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Assassin

2022-03-05T05:03:43Z

2603:8001:3500:CB:CDD3:5:D4F5:C953:

''For the D&D class/archetype, see [[Rogue]].''

Assassins are highly trained agents who are dispatched to kill a specific, high value target(s), usually using stealth and cunning. Many have their own methods of dealing with their target, such as using poisons, blades, or ranged weapons, or simply [[Gork|brutal]] [[Mork|cunning]], though they all usually involve being very discreet and virtually undetectable or traceable, allowing them to escape once the job is done as if they were never there.

The word Assassin comes from ''Hashashin'', an unorthodox Shia sect of Islam that existed between the 11th and 13th centuries which focused on publicly murdering political and religious rivals.

We also keep saying usually because there's a [[Eversor|specific breed]] of assassins who likes to instead use the [[Creed|stealth of a]] [[Baneblade]] and the cunning of a [[Carnifex]], all the while having the subtlety of an Khornate Berzerker, to kill their targets (There are no parenthesis on this pluralization because said assassins will murder their way to their target, instead of sneaking then murdering).

==Imperial Assassins==
[[File:Nemesis 02.jpg|420px|thumb|right|From left to right: A Culexus pariah, a Vanus infocyte, a Vindicare sniper, an Eversor berserker, a Venenum poisoner, and a Callidus infiltrator. Background, a Daemon of Chaos, who is ''not'' the most dangerous thing in the image.]]
Imperial assassins are operatives who function under the command of the [[Officio Assassinorum]], a branch of the [[Imperium of Man|Imperium]]. They are usually 'recruited' (kidnapped) at a young age, generally from orphans, and occasionally certain physiological properties are required (i.e. psychic blanks needed for the [[Culexus]] temple). The Assassinorum's relentless training and biological augmentation of these children through their lives turns them into the perfect weapons. By the time they are ready for active duty, they are as strong and tough as a [[Space Marine]], faster than an [[Eldar]] Banshee, more deadly in close combat than a [[Grey Knight]] [[Mary Sue|Grand Master]], and more accurate at range than just about everything.

Imperial Assassins will be from one of the six 'Temples' of the Officio Assassinorum:

*The [[Callidus]] Temple has assassins that use polymorphine to shape shift, allowing them to change their appearance to help them get close to their target.
*The [[Culexus]] Temple has assassins that are psychic blanks, which are the ultimate anathema to psykers. Thus, they exclusively deal with psychic targets.
*The [[Vindicare]] Temple has assassins that are some of the ultimate marksmen in the Imperium, allowing them to take out targets from kilometers away.
*The [[Eversor]] Temple has assassins that are about the equivalent of a portable genocide campaign. To describe their methods in a nutshell, they're about the equivalent of unleashing a [[World Eaters]] warband against a Slaaneshi pleasure cult.
*The [[Venenum]] Temple has assassins that specialize in poisons to kill their targets. They are however, purely infiltrators, so they don't see field combat use.
*The [[Vanus]] Temple, who emphasize gathering information on you before ensuring someone ''else'' kills you with so much deniability that even ''they'' don't know an assassin was involved.
*The [[Maerorus]] Temple, a failed attempt to create the perfect killing machine. Only one Maerorus was created, and the temple was disbanded when she proved to be uncontrollable.

The last three are less well known about; as the for the first two, they don't have models since they're largely 'behind the scenes' killers and don't really fit into tabletop 40k, while the third...didn't work the way the Officio Assassinorum had in mind. Oh but she worked so well.

All assassins are equipped with 'synskin', a second skin that is sprayed on before a mission, which hardens and forms a perfectly fitting suit which dissipates the kinetic energy from incoming projectiles, allowing them to survive shots that could have killed them otherwise, and they possess such incredible reflexes that they can literally dodge incoming fire.

The four main temples chiefly differ in equipment and tactics:

*The [[Callidus]] temple uses the art of camouflage and subterfuge to achieve their goals. Their operatives use a drug called 'Polymorphine' to actually change the shape of their bodies. This, combined with impeccable knowledge of the cultures and mannerisms of the many species of the galaxy, allows them to believably impersonate anything, from a hulking, brutish [[Ork]], to a beautiful human woman. Due to the nature of their work, the Callidus tend to be the most [[:File:Macha 2.jpg|sociably able]] of the four assassins. They are frequently equipped with a C'tan phase blade, which can slice through Adamantium like butter, and causes instant death to any unfortunate enough to feel its edge. This is complemented by the ranged fury of the 'Neural Shredder', a small pistol that affects a large conical area in front of the barrel. Rather than damage foes depending on their physical toughness, it affects them differently depending on how mentally resolute they are, cowardly foes will fall like chaff to this weapon, whereas courageous enemies can shrug off its effects. Callidus are also significant psychological tools, if an enemy knows that any one of his 'allies' right next to him could be a Callidus, who knows how he may react?

