Imperial Knight
An Imperial Knight is not a titan. It is a large single pilot warmachine, similar to the Tau Riptide. Usually humanoid, the cockpit for the pilot is mounted in the head or just behind it in the main body.
About the Knights
The knights are allied with, or in some cases part of the Adeptus Mechanicum rather than being part of the Imperium. Knight worlds are worlds which supply forgeworlds with foodstuff and raw materials and are defended by Knight Households. The Knight World gathers foodstuff and ores for a set period of time (usually a year) before the Adeptus mechanicus arrive in a forge ship bringing new knight suits in exchange for the raw materials. As with most Imperial or mechanicus forces, the Knight households wear bright heraldry.
The Knights come in several varieties, all of which have an energy shield to protect them from incoming fire and have a mix of shooty any choppy. Two varieties have just recently appeared in the 40K model range, the Knight Paladin with its rapid fire battlecannon and the Knight Errant with its thermal cannon. Other varieties, yet to be seen in 40k, are the Knight Lancer - similar to the Paladin, but faster and with more choppy, the Knight Crusader with Lascannons and a titan grade Quake Cannon, the Knight Castellan with Autocannons and a Quake Cannon and the command Baron class Knight with an even faster firing battlecannon, improved armour and the speed and choppiness of the Lancer.
Knights usually deploy alongside Titan legions as auxillary forces. Although some paterns of Knight are capable of going toe to toe with smaller titans, or even larger titans outfitted exclusively for ranged combat, the Knights usual role is anti infantry or anti light vehicle freeing up the Titans to attack superheavies.
In game terms, the Knight Paladin and Knight Errant are superheavy walkers with strength D close combat weapons, a big gun and a special Ion Shield that gives them a 4+ invulnerable on a facing chosen at the start of each of your opponents shooting phases. The Paladin also mounts two heavy stubbers, and the Errant one heavy stubber.
Times of Epic
Back in the times of Epic Warhammer 40000, there were more types of Knights apart from the Paladin and the Errants:
- Lancer: Faster than other Knights, this pattern is all about scouting, distraction and hit and run tactics. Instead of its standard Shock Lance, it can swap it for a shorter in range, yet more powerful Power Lance. The only downside of them is that they are the most fragile of Knight Pattern.
- Crusader: Slower, yet more sturdier and powerful, Crusaders are armed with heavy weapons that are usually found on Warlord or Imperator Class Titans (such as the Quake Cannon). Due to them moving slow (blame the heavy weapons and loads of armoured bits) compared to other Knights, these behemoths are used to snipe targets from extreme range and act as a powerful support force for the rest of the Knights.
- Castellan: The short-ranged cousin of the Crusader that swaps its Lascannons for multi-barreled Autocannons. This makes the Castellan a nightmare for infantry and light vehicles, as well allows to deplete a enemy Titan's shields in a disturbingly short time.
- Baron: The biggest, baddest of all the Knights. Baron Knights are piloted by the deadliest members of a Knight House. Each Baron is actually build from the very basics as a ace-custom for its pilots. Combining armour and power to keep up with Lancers (yet being nearly as tough as Crusaders), as well being usually armed with Battle Cannons and the Lancer's Power Lance, the Barons lead their kinsmen to war and victory.
- Warden: Piloted by the eldest (read retired) members of a Knight House, these goofy looking Knights shouldn't be underestimated as much as the old timers that pilot them. Warden Knight make up (like the Crusader) the heavy support part of a Knight House in the long-range category. Although not as fast as the youngsters, the pilots of Wardens make it up with years of brutally hard-won experience that makes them as deadly as the Barons.
