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Post by ZarkTheDamned on May 10, 2004 13:15:38 GMT -5
Portent appears to be down (again) and my college class hasn't yet started, so I thought I'd throw out some of my ideas for the Protean Tech Guard.
Name: Every homeworld seems to get funky names, eg Cadian Shock Troops, Valhallan Ice Warriors etc. How does the name 'Iron Eagles' sound to you guys?
Organisation: Each regiment is split into 'cohorts', roughly equivalent to a company of regular IG in numbers but with greater independence. Each Cohort will generally be assigned at least one Tech Priest to repair vehicles and equipment.
Commissars from the Scholea Progenium are begrudgingly allowed to fight alongside the Tech Guard, as the AdMech loathes to allow 'outsiders' into their ranks. However, often higher ranking members of the militant department of the Proteus hierarchy fulfil the same role, watching over their troops for signs of disobediance or wavering faith in the Omnissiah.
Technology: As might be expected, the Protean Tech Guard is highly advanced compared with average regiments. Each member is equipped with cybernetic enhancements to increase their stamina and durability.
The typical Protean Soldier will have bone grafts which toughen their skeleton and increase their resistance to breakage. Their retinas and lenses have been laced with intricate circuitry which interfaces with neural plugs on their spine, giving them a constant 'heads-up' feed of their battlefield position, weapon status, current orders and such like. Their lungs and livers are 'tweaked' with nanomachines to filter out the otherwise harmful pollutants present in much of the Protean atmosphere, and have proven effective in reducing the effects of other toxins in battlefield conditions. These upgrades are performed when a soldier is recruited into the Tech Guard, and form part of a 'rites of initiation' ceremony.
The Tech Guard wear heavily reinforced Flak armour, broadly similar in design to that worn by Cadian troops, although with extra plates and reinforcing struts added. In addition to this, each troop wears a robe. Although primarily decorational, these robes are actually constructed from a high-strength tensile weave similar to that used in Mesh armour, giving them great resiliance.
Another standard feature of the Protean uniform is the Mark XIV "Hoplon" class osmotic rebreather. Unlike other regiments who wear their gas masks sparingly, the Hoplon is a permenant fixture of the Protean Helmet structure. It features an advanced air cycling and cleaning mechanism, internal low-level communications rig, and a pair of miniaturised oxygen cylinders, which enable a soldier to survive for up to half an hour in otherwise unbreathable gasses.
The typical weapon of the Protean Tech Guard is the "Spatha" Protean Pattern Lasgun. It is a highly advanced model of Lasgun, and has a highly efficient power coupling which increases the number of shots per energy cell, even as far as double the number in extreme cases. As standard, a high resolution multi-scope is affixed to the top of the casing which interfaces with the optical implants of the solder using it. This multiscope allows the soldier to see what the gun is 'seeing'.
Other weapons commonly seen amongst the ranks of the Techguard are the 'Pilum' Grenade Launcher and 'Scorpio' Missile Launcher. These are used for their versatility and reliability. They both feature similar scopes to the Lasgun. However, it is rumoured that the real reason for the deployment of these weapons is to allow the Tech Guard to use ancient, forbidden ammunition such as Virus missiles in times of need.
Another common weapon is the 'Gladius' Storm Bolter, this is especially favored by officers above any other weapon due to it's long range, rate of fire and sheer stopping power.
--- that's it for now, more later.
