Iron Halos everywhere and for everyone!

[Helias_Tancred]

WTH is up with all the Iron Halos were seeing on new space marine models? I always had the understanding they were symbolic of office, namely captains and chapter masters, and they powered the 4+ invuln.

 

 

Iron halo on the primaris chaplain? Ummm no.

 

Iron halo on a Lieutenant? Fine, give him a 4+.

 

Iron Halos on the new Bladeguard Veterans? Ummm .... no. 

 

Chaplain on a bike? No. Chaplains don't have iron halos.

 

 

LOL this is part a joke-gripe, but part of it is seriousness. I sorta liked (and still prefer) iron halos being limited to captains and chapter masters. Our models are our models, lol, my primaris chaplains do not have an iron halo and neither do my Blade Guard Veterans (but they do have hooded heads from the Deathwing box, since I play DA and had the bits).

 

first world problems ;)

 

 

[Gederas]

Iron Halos are an honour marking, not a rank marking

[Bryan Blaire]

Mostly agreed, Helias - but the over-abundance of Iron Halos amongst Primaris is a divisive subject. Don't expect universal agreement.

 

Gederas is right though, the iron halo itself is an honor marking - but it is most often found amongst the ranks of Captains and the Chapter Master. It can be won by any sufficiently valorous Marine though.

 

The invulnerable save is supposed to indicate the old conversion field tech they are said to incorporate, similar to a Rosarius.

[Helias_Tancred]

I've read around 75% of the entire Horus Heresy line of novels, and many 40k Space Marine titles ..... I'm not saying you guys are wrong, but give me some examples where you guys are getting the first and foremost an honor indicator.

[Rik Lightstar]

https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Honour_Badges_(Space_Marines)

 

Has a summary along with the references.

 

Previously the Iron Halo was purely an honour marking for leadership and initiative, so it was something you'd see on the majority of Veteran Sergeants, some Veterans and even Squad Leaders (the guys who take command of 1 part of a full squad when the squad is split).

 

There's a difference between the honour badge and the wargear item.

 

Rik

[Tyberos the Red Wake]

The physical iron halo was rarer in previous lore because it was considered a valuable relic. For example, Calgar wanted to award one as a gift to the Lamenters for managing to survive a brutal campaign, but they declined because they failed to save the civilians, and Saint Celestine removed her own iron halo to crown Guilliman after his resurrection.

 

It was a rarer sight on the tabletop than equally priceless artifacts like Land Raiders and Terminator armor because it was only available on a handful of units, and all of them at the highest positions of office. Even if one didn't exactly know these specific bits of lore, GW did a well enough job portraying this, whether purposely or accidentally, that most Space Marine players could innately sense it just from passing descriptions and how it was used in the physical models. The scarcity and prestige of the halo in the old lore is why it might be jarring to see it as a standard issue wargear on an entire squad in the Bladeguard.

[Spyros]

I haven't built my Bladeguard yet, but I too intend to use plain back packs without halos. As Blood Angels, the golden helmet is more than enough. 

Ans so far my 3 lieutenants also have plain back packs, the company's livery on shoulder pads, knees and jousting shields is enough to distinguish them.

[Xenith]

The physical iron halo was rarer in previous lore because it was considered a valuable relic. For example, Calgar wanted to award one as a gift to the Lamenters for managing to survive a brutal campaign, but they declined because they failed to save the civilians, and Saint Celestine removed her own iron halo to crown Guilliman after his resurrection.

 

It was a rarer sight on the tabletop than equally priceless artifacts like Land Raiders and Terminator armor because it was only available on a handful of units, and all of them at the highest positions of office. Even if one didn't exactly know these specific bits of lore, GW did a well enough job portraying this, whether purposely or accidentally, that most Space Marine players could innately sense it just from passing descriptions and how it was used in the physical models. The scarcity and prestige of the halo in the old lore is why it might be jarring to see it as a standard issue wargear on an entire squad in the Bladeguard.

 

Basically this. The physical Iron Halo was optional (25pt) wargear that only the highest ranking in the chapter could have. It was a literal halo with a force field generator which was incredibly rare. In the fluff and rules, only captains (converted) and Dante had one, maybe Calgar, but he didnt have one on the model. Even Captain Tycho didnt have one in the rules originally as it wasn't on the model. Somewhere (in 4/5th?) every captain got one as standard, where it became an innate rule, as opposed to a piece of wargear (which had to be displayed on the model).

