Power Armour Throughout the Ages

40k_fan · July 5, 2023

Power Armor Throughout the Ages: Lore Rehashed and Expanded Upon

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Chapter I - "Thunder! Thunder! Thundercats!"

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Anyone who thinks they have seen MkI armor, they have not. What they have in fact seen is merely a ceremonial suit of armor that externally resembles the MkI suit; The true Thunder pattern armor was never worn by Astartes at all. As the name suggests, it was the armor used by the Thunder Warriors in the Unification Wars in the Sol System. The thing is, Thunder Warriors were larger than even Astartes. The "MkI" armor seen in parades and ceremonies is probably just a scaled down duplicate that will fit an Astartes.

Another thing that these ceremonial copies lack? The raw strength of the originals. The motors that powered the original MkI suits were nothing short of archaeotech. The Thunder Warriors were killing machines on par with Custodes in terms of bodily strength. But their power armor was easily three to four times as strong as that.

I should note, MkI is a broad retroactive classification of all of the powered armor used in the Unification wars, because designs grow and change. The armor was never called MkI during that time period, they just called it "Power Armor", just like how people in 1914 never called it "World War One", to them it was "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars".

The armor itself was quite heavy in terms of material, as this was pre-plasteel and ceramite. But that wasn't really a problem for the Warriors inside the armor, they could handle the weight. One limitation of the armor however is that it lacked the life support systems that future suits of armor would include; They were meant for fighting on earth, not in the vacuum space, or underwater, or in an alien atmosphere. Finally, the armor had the issue of exposed power cables, but as you will find in later installments of this series, that issue is one that will take a lot of time to be solved.

So what happened? Well, when the Thunder Warriors were retired, their armor was taken and stripped of its motors for use by the Emperor's own Custodians, as were a lot of the Thunder Warrior's old weapons as well. There were never any updated versions of the MkI armor built because at that point, the Imperium had long moved on.

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Chapters II, III, Bonus I - "Of Crusades Great and Armor Iron"

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This armor was made for Astartes in the Great Crusade, hence the name. And a great crusade needs great armor. The MkII used a system of interlocking plates that gave it excellent range and mobility. Unfortunately, it is for those exact reasons that it is so difficult to maintain. It's a high-effort, high performance suit.

Thankfully it did learn from the power armor from days of old, and it does have some better-protected cabling and actual life-support. In addition, it has sensory functionality that was not present before.

The MkIII armor is a variant of the MkII armor in a sense. If it was made today, it would be under the same numerical designation, like MkX Tacticus and MkX Gravis. But it is considered it's own anyway. It is a very heavy-protection suit of armor. It does this by adding a lot of extra protection to the front. Unfortunately, this means more of the cables are located on the back, leaving a weak point should any enemy attack from behind. Regardless, it is a very good armor at what it does.

On some forge worlds, recreations of MkII and MkIII have probably been made with more modern materials and lighter, that's just my guess. But they still use the same system of interlocking plates, and therefore the same archaic motor and cable assembly as the original. That said, as far as armor goes, it is incredibly high quality stuff if you are willing to put in the effort.

Bonus I: Imperial Armor

If the MkIII is the Gravis of the MkII, then the Imperial pattern is the Phobos. It's clearly built for much easier movement. Perhaps of any power armor it has some of the highest mobility. Of note, it has no giant leg greaves, just more regular boots, much like the Phobos that would come far later. It looks anachronistic due to it's beak which resembles the MkVI, but in actuality, it was the beak of the Imperial armor that would go on to become the MkVI we know today.

The beak itself houses extra sensory tools, so it's evidently an armor designed for scout and recon work. That said, it can still totally hold its own in a fight.

In terms of timeline, it was made before the MkIII. What would the designations be for MkIII and Imperial if they were made today? Well, they would all be MkII; Imperial and Iron are simply variants on the Crusade pattern, ultimately.

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Chapter IV and Bonus II - "Min-maxing"

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The MkIV armor, designated 'Maximus' is the first power armor made that resembles the modern armor we see today. It's not nearly as mobile as the previous Crusade pattern, since it uses larger armored plates with flexible joints, rather than a mobile array of smaller armored plates, but it's far cheaper to make, and due to innovations in material sciences, it's lighter than the previous suits. In terms of getting the most bang for your buck, this is probably as efficient as you can get.

Beyond that though, it's not really much to write home about, besides that it was just a very solid suit that was easier to make and maintain than the others before it. It saw a ton of use during the Herus Horesy. And it had many variants that improve slightly upon the original design. Seriously, this thing had as many variants as a rat has baby rats. Which is between 8 and 18, in case you weren't an expert on rat babies or power armor.

Among these variants:

Achean, Cadaere Renissum, Praetor, Seeker

There were also a ton of variants that just had different helmets.

Cthonia, Deathwing, Hanael, Kepharel, Phoenician, and Sarum. That last one is special for a big reason.

