Warhammer 40K: Sector Imperialis Objectives Review

Something I've realized about Warhammer model kits is that I really, really like the sort of oddball, almost mundane environmental pieces they've put out over the past couple of years. The Munitorium Armored Containers set is just brilliant, and it's primarily three shipping containers along with some oil barrels and a handful of crates. Sounds boring, doesn't it? But they add a lot of flavor to your tabletop. Ditto the recently released Galvanic Servohaulers, an amazing kit with a big crane, a couple of tractors, a fire extinguisher and a toolbox. Love it! So I had to grab the new Sector Imperialis Objectives because they are sort of in that same vein.

This is a decently price collection of scenery pieces that, as it says on the box, are ideal for using as objective markers in 40k games. You get an Imperial Cogitator (that means "1970s style supercomputer with an Aquila on it"), a couple of cartoonish bombs and ammo boxes, an Orbital Vox Array, a creepy looking Field Medicarium with an operating table, a crashed escape pod, a Xeno Stasis Crypt, and a lovely little Exterminatus Device. There are no rules for them, so it's up to you to work out why they are in your game and what the objective actually is for. Maybe it's a simple control point. Or maybe you are tasked with taking that Exterminatus Device to a critical location. Or you could be retrieving something from the escape pod or stealing the Xeno specimen in the stasis crypt.

I love this kind of 40k stuff.

The detailing on them all is wonderful. The Exterminatus device has wires all over it and an analog counter. The Cogitator has internal parts that you can see through the vents on its back side. Of course there are skulls everywhere. What is especially impressive is how a couple of these pieces use clear plastic pieces, for the first time that I am aware of modeled onto the standard gray sprues - not unlike the multicolor sprues you'd find in a Gundam kit. The stasis crypt is the highlight here, as it features a full window so you can see the Genestealer specimen inside. It's really cool.

Of the pieces, the ammo dump pieces are sort of the disappointment. I really like the bombs, but the crates are somewhat boring- especially since I have a pile of them from the Containers box. It's cool that you can model them open and see the missiles and such inside, but they are also multiple, small pieces. If you want them to be a single objective, you're going to need to base them all together and arrange them. It's not a problem really, but compared to some of the more creative selections here the ammo dump feels like filler. It's also sort of a letdown that these are all Imperial-ish things. I'd love to see some Tyranid, Necron, or Tau objectives for example. Perhaps in a future set?

Still, this a fun kit- a good one day project- and I like having narrative objectives so I think this is overall a great addition to the 40k scenery collection. I certainly wouldn't call it essential but if you like to tell a story in your games then it's a good choice. They might even inspire you to come up with new ways of playing and new types of missions to pursue.