*The [[Culexus]] temple recruits solely from psychic 'blanks'. Blanks are beings that have no presence in the [[Warp]] (essentially soulless). Blanks cause agony to nearby psykers, and can even kill weaker ones at close range. Due to this Culexus assassins are generally deployed when the oppositions force features many psykers (i.e. [[Eldar]]). The presence of a blank chills the soul of nearby non-psykers, and as such, they are generally avoided by all that don't absolutely have to be in contact with them. Culexus assassins are equipped with the 'Animus Speculum', a skull shaped helm that can concentrate the operatives anti-warp signature and launch bolts of energy across the battlefield, which shred right through flesh and armour like paper. When allied psykers are near, the Culexus's anti-warp energy increases, allowing him to launch more bolts from his Animus Speculum. They also possess the 'Etherium', a device that <s>lets you find a flying castle</s> allows the Culexus to step out of phase with the material world, making the opposition question what they're aiming at is really there; only the most resolute foes dare to fire at the mysterious shadow of despair stalking the battlefield. The Culexus assassins are also equipped with a 'Psyocculum', a device which allows them to see the flow of the warp overlapping with this reality; through this vision, psykers shine like a fire, allowing the Culexus to easily find and impeccably target enemy psykers.

*The [[Eversor]] temple firmly believes that the nuke is mightier than the sword. Rather than quickly taking out a few key targets, the Eversor annihilates vast numbers of enemies in a whirlwind of gore. When sent into battle, an Eversor is pumped full of 'Frenzon', an extremely powerful aggression raising drug, that allows the operative to unleash a flurry of blows before the enemy even knows they are under attack. Outside of combat Eversors are heavily tranquilized to the point where they are essentially in an induced coma. This means they are human only in classification, their minds filled with nothing but desire to destroy the enemies of the [[Emperor]]. Eversor assassins are equipped with a 'Neuro Gauntlet', a vicious weapon that consists of 5 small neuro-toxin injectors mounted on the Eversor's fingers, as well as a Power Sword. For ranged combat they have the 'Executioner Pistol', a modified bolt pistol that fires bolt rounds that can tear through any flesh and armour with frightening ease, and alternately highly penetrating, envenomed needles. In case they encounter something too big to simply rip to pieces, they possess Melta-bombs to ravage enemy Armour. Also, killing one will cause his "Terminus gland" to trigger, turning his blood into a highly caustic, combustable substance and then striking a match, resulting in a huge explosion of armor-melting super-heated acid.

*The [[Vindicare]] temple specialises in long-ranged combat, with their operatives being the greatest snipers in the Imperium, and probably the entire Galaxy. Vindicare training concentrates on patience (as the assassin may have to remain still for days on end to attain the perfect shot), and emotional repression, lest the Vindicare find himself [[Love Can Bloom|unable to pull the trigger]] at the vital moment. (In real life, sniping is considered an almost perversely personal profession for exactly that reason.) They have also been taught to focus their senses, allowing them to pick out a single target no matter how many allies it may be surrounded by. Vindicares are equipped with the finest sniping weapon known to man, the Exitus Rifle, a veritable masterpiece of a firearm, powerful enough to tear through [[Terminator|Tactical Dreadnought Armour]], and accurate enough to hit a [[Daemon|Bloodthirster]] in the eye. This is paired with the Exitus pistol, smaller and less unwieldy, but no less deadly than the rifle. They also have access to special ammunition, such as bio-acid Hellfire rounds that eat through living tissue, shield-breaker rounds that permanently disrupt force fields, and anti-vehicular rounds that can punch right through a [[Land Raider]]. They also possess 'Blind' grenades, grenades that explode with a brilliant flash of light and infra-red radiation (so heat-vision won't work), that dazzle assaulting foes and ensure they can't catch the Vindicare off guard.

*The [[Death Cult Assassin|Death Cult Assassins]] may be considered Imperial Assassins, even though they are not under the Officio Assassinorum, many inquisitors employ them for their skill with the twin power weapons they carry. They are able to strike several deadly blows on a foe very quickly. Whilst still dangerous foes, they in no way compare to 'official' Assassins.

===The other guy===
The entire concept of the Assassins evolved from a single entry in the original ''Second Edition'' army list for an Imperial Assassin, who could take any combination of wargear and a special card (not even exclusive to him at first), ''Polymorphine'', which allowed him (or anyone else with a free Wargear slot) to disguise himself as another model. This duly proved completely broken since there was no specific rule to say a Gretchin couldn't be an Imperial Assassin (or other ultra-killy character) wearing Terminator Armour and riding a bike, and abuses of the Polymorphine Wargear card (especially those involving [[Warp Weapons|Vortex Grenades]]) seem to have been a large part of the reason why the later version of it made it exclusive to the far more limited Callidus Assassin. She had fixed wargear, so no more [[FATAL|terminator/biker popping out of a Guardsman]] or [[anal circumference|surprise Vortex Grenade right where it hurted the most]].

TL;DR: They evolved from cheating.

==Ork Assassins==
See [[Ork Kommando]].

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Techpriest

2022-03-04T05:29:11Z

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{{Topquote|One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man.|Elbert Hubbard}}
{{Topquote|Hast thou attempted to initiate the rites of deactivation and reactivation a second time?| Senior Archmagos Roy on the Mechanicus' most effective repair rite.}}
{{Topquote|0100001001110101011001110110011101100101011100100010000001101111011001100110011000100000011110010110111101110101001000000111001101110100011101010111000001101001011001000010000001101101011001010110000101110100011000100110000101100111|every techpriest when you bug them.}}

[[File:Techpriest2.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A Tech-Priest of the Adeptus Mechanicus]]

'''Techpriests''' are the fully-initiated and above members of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]], and generally act as tech support and religious engineers to the [[Imperium of Man]] in [[Warhammer 40,000]].