Bonus II: The Sarum-pattern Helmet

This is the helmet that would go on to inspire the later MkVII "Aquila" armor which has become synonymous with space marines. It was originally made on the forge world of Sarum, which fell under the control of chaos eventually. Regardless, it arguably started the trend of the helmet with the mouth-grille and the ears and the angry looking eyes. That's why I wanted to mention it here.

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Chapter V - "It's not as bad as the name sounds: It's somehow worse."

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As Horace Heresy's big temper tantrum raged on, old power armor would eventually be worn out and need to be replaced. During this time, a lot of old armor had to be cannibalized for pieces and this led to a gross little mixture of pieces that was called "MkV Armor" sometimes. This gets confusing because at the same time there was already a MkV armor being developed. We call that armor MkVI though, because the MkV we know today ended up taking that number.

While a lot of "MkV" is simply MkIV armor with pieces from MkII tacked onto it, there would eventually be production suits of MkV that were sort of their own thing. Although similar to the MkIV, the MkV "Heresey Armor" would be far more heavily armored. In fact, the MkV is almost certainly the most heavily armored model of power armor by far. This isn't as good as it sounds though. Through the use of molecular bonding studs, those bumpy bits you see on a lot of MkV armor, extra layers of armored plating were added on.

Well, more weight means you need more energy, and that means you need more armor to protect your larger power pack, and that means more weight. The two solutions are either to bear the weight of the added armor plating, or overwork the reactor and risk overheating. In addition, the extra power requirements meant that more cables were required, which created a weak point on the chest.

One pro of this armor, is that it did have improved sensory capabilities, as it borrowed its senses from Terminator armor. These senses were good, but not as good as the Imperial armor before it, or the MkVI after it.

In summary: The MkV was the most armor of any armor, but also the most sucky. Post HH, it's possibly that variants of the MkV saw some use, but this would require a great deal of modification, such as more advanced reactors that were simply not yet invented during that time period.

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Chapters VI, VII, and VIII - "Face of the Franchise"

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Finally, we reach the beakie armor, which is actually named after our good boy Corvus C. though it's not stated anywhere that he specifically invented it. I think it's possible he might have, but then again, we have the Leman Russ tank, and I don't think Russ himself invented it.

Back on topic, the MkVI essentially an even better MkIV. It should have been MkV instead of what we actually got, but we all know how that turned out. Regardless, it managed to make it to 6th place, where it gets to be an actually good suit. It's lighter than the MkIV but that's because it's meant to be much more stealthy. For that purpose, it has quieter servo motors for quieter walking and such.

It also has the beak of the Imperial armor, but it takes all the credit for that, because it was actually designed first IRL. That's just how things go though. There is a variant of it that has a helmet shaped like a wolf head but that still contains all the same sensory doodads anyway. Wolf heads are pretty cone shaped anyhow.

It was supposed to turn the tide of the Horse Hairspray but it didn't because the traitors also ended up getting their grubby little mitts on it. But of all of the armor that saw use in the HH, it actually still saw widespread use even afterward. Do you want to know why? It's because it is basically the same as the MkVII that came after it.

As it turns out, the MkVII armor is basically technologically the same as the MkVI, but it's optimized for production, not stealth. It doesn't have the extra sensory bits or quiet servos because those things are very special-purpose. It shares 99% of its pieces with the MkVI anyway apart from that. As mentioned before, it uses the same style of helmet as the MkIV Sarum helmet and the MkV Heresy armor (production version). That's because that is just the most advanced helmet type for general purpose I suppose.

But if the MkVII is general purpose, and the VI is recon purpose, there needs to be a heavy variant as well, doesn't there? Well, that's the MkVIII. Sort of. The MkVIII is just the MkVII with some extra cable protection and a better neck guard. Who uses it most? Probably the Deathwatch. If you look at their models, a lot of them wear the MkVIII. It's just a slightly better protected suit of armor. And that is that.

I have no clue why it's called the "Errant" armor, because it's not used by the Marines Errant. Then again, the MkIII wasn't literally made out of iron, so the names don't need to be super literal.

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Chapters IX X - "Postmodern Abstract Expressionism"

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There is no MkIX armor. It's like Windows... All jokes aside. There genuinely isn't. That's because Marysuerius Cawl invented the Big Bad Beetleborgs that were the Primaris Marines. They are harder, better, faster, and stronger than the regular old boring "firstborn" marines. So they need new armor too. And nine is a boring number, instead, ten is much cooler. And what is ten in the ancient tongue of Rome? X.

This armor is described as taking all of the good stuff from the H-E-Double-Heresy-era and making it with newer and better materials. It looks a lot more high-tech than any other armor, but that can probably be explained by the recovery of old STC records of armor.

The MkX is described as being very modular. You can add pieces and remove pieces to make lighter or heavier armor. But this means it doesn't have any new marks that are based off of it, merely alternate configurations.

These variants are the Gravis, also called Omnis, and the Phobos, also called Reiver. I have no clue why there are multiple names, but multiple names aren't actually a new thing. Back with the MkVII, I called it 'Aquila' but it is also called 'Imperator' sometimes. Neither name is more canonical than the other, it's up to the players I suppose.