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Post by CELS on May 10, 2004 13:45:16 GMT -5
Name: Every homeworld seems to get funky names, eg Cadian Shock Troops, Valhallan Ice Warriors etc. How does the name 'Iron Eagles' sound to you guys? Eagles? Sounds very Imperial (or even Astartes). The Adeptus Mechanicus tend to draw on other imagery than the eagle, since they're the "outsiders" of the Imperium. Considering the role of this Tech Guard, these guys sound almost like heavy infantry, and might appreciate being called the Iron Golems or something else that gives the idea of them being unstoppable machines. They're less likely to call themselves something like the White Dragoons, because that doesn't sound at all tech-y Organisation: Each regiment is split into 'cohorts', roughly equivalent to a company of regular IG in numbers but with greater independence. Each Cohort will generally be assigned at least one Tech Priest to repair vehicles and equipment. At the very least. The Soul Drinker novel also mentions Tech-Colonels, whatever those are. Tech Priest commanders? What about servitors and Electro priests? Commissars from the Scholea Progenium are begrudgingly allowed to fight alongside the Tech Guard, as the AdMech loathes to allow 'outsiders' into their ranks. However, often higher ranking members of the militant department of the Proteus hierarchy fulfil the same role, watching over their troops for signs of disobediance or wavering faith in the Omnissiah. Nice. I'd think the presence of Commissars would be rather rare though. I mean, technically, the Tech Guard isn't supposed to do any attacking at all- just defending of AM worlds and ships. The typical Protean Soldier will have bone grafts which toughen their skeleton and increase their resistance to breakage. Their retinas and lenses have been laced with intricate circuitry which interfaces with neural plugs on their spine, giving them a constant 'heads-up' feed of their battlefield position, weapon status, current orders and such like. Their lungs and livers are 'tweaked' with nanomachines to filter out the otherwise harmful pollutants present in much of the Protean atmosphere, and have proven effective in reducing the effects of other toxins in battlefield conditions. These upgrades are performed when a soldier is recruited into the Tech Guard, and form part of a 'rites of initiation' ceremony. The Tech Guard wear heavily reinforced Flak armour, broadly similar in design to that worn by Cadian troops, although with extra plates and reinforcing struts added. In addition to this, each troop wears a robe. Although primarily decorational, these robes are actually constructed from a high-strength tensile weave similar to that used in Mesh armour, giving them great resiliance. I didn't know Mesh armour still existed in 40k... cool though  Another standard feature of the Protean uniform is the Mark XIV "Hoplon" class osmotic rebreather. Unlike other regiments who wear their gas masks sparingly, the Hoplon is a permenant fixture of the Protean Helmet structure. It features an advanced air cycling and cleaning mechanism, internal low-level communications rig, and a pair of miniaturised oxygen cylinders, which enable a soldier to survive for up to half an hour in otherwise unbreathable gasses. Fair enough. The typical weapon of the Protean Tech Guard is the "Spatha" Protean Pattern Lasgun. It is a highly advanced model of Lasgun, and has a highly efficient power coupling which increases the number of shots per energy cell, even as far as double the number in extreme cases. As standard, a high resolution multi-scope is affixed to the top of the casing which interfaces with the optical implants of the solder using it. This multiscope allows the soldier to see what the gun is 'seeing'. I like the multi-scope. Not so sure about the efficient power coupling, but I'm no physicist or anything. Besides, I've always seen the AM as guys who prefer power over reliability, which is why you constantly see them with assault cannons, plasma cannons and other fantastically big guns. Other weapons commonly seen amongst the ranks of the Techguard are the 'Pilum' Grenade Launcher and 'Scorpio' Missile Launcher. These are used for their versatility and reliability. They both feature similar scopes to the Lasgun. However, it is rumoured that the real reason for the deployment of these weapons is to allow the Tech Guard to use ancient, forbidden ammunition such as Virus missiles in times of need. Ooo, interesting. Also very fitting with the biological orientation that some schools on Proteus have. Why is it forbidden though, I wonder..? Another common weapon is the 'Gladius' Storm Bolter, this is especially favored by officers above any other weapon due to it's long range, rate of fire and sheer stopping power. Maybe describe why it has longer range, better rate of fire and more stopping power? |
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Post by ZarkTheDamned on May 10, 2004 14:14:57 GMT -5