They are united by a belief in [[STC|technology]], [[Machine Spirits]], and the [[Omnissiah]], zealously guarding what secrets of technology the Imperium has managed to scrape together (and jealously kept by the Adeptus Mechanicus—the technology cult of [[Mars]]). Their core dogma is that all technology is sacred, and everything that can be learned has already been done so, and probably just forgotten. This inevitably leads to the Tech-Priests being unwilling to either reverse-engineer other technology or develop new ones, citing disrespect towards existing designs. Despite their role as a priesthood of technology, they've stagnated for close to 10,000 years and are now the foremen of little more than glorified [[Forge_world#Planet|Mass-production factories]]. Only very few senior members of the Mechanicus are allowed to experiment or innovate. Fewer still are actually capable of doing so, and only within strict guidelines. Considering what horrors are produced (often by accident) by those Tech-Priests who try to innovate outside those guidelines, this isn't at all unjustified.

Tech-Priests are often secluded within their own priesthood, studying or (if they're of a high enough rank) performing minor research. Sometimes they're also found outside the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] working as tech-support, fixing the many machines of the [[Imperium]] when they break by performing hour-long maintenance rituals involving sacred incense, blessed oils, and prayers to the Omnissiah for the [[Machine Spirits|machine spirit]] to start working again. Both surprisingly and unsurprisingly, this system tends to be effective, given that most rituals involve cleaning and purifying components, anointing the machine with sacred lubricants, and <s>restarting</s> revitalizing the machine spirit. On the other hand, regularly saying a prayer to a fuel-tank can keep it working longer than reasonably expected, or get a malfunctioning [[Cogitator]] to work properly again, so long as you keep doing it and the machine doesn't get moody.

Other varieties of techpriest exist, such as the Magos Biologos -- a sect of the Mechanicus who focus on repairing and updating the natural machinery of the human form, rather than artificial replacements, as well as xenologist branches. They may implant purpose-grown organs (such as the Lostok Augmentation, a set of glands that pump powerful combat drugs into the bearer's body), create fully organic [[Servitor]]s, and so on. [[Enginseer]]s are tech priests seconded to the [[Imperial Guard]] to perform maintenance on vehicles and equipment. Verispex agents are forensic specialists trained in natural science by the Mechanicus for the [[Inquisition]] and the [[Adeptus Arbites]].

[[Rogue Trader]] ships sometimes carry Tech-Priests, not just for their invaluable technological aid but to also ferry them to a pilgrimage or holy place. They may also be found working for [[Inquisitor|Inquisitors]] as emissaries from the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]], giving aid or simply claiming artefacts in the name of the priesthood.

Sometimes Techpriests are allowed on certain [[Squat]] regiments to inspect on their technology and maybe re-engineer it for Imperial use. The Squats aren't so keen on letting their technology be molested by a cybernetic Dr. Octopus but they let them in anyway to keep the trade going between the Squats and the Mechanicus. Techpriests in battle often accompany Squat War Machines and the Squat Engineers accompanying their weapons of mass destruction. The Techpriests and Squat Engineers often work hand in hand despite distrusting each other due to the former's anal-retentive hoarding and stubbornness to technologically progress and the latter's mad-scientist style of inventions and stubbornness to trade their technology to others.

A [[Space Marine]] who shows talent with the sacred rituals of technology may be inducted into and trained by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]], eventually returning to their chapter as a [[Techmarine]].

Techpriests may also accompany [[Squat|They-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named]], although they are just there to oversee their tech progress. They have no actual power over them so the Techpriest can't accuse them of tech-heresy and whatnot.

== See Also ==

* [[Heretek]], what you get when techpriests violate orthodoxy, and sometimes mix in with Chaos.
* [[Haemonculus]], the [[Dark Eldar]]'s mad scientists.

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[[Category:Warhammer 40,000]]
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Legio Cybernetica

2022-03-03T20:30:27Z

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{{topquote|Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto. Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto...|Holy ancient chant from the early predecessors of Legio Cybernetica}}

[[File:Castellan_class_robots_painted.jpg|thumb|right|FW models for the Castellan class Robot]]
[[File:Thanatar9.jpg|thumb|left|The Robotic Matryoshka Dolls.]]
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, which was theoretically awesome but practically kind of a pain in the ass). Armies of these thinking war-robots have been fighting alongside the [[Space Marines]] and the Imperial Army since the [[Great Crusade]], but without direct command and programming were [[FAIL|completely useless]].

Some of these robots were rewarded for their service by being made honorary members of the Legions they served with. Incarnadine, a Cybernetica robot, was even called "brother" by fellow [[Word Bearers]] and started to develop glitches in its system that hinted at it evolving a consciousness, which ended up being a [[Daemon]]. During the [[Horus Heresy]], [[Horus]] swayed Kelbor-Hal, the Fabricator-General of [[Mars]] (and therefore the ultimate commander of Mechanicum forces), over to his side, along with nearly the entire Legio Cybernetica. Which is really damn weird seeing as the Mechanicus fought thousands of years against thinking machines and space-magic monsters on Mars and only recently emerged victorious. You’d think the Legio Cybernetica (and the Mechanicum) would have lost their shit the moment Kelbor-Hal wanted to legalize Artificial Intelligence. It’s even forbidden by a core tenet of their religion. When the [[Emperor]] won his Pyrrhic battle against Horus, the surviving [[Dark Mechanicus|traitor Mechanicum]] forces fled to the [[Eye of Terror]], where they presumably hide to the 'present day' of the 41st millennium. The Black Legion presumably has heaps of them guarding the ''[[Vengeful Spirit]]'', as founding member [[Iskandar Khayon]] spent centuries after the Heresy hiring his services out for robots. Some cohorts of the Legio Cybernetica remained loyal to the Imperium (as well as Space Marine Legions and Forge World Taghmata, they also served in the auxiliary forces of Titan Legions), but their numbers were minimal, and they were forced to swear binding oaths more terrible than the Space Marines. Yet, as of the 41st Millennium, the Tech-Priests of the Legio have regained their former glory and (most) of the lost trust.