But yeah, it's the new kid on the block for armor, and it isn't really compatible with any other armor because it's a size too large on any marines that aren't Primaris. Cross compatibility is apparently a dead concept by M42. Apple-brand charger cords everywhere are rejoicing in their graves.

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Chapter XII - "Fursuits in Speeeehssss..."

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The MkXII "Lupio" armor, also called "Runic Armor" and fielded by the Space Wolves. Why is it #12 even though it very clearly is not newer than the MkX in any way, and is in fact mentioned as being incredibly old? Who knows. Anyway, it just looks like MkVII Aquila, but it has magic runes on it that work because Warhammer is 'sci-fantasy' and not hard sci-fi I guess.

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Terminator Chapters Cataphractii and Aquilon - "What are numbers, man?"

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Now we move back onto serious armor and begin our foray into terminator armor. This armor is bigger and heavier and usually slower.

If the regular power armor that space marines wear is Fallout 3 power armor, then the Terminator armor is Fallout 4 power armor.

In the lore, it was originally mining exosuits that were repurposed for fighting. That might have been retconned by now though. A lot of things are.

Cataphractii armor is the first armor on the list of terminator suits, at least chronologically. Very slow, boxy and heavy. It was first used in the GC era. One interesting tidbit: It was not only used by Space Marines, nay, it was also used by Custodes. You'll find that terminator armor as a whole is very one-size-fits-all. Firstborn marines, Primaris marines, and even Custodes can all wear the same Terminator armor. Wild, innit?

Yeah though, Cataphractii has a weird name, but that's not the only fault it has. It's very highly shielded and armored, but it's incredibly slow.

But remember what I said about Custodes using it? Well Custodians are really heckin' strong, so they saw the Cataphractii as too light for their tastes. Instead they wanted to take the Cataphractii and make it even heavier because they can handle it. So they did. That's the Aquilon armor. Just a heavier Cataphractii armor. Most of that extra weight comes from all of the gold they put on it most likely. Custodians wear their gold because the Emperor loves gold and he loves to pimp out his little kittens doesn't he. Okay that's enough of that. Back on topic.

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Terminator Chapter Tartaros - "Good, I guess."

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If the Cataphractii was the Terminator of the MkII Crusade armor, then the Tartaros is the Terminator of the MkIV Maximus armor. It apparently shares a lot of systems with the Maximus. It's just bigger. Of all of the armors, this one is one of the faster ones on foot. It's just made of lighter material I guess.

Technically, like the Maximus armor, it was used at the tail-end of the Grape Crusade, but also like the Maximus, it saw more use during the Horus Hairlessy.

Of all of the terminator armors, it's definitely sitting up there at the "very advanced" tier of armor. It is sometimes seen with molecular bonding studs but it has a strong enough reactor and motors that it can lift up extra armor plating just fine.

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Terminator Chapters Gorgon and Indomitus - "Face of the Franchise II: Judgement Day"

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This is the one we know and love. It's the Indomitus. The special little boy. It even has a "Crux Terminatus" on the left shoulder with a little tiny piece of the Emperor's own armor in it as a good luck charm. Because it's special. Not really though. It's just a very bog-standard model of terminator armor. There's hardly anything special to say about it. In fact, if you read the lore, it's just the most cost-effective option. It's not high-tech or heavy duty compared to the Catastrophe or the Tartarsauce armors. It's just the easy option.

But the design came from somewhere. It was originally a different pattern of armor that would become the Indomitus we see today. The Gorgon. It was invented by Mr. Iron Hands, Primarch of the Ferrus Manus Legion. It was high tech like the Tartaros armor, but it was kind of dangerous too. It tended to leak radiation like crazy. Which isn't good for most people. But most Iron Hands have actual iron hands due to cybernetic replacement of limbs and organs. So they will last longer. This armor has high-tech shields and whatnot that make it cool. Also the face looks different.

Now you make ask. Why is the Gorgon mentioned after the Indomitus in my writings if it came first? Because the Indomitus is just that special. He's our special little lad. Go on and give him a big hug and a lollypop. Nobody even knows what a Gorgon is anyway.

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Terminator Chapter Vulkan - "Stop calling it Saturnine Armor you numbskulls!"

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The armor that everyone calls Saturnine. It's not. No, it was a prototype designed by Vulkan originally for his Salamanders because they were good and deserved a treat. So that's why I called it Vulkan. Primarchs have had their names slapped on random things for less before anyhow.

It has a round face, yes. But it has big shoulder pauldrons. Bigly. Yuge. And that's what matterns. Also it also has a gun on top. Likely some sort of Forge Bolter. Pretty schweet if you ask me.

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Terminator Chapter Saturnine and Arkonak- "Is this what you've been waiting for?"

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We don't know jack about these terminator suits. We simply don't.

Saturnine. Made near the end of the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Heresy and it's really similar to either Indomitus or Tartaros. The only differences are aesthetic, really.

Arkonak. What does Arkonak even mean? Who in the name of the GEOM knows. It sounds like a town in Alaska if you ask me. But anyway. The Minotaurs use it because they are cool and special. It's noted to be in fact the predominant choice of terminator for the teacher's pets of the Imperium. That's all we know.