 

Seeing literally everyone pootling about with these ancient relics is kind of jarring. I just tell myself that they're not actually Iron Haloes, just haloes. 

[SkimaskMohawk]

4th edition had it as an option for any of your hq choices, but it was that or adamantine weave (eternal warrior) or a couple other options. I remember I had to source one to be able to give my librarian an invulnerable save lol.

 

And ya, the primaris obviously aren't all rocking relic iron halos. The chaplain has a rosarius save, the bladeguard have their stormshields, the lieutenant has a stormshield, the ancient has nothing. None of them have an iron halo 4++.

[Beta galactosidase]

The Iron Halo is a badge awarded for initiative, it can be painted onto the armor or made as a metal ornament, and winning it is required to become so much as a squad leader or squad “veteran.” That’s the background I read when I started war hammer and to be honest I must have skipped the badges section in new codexes because I may have assumed it was copy and pasted every time and hadn’t “changed.” Evidently it hasn’t changed in effect because it’s all over veteran models.

 

A Marine who demonstrates exceptional initiative will be awarded the Iron Halo. This simple badge has its origins in the earliest days of the Imperium. Often painted onto a Marine's armour as a red badge. the Iron Halo is the Codex insignia for a Squad leader. It is displayed on the shoulder armour and/or helmet of the Marine as a mark of his rank.

It probably was out of date at the time I read it, but you know it’s information and I just went out and got it.

 

 

Edit: didn’t see most of the replies. Of course Tyberos and Xenith are right, and it’s a bit strange that all captains except Lias Issodon have the force field kind now. In third it was kind of decadent to use one, even if an invulnerable save seemed so important in-game.

 

Imo it’s not really possible for GW to delete old models and background, since it still physically exists in peoples’ armies and old books as well as on the internet.

Edited November 12, 2020 by Beta galactosidase

[Marshal Reinhard]

Fluff changes sometimes.

[Dracos]

Ah. Fondly remember the days a sergeant was your HQ choice.

 

I felt similar building my Primaris Chaplain so used the halo on a conversion for a Phobos Captain. Which is just as weird because it looks good but out of place on a guy whose suppose to be all about camo.

 

Now I can’t decide whether I want to replace it or continue the trend and not use the halos on the Bladeguard I’m building. Trying to fit a sword and board model into a modern themed sci-fi army look is a bit oxymoronic on my part.

[Bryan Blaire]

Fluff changes sometimes.

It does, and not necessarily for the better.

 

Here's the written Codex fluff for the Iron Halo over time:

Iron Halo: The Iron Halo is a special reward given to Space Marines who show exceptional initiative and bravery in battle. In game terms it has the same effect as giving the model a 4+ invulnerable save that may be used instead of a model's normal armour save. No more than one model per army may have an Iron Halo and any model wearing Terminator armour or who has a rosarius may not be given this piece of wargear.

IRON HALO

The Iron Halo is a special reward given to Space Marines who show exceptional initiative or bravery in battle. It incorporates a powerful energy field and give some the model a 4+ Invulnerable Save that may be used instead of the model's normal Armour Save. No more than one model per army may have an Iron Halo and any model wearing Terminator armour or who has a Rosarius may not be given this piece of wargear.

Iron Halo: Dark Angels Company Masters wear the Iron Halo as a symbol of their exceptional bravery and wisdom, and as a ward against the weaponry of the enemy. An Iron Halo incorporates a powerful energy field that can turn aside even the most deadly attacks. Such is the protection they offer that many consider them a shield against spiritual attacks as much as physical ones.

 

An Iron Halo confers a 4+ Invulnerable Save.

So here we see a little bit of a change in the assignment of the Iron Halo, but this could also be considered a somewhat unique belief to the Unforgiven. It was found on Sammael and the Company Master unit entries, and couldn't be assigned as wargear separately.

 

The Iron Halo

This simple badge has its origins in the earliest days of the Imperium. Often painted onto a Marine's armour as a red badge, the Iron Halo is the insignia for an exceptional leader and strategist. It is displayed on the shoulder armor or helmet of the Brother-Marine as a mark of rank.

In this Edition, it was found on the Chapter Master and Captain entries, rather than an assignable piece of wargear, and is written as a leadership award/honour assigned for such. It conferred the 4+ Invulnerable Save still.

 

Iron Halo

The iron halo is an honour granted to Space Marine Commanders and a symbol of their exceptional bravery and wisdom. It contains an energy field that wards against even the most potent enemy weapons.