While thrown out the proverbial airlock since 3rd edition, the Legio Cybernetica have made a comeback in [[Forge World]]'s ''Horus Heresy'' series (and in Lords of Mars) and in regular 40k! Seriously, look at their store! It looks like the Legio is finally about to return to the 41st millennium, thanks to Imperial Armour 16. At the November 2016 Weekender the author confirmed Automata, such as the mighty Thanatar, will soon be handing out cortex controlled carnage to the [[Tau]] and other enemies of the Imperium.

==Robot types==
==='''Luther-Class Robot'''===
====Luther Pattern Excavation Automata====
[[File:Ambot.JPG|200px|right|thumb|This is what the Imperium does with the leftover Ambulls that had been stripped for your rations.]]
The Luther Pattern Excavation Automata or more commonly known as the '''Ambot''' is, as you’d expect, a cybernetic fusion of an [[Ambull]] and a [[Servitor]]. Unlike most battle automata listed here, the Ambot is a largely civilian machine, specifically it is a heavy mining construct based on the Ambull's musculature. Its central nervous system is derived from the xenos creature, giving it an instinct for tunneling, but it is fitted with cortical limiters that prevent it from escaping and running amok.

Ambots are built by a process perfected by the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]]. A native Ambull is captured and then reworked and heavily cybernetically augmented. When the creature awakens in its new robotic shell, it retains its aforementioned natural tunneling instincts while having its aggression suppressed by cranial governors. The biological core of the creature circumvents Mechanicum laws regarding bans on Artificial Intelligence in the same way servitors do. Ambots are typically employed for mining and ash excavation on worlds such as [[Necromunda]].

Still, despite being civilian constructs, nothing stops the hive gangers from 'hijacking' it and turning it into a weapon of war. Due to its equipment meant to slag mining and ash excavation, a Ambot in close combat could quite literally [[RIP AND TEAR]] any poor bastard in its way.

On the tabletop, Ambots are incredible [[RIP AND TEAR]] monsters. Toughness 5, 3 Wounds, comes with Light [[Carapace Armour]]. It has some big, beefy close combat weapons, and can even amp up its Attacks characteristic. Then you learn it has [[Rape|Infiltrate]] and you realize that this is one of the best ways for you to spend credits in Necromunda. An Ambot works extremely well as a Brawler or Assassin archetype, and if you take the Grav-Fist upgrade (for 70 credits, yikes), it can also sub in as a Crowd Controller, though don’t expect too much.

They also appear in Necromunda Hired Gun as a high tier enemy, carrying rapid fire gravguns and missile launchers, as well as being able to tank whole magazines of your heaviest weapons. Even worse, once you shoot off their weapons and ablative armour, they'll chainsaw their way into your face and / dig into the ground under you.

==='''Castellan-Class Robot'''===

The Castellan is an assault Robot useful for a wide range of battlefield roles. Its twin power fists and heavy bolter give it a dangerous punch, protected by a power field/synchroniser unit. It can substitute its heavy bolter for a lascannon, melta gun or third power fist, while the standard fists can be replaced with a Siege Hammer, autocannons and flamer.

====Castellax Class Battle-Automata====
[[File:CastellaxBA.jpg|200px|right|thumb|A <s>Castellan</s> <s>Kastelan</s> Castellax robot.]]

In Heresy-era 30k and first to get a Forgeworld model, but for some reason called the '''Castellax''', mounting a [[Mauler Bolt Cannon|Mauler-pattern Bolt Cannon]] on the shoulder which can be replaced with a [[multi-melta]] or a [[Darkfire Cannon]] (essentially a <s>somewhat weaker Lascannon</s> Long Range Plasma Rifle with Lance that blinds enemies that it hits) and coming with a choice of hand weapons.

They are the most common and numerous pattern of Castellans and are designed primarily for siege and shock assault operations.

Crunch-wise, the Castellax is a surprisingly cheap Monstrous Creature pretty much made to fuck up the Space Marine Legions (thanks to BS4, T7, W4, and armed with AP3 guns base) unless there's list-tailoring involved (like Plasma vets) it'll hold its own against nearly everything thrown at it and can put out a lot of hurt in both the Shooting (thanks to the aforementioned AP3 guns) and Assault, don't let the two Attacks fool you, charging will boost your attacks up to 4 (if you do this make sure to get the Frag Grenades).

Don't let Reactor Blast make you think it's worse to group them up, it's very unlikely to do any wounds to you at all and if you're in assault it'll almost always work in your favor.