The end.

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Chapter Aegis - "Can't touch this."

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The Gr*y Knights. A or E? Who cares. You know them already.

They have their own Armor. It's called Aegis armor. Is it regular power armor? Yes. It's just an evolution of the MkIV Maximus that is spruced up and given a new paintjob and a new helmet. What did I say before, MkIV has a ton of variants. Anyway though, it has an Aegis system in it that adds extra protection from evil. How does it work? Magic.

But it's also a terminator armor as well. Just a variant of Indomitus that has also been covered in anti-demon spray and given a new knight helmet. It's all terribly dull if you ask me. But I'm just another person writing on the internet about Warhammer. It looks cool I guess, but you can say that about most things in Warhammer.

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Epilogue LIBER - "Okay. Now what?"

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So you have a problem. Maybe you are incensed at the lack of a MkIX armor? Maybe you want an excuse to use old HH-era armor on new marines? Then that's literally what this channel is for. Make up an explanation!

Perhaps your marines wear a version of armor that takes an original design but remakes it with lighter materials. Maybe they have fitted old ceremonial replicas of the Thunder warrior armor with modern life support, sensors and motors to turn it into a functional fighting suit on alien worlds. Perhaps they have welded together the interlocking plates of an old MkII Crusade suit to form more solid armor panels which will be easier to maintain. Maybe they have taken MkV Heresy Armor and put in a more powerful reactor to lug its weight around. Maybe your Firstborn marines have modified the Primaris armor to shorten it to fit themselves. The possibilities are endless, so have some fun.

Edited July 8, 2023 by 40k_fan
corrections

40k_fan · August 14, 2023

Dreadnoughts. Do they count as power armor?

Let's look at the facts.

+ Will protect the 'wearer'.

+ Houses a single 'wearer'

+ Enhances the ability of the 'wearer' to carry heavy weapons.

+ Humanoid shape

- "Vehicle" in rules.

- 'Wearer's' limbs don't go in the limbs of the 'armor'.

- Typically quite big.

Okay, well, think on that more and then move on. Let's get into history.

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Musings: Before the Dreadnought

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Did the Thunder Warriors have a dreadnought? Nope. They didn't, and here's why:

Firstly, Thunder Warriors didn't have a lot of competition or risk, they were strong enough to curbstomp the techno barbarians, not a lot of grievous losses.

Secondly, when they did get hurt, Thunder Warriors kept fighting. If a Space Marine loses an arm, a leg, and half of their internal organs, they will probably get the dreadnought treatment (provided their brain is still intact...) But a Thunder Warrior doesn't feel pain and will keep fighting until they die for real, no matter how much damage they sustain.

Thirdly, Thunder Warriors were ultimately disposable. They weren't needed past the Unification Wars. Preserving them would be silly.

End of my musings.

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Dreadnought Chapter Furibundus AKA Fury - "What the heck is that thing?"

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The Furibundus-pattern, the first model ever made of the Dreadnought in our real-world timeline, and possibly one of the earliest in the story of Warhammer 40k.

In the Rogue Trader Era, there were three patterns of dreadnought: Furibundus, Contemptor, and Deredeo.

They all looked the same but with different weapons. Today, the Contemptor and Deredeo have their own unique design, letting the Fury have it's own look.

It hasn't had stats in any modern edition, but let's go over what we do know just by looking at it. It looks silly, yes, but we still need to look at it.

It's very round, rather than blocky. It's got a face on its torso. It looks weird.

Also, it's pretty small. It's not wide, it's not super tall either. Of all of the dreadnoughts, it's definitely one of the lighter ones.

Why was it made? To answer that, we need to look at what dreadnoughts are: Armor, yes, but also life support. The Furibundus allows the marine interred within it to keep fighting as close as possible to how they used to fight. The larger dreadnoughts that came later present the marine with a more tanky, heavy role, but the Furibundus is more mobile and it is also one of the few designs that looks like it can stand up again if you knock it over.

It had two variants, the Furibundus-Contemptor, and the Furibundus-Deredeo. These names sound familiar, because those names were repurposed in later models, and got their own model named after them. The only difference in these variants was the configuration of weapons.

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Dreadnought Chapter Contemptor - "Dreadfully good, dreadfully bad?"

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Bigger and better than ever. This is when dreadnoughts actually become dreadnoughts, the way we recognize. Big battle walkers. We know that the Contemptor is powered by an atomanic reactor. What does atomanic mean? Who knows, but it makes it run gooderer, so we like it.

Visually, it takes after the Tartaros Armor. Or maybe the Tartaros armor takes after it? Regardless, they both look like twins, and it helps give us a range of when it was built first. And that answer is around the end of the Great Crusade. That and we know for a fact that it did exist pre-HH Why?

The Contemptor has a number of variants. Let's look at them.

Contemptor-Cortus is the crummy version of the regular Contemptor. It's "more robust", but also more simplified. Because this is the mass produced variant. It saw a lot of use in HH. But it also was kind of unreliable. Robust is a big overstatement.