Eagles? Sounds very Imperial (or even Astartes). The Adeptus Mechanicus tend to draw on other imagery than the eagle, since they're the "outsiders" of the Imperium. Considering the role of this Tech Guard, these guys sound almost like heavy infantry, and might appreciate being called the Iron Golems or something else that gives the idea of them being unstoppable machines. They're less likely to call themselves something like the White Dragoons, because that doesn't sound at all tech-y Good point. I'm not too keen on Golems, it makes them sound slow and unwieldy (although maybe a good nickname for a specific regiment, eg a Super Heavy Company). Maybe something like Centurions? (although that does rather hammer home the Roman Imagery, plus the images of a crappy 80's cartoon). I considered Praetorians, but it sounds too close to Protean for my liking. And musn't forget their unofficial nickname (used by other regiments in Anargo)- Baby Marines  (due to their modifications and equipment, see?) At the very least. The Soul Drinker novel also mentions Tech-Colonels, whatever those are. Tech Priest commanders? What about servitors and Electro priests? I'd imagine Tech Colonels would be higher ranking AdMech Militant representatives, game wise an Enginseer with Honorifica. Servitors would crew heavy weapons in place of Heavy Weapons teams, in addition to forming bodyguards. Electro Priests are more specific to the AdMech at large than the Protean regiment, but would be allocated for specific missions. (Ie when using Witch Hunters Allies and Arco Flagellants in game ) Nice. I'd think the presence of Commissars would be rather rare though. I mean, technically, the Tech Guard isn't supposed to do any attacking at all- just defending of AM worlds and ships. They have very few Commissars. However, there are some Techpriests who are highly militant, and accompany the Tech Guard to perform a similar role (Same rules in game, just AdMech minis) Sankyuu I didn't know Mesh armour still existed in 40k... cool though Well, I haven't seen it in modern fluff much, but I think the BBB references it. Probably in relation to Eldar though. It's partly there to de-humanise the Tech Guard more. Disguises their faces. Plus, knowing them, they probably have throat-tubes leading to them. I like the multi-scope. Not so sure about the efficient power coupling, but I'm no physicist or anything. Besides, I've always seen the AM as guys who prefer power over reliability, which is why you constantly see them with assault cannons, plasma cannons and other fantastically big guns. True. The idea is that they CAN use Lasguns more efficiently if they want to but tend not to Part of the idea is that standard IG use very easy to maintain parts which aren't as efficient, but these guys have the training and logistical support to use proper lasguns. Ooo, interesting. Also very fitting with the biological orientation that some schools on Proteus have. Why is it forbidden though, I wonder..? The Imperium in general has an adverse response to Virus weapons, excepting Exterminatus. Plus if you ever played 2nd Ed, Virus Grenades were truly sick againt fleshy armies! Maybe describe why it has longer range, better rate of fire and more stopping power? I was comparing it with 'normal' officer weapons from other IG regiments, which generally don't get higher than Bolters. Proteans have the resources and training necessary to repair Storm Bolters in large numbers, most Regiments only seem to have only one or two maximum (there is only ONE IG mini with a Storm Bolter. And that's Yarrick.) |
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Post by Destecado on May 10, 2004 15:44:47 GMT -5
If these guys are coming from the Forge world, they are pretty well tied to the Adeptus Mechanicus. with all of the body modifications you have indicated, they seem to be somewhere between an average human and the drones (servitors) that the Adeptus Mechanicus normally uses. Are they low rank initiates in the cult of the machine? You might want to call them something monolithic like the Cyber Legion or Legios Cybernetica. This keeps it similarly in line with the Adeptus Mechanicus' other off shoot the Titan Legions. This of course will be the catch all term for the group, you will still need a seperate name for the Proteans specific legion. Also calling them Praetorians is not a good idea. That is the designation given to warrior servitors. You can find mention of them as well as some good interplay between memebrs of the Adeptus Mechanicus in the following story by Andy Chambers (see link)hem.passagen.se/tunih/W40KStoryandNecronSite/NecronFiction/official.htmYou may also want to have the armor and other technology grafted directly into their body....this seems to be more in keeping with the Adeptus Mechanicus. Were you thinking of including a robot cohort in the army? Although the rules are some what outdated, robots did figure promeinantly in the fluff back in the RT days. Maybe you could make some updated rules for using them. What are your thoughts? |
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Post by Sojourner on May 11, 2004 10:56:20 GMT -5
Cohort - bigger. Company-sized formations are going to make bugger all difference on their own in wars involving millions.
They're very high-tech for common infantrymen, but I guess being the Admech they have an excuse.
