Inquisitor lorr Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 Hi all Apologies if this is in the wrong forum, but it seems to fit here. So, after returning to the hobby a couple of years ago, after 10 or so years out, the first thing that struck me about all these shiny new Space Marine models was, where are the back banners?! They were everywhere when I was playing (3rd Ed? I think...). Every squad’s sergeant and character would have one, pretty much without fail. I loved them, even if they were pretty ridiculous and not exactly the most convenient addition in the middle of battle. It seems a rare sight now to find a model with a back banner. Was this a conscious discussion by GW? Was it ever discussed? Has the fluff ever reflected this? Thanks all! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firedrake Cordova Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 The models released along with the second edition had back-banners for the squad leaders. When GW released the re-designed Jes Goodwin plastic Space Marine sprue (~2000?), they didn't include any back-banner parts in it. I believe that was around 3rd Edition and the Third War for Armageddon campaign. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5517428 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 They have been gone for quite some time now. Simply fell out of fashion. Personally I never liked them so I'm fine with that design decision but I can see why others might not like it. Khornestar 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5517429 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karhedron Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 The rules for LOS in 8th make banners a bit dangerous. The letter of law allows you to shoot at something as long as you can see part of it which discourages people from adding things like banners that make units more visible. Having said that, I still rock them for characters as they can normally be screened by nearer units. Firedrake Cordova, Focslain, Domhnall and 8 others 11 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5517430 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quantum Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 I think the back banners disappeared around the same time Ultramarines got their new darker paint scheme (darker blue, gold trim, black bolter casings), which happened at the switch to fourth edition, I believe. Around that time some of the more goofy aspects of the models (like the candybar color scheme of the ultramarines) were quietly being phased out. In my opinion, good riddance too. When I just started the hobby in 3rd edition, a glued on one back banner, because that what the sergeant on the box had, realized how silly it was, and cut it off again. Also, it did not help that the back banner was really only the pole, without the actual banner. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5517434 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magos Takatus Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 I have fond memories of buying blister packs which contained banners and decals. That was a long time ago now. :( Brother Carpenter 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5517457 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enosh Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 7853 M41 edition of Vogue said they are not in fashion anymore so all the marines stopped using them Brother Carpenter, ranulf the revenant, ThatOneMarshal and 5 others 8 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5517463 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermintide Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 Don't some of the upgrade sprues still have banners? I thin it also has to do with the Ancient becoming a unit. I don't know when those were introduced, but banners aren't dead- It just seems to have become the responsibility of the Ancient to carry them, rather than every sergeant having one on his back. Also is it just me or is it weird that you can't just get a Primaris Ancient? They only came in the Dark Imperium box and never got a model individually, did they? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5517477 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbienw Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 Though they are nowhere near as prevalent as in the mid 90's, the legacy remains and they can still be found in a few kits today as optional bits. Tactical squad, Terminator squad, some Space Marine Captain models, Blood Angels Tactical squad, the Deathwing banner, Dark Angels Company Veterans, Black Templars Sprue etc. Not just space marines either, a couple of eldar kits like the Dire Avengers have back banners as well :) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5517480 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluejayJunior Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 I don't see them much, but I use them. And I just got into the hobby at the beginning of 8th. The BA tactical squad and the tactical squad in the Space Marine get started box both have them. I like them. I need to find some for my Intercessors. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5517481 Share on other sites More sharing options...
painting.for.my.sanity Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 I believe Tigurius is the most recent model to have one - so, whilst they're a lot less common, they've not gone away altogether. That said, I've tried to add them back into my forces as much as possible - all my Intercessor sergeants have them. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5517510 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tichinde Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 Yes! they haven't gone, but i guess as others have mentioned just fallen out of favour (and make transporting models easier without them). I added one recently to an intercessor too: and found a good one to use as a "counts as" icon of flame on my Rubrics. Rune Priest Ridcully 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5517518 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadGreek Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 If you're interested in them, THIS GUY has Primaris sized, magnet ready, back banners on Shapeways. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5517974 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MegaVolt87 Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 Yes! they haven't gone, but i guess as others have mentioned just fallen out of favour (and make transporting models easier without them). I added one recently to an intercessor too: and found a good one to use as a "counts as" icon of flame on my Rubrics. Yeah I miss that type of banner. I have only six of those left and plan to use them as vexillia in 30k for another legion. I love the banners. Heck I am missing the old CSM kit to kitbash with the mk III- IV plastic kits for characters. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5518396 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CommodusXIII Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 Last year I decided to reimagine my original 3rd Edition-era Black Templars army, long since gone, and back banners were a must-have feature. Mmmmm Napalm, vossyvo, Tichinde and 2 others 5 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5521132 Share on other sites More sharing options...