Contemptor-Mortis is the heavy version of the Contemptor. It has two of the same gun, e.g. two assault cannons. Fun stuff. Presumably they built these ones off of the regular Contemptor framework, and not the crummy Contemptor-Cortus.

Contemptor-Incaendius is a melee-build Contemptor used by the Blood Angels. What makes it special? It can fly. No, really, it has a giant jump pack. Sanguinius would be proud. No other dreadnoughts have a jump pack, only this one. I wonder why...

Contemptor-Osiron was a design created by Magnus the Red. It's the Librarian Dreadnought of the Contemptor family, because it gets force weapons and psychic shields or something like that.

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BONUS Dreadnought Chapter - Custodes and Dreadnoughts

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Oh yes, the Adeptus Custodes, they have a nasty habit of stealing Astartes tech. Thankfully for them, much like Terminator armor, Dreadnoughts are one-size-fits-all.

Anyway, the Custodes use two variants of the Contemptor, painted gold, of course: The Achillus, which has a polearm weapon, and the Galatus, which has a sword and shield.

How quaint.

NEway, they have their own designs of dreadnought too, because they aren't total hacks. But I don't care about those.

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Dreadnought Chapter Lucifer - "Major L?"

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There is mention of a "Lucifer-pattern" dreadnought. Does it have any models or artwork? Nope. None whatsoever. You want to make one up, be my guest.

It was made around the same time as the Contemptor is all we know, and it is possibly slightly worse than the Castraferrum.

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Dreadnought Chapter Deredeo - "Bringing out the big guns."

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It looks like a football with legs and huge guns tacked onto it.

It's a clear evolution of the Contemptor, just bigger, and more heavily armed.

It only really exists for long-range shooting support, to be a mobile heavy weapons platform, because it lacks any dedicated melee capability. But once you move past that, you can stick missiles and cannons onto it, and that makes it worth it 100%.

Internally, it shares a few components with the Contemptor. Which components? Who knows.

It was used a lot as a testbed for fancy special weapons during the Horuss Heresy, lots of unique configurations of volkite, plasma, lasers, missiles, etc...

It has no variants of its own. I guess it was just too good for variants.

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Dreadnought Chapter IV-V Castraferrum - "Faceless of the franchise."

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This is the one you know, the walking brick. This is a very classic design but it's not a new design by any means. It existed during the Horus Heresey too, you know.

What is there to say, besides like anything else that survived the Porous Pearesy, it was the budget option, not the top-of-the-line design.

It is a heavy, stubby walking mecha coffin, but even then it has variants itself too.

Castraferrum-Mortis keeps up the classic two-heavy-guns design. It has two heavy guns.

Castraferrum-Ironclad has stronger armor on the front.

Castraferrum-Siege has siege weapons, I guess? Pretty neat, not anywhere close to the glory that was the Leviathan.

Castraferrum-Hellfire is the Deredeo of the Castraferrum family, having no dedicated melee, only ranged weapons.

Castraferrum-Librarian is just a regular dreadnought with a force weapon and psychic powers because there's a librarian inside of it.

In each of these, there can be configurations too. The "Firewind" dreadnought has a twin heavy bolter, and a missile launcher (no flamer though)

But there are two sort of models of the Castraferrum too: MkIV and MkV.

What's the difference? In-game, nothing, in-lore, probably better power or efficiency, I don't know for sure.

But there are slighy visual differences: MkIV is very blocky, recantgular, but, MkV is slightly more slanted, sleek.

There are also Venerable and Chaplain variants, but those are more jobs than anything else, I suppose.

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Dreadnought Chapter Leviathan - "Oh Lawd he comin..."

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This is the big boy. The biggest of boys. Perhaps the largest known dreadnought pattern. Some later designs might be taller, but they aren't as heavy, not as dense.

The Leviathan is built for besieging bad battle brothers brutally, which is to say it's a prominent Horton Hearesy design.

Apparently though, trying to control something so big and complex has a tendency to cause madness in those who are placed in it, PTSD flashbacks to the Heresy and the like.

It's really basically just a small knight for space marines. In lore it is even stated as needing about as many resources.

All in all, it's a pretty cool design, and like the Deredeo before it, it has zero distinct variants. It doesn't need them though, it has some powerful guns too.

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Dreadnought Chapter VII-X Malevolence - "That thing has a name?"

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The Dreadnought design of the Space Crusade board game. Most people just know it as the "Chaos Dreadnought" but it was always a loyal pattern first.

This design is unique, rather than looking like a brick with stubby legs, it looks like ED-209 from Robocop; it has long, jointed legs. Legs for days, baby.

It has a few variants to it, which are pretty simple.

MkVII "Malevolence" has two guns and short legs

MkVIII "Marauder" has two guns and and long legs.

MkIX "Dominator" has four guns and short legs.

MkX "Abomination" has four guns and long legs.

Given the numbers, we have to assume it was designed after the Castraferrum. But in lore, it seems that it just did not catch on the same way. Which is a bit sad, because it looks cool.

It most likely served in the Herus Horesy, because everyone and their grandma served in that thing.