If you want them to be [[Choppa|Choppy]], then you may also take dual [[Power weapon#Battle-Automata Power Blade|powerblades.]] At first AP2 rending in melee seems fantastic, but then you remember that this is a monstrous creature; thus it already has AP2 by default via smash. And with S6 its quite likely to be wounding most targets reliably anyway.
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====Castellax-Achea Class Battle-Automata====
[[File:CastellaxAceaAetherflameCannon01.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The Castellax-Achea AKA WARP-HAX the robot.]]

The [[Thousand Sons|Nerds]] have their own Castellan pattern and had 'modified' it to suit their psychic needs. How they avoided pissing off the AdMech ''before'' the Heresy is unknown.

Anyways, these Battle-Automata were fitted with a crystalline Psi-control matrix that allowed psychic Space Marines to manipulate them like puppets in a fashion far more seamlessly than standard Legio Cybernetica technology. It is primarily armed with the unique [[Æther-Fire Cannon|Æther-Flame Cannon]].

On tabletop, these <s>Egyptian</s> Prosperine robots are completely different than the mainstay Castellans. For starters, they add Asphyx Shells everywhere with options for a Ætherflame cannon instead of the Mauler. Then they add the Rage and Fearless special rules alongside a special self-destruct that deals d6 S4 AP- hits, like any other Castellax, only differently written. IWND. And the the crown jewel, Psi-Control Matrix is a piece of hardware that might veer a little too Heretek for some people's liking; it allows anyone with at least ML1 to counter the Mindlock that so-hampers Automate from charging, running and making Sweeping Advances, which is by no means terrible, since you can still move and shoot in any target, not the closest one like Automatas with Cortex.

In addition, friendly psykers can draw Line of Sight from any Psi-Control Matrix Castellax for their Malediction and Witchfire powers, but should the psyker suffer Perils the Castellax must pass an LD test as well or take d6 unsaveable wounds, if this kills them their death-splosion has a maxed radius. Achaeas have I4, It Will Not Die, Shred on the Mauler Cannon and beautiful model, all for merely 30 points over regular Castellax, what's not to like? (Hint: they are equipped with twin Power Claw aka Power fist, making em effectively +1A and S10, and priced exactly the same as a castellax equipped with paired blade and wrecker, if it is not enough they don't have Automatic shielding BUT Refractor field, for a sweet 5++ in melee.) Oh, and after all this cheese you won't need Cortex Controller to bring them to the party.

====Kastelan Class Battle-Automata====
[[File:Kastelan.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The Kastelan ready to [[Derp]] on command.]]

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 Blaster]]s, it is also the most common model you'll ever find for 'bots. 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, [[Derp|which can cause them to stand still and shoot, or to forget they have guns.]]

Apparently, this was done because after the Heresy the Mechanicus came to the conclusion that the Castellax's machine spirit was too close to Abominable Intelligence to be used again. [[Hammer and Bolter]] shows that Tech Priests program them by verbally setting parameters including expenditure authorization, targets, goals and if necessary sacrifice thresholds.

In 8th Edition, Kastelans are improved significantly, as they are far more slot-efficient than the Dunecrawler; getting 6 in a unit. (Spamming them is a trap though, since they're extremely vulnerable in the Fight phase; 2-4 is enough.) They still have the same Monstrous Creature statline, and can reflect guns back at their shooter (for a Mortal Wound now), but are now faster and cheaper.

Fully shooty is actually the cheap option now. Go full phosphor and enter protector mode for 18 S6 AP2 shots per robot. Yes, a full unit of 6 will fire 108 bullets... In protector mode becomes twice as good as any unit we have. Beware combat with this option though, as without the Fists, you don't have any AP in close combat. AdMech now has fewer ways of dealing with high Toughness, and Kastelan Fists in Melee will punch holes in virtually anything, so consider fists if you are lacking in Dunecrawlers. It's recommended if you are going shoot, deck them out with 3 Heavy Phosphor Blasters, or if you are going punchy, get Fists and the Incendine Combustor. Don't mix the Combustor and Phosphor options together, [[FAIL|they don't synergize well.]]

9th edition has been kind to vehicles, and while Kastellans won't benefit as much from ignoring hit roll penalties when moving, being able to shoot in combat means that it'll be extremely difficult to tie them up for long. As you can simply gun down the unit that's tied you up, then focus the rest of the guns elsewhere.
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==='''Scyllax-Class Robot'''===
[[File:Scyllax.jpg|150px|right|thumb|The Scyllax robot.]]

A robot prized far beyond the servo-automata from which they were developed, using ancient secrets uncovered during the Great Crusade, the Scyllax acts as both elite shock troops and the bodyguards of Magos overseers. There are some factions within the Adeptus Mechanicus that will have no truck with the Scyllax, claiming sinister provenance in its design, and that the automata gain a subtle and dangerous self-awareness over time.

No larger than an armored man, the Scyllax Guardian-automata demonstrates formidable power in a more compact frame. Their armored carapaces are as durable as carapace armour, and house powerful electro-thermic reactors and banks of lucid cogitator-stacks that process a storm of battlefield analysis engrams and protective tech-incantations, which is so potent that some has proclaimed it as bordering on [[Heresy|tech-heresy.]] They are also radioactive to the point nearby soldiers start dying - [[Grimdark|be they the enemy's or not]].