redmapa Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 Horus Heresy still has them, they even have rules! Both infantry kits come with a couple for your sergeants. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5521138 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven1 Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 The newest Chaos Space Marine (multipart kit) and Thousand Son have icons in them. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5521197 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Nord in Gravis Armour Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 (edited) Also is it just me or is it weird that you can't just get a Primaris Ancient? They only came in the Dark Imperium box and never got a model individually, did they? Nope, and the model doesn't even have its own sprue. Its parts are combined with the other Primaris models in that set, much like the Gravis Captain which also has no separate equivalent. I suspect GW will produce separate boxes for *an* Ancient and *a* Gravis Captain, but they'll be new multi-part models. And it won't happen until the Dark Imperium set is retired in favor of a new starter set (possibly as early as this summer or fall, when the rumored Necrons/Primaris box arrives). (Plus if this is indeed the year of the speedy boys for Primaris, that separate Gravis Captain is more likely to show up next year with the slow and punchy dudes). Edited May 16, 2020 by Lord Nord painting.for.my.sanity 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5522436 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonlover Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 I've always assumed that back banners fell by the wayside because they were spindly as all hell and would snap off at the drop of a hat. I think some chunkier Imperial icons similar to the new CSM ones would be pretty cool though. Dragonlover Arendious 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5522442 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sword Brother Adelard Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 (edited) I've always assumed that back banners fell by the wayside because they were spindly as all hell and would snap off at the drop of a hat. I think some chunkier Imperial icons similar to the new CSM ones would be pretty cool though. Dragonlover Every time one of my back-banners breaks off, I magnetise it back on. They're much more survivable if they're designed to break. (You can also remove them easily if it's THAT sort of game.) Edited May 16, 2020 by Brother Adelard Tichinde and Oxydo 2 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5522461 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xenith Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 (edited) Back banners are still a thing as of 2014's blood angels release, I believe the most recent power armour first born box? Unsure why they're gone now. Sprues are probably too crammed with other stuff, 3 weapon options per unit, and no space for banners that only 25% of people use. Edited May 16, 2020 by Xenith Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5522470 Share on other sites More sharing options...
battle captain corpus Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 (edited) I use this them in my Black Legion and in my 30K Blood Angels (though careful not to confuse people as Vexillia I think actually have rules for them!) and love them! Plus it’s not like renegades handover all their kit for spikes and chains the moment they take the Path of Damnation. I say more back banners the better! BCC Edited May 17, 2020 by battle captain corpus Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5522596 Share on other sites More sharing options...
FormelyKnownAsSmashyPants Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 I remember when every sergeant had a banner, squads had a “squad leader” who was the squads’s 2IC, and he’d have a banner too. Hell dreadnought had banners too. It was pretty cool. But as others have said, banners have long gone out of fashion. Plus there are drawbacks to having them with the way LoS rules work. Having said that if you wanna go retro and give your models back banners more power to you, rule of cool and all that. battle captain corpus 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5522602 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magos Takatus Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 I remember painting up a Death Company Chaplain when I was younger, apparently rule of cool trumped the fact that the Blood Angels probably don't want to advertise these guys with a massive banner. :p battle captain corpus 1 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5522608 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sword Brother Adelard Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 (edited) Banners were easier back in the day though. Nowadays painting a back banner is a slightly more daunting exercise of painting a large piece of cloth, finding a series of appropriate transfers and maybe, if you're feeling brave, some freehand for the symbol! Whereas in the old days it was: paint a metal pole and cross bar and apply a sticker! Edited May 17, 2020 by Brother Adelard FormelyKnownAsSmashyPants and battle captain corpus 2 Back to top Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/363693-where-have-the-back-banners-gone/#findComment-5522623 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now