Legio Cybernetica

FW models for the Castellan class Robot

The Legio Cybernetica were a part of 40K's first and second editions, before the escalation of grimdark in 3rd Edition made tech-heresy a thing (also, their rules required essentially mapping out their actual programming with logic gates). They were the Imperium's vast armies of thinking war-robots, whom without direct command and programming were completely helpless.

The Cybernetica forces played a part during the Great Crusade, deploying massive war machines to assist the Space Marine Leigons. Some of these robots were rewarded for their service by being made honorary members of the Legions they served with. During the Horus Heresy, Horus swayed Kelbor-Hal, the Fabricator-General of Mars (and therefore the ultimate commander of Mechanicus forces) over to his side along with nearly the entire Legio Cybernetica. When the Emperor won his Pyrrhic battle against Horus, the surviving traitor Mechanicus forces fled to the Eye of Terror, where they presumably hide to the 'present day' of the 41st millennium. Some cohorts of the Legio Cybernetica remained loyal to the Imperium, but their numbers were minimal, and they were forced to swear binding oaths more terrible than the Space Marines. Yet as of 41st Millenium, the Tech-Priests of the Legio regained their former glory and (most) of the lost trust.

While thrown out the proverbial airlock since 3rd edition, the Legio Cybernetica is set to make a comeback in the Forge World's Horus Heresy series (and in Lords of Mars). And they seem to be making a comeback in regular 40k. Seriously, look at their store!

Robot types

The Thanatar. For when you need the Biggest Robot in the room.

• Castellan-class robot: An assault robot designed for anti-tank and siege work.
  • In Heresy-era 30k and first to get a Forgeworld model, but for some reason called the Castellax, mounting a Mauler-pattern Bolt Cannon on the shoulder which can be replaced with a multi-melta or a Darkfire Cannon (essentially a somewhat weaker Lascannon that blinds enemies that it hits) and coming with a choice of hand weapons.
  • In 40k we have the Kastelan which superficially looks similar to the Castellax, being a somewhat rounded, robotic, monstrous creature type with a shoulder mounted weapon and a pair of power fists that can be replaced with twin-linked phosphor blasters. Though these ones can replace the fists for moar guns. Unlike the 30k version they are less autonomous and operate under "Battle Protocols" which are determined by a specialist tech-priest called Datasmith, but if the priest ever goes missing then the robots just follow the most recent protocol issued to them, which can cause them to stand still and shoot, or to forget they have guns.
• Cataphract-class robot: A general purpose combat robot, popular for its resilience and adaptability.
• Colossus-class robot: A siege robot given a Siege-hammer for smashing down walls.
• Conqueror-class robot: An anti-vehicle robot, which specializes in taking down armored vehicles and Dreadnought analogs. Now also with no less than two FW versions (for some reason called the Domitar and Arlatax respectively), the former has twin gravitational hammers for smashing shit, while the latter is a Robot with a Jump Pack.
• Crusader-class robot: An anti-personnel robot, Crusaders are fast on their feet (servos?) and can easily take down multiple opponents. It's basically the Flash with power swords in place of arms. Scary. It also has a chassis-mounted Lascannon for making new doors so it can slaughter a building's occupants. The latest to get rules from FW (for some reason called the Vorax), with a Lightning Gun in place of the Lascannon and arm mounted Rotor Cannons.
• Thanatar-class robot: A giant monstrous walking engine of death, the Thanatar is the size of an Eldar Wraithknight Tau Riptide, and comes with a twin linked Bolt Cannon and a massive Hellex Plasma Mortar.

See also:

• http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Legio_Cybernetica - Lexicanum's article on the Legio Cybernetica.
• http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Legio_Cybernetica - The 40K Wikia's article on the Legio Cybernetica.
• http://www.angelfire.com/mech/ironclad/ArapRobots.pdf - rOOOLES
• http://solegends.com/citrt/rt108robots.htm Pictures
• http://mordian7th.blogspot.com/2011/05/adeptus-mechanicus-legio-cybernetica.html Newly painted.
• http://www.scribd.com/doc/221368614/White-Dwarf-104-UK-August-1988 White Dorf 1Oh4 with Squats! Trike! Robots! Weird pictures of treeman!
• http://www.scribd.com/doc/67798052/White-Dwarf-104 Backup