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Dreadnought Chapter Redemptor - "Can I copy your homework? Sure, just don't make it obvious."

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Just like everything else Primaris, the Redemptor dreadnought is just like the regular one but bigger. Sort of. The Redemptor is a weird mix of Castraferrum and Leviathan. It's quite large, and heavily armored, but it is more configurable/variable.

It has two variants besides the main version.

Redemptor-Brutalis, the melee version, with claws and fists and stuff.

Redemptor-Ballistus, the ranged version, just a Hellfire Dreadnought with longer legs and some extra storm bolters.

There's also a non-dreadnought combat walker that is built by taking a redemptor and gutting it. Why can the Imperium afford to do this with their new fancy dreadnought? Why not. They made a bajillion new Primaris marines, who's to say they can't make a bajillion new Redemptor dreadnoughts. Audible sigh.

Apparently, firstborn marines can't handle the raw psychic requirements to use the Redemptor, but the Primaris can. It makes you wonder though, could a Primaris marine use a Leviathan dreadnought better too, since they have stronger minds? Whoops, that's almost heretical, better turn back now before it's too late.

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Dreadnought Chapter LIBER - "Your turn."

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We reach the end. Are there other designs and patterns that have existed? Probably, but I don't know them. I'm only a researcher. Remember, this project is creating a timeline that all of these models of armor can exist within. A collective explanation for the armor in general.

Perhaps some day we can go and make actual stats for some of these oft-forgotten relics, but for now, they exist in a great big timeline.

Perhaps some day we can even make our own designs for this thread, make our own stories.

But for now, if you want to see some fan-made adaptation work for some of the rare ones, this thread has some cool stuff:

Edited August 15, 2023 by 40k_fan

40k_fan · September 12, 2023

I know you've all been patiently awaiting / fervently dreading this day. But it's here now.

You know what day it is. The day in which I cover...

Centurion Chapter 1 - "It means 100 in Latin!"

This suit of armor is divisive in the fandom, at least to a degree:

Those who like it appreciate that it looks really cool in art work and that it's a cool idea.

Those who despise it pinpoint the fact that its models are hilariously shrunken and it's a stupid idea.

I don't particularly care, it's in the lore now, there's no unwriting it.

The basic design note for the Centurion suit is that it's power armor for power armor. The STC for the Centurion was discovered around M36, post H0RU5 H3R353Y for people who aren't obsessed enough to research the timeline of a civilization that doesn't really exist. Anyway, the Mechanicus said that it was Tech-Kosher and then the space marines used it and that's that.

There's not really anything to say beyond that. There are two stats for Centurion armor. Both are the same model of armor. There's next to no lore on the armor or its capabilities. Because IRL it didn't sell very well. One thing we can note though, the suits don't actually interact with the black carapace. It's like a human wearing space marine power armor, there's less sync, more delay.

There was supposed to be more models, there's even concept art of a captain in Centy armor, but money talks, or in this case, doesn't talk.

But wait, there's more!

Centurion Chapter 2 - WE ARE THE HAMMER!

The Dreadknight. It's not even remotely related to Centurion Armor, and yet it still gets classed in the same category as a sort of exo-suit rather than true power armor. Does this thing even count as power armor? I would argue it's far closer to the Invictor Tactical Warsuit, it's a vehicle piloted by a dude strapped to the chest of the robot whose arms are not going into the arm holes and whose legs are not going into the leg holes.

It's a creation of the Grey Knights. Why? Because they're special, I guess? It doesn't do too much different from a dreadnought at the end of the day, aside from look silly. Some people can at least say the Centurion looks epic or cute. Nobody says that about the Dreadknight.

Centurion Chapter 3 - Under new management?

So what happened to the Centurions? Well, surely after the untimely demise of the firstborn marine, we would get Primaris Centurions?

Right? Right?

Wrong. What we get are Primaris Aggressors.

The Aggressors' armor isn't even unique, it's just Mk X Gravis armor, which has power fists and launchers attatched.

Let's see how these two compare:

Centurion - 2x Flamers - Siege Drills - Assault Launchers

Aggressor - 2x Flamers - Power Fists - Fragstorm Grenade Launchers

It's the same unit, except the Aggressors have less strength, wounds, save, and width. Also no omniscope.

My point? They tried to replace the Centurions. They tried to replace our precious teddy bears. Truly GW is full of monsters with no common sense.

[ - THE END OF THIS SECTION - ]

Perhaps this is the end of armor marks alone, but there are still armor features we will be discussing here, believe you me, we're not done here yet.

Next week? A deep dive on Jump Packs.

Edited September 12, 2023 by 40k_fan

40k_fan · September 13, 2023

Any Unanswered Questions?

I'll answer them before moving on.

What model of Power Armor do the Custodes wear?

It's called the Auramite Armor. It's a unique pattern best I can tell. Instead of ceramite, it's made of auramite. Which is better, and golden. It's probably the best because it's used by the Custodes, and they get all the pimp gifts for Christmas. After all, they need it, their job is to guard the God-Emperor after all.

