Editing Adeptus Custodes (section)

==Specialty Factions and [[Your Dudes]]==
The 8th Edition Codex has covered several specialty groups of Custodians, each with their own color scheme and basic [[Your Dudes]] style fluff. It also briefly discussed how to customize the paint scheme for the army. Kill Team: Elites adds Custodes to [[Kill_Team_(Specialist_Game)|Kill Team]], and gives a similar but genericized listing as to the reasons a Custodes force would be out in the wild.

When considering [[Your Dudes]], it's important to remember that Custodes are not an army or a military force like a traditional 40k faction, they are instead a group of stupidly overpowered individuals -- more akin to a 40k army made entirely of Space Marine Captains or other HQ characters, or a Transhuman version of a Necromunda gang. They come together not for some standing military force reason, but to do certain tasks or achieve certain goals -- assassinate a specific target, prevent any threats to Terra, recover an artefact, etc.

One example is given in the 8E codex, where a Custodes named Heraclast Vadrian finally realizes the AdMech being too stupid to maintain / fix the Golden Throne is going to fuck the Imperium over in a few centuries' time, so he gathered up some of His Dudes to go out and investigate a lost Forge World that might know how to fix the damned thing. This provides not only fluff for a Shield Host (an [[Apocalypse]] sized Custodes army) but opens up all kinds of interesting options -- Mars AdMech? They'd be all for joining in. Imperial Fists? I bet Heraclast could get them to join. Imperial Guard? They're everywhere, so why not?

A Custodes force can be something as generic as "Custodes that defend Terra" to something as specific as "Custodes that hunt Orks to prevent another repeat of The Beast." Like all Your Dudes headcanon, you can go as far with this as you want.

===Custodes Paint Schemes===

By default, Custodians are shining gold -- a "incredibly rare substance known as auramite." This can be changed -- not painted over, but changed via alchemy of all things -- to other metallic tints or changed into non-metallics altogether. Custodians often have leather pieces, especially the Jet Bikers, and also wear tabards, robes, and loincloths on top of their armor that are by default a crimson red color; this color is usually, but not always, the same between the cloth and shoulderpad. This cloth color is also used in secondary colorings on other models -- for example, the Dreadnought or Terminator shoulderpads, or plates on the vehicles. Custodians also have a variety of gems, all of which are the same color across a given army.

An Adeptus Custodes force -- known as a Shield Company or Shield Host if it's big enough -- will have a given color to the auramite bits (the armor), the auramite trim and other embellishments on top of the armour, the leather, and the cloth bits and shoulderpad. Special colors for certain aspects -- for example, the face mask -- are not unheard of.

How this all shakes out with some of the descriptions of the Specialty Factions in the codex -- for example, the Dread Host description suggests his White and Sable cloth parts are specific to "his shield host, which is itself one of several that currently wear the colours of the Dread Host," whereas the Aquilan Shield specifically mentions their cloth colors are Royal Purple -- is unknown. To this end, the cloth colors in the examples are included in parentheses.

==="Default" Custodes===

As detailed in early Horus Heresy material, before the specialty groups were conceived, the Custodes had a fairly generalized color scheme. Duncan covers this paint scheme [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm8J-kaezWM here], but in general: The armor is almost entirely gold, with some silver bits such as the faceplate and some cables and some pipes. The plume and some bits -- decorative cords over the leather -- are red (other GW painters during the era paint the cords a sky blue), but the pauldrons are not given this base color with gold trim, instead remaining entirely gold. The guardian spear is majority black in both the haft and bolter, with gold trim, some silver mechanics, and a blue power blade. Gemstones are painted silver and then a blue technical paint is used to make them gemstones.

The differences between this and the later paint style can be seen throughout page 44 through 55 of the 8E codex, with page 48 and 49 showing some of the Specialty Adeptus Custodes Groups such as the Solar Watch and the Shadowkeepers, while page 46 has detail pictures of 3 miniatures in the old style, while a batrep style army photo of models in the newer style behind them.

In general, the newer style picks a secondary color -- usually red -- to break up the gold by giving the pauldrons a base of that color, using gold instead to color the trim and detail on top of the pauldrons. For those who have used Space Marine Pauldrons that have 3D detail, it's basically that. Newer models such as the Custodian Warden or Terminators also have more cloth material which is also (but not always, see below) this color. The newer style also seems to use more silver, although this may be the result of modern GW's addiction to edge highlighting everything like it's something out of a bad Tron themed fever dream.