They also have been adapted with a wide variety of [[Miscellaneous Weapons#Mechadendrite|mechadendrites]] and [[Miscellaneous Weapons#Servo-Arm|servo-arms]] for dissecting living matter, as well as a ranged weapon, such as a [[Imperial Boltgun|bolter]]. An interesting thing about the Scyllax is that these robots were neither true Battle Automata, due to their lack of a cybernetica-cortex, nor could they be classified as a Servitor, due to having nearly no organic components. They look and slither around like mechanical snakes, essentially the Mechanicum version of a [[Necron]] [[Canoptek Wraith]] (they are really just GW's take on the killer robots from the Matrix, but they think just because it's been a few years nobody will notice).

Its more civvy cousin is the [[Servo-Automata]].
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==='''Cataphract-Class Robot'''===
[[File:Cataphracts.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The general purpose Cataphracts.]]

The closest thing the Legio Cybernetica have to foot soldiers.

This model is popular for its resilience and adaptability. The Cataphract-class robot is a heavily-armoured general-purpose battle robot designed for use in almost all combat environments and situations.

This versatility in a wide range of battlefield roles makes this war engine a highly-deployable and popular machine among the Legio Cybernetica's cohorts. Cataphracts are armed and can mount a variety of weapons for various purposes, the most common being one [[Lascannon]] above its chassis and a [[Imperial Boltgun|Bolter]] mounted on one arm and one [[Flamer]] mounted on the other. They are protected by a power field/synchroniser unit. Its versatility makes it popular Robot to deploy, although some commanders regard it as a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none. It can substitute its weapons for an [[autocannon]], Siege Hammer, [[Heavy Bolter]] and [[power fists]].

The name Cataphract came from a form of armored heavy cavalry used in ancient warfare by a number of peoples in Western Eurasia and the Eurasian Steppe. These were the guys in heavy scale or chain armor that covered the horsies in even MOAR scale or chain armor. The Cataphract robot was named due to its relatively quick and versatile combat role that is able to provide a modest amount of heavy firepower on the battlefield whilst supporting its allies.

So far there are no modern rules for any Cataphract robots, which is strange given how common and generic they are, it could be that they were eventually replaced by the equally common Castellans instead. Note that despite the name, these things have zero relation with the Terminator armor.
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==='''Colossus-Class Robot'''===

[[/co/|HULK SMASH!: The Robot.]] A siege robot given a Siege-hammer for smashing down walls, though it is equally useful squashing opponents. Other armaments include a boltgun mounted on its other arm appendage for use against defending troops. The Siege Hammer can also be used in close combat situations. It also possesses a chassis-mounted Multi-Melta for additional firepower and anti-vehicular damage. Protected by a power field/synchroniser unit, its weaponry can be replaced with autocannons, heavy bolters, and power fists, allowing for a number of combinations.

The Colossus was often employed by the Imperial Army as a cheap alternative to the use of heavy artillery. A few Colossus-class robots are maintained by the Ordo Reductor of the Adeptus Mechanicus, mainly for testing new and experimental siege weaponry.

====Domitar-Ferrum Class Battle-Automata====
[[File:99590102250_IronCircleDomitarFerrumColossusAutomata01.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The '''Domitar-Ferrum''', son of the Colossus and the Domitar's brother.]]

The '''Domitar-Ferrum''' class robots is often called as the spiritual successor of the Colossus whom [[Perturabo]] made into personal bodyguards called the Iron Circle. The Domitar-Ferrum is also the larger, more heavily armored brother of the Domitars.

They are often armed with a giant Karceri Battle Shield, a big FUCK OFF [[Grav-Weaponry#Graviton Maul|Graviton Maul]], and [[Mauler Bolt Cannon|Olympia Bolt Cannon]]. They were formed after Ol'Perty's own personal flagship was boarded by the [[Imperial Fists]] during the Battle of Phall. Judging the gross embarrassment in the [[Fail|failures]] of his [[Iron Warriors|own sons]], Perturabo decided that robots was just plain better and made the Domitar-Ferrum by combining the existing Domitar and Conqueror robots and building them upon the blueprints and templates of the outdated Colossus robot.

On the tabletop, these guys are [[Murder|nigh-unstoppable freight trains of pure murder.]] Starting off with a decent statline of WS/BS4, Str/Toughness 7, 4 wounds, I/A 3, Ld8, 3+/5++; they cost 205 points a piece and can be taken in a unit of up to 6. They are armed with a Olympia Pattern Bolt Cannon (pretty much 5-shot Pinning Heavy Bolters) for laying down the suppressive dakka, Graviton Mauls (S10 AP2 Concussive Wrecker non-unwieldy hammers with Crushing Blow: A hit of a 6 causes an additional automatic hit), Karceri Battle Shields (D3 HoW per model, 5++, and when un-engaged in combat all charges against them are disordered)... and a searchlight + frag grenades.

Moving Bulwark allows them to reroll failed armor and invulnerable saves against blast and template weapons, improving their invulnerable save to 4++ when at least two of them from the same unit are in BtB contact, and allows ICs with the Legiones Astartes (IW) rule to join them despite being MCs, getting the benefits of the shields and Moving Bulwark in the process. Pairing them up with Perturabo himself gives them further upgrades.

==='''Conqueror-Class Robot'''===

An anti-vehicle robot, which specializes in taking down armored vehicles and [[Dreadnought]] analogs. Conquerors are protected by heavy armour and a power field/synchorniser unit, as mentioned the Conqueror is particularly adept at taking out armoured vehicles and Dreadnoughts. Standard armament is a heavy bolter, autocannon and power fist, which can be swapped for lascannons, flamers, melta guns and bolter, as well as doubling up on any one. 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.

