The models are neat enough in and of themselves. Nice to get some human slave labour models. Conversion potential is good.
It would have been wise for GW to include at least a couple of CDs in this warband. Preferably as leaders. We have already seen a couple of Chaos Duardin in two other Warcry warbands, and Horns of Hashut calls out for stunties. Having human followers of Hashut in AoS is not necessarily a bad concept (had it been for WHFB, it would have come at the expense of the archaic string called tribal gods, which would be a considerable sacrifice in worldbuilding), but having no CD models in their ranks at all just come across as jarring given the references in play here. No wonder the lack of evil midgets appear as a travesty to many.
The idea of some humans flocking to Chorf Blacksmiths of Chaos to worship a dark god of greed, oppression and industry for his favours has an interesting ring to it, potentially even when seen with WHFB eyes. More 80s than 90s CD taste, Khorne aside. CD minis in the warband would have rung true to such a vision.
For Old World uses, these models have great potential as lowly slaves on the one hand, and on the other as hirelings in the service of Dawi Zharr as mercenaries. That gives plenty of story room for tensions with the vastly more numerous (and treacherous) Hobgoblins, and ties in with the idea of the Chaos wastes up north being a Chaos Dwarf sphere of influence. I’ve always been a fan of chucking in a few Chaos Marauder mercenaries for Chaos Dwarfs, as evidenced in this Path to Glory atttempt.
Chaos Dwarfs in my eyes always do well when they have Chaos put into them, and ties to the wider Chaos world established, without losing their own distinct themes. Having a small number of hireling humans on hand is a fitting way to go about it, given that it keeps them at arms length as mercenaries (contrasted with the special middleman status of Hobgoblins), while underlining the business-minded nature of these rich hellsmiths, slavers and industrialists.
4th edition equivalents of using these Horns of Hashut minis as hireling Marauders could be something like humans in Hittite or Philistine garb, or maybe even Sumerian at a stretch. Given that Scythian is taken by Hobgoblins, and straight up Assyrian/Babylonian humans in an Assyrian Chaos Dwarf army just does not ring well. While Elamite, Urartian or Caananite styles seem too close to the trend-setting Assyrian one. Or do they? Any brainstorming thoughts on all of this, @Fuggit_Khan and everyone else?
Using straight-up Chaos Marauder or Thug models is of course always possible and fine, but the thought experiment of decking them out in a historical style for foreign mercenaries in an Assyrian style CD force is worth pursuing.