So, what makes it special? Well, it's got silent servos and motors, meaning it can move around rather quietly. It's got a built in grav-suit, refractor field, built-in teleporter, anti-cogitator field, etc...

Much like the Mk X Tacticus, it has three unique variants.

Mk X Tacticus ~ Auric Battleplate

Mk X Phobos ~ Auric Half-Plate

Mk X Gravis ~ Auric Warplate

And now you know!

Are Omnis and Reiver different from Gravis and Phobos ?

Yes, actually.

Omnis is Gravis with a jump pack, a grav-chute, and a unique helmet design. Their jump pack design and grav chutes can be applies to a regular Mk X suit I'm pretty sure, but it's always cooler on Gravis.

Also, Reiver is just Phobos but it gets a dope-ass skull mask. Also a new ability that doesn't have anything to do with the armor itself.

How interchangeable are power armor pieces supposed to be?

I mean, it depends on the models in question, but generally, they can be interchanged. Does this have any mechanical significance in the game? No, not really.

Also, regular power armor and terminator armor pieces aren't interhchangeable

Are there other undiscovered 'lost marks' of armor outside of your listing?

If Games Workshop says there are, then yes. Otherwise, it's up to the interpretation

Artificer armor?

Is unique. I'm not covering every single unique suit of artificer power armor. It's not its own mark. It's unique. That's that.

Can regular humans use power armor?

Yes, they can, if it's tailored to them. Even so, lacking the black carapace, their nerves aren't connencted to the suit, so their responses are slower.

Why doesn't the Imperial Guard use power armor?

It's too expensive to manufacture at large scale, because like everything else in the Imperium, it's more shock and awe than it is practical.

Why does the Sisters of Battle use power armor?

They work for the church, they can afford to foot the bill.

What about the Paragon Warsuit?

We don't talk about that.

Is the Allarus Terminator armor related to any other models?

I forgot it existed when I made the previous terminator chapters

It's just terminator armor developed even further from the Aquilon, and it has total freedom of movement or whatever.

Allegedly, it can survive a projectile from a macrocannon. But uh... no. Just no. Warhammer 40k can be as crazy and unrealistic to a point. If you want to survive something that strong, it would need some sort of unholy warp magic. The shields physically could not hold enough energy to provide a countering force against that, and even if it could block 99.99% of the energy, it would still probably turn the custodian to mush. Such is life, I suppose.

I love my 60 tetrajoules...

Is power armor realistic?

It's certainly physically possible, but the returns would be diminishing in real life. The metal and motors would be more efficient in a tank or a starship. That said, for ground combat, it's not a bad idea. It's more mobile than a tank in close-quarters. The only logical hangups are weak floors and stairs. Unless power armor has some sort of exotic-matter mass-nullifier, it would be too heavy for a lot of floors and stairs, and simply break them, falling through.

BONUS:

What about Ignatus, Malleus, Delphis, Vratine, Dragon Scale?
Those are for regular humans, Ignatus is the basic model made by Mechanicus. Malleus is an upgrade for the Ordo Malleus, Delphis is used by Rogue Traders and it looks like a knockoff of MkII Iron Armor. Vratine is for the Sisters of Silence. Dragonscale is for the Mechanicus themselves.

What about the Lorica Thallax?
I'd classify that is a 'cyborg' suit more than power armor. It might be mechanically identical, but the Thallax cannot leave their suits due to being pretty much spinal cords and brains that lack any internal organs. At least a Dreadnought can survive outside of their suits.

What about the Hunting Rigs from Necromunda?

This is some heretical levels of tech. It's adaptive armor that regenerates and are tied to the wearer's nervous system. They have all sorts of Mary Sue powers, and they are used by the Spyrers, which are basically just rich brats who pretend to be superheros and terrorize the poor.

Interesting lore detail though, the armor itself is likely of T'au design. If you look at the armor model names (Orrus, Jakara, Malcadon*, Yeld) they match with T'au words that sound suspiciously similar. Besides that, some of the abilities such as regeneration are suspiciously like Necrodermis, and the actual design of some models of the armor can be compared to the Howling Banshees' Aspect Armor. So uh... Make of that what you will.

*No relation to Malcador, by the way, the T'au word for 'spider' is Mal'caor. Coincidence? Perhaps...

Edited September 13, 2023 by 40k_fan

40k_fan · September 27, 2023

Armor Equivalences for 10th

X ≈ II, IV, VII (Regular)

G ≈ III, V, VIII (Heavy)

P ≈ I, VI (Light)

(moved)

Edited October 4, 2023 by 40k_fan

40k_fan · October 3, 2023

[ - Recreating Old Dreadnoughts - ]

Space Crusade Dreadnought

Base: Deredeo-class Dreadnought

Melee: Armored Feet

Lower Weapon Mount: 2 heavy bolters, 2 multi-meltas, or 2 heavy flamers

Upper Weapon Mounts: assault cannon, conversion beam cannon, grav-cannon, lascannon, plasma cannon, missile launcher

Marauder and Abomination Only: +2" Move

Example Stats:

Abomination-Class Dreadnought

1 Assault Cannon; 1 Conversion Beam Cannon; 2 Missile Launchers; 2 Heavy Flamers; Armored Feet

Assault Cannon

Conversion Beam Cannon

Heavy Flamer

Missile Launcher (Frag)

Missile Launcher (Krak)

Armored Feet

4 Attacks | Strength 6 | AP 0 | Damage 1

Deadly Demise (D3)

Oath of Moment

Damaged (1-4 Wounds Remaining)

Targeter Optics

Each time this unit Remains Stationary, until the start of your next Movement phase, ranged weapons equipped by models in this unit have the [IGNORES COVER] and [LETHAL WOUNDS] abilities.

