Consuls: identity and iconography

[apologist]

I've been planning to put together an Iron Warriors Praevian – a Consul in charge of robot auxiliaries – for the March of the Legions and have been running into a few stumbling blocks on getting something that's immediately identifiable.

 

Miniatures rely on easily-identifiable features to 'read' as a particular role. A model with bulging muscles, furry loincloth and boots, and a great sword will be picked up on as a barbarian warrior; one with a pointy hat, robes and beard as a wizard. These identifiers come both from the base miniature as well as from the paint scheme and details.

 

We see this in Astartes, as well – a Space Marine with a skull helm, and bludgeoning weapon will read as a Chaplain. It's emphasised and confirmed if the model is painted predominantly black. Similar motifs apply for Librarian, Techmarines and Apothecaries – you'd know what you're looking at if presented with a model painted white.

 

Why is this relevant? Well, I thought I'd start a discussion where we can get our heads together on the visual motifs that identify the new specialist roles of the Legion Consuls. 

 

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Note – There's a difference between using a feather and using a chicken; bear in mind a model doesn't have to use all of these motifs to read as a certain identity: a chaplain without a helm can still read as such, for example. This goes double in 30k, where a lot of the later 'Codex' identifiers haven't yet been solidified. The most obvious example is the non-Legion colour schemes. This list is intended simply as a resource – so it's just as valid to have your apothecary (for example) in Legion colours, or missing his narthecium. 

 

Hopefully we'll be able to build up a useful little reserve of inspiration for the fratres and sororibus of the B&C to use for their Legion officers. I've left out the more general marks of rank – crests, capes etc. – unless specific to the role, as these tend to be so general as to be less useful as identifying motifs.

 

Please do feel free to chime in with any thoughts; and remember, this is a creative hobby – so do feel free to speculate or provide your own personal interpretation. For example, if you think orange should be used to identify 'X' consul, or that Vigiliators should use a stylised crosshair as their symbol, let us know why. I've marked such thoughts as 'speculative' [spec.] in my summary below.

 

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Consul type: Chaplain

Typical physical characteristics: Skull helmed.

Typical specialist equipment: Crozius arcanum (typically a maul-type bludgeoning weapon); although the Rosarius is not yet in use, similar field-emitting protective devices are common.

Associated colours: Black.

Associated details: Skull logo, prayer beads, scrolls, books and similar pseudo-religious accoutrements are common.

Other points of interest: [???]

 

 

Consul type: Master of Signals
Typical physical characteristics: Specialist helm incorporating enhanced information.
Typical specialist equipment: Specialist backpack – incorporating vox/scanning equipment; forearm-mounted (or more esoteric) input device/screen.
Associated colours: [???]
Associated details: [???]
Other points of interest: [???]

 

 

Consul type: Legion Champion
Typical physical characteristics: Particularly elaborate honour armour.
Typical specialist equipment: Legion-specific close combat weapon(s).
Associated colours: [spec.] Legion colours – these are exemplars and intentionally similar to the line brethren. Perhaps similar to Legion elite (e.g. platinum in Emperor's Children).
Associated details: Often highly elaborate version of standard Legion equipment; using equipment and techniques symbolic of or unique to the Legion or Legion's homeworld.
Other points of interest: [spec.] Often emulate the Primarch or other high-status member of the Legion.

 

 

Consul type: Vigilator
Typical physical characteristics: Caped and cowled, understated.
Typical specialist equipment: Special issue ammunition; a sniper-pattern boltgun is typical.
Associated colours: [???]
Associated details: Enhanced optics on helm, visual-enhancing auspex etc.
Other points of interest: Needs physical/visual differentiation from Moritat to avoid confusion. [spec.] Perhaps equipped for extended operations in the field? Mines, booby traps, communication equipment etc.

 

 

Consul type: Librarian
Typical physical characteristics: Armour incorporates a psychic hood.
Typical specialist equipment: Psychic hood, force weapon.
Associated colours: Blue.
Associated details: Keys, horned skull logo, books, scrolls.
Other points of interest: [spec.] Often outsiders, perhaps more individualisation than typical? 

 

 

Consul type: Forge Lord
Typical physical characteristics: Heavily-artificed armour, often reinforced.
Typical specialist equipment: Servo-arm/servo-harness; mechadendrites, often incorporating weaponry; power axe.
Associated colours: Red
Associated details: Crenellations reminiscent of cogs; logo of halved skull set against black and white cog; cabling; red robes, hood; bionics.
Other points of interest: Often employs esoteric, experimental or unusual weaponry such as rad-grenades, volkite weaponry or conversion beamers; accompanied by servitors; commonly carry auspex, scanner or similar equipment. Needs physical/visual differentiation from Siege Breaker and Praevian to avoid confusion.

 

 

Consul type: Primus Medicae
Typical physical characteristics: Similar silhouette to a regular marine – fewer eye-catching marks of rank; marked out most by specialist equipment.
Typical specialist equipment: Narthecium medical backpack; forearm-mounted reductor.
Associated colours: White.
Associated details: Geneseed symbol derived from staff of Asclepius/Caduceus; appears as winged genetic scaffold.
Other points of interest: Often employs esoteric, experimental or unusual weaponry; accompanied by servitors. Backpack-mounted surgical equipment/servo arms possible (viz. Fabius Bile).

