight pipes, with one having one end pointed towards the ground. The thermo pipe sprues are included twice, so you get six of the longer pipes, as well as a few connecting pieces for curves and ends. You can already cover quite some ground with the content of these two sprues.

Beside the pipeline network you can create, you can use these pieces to connect ruins and buildings as well. The design is compared to the plasma conduits a bit more gothic, and the "radiators" are an interesting element.

As mentioned further above, the Auto-Choral Transmitter is exclusive to this kit. It is a very tall building, even for the newer / primaris heroic scale standards. One side covering Adeptus Mechanicus elements and the other one a silent guardian. This terrain piece as well can connect to the pipeline network. I am unsure about the large aquila on top, it serves the idea of a transmitter or broad casting device of some kind, which fits the purpose of the Auto-Choral Transmitter, yet I think it is a bit oversized and you could use the piece as a shrine if you would remove it.

As for the manufactorum ruins, these are kept in the style of the Sector Imperialis, but with a less habitat more factory plant design. You get four sprues in total of these, with two different designs and the wall pieces can be interlocked. A pair of two different sprues provides you with four tall walls, three floor elements, four low ruined walls and two icons of the Mechanicum.

The corner floors can be extented with the third element and they interlock for a stable floor. The size of the individual tiles is a bit smaller than with the sector imperialis.

The lower ruined walls can only be assembled in a fix way and can not be mixed for variation. As for the mechanicum icon, there are two designs, with minor differences (only were the tubes connect to the round icon), so make sure you use the proper ones with the right slot.

As you get two of each of the high walls, you can build A/A, A/B, B/A and B/B and add the mechanicum icon as well as the floors to it.

The manufactorum ruins can be build in three variants, the Storage Fane, Sub-Cloister and Engine Shed. By re-arranging the pieces, you can swap the fane and sub-cloister into a second engine shed or vice-versa.

As mentioned above, you can connect the pipes with the according tubes on the walls / terrain pieces. The thermo pipes are compatible with the older thermic plasma conduits, you can mix and swap them freely. For comparison you see an industrial pipe by Mantic in the middle picture as well, who is the same length but a different diameter.

To give you an idea of the size of these pieces, a comparison with an old and Primaris Marine. Due to their foot print, these fulfill the role of cover and terrain for even larger units. But with the design, they would fit in with Necromunda's latest expansion, House of Iron accordingly.

Conclusion
Holding Vertigus in your hand is an incredibly satisfying feeling. With 3 kg of terrain, the price tag really moves into a lower priority. You get a double sided game plan, covering the purpose of a gaming matt, a couple of ruins, scatter terrain and two very present pieces that could fullfil the role of mission objectives. 120 EUR is more expensive than the Kill Zones, that is right, but they were incredibly good value. Compared with the Command Edition battle set, you get for an extra 50 EUR twice the amount of terrain, with the second shrine being swapped for a transmitter.

So this is a good idea for those who start into 40k, but don't play Necrons or have already enough Space Marines (yeah, sure ...) and want a proper start for their terrain collection. Or already have some of the Sector Imperialis and want to extend these with a bit (well a bit more than just a bit) more industrial pieces. And if that is to much for you, there is always the Command Edition Battlefield Expansion Set.

I think this set fits Necromunda pretty well, as you could build a forge or production facility that one of the gangs has to sabotage, especially with he pipeline and the option to replace pieces of it with damaged sections. It certainly creates a bit of variation with the Zone Mortalis. The only thing that I think could be added to the thermo pipes / conduits, would be a bridge or set of stairs.

Warhammer 40,000 is a brand by Games Workshop.

The reviewed product item was provided by the manufacturer.