Edited October 5, 2023 by 40k_fan

40k_fan · October 7, 2023

[ - Recreating Old Dreadnoughts (Part 2) - ]

Rogue Trader Dreadnoughts

Base: Contemptor-class Dreadnought

Melee: Dreadnought Combat Weapon

Ranged: Storm bolter, and plasma cannon, lascannon, or missile launcher.

Changes: Toughness = 7, Save 3+

Variant Only: Move = 8"

(Less wounds, and less toughness, but more movement.)

Example Below:

Furibundus-class Dreadnought

Plasma Cannon, Storm Bolter, Dreadnought Combat Weapon, Furibundus Assault Launchers

Storm Bolter

Plasma Cannon (Standard)

Plasma Cannon (Supercharge)

Dreadnought Combat Weapon

5 Attacks | Weapon Skill 3+ | Strength 12 | AP -2 | Damage 3

Furibundus Assault Launchers

The bearer has the GRENADES keyword.

Deep Strike, Oath of Moment

Deadly Demise 1

Damaged (1-4 Wounds Remaining)

Furibundus Assault

Each time this unit ends a Charge move, each enemy unit within Engagement Range of this unit must take a Battle-shock test.

Fury of the First

Each time a model in this unit makes an attack, you can ignore any or all modifiers to that attack’s Ballistic Skill or Weapon Skill characteristic and/or to the Hit roll. In addition, each time a model in this unit makes an attack that targets the enemy unit you selected for the Oath of Moment ability this turn, add 1 to the Hit roll.

[ - Recreating Old Terminators - ]

Rogue Trader Terminators

Base: Relic Terminator Squad

Changes: Replace the grenade harness with a cognis bolter or hunter-killer missile for every 3 models. Allowed lightning claw.

Examples Below:

Vulkan Terminator

Power Fist, Assault Cannon, Heavy Bolter

Assault Cannon

Cognis Bolter

Lightning Claw

4 Attacks | Weapon Skill 3+ | Strength 5 | AP -2 | Damage 1

Deep Strike, Oath of Moment

Fury of the First

Each time a model in this unit makes an attack, you can ignore any or all modifiers to that attack’s Ballistic Skill or Weapon Skill characteristic and/or to the Hit roll. In addition, each time a model in this unit makes an attack that targets the enemy unit you selected for the Oath of Moment ability this turn, add 1 to the Hit roll.

...

Cobra Terminator

Power Fist, Storm Bolter, Hunter-Killer Missile

Storm Bolter

Hunter-Killer Missile

Power Fist

3 Attacks | Weapon Skill 3+ | Strength 8 | AP -2 | Damage 2

Deep Strike, Oath of Moment

Fury of the First

Each time a model in this unit makes an attack, you can ignore any or all modifiers to that attack’s Ballistic Skill or Weapon Skill characteristic and/or to the Hit roll. In addition, each time a model in this unit makes an attack that targets the enemy unit you selected for the Oath of Moment ability this turn, add 1 to the Hit roll.

Edited October 8, 2023 by 40k_fan

40k_fan · October 15, 2023

LIBER - What Can and Can't Each Suit of Armor Carry?

This is actually a serious question.

From an in-game point of view, it's all there. Sort of. In modern editions, what each unit can equip is pretty clamped down on. But in older editions, like Rogue Trader, you could get away with a lot. Hell, you could probably have an Eldar dual-wielding storm bolters back then. The point is, we're focusing on practical carrying from a more modern PoV.

A Terminator suit could absolutely carry a regular boltgun, in one hand too, just like they can hold bolt pistols, but they never do. So can a dreadnought carry a boltgun, but not a bolt pistol.

Regular SMs with storm bolters is really rare these days, but it's absolutely a thing. I believe Captains, Chaplains, and Company Verterans used to be able to equip them. And also Deathwatch used to use them a lot more.

Heavy bolters are more complicated. A space marine in regular power armor typically two-hands it, terminators never wield them at all, centurions can dual wield them, and dreadnoughts can wield two in one 'arm'.

How much can you even fit on a dreadnought anyway? Arguably, you could make a Deredeo-Lite by just equipping a Contemptor with a twin lascannon, a twin heavy bolter, and a cyclone missile launcher or something, or maybe an Ironclad Dreadnought with its two hunter-killers and the aforementioned twin lascannon and twin heavy bolter..

Edited October 16, 2023 by 40k_fan

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