 

 

Consul type: Siege Breaker
Typical physical characteristics: [spec.] Reinforced, hardened armour
Typical specialist equipment: Vox backpack, phosphex bombs; [spec.] preference for symbolic hammers?
Associated colours: [spec.] I'd like to say yellow; as the pre-eminent siege Legions – Imperial Fist and Iron Warriors – use yellow, and it's highly visible. Hazard striping, chequers and other similar high-vis markers reminiscent of construction work would be a good way of differentiating them.
Associated details: [spec.] Perhaps stylised explosion as symbol, as in Rogue Trader? [spec.] Use of shielding – either physical shield, pavaise or force field tech. [spec.] Hammer symbol?
Other points of interest: [spec.] Needs physical/visual differentiation from Forge Lord to avoid confusion.

 

 

Consul type: Moritat
Typical physical characteristics: Individualistic, non-standard equipment, dour, stand-offish.
Typical specialist equipment: Rad grenades, pistols (often rare or specialist), jump pack, armour hardened to resist forbidden weaponry.
Associated colours: [spec.] Pale green? 
Associated details: Symbol derived from modern-day radiation/toxic symbol; rad-worn appearance to armour; drawn, haunted expression.
Other points of interest: Needs physical/visual differentiation from Vigilator to avoid confusion. [spec.] typically less ostentatious than other officers, as less honoured within Legion.

 

 

Consul type: Legion Delegatus
Typical physical characteristics: Exemplar of Legion, more understated than Champion.
Typical specialist equipment: Master-crafted weapon; otherwise relatively standard; [spec.] marked out by honorifics – e.g. fascia/cane rather than weapon; laurels and banners.
Associated colours: [???]
Associated details: Legion symbols and traditions evident and obvious; physical representation of the Legion.
Other points of interest: [spec.] Perhaps scrolls etc. or Primarch's weaponry/token as proof of authority? This could be used as the master-crafted weapon.

 

 

Consul type: Legion Praevian
Typical physical characteristics: [spec.] cabling; silhouette broken by augmetics and removable equipment.
Typical specialist equipment: Cortex controller, cortex designator
Associated colours: [spec.] Orange, to echo Red of Forge Lord and Mars? 
Associated details: [spec.] Blank asymmetrical faceplate, to echo Mechanicum's robot designs?
Other points of interest: Needs physical/visual differentiation from Forge Lord to avoid confusion. [spec.] Perhaps use removable equipment rather than permanent augmetics/bionics? E.g. specialist helm/backpack, rather than implants.

 

 

Consul type: Herald
Typical physical characteristics: Striking, obvious banner; honorific equipment (e.g. full robe rather than cape)
Typical specialist equipment: Banner
Associated colours: [???]
Associated details: Laurels icon; marks of veterancy
Other points of interest: Symbol of Legion – highly visible and honoured. Exemplar.

 

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Well, there are my thoughts

[Bob Hunk]

An interesting topic, Apologist, I think you've produced a good summary. :) 

 

Regarding the Pravevians imparticular, from HH Book 6 we learn:

 

On the field of battle they march at the forefront of the inducted maniples, guiding them in the correct prosecution of war and acting as examples of true sons of the Legion. Often chosen from amongst the ranks of those veterans whose injuries have required extensive augmetic rebuild and left them illsuited for other, more specialised roles, these warriors are often solitary individuals, given to brooding and keeping to the company of their iron brothers. It is rare in most Legions for these warriors to advance higher up the chain of command,

and some Legions use the rank as a dumping ground for those deemed unfit for other duties, while others, most notably

the Iron Hands and Salamanders, consider it an honour to serve with such unique avatars of the Machine Cult's craft.

 

I think the simple answer is "bionics". In a Legion that considers the role a "dumping ground" then these are obviously a sign of the injuries that lead the officer to be assigned this role. In a Legion that respects the rank, then these are a sign of the Marine embracing the Machine Cult and seeking to become closer to his "iron brothers". :)

 

Regarding colours, I think the Praevian should be in normal Legion colours. I believe the robots of the inducted maniples often take on the colours of their Legion, so it would be weird if the Marine leading them was to then take on other colours. :) 

[Nomus Sardauk]

A Tower bisected by a Lightning Bolt seems like a fitting symbol for Siege Breakers.

Praevians are a little trickier, maybe something like a Chain Link symbol to show their connection to their automata charges? Maybe a sideways skull (think Relictors Chapter logo) with a cog on the side, again emphasising the mental link between Marine and Machine? As for their colour Orange seems like a good choice as it's close to the Martian rust-Red of the Mechanicum but not quite there, this could serve as a visual representation of how the Praevian is closer to the Omnissiah than other Marines but not a true inductee into the Cult of Mars like his full-fledged Techmarine Brethren, he's more an associate than an actual member. With that said I'd avoid a full-armour paintjob like Libbies or Techmarines, maybe restrict the orange to one of the shoulder insets, again possibly demonstrating the Praevian's outsider status from the Martian ranks as his armour shows more of his Legion colours than that of the Red Priesthood.

[apologist]

I love the idea of the chain link symbol for the Praevian and the blasted tower for the Siege Breaker: simple, iconic and universal. 

[Dagoth Ur]

Another thing worth mentioning is consul types that do not have rules and appear solely in the fluff; like the Opsequirai or Disciplinary Officers, which have been introduced in the nascent VIth legion fluff with Inferno and are a remnant of the Rogue Trader period. They are basically Space Marine Commissars and would make a perfect stand in for Chaplains in legions that were not big on faith or were a bit more brutal, such as the Iron Warriors, World Eaters, Alpha Legion, Raven Guard etc.