====Domitar Class Battle-Automata====
[[File:Domitar.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The Domitar robots.]]

The '''Domitar''' can be called as a more advanced and larger version of the Castellan, the Domitar was also swifter, designed to cross the open battlefield at blistering speeds. Other than its sheer bulk which is in itself a weapon, the Domitar is armed with [[Grav-Weaponry#Graviton Hammer|Graviton Hammer]] that can crush tanks and dreadnoughts into smaller [[METAL BAWKSES|METAL BAWKSES]] and a [[Missile Launcher]] if it can't get close enough. It was the last type of war robot to enter Mechanicum production before the [[Horus Heresy]], the Domitar was a variant of the sophisticated ancient Conqueror Class Robot. A variant of the Domitar-Class Robot, the Domitar-Ferrum class, was used by [[Perturabo|Ol'Pert]] as his Iron Circle honor guard following the Battle of Phall.

The Domitars are essentially a melee automata geared to taking down Monstrous Creatures (aka other Automata), it can also handle vehicles and buildings in equal measure thanks to four attacks at S10 and its WS4 make it so it'll hit all other automata on 3's (even with HoW it's great since get D3 S7 hammer of wrath hits per model (roll once and multiply by number of models)).

Shooting wise it's pretty shitty for how much it costs, armed with only a missile launcher with Krak and Ignis missiles (the latter S5, 3" blast ignores cover... but AP6) and can purchase flak missiles (only 5 pts but you've got good enough Anti-Air enough anyway). Thankfully it shines even when getting charged thanks to the Graviton Hammers forcing opponents to make disordered charges, and with Crusader you'll be dictating when your charges happen quite often.

Interestingly Frag-nades are purchased at 5 pts per model (essentially mandatory for them), but keep them away from tarpitts (Paragon of metal doesn't help out too much here, and getting hacked apart by a large mob of S6 fearless goons whose entire squad costs probably less than half your model is embarrassing). Don't go thinking that it can take on every monster unit either. Charge a few Castellax with Darkfire Cannons (or even go solo near their Bolt-Cannons) and you'll find that's a 175+ point investment down the drain.

==='''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.

====Vorax Class Battle-Automata====
[[File:AM-Vorax8.jpg|200px|right|thumb|<s>The Praying Mantis</s> Vorax automatas ready to harvest.]]

The '''Vorax''' is a hunter-killer robot descended from the aforementioned Crusader that, like the Crusader beforehand looks more like an insect more than anything else. Created on pre-Imperial Mars to search and destroy Mutants and rogue machines, their cybernetica cortex engrams are known to be particularly predatory and vicious examples of their kind. Such are the vicious instincts inherent in their programming that they are wired with numerous override cantos to prevent these tireless hunting machines from devolving into renegades.

They fulfill the roles both of search and destroy weapon and exterminator of rogue machines and mutants. Armed with a pair of rotor cannon and a lightning gun for range combat and power blades for CQC. At times they are also dispatched by their masters to conduct a cull of surplus population during famine or plague, their hunts only ending when their master orders. [[Eldrad|What dicks they are.]] As such they are held in superstitious dread by the human indentured laborers of the Mechanicum's worlds. Like the Castellax, it was mothballed after the Heresy because its machine spirits were deemed too close to being Abominable Intelligence.

The Vorax is the Legio Cybernetica's fast attack robot and thus, is quicker and lighter (4+ armour and 3W, but I4 and lacking an invulnerable save) than the Castellax whilst getting fleet and scout. They also come standard with a pair of [[Rotor Cannon|rotor cannons]], a [[Lightning Gun|lightning gun]], and [[Power weapon#Battle-Automata Power Blade|powerblades]]. (Can swap the lightning for an [[Irradiation Projector|irrad cleanser]]) Outflank these sphincters and let their automatic programming take care of the rest. Unfortunately, 4+ armor, 3 wounds at t6 and no invuln makes them far too susceptible to krak grenades to be viable. With programmed behavior meaning they have to charge, keep these sick-looking mantis bots in single units of 1, [[DISTRACTION CARNIFEX|to use as a distraction unit.]]

==='''Thanatar-Class Robot'''===
[[File:ThanatarRobot.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The Thanatar. For when you need the Biggest Robot in the room.]]

A giant monstrous walking engine of death, the Thanatar is the size of a Tau [[Riptide]], and comes with a twin linked [[Mauler Bolt Cannon]], a massive [[Hellex Plasma Mortar]] or [[Lascannon|Sollex-pattern heavy Lascannon]], as well as a [[Graviton Ram]]. The Hellex Mortar is a ridiculous weapon that is able to launch dense spheres of blazing plasma on arcing trajectories over defensive barriers and into the heart of enemy fortifications, [[Rape|incinerating anything in their blast radius with a liquid tide of sun-hot fire]].

The Thanatar's frame, built to accommodate the huge weapon and its power system, is considerably larger than even the bulking Castellax. Its frame is also heavily reinforced, both to withstand the recoil of firing its weapons and protect it from incoming attacks.

Its armor makes it essentially impervious to small arms attacks no matter how advanced. Due to the enormous power required to power its colossal weapons, the Thanatar was considerably larger than other Battle-Automata. Unlike many of the models produced for the Legio Cybernetica, the origins of the Thanatar pattern robot remain unclear. Save that its Hellex Plasma Mortar is only produced on the Forge World of Ryza.

