Hardcore strategy specialist Slitherine has revealed the first fruits of its partnership with Games Workshop to make Warhammer 40,000 games and yes, it certainly sounds hardcore. Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon is to be a turn-based, hex-set game pitting the Imperial Guard and Space Marines against ork hordes invading a Hive World.

Armageddon put you in charge of the Imperial Guard's Armageddon Steel Legion during the Second War for Armageddon, supported by detachments from the Ultramarine, Blood Angel and Salamander chapters of the pious Space Marines. The branching single-player campaign will offer 30 "major" scenarios, plus another 5 in tutorials, the announcement explains.

It seems to be, unsurprisingly, a pretty complex affair, with over 100 units, 20 unit stats, and terrain, weather and morale taken into account during battle. Units can carry across scenarios, earning experience and upgrading their equipment along the way.

Multiplayer will use Slitherine's own PBEM++ system, a more secure version of Play By E-Mail. Yes, PBEM, that's how long your turns may take. Armageddon has an editor too.

Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon is due on PC and iOS some time from January to March 2014. Slitherine has the rights to make more games in the Battle for Armageddon setting too.