===Specialty Adeptus Custodes Groups===
These are the Adeptus Custodes Groups that were first mentioned in the 8th Edition Codex, alongside their (general) color scheme. These are similar to "Chapter Equivalent" things like official AdMech Forge Worlds, complete with special rules for each of them. 9th Edition added a "generic" shield host, The Emperor's Chosen, to represent Custodes when they're not a part of one of the 6 specialist groups.

Of course, due to the vast number of [[Your Dudes]] in Custodes, given that they didn't have these kinds of rules for the longest time, no one outside of [[That Guy]] is going to complain if you declare that your Custodes are using say, Shadowkeepers rules while being painted in generic gold, or in some sort of flashwave neon blue and pink. For an official version of this, the 9E codex has pictures of Elliot Hamer's take on the Dread Host, which is different than the "official" Dread Host scheme.

The colors used in official color schemes, generally speaking, are:
* '''Armor:''' Gold, black, or white base, with gold trim and detail. Facemasks are sometimes painted Silver or the non-standard armor color (adds contrast to the face).
* '''Cloth:''' Red, white, black, purple, consistent across a Shield-Company or Shield-Host, with the latter taking precedence. This includes the left shoulder guard's color -- the right shoulder guard is the Imperial Aquila and is usually entirely gold; this is different on units other than the Custodian Guard. The shoulder guard often (but not always) matches the tabard/robes.
* '''Leather:''' Brown, white, red. Gloves are generally brown even if the other leather is dyed.
* '''Gems:''' Blue, although other gemstone colors are mentioned, red is shown in art. Noted that they are explicitly the same across an entire organization (Shield-Company, not necessarily a Shield-Host).
* '''Weapon:''' Black shafts/hilts/frame with gold detail, although a gold hilt/frame is shown in art, and a silver hilt / black frame is shown in one display model. Blades are power weapons, often with a blue lightning effect, although silver/white/etc are also seen.

This leaves many colors to take [[Your Dudes]] if you would like to go your own way. None of the official color schemes use green (possibly due to the [[Sons of Horus]] using that color during the Heresy, but then there's [[Salamanders]]), blue, yellow, or orange for their cloth. /tg/ has seen some amazing Custodes that use all silver, bronze or brass instead of gold, or even faux stonework instead of metal. Tinted metallic colors, like a base of silver with contrast paint on top, is also an option; Forge World's own "Dankanatoi" seem to be black that is tinted iridescent green/purple in the art. Black leather isn't used in any official color scheme either, but black leather with some grey lines to indicate some light battle damage or wear could work.

The officially named Custodes organizations, with their color schemes and descriptions, are as follows:

* '''The Emperor's Chosen:''' Solid gold armor (red cloth bits). Newly codified in 9th edition, this is the new "default" shield host, representing the Custodes when they are not actually a member of a shield host. These can also represent shield hosts and kill teams not specifically tailored to a specialist purpose, or the Custodes on Terra itself. The color scheme seems to be undefined, but is likely based on the original 30k scheme -- that is to say, solid gold with red cloth bits.
* '''The Shadowkeepers:''' Black armor with gold trim (crimson red cloth bits). Keeps watch over the various warp-terrors and archeotech artifacts that the Emperor kept locked up in his basement on Terra since the Age of Strife, each and every one something or someone that would destroy the Imperium if they were ever let loose or even merely known about at large. After the Great Rift opened a large number were spirited away across the galaxy. Whoops. Their leader is called the Lockwarden and hasn't stepped foot back on Terra since the Great Rift occurred.
* '''The Aquilan Shield:''' Gold armor with gold trim (royal purple cloth bits specifically mentioned). Bodyguards of Fate. When the Imperial Palace's personal psykers find someone who is "likely to avert [disaster] before it threatens the Golden Throne," these people are marked for protection. These fated people are then protected by the Aquilan Shield whether they like it or not -- a small informal sect of wandering Custodians who watch over them up until the exact moment they do whatever it is that will ensure the Emperor's safety, at which point they leave. This often occurs just in time to see said now-useless person die horrifically to whatever the Custodians were protecting them from. The example given is of a Guardsman whose unorthodox tactics had him slated for execution due to "insubordination" (probably a jealous officer ordered it, even commissars have to follow orders unless it contradicts their mandate). Under the Aquilan Guard's protection, he rose through the ranks to become Warmaster of a Crusade that successfully repelled an Ork WAAAGH! that would have otherwise threatened the Sol system - at which point the Guard left him to [[derp|be executed by the Commissariat in spite of his success]], because Commissars are assholes like that.
* '''The Dread Host:''' Gold armor with brass trim, white faceplate (white cloth and "sable" (black) shoulder pad bits). The Emperor's "anger and punishment made manifest." They determine direct threats to Segmentum Solar and the Emperor and wipe them off the face of the galaxy. Specifically a terrorist organization in the literal sense of the word -- once they determine a target, they attack, prevent them from surrendering or fleeing, and utterly raze everything to the ground; the goal being not just to destroy any threats they deem appropriate, [[Night Lords|but to put the fear of the Emperor into anyone who hears about what happened]].
* '''The Solar Watch:''' White armor with gold trim (crimson red cloth bits). The first and last line of defense of the Sol system itself. Heavily mechanized -- lots of Land Raiders. Constantly patrolling between the worlds of Sol, the various space structures, and the travel lanes from Sol to the nearby systems and back. Have been known to destroy various cults, Inquisition coups, and even the occasional Eldar or Genestealer infestation, on every world except Mars. In order to honor the autonomy of the Adeptus Mechanicus, they take a "better not to ask" approach to Mars and their... deviants. That's the job of the Ordo Machinum of the [[Inquisition]] anyhow. Gives those kooks something to do besides blowing up planets and acting on their petty internal squabbles.
* '''Emissaries Imperatus:''' Gold armor with gold trim (white cloth bits and crimson shoulder pad bits). Originally the Emperor's gophers and messengers, now his representation in realspace. Some Custodians can supposedly hear the Emperor's voice when they meditate/sleep; they do not see this as divine inspiration but rather his human will working to direct them like he did before being enthroned. Some can hear him more than others, those that do become Emissaries Imperatus; they gather together and debate what Big E wants them to do. This might include giving special messages to the occasional commander, or giving special wargear from Terra to someone who will need it soon. When the Primaris Marines were about to be unleashed by Guilliman the bulk of the Custodians nearly stopped him (in part because they were wary of the "flawed" nature of the Space Marines and didn't want to risk a repeat of the Horus Heresy), only allowing it once the Emissaries intervened, who made it absolutely clear that the Emperor wanted it to happen. They were also vital in making sure the various chapters accepted the Primaris Marines, going with the Indomitus Crusade and informing the Space Marines that they were a gift from the Emperor himself. This went up to and including threatening to declare any reluctant Chapters to be traitors on the spot if they refused. Obviously some Chapters were more eager to accept Primaris than others, due to dire need of reinforcements from the resulting crapfest caused by the Great Rift. [[Dark_Angels|Even the most secretive]].
* '''Eyes of the Emperor:''' Not actually present on the tabletop, but represented by a Stratagem. While the Custodians are formidable, even they aren't entirely immune to old age or injury or at least their effects. When a Custodian judges himself no longer able to serve in combat (bear in mind that this is relative- to a Custodian, one's reaction time slowing by one tenth of a second is considered "unacceptable for active duty" even if a normal human wouldn't even notice the decline), he gives up all his gear in exchange for a black robe and travel the galaxy. Some work alone and others build networks of agents and informants, but all keep watch for any situation that might pose a threat to Terra or the Emperor. If they come across such a situation, they use special channels to inform the Captain-General in order to pre-emptively eliminate said threat. No slouches either, one took out a daemon host that had already ambushed and killed a member of the Aquilan Shield. Their numbers have grown for ten millennia. Since each Custodians' wargear is custom made for him personally, it seems likely that the Custodes could drown the galaxy in golden custard at any time and simply choose not to. Thanks, Custodes. The Emperor must be so '''''proud''''' of you.

Forge World has their own mentioned in Black Book 8 (Malevolence), combined with some art. Technically a caste or chamber (like the Hykanatoi (troops), Tharanatoi (terminators), or Moritoi (dreadnoughts)) and not a shield host, it still has it's own defined color scheme and has seen use as a shield host color scheme:

* '''Dankanatoi:''' Black (Possibly iridescent or tinted dark green/purple) armor with gold trim (dark purple cloth bits). Created towards the end of the Horus Heresy partly as a response to Guilliman's little Imperium Secundus plan. Considering the treachery of the various traitors that turned on the Emperor before, during, and after the Heresy a threat deserving the Custodes' attention, the Dankanatoi hunted down traitors, betrayers, and the disloyal throughout the Imperium during the Great Scouring immediately after the Heresy. Effectively a pissed off Custodes version of the Inquisition, for all that entails. It is not known if they survived to the 40th Millennium; they are not mentioned in any of the Codexes or outside of Forge World books -- as such they do not have rules like the Games Workshop chapter equivalents do.