In the 30k tabletop, the basic Thanatar is 240 a pop, but they're T8,S8 2+. They get the infamous Hellex Plasma Mortars, which are ordnance barrage Str 8 AP 2 plasma blasts which force rerolls on cover saves. Go look up a picture and see how sexy they are.

If you want a moronic looking list, take them in a full-size unit of five. If you are a [[That Guy]], you can take one Thanatar and give him Paragon of Metal. <u>'''He'll never freaking die.'''</u> BS5 and -1 to enemy cover from Advanced Targeting will fit well too.

There are two variants of the Thanatar:

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====Thanatar-Calix Class Siege-Automata====
[[File:Thanatar-Calix.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The Thanatar-Calix [[Anal circumference|ripping holes into the rear ends of countless vehicles.]]]]
The first is the '''Thanatar-Calix Class'''. The Calix-Class was a variant of the standard Thanatar design developed during the later part of the Great Crusade. Rumored to have been developed by the [[Sollex Myrmidon]] and [[Omega-Shevar]] covenants of the [[Ordo Reductor]] alongside the [[Legio Cybernetica]], this design combines deadly tech-arcana from all three factions into a single deadly weapon. Calix Class Thanatars are geared towards the vanguard of siege assault warfare, able to sunder the strongest fortifications and conduct targeted strikes to neutralize defensive hardpoints. Its primary weapon was its [[Lascannon|Sollex Heavy Lascannon]], and so precious were these engines that in the rare cases they were deployed many other lesser battle-automata were fielded to protect them.

The Thanatar-Calix's most destructive armament though is the [[Graviton Ram]], a weapon whose origins are lost in the [[Dark Age of Technology]]. The ram's crushing waves of gravitational force can pulverise infantry and vehicles alike, and it can be utterly devastating at both range and close quarters.

If you don't already know, the Thanatar-Calix is a god damned monster. This is the guy who puts the "Siege" in "Siege-Automata". the mortar is replaced with an S10 Lascannon ([[Derp|yes, a single, one-shot-per-turn lascannon, unfortunately]]) but this Thanatar gets an additional Graviton Ram in return, which can be used in shooting as a moderately effective template weapon with Haywire or in melee as an S10 AP 1 armorbane weapon which gets bumped up to str D against buildings(!) However this guy is a [[Powergamer|whopping 295 points,]] so make those potential Strength D hits happen or you're not getting those points back. Unsurprisingly, this Thanatar is a death sentence against vehicles. If it can get close enough, a single turn can see it firing a [[Cheese|S10 AP2 Lascannon and a haywire template, then charging in with 3 S10 AP1 Armorbane hits in melee.]]

Also, never, ever let him be assaulted by infantry (and don't be dumb enough to charge infantry with him). The template weapon forces a strength test instead of rolling to wound - in HH most infantry are S4, so you're going to need 5+ to wound and they can still make 3+ saves. However, against weak tarpit units with low strength, it could work quite well - morale checks caused by this template are taken with a Ld -2 modifier, so you can scare off potential tarpits. A S10 AP1 close combat attack is mostly wasted on infantry, being not at all any more effective than the base S8 AP2 that a normal Thanatar would have.

====Thanatar-Cynis Class Siege-Automata====

The second is the '''Thanatar-Cynis Class''' which was a variant of the standard Thanatar-Calix class designed by the Forge World of Estaban III with an attempt to increase their power and standing within the greater Mechanicum. However due to their competition with Ryza, Estaban III was unable to acquire their plasma technology, resulting in the Cynis pattern of Thanatar being more prone to [[Fail|self-destruction]] despite its fierce power.

===Vultarax Stratos-Automata===
[[File:Vultarax.jpg|150px|right|thumb|The Vultarax. No, we aren't related to Papa Nurgle, we swear on our metallic appendages.]]
The Vultarax is the only confirmed flying robot within the Legio Cybernatica. You may ask yourself, "Hey wait on the vox for a minute. [[Pretend|They look suspiciously familiar...]] Where have I seen these before?". Well, the answer is that they are essentially the non-daemonifed version of [[Nurgle|Nurgle's]] [[Blight Drone|Blight Drones]]. If you find yourself asking "Why would the Mechanicum copy a daemon engine?" you've got it backwards. These are 30k designs that predate the Horus Heresy, then the Dark Mechanicum nicked the designs to make Blight Drones.

Anyways, the Vultarax was by far the most common Stratos-automata in widespread use by the Mechanicum at the outbreak of the wars of the [[Horus Heresy]]. A robust, multi-role war engine, heavily armed and fitted with sophisticated sensory gear and able to operate in diverse and hostile environments, it proved itself a keystone of Mechanicum Explorator Expedition forces both as an armed, high mobility scout and as a hunter-killer and rapid response unit in open battle.

The Vultarax Stratos-automata is a Flying Monstrous Creature armed with a [[Vultarax Arc Blaster]], a versatile weapon capable of burning out the cogitators and engines of enemy vehicles, and two [[Havoc Launcher|Setheno pattern havoc launchers]], long ranged missile systems designed to wipe out infantry units, even in heavy cover. These armaments, alongside its impressive armour, flare shield, and enhanced targeting array, make the Vultarax Stratos-automata a formidable force on the battlefield.

== 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

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