 

An iron halo confers a 4+ invulnerable save.

So another change, but this time to the prior wording found in the Codex: Dark Angels 4th Edition.

 

Iron Halo

The iron halo is a symbol of exceptional bravery and wisdom. It contains a powerful energy field that acts as a ward against the weapons of the enemy. An iron halo is capable of renderings useless even the most potent of attacks.

 

A model with an iron halo has a 4+ invulnerable save.

Iron Halo

Echoing the flickering war-halo of the Primarchs himself, the iron halo projects a protective energy field around its honoured bearer.

 

An iron halo confers a 4+ invulnerable save.

So even less fluff now, but still makes a note of the honor of the user, although it's unclear if that's meant as "the bearer is honored in other ways, and that's why he gets to wear this" or "this bearer wears this as an honor."

 

Iron Halo

The iron halo is a symbol of exceptional bravery and wisdom. It contains a powerful energy field that acts as a ward against the weapons of the enemy. An iron halo is capable of renderings useless even the most potent of attacks.

 

A model with an iron halo has a 4+ invulnerable save.

THE IRON HALO

An iron halo is awarded for exceptional duty, and those who bear one are held in honour.

So now much, much less text about why those who bear one are honored.

 

Iron Halo: This model has a 4+ invulnerable save.

Here we have the halo reduced to simply a piece of wargear with no fluff text found in the Codex at all.

 

Similarly, the fluff for the Iron Halo is also gone from the BA and DA Codexes from 8th Edition. It doesn't exist in the Deathwatch Codex or any of the Supplements either. It may appear in the Psychic Awakening texts somewhere, but I doubt it.

 

Similarly, there is no fluff text for the Iron Halo that I could find within the 9th Edition Codex: Space Marines.

 

So Reinhard is correct, the fluff has changed - basically by 9th Edition, it has changed to "No fluff at all," with it being no more than a piece of wargear noted in a datasheets. Personally I think that's :cuss and will always use it as some form of honor.

 

One thing to note - for all their having halos on their models, the Chaplains and Bladeguard Vets don't actually have them as wargear specifically - it's up to you to decide whether that's simply because it would overlap/not make sense alongside their Rosarius or Storm Shields. At that point, it's simply an aesthetic choice for you whether you keep them or not (my druthers - snip them undeserving puppies off ;) ).

[Brother Tyler]

...

It does, and not necessarily for the better.

 

Here's the written Codex fluff for the Iron Halo over time:

...

You left two important documents out of your quotes. 

 

 

THE IRON HALO

A Marine who demonstrates exceptional initiative will be awarded the Iron Halo. This simple badge has its origins in the earliest days of the Imperium. Often painted onto a Marine's armour as a red badge, the Iron Halo is the codex insignia for a Squad leader. It is displayed on the shoulder armour and/or helmet of the Marine as a mark of his rank.

 

THE IRON HALO

 

A Marine who demonstrates exceptional initiative will be awarded the Iron Halo. This badge has its origins in the earliest days of the Imperium. It is either painted or etched onto a Marine's armour and coloured red. It also appears as an element of many Chapter and Company designs, presumably recording occasions when the Company or Chapter has demonstrated initiative beyond expectation.

The Squad leader rank was removed in 3rd edition, hence the omission in the second quote.

 

So there are multiple Iron Halo variants:

• An individual honour (someone that has demonstrated exceptional initiative)
• A collective (Company/Chapter) honour (when the group has demonstrated exceptional initiative)
• A rank (the 2nd edition second-in-command of a squad)
• A piece of wargear (sometimes granting an invulnerable save)

All depending on what you want it to be.

 

The way I see it, those models that have a physical halo, but which don't have the corresponding invulnerable save (or have one via some other form of wargear) are simply wearing a fancy version of the honour for exceptional initiative. Keep in mind that the 2nd edition of the game was much less fancy than the current edition, with the Adeptus Astartes models being much simpler. The new-fangled "halo" design might be considered an updated version of the painted/engraved Iron Halo honour.

[Bryan Blaire]

I should have said "written Codex (fluff that I have access to)" - I never had the Ultramarines 2nd Edition 'Dex (luckily, had the foresight not to buy or just didn't have the funds :lol:) - the Iron Halo doesn't appear in my 2nd Edition Angels of Death anywhere that I could find, and I've never actually seen the second document you cited.