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Post by Kage2020 on May 17, 2004 19:32:40 GMT -5
As mentioned previously, I've always been fairly well convinced that there is both an 'overt' military presence which people know about and a 'covert' presence which, by definition, people don't know about. Or at least, rather, the potential. With all the 'secret' and 'hidden' technologies out there, it really wouldn't be surprising if the adeptus mechanicus could - if they were willing to suffer the consequences - field significant numbers of cyber-enhanced (etc.) troops utilising technologies that the rest of the ordinatio didn't even dream the adeptus mechanicus had... Then again it's a part of the cynical approach that I have to the 'fluff', more especially those parts which state complete paranoia of interaction in some regards and then an open handed, blind-faith in other aspects...  That is something that I would like for people to keep in mind, but which otherwise doesn't make a direct impact upon Protean forces (which would be the overt type). One thing that is more OnT, with regards to the 'cyber modifications'... Remember that there are other collegia of the adeptus mechanicus other than cybernetica! What about biologis or genetos and sub-division combinations thereof? Suffice to say that some of the modifications could be achieved through cybernetics, and others through either bionetics (getting dangerous into Marine territory here which is something that might be frowned upon by either the Imperium of the adeptus astartes themselves?) or, and here's the somewhat obvious doozy... genetic engineering. With the time-scales that we're being involved with it is entirely possible that the adeptus mechanicus could have eugenically (let alone genetically!) bread quicker, faster (etc.) warriors. (Always one of those concepts that I found quite amusingly overlooked given the supposed 'totalitarian' nature of the 40k universe and the obvious eugenic manipaulation of psykers... ) With regards to their technologies, they don't really go that far beyond my memories of the descriptions of older 'equipment addons'. Rebreathers rack in as chem suits, etc., and the points cost of the 'basic human' could be increased appropriately. My initial temptation would be to make them 'more than human' at the 'trooper' level but have a reduced state increase for 'champions', 'minor heroes', etc. (to use the old terms) to represent not only the diminished returns of incorporating more and more cybernetics (or whatever), but also the idea that technology does have it's limits... (I have an impression of standard M, WS, increased BS, standard S, increased T, standard A, increased LD, reduced WP... erm, and there memory runs out...) But I am afraid that I'm changing their unofficial name from "Baby Marines"... Henceforth they are the Protean Wingnuts, or Wingnuts for short! ;D Kage |
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Post by Minister on May 23, 2004 10:16:42 GMT -5
On Commissars:
I would say that COmmissars are only ever included at high level (Regiment equivelant), and then only when serving as part of a Crusade or other combined-arms opperation. The Tech Guard are not a part of the Imperial Guard, and the Munitorium only has authority when they have been alocated to it.
On Mesh armour:
It does still exist, but the Imperium doesn't use it all that much. Re-enforced Flak gives the same amount of protection for decreased production cost and with a lower skills and technology base. Some (particularly members of the aristocracy) favour it because it can be made as part of ordinary clothing, meaning that they don't have to be so crude as to wear simplistic body armour. The Tech-Guard may wear it as a simple show that the Mechanicus has the resources to provide it in bulk should it wish (the apearance of power is often more important thatn the fact of power). It's also slightly less bulky and less heavy for the protection offered than most other armour types.
On organisation:
I would suggest that for larger opperations the Proteans organize regiment and larger formations from the cohorts (Legions? Regiments? Task Forces?), with their superior communications and uniformity of training allowing a smoother transitioning of units between formations than the norm.
Iron Golems seems okay to me, and I would agree on not using Eagles or simmilar. No great ideas on that point.
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Post by malika on May 31, 2004 2:15:18 GMT -5
this post can be deleted, just go to the link that CELS posted in the reply to this post
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Post by CELS on May 31, 2004 2:29:13 GMT -5
This is a thread for an infantry unit of Protean Tech Guard. Whilst the Tech Guard may have walkers, tanks, super-heavy tanks, aircraft and aquatic vessels, I doubt that each 'cohort' or regiment would have their own pool of all these things. And there's really no need to post the same thing in two different forums. People will discuss the same thing on two different forums, and that's just a waste. If anyone wants to discuss Malika's corvette, do so in the Factory forum kagemat.proboards19.com/index.cgi?board=Factor&action=display&thread=1085904562If anyone wants to discuss whether or not the Tech Guard should have their own aquatic vessels or other types of vehicles, I suggest that this is discussed in the Imperium forum, since it's something that impacts the Anargo sector and indeed the Imperium as a whole, and not just the Archaios subsector. |
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Post by ZarkTheDamned on Jun 22, 2004 12:36:15 GMT -5
I'm baack...
I will be trying to hammer together some more solid stuff for the Tech Guard, after being inspired by the wonderful artwork in the concepts thread.
Stay tuned...
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(due to their modifications and equipment, see?)
