Artificer Armour
| Energy Fields | Imperial Armour |
|---|---|
| Conversion field - Displacer field - Stasis field |
Artificer Armour is the name given to individualised and heavily modified suits of Power Armour. Existing suits of Artificer armour have generally been modified and decorated for a certain individual at point in the Chapters. These suits are kept within the Chapter even after the death of their original wearers and then inherited by high ranking and honoured individuals. Commonly this type of armour incorporates elements of the various "marks" of power armour as well as more unique, customised armour plates and helmets.[4]
Contents
Construction
Suits of Power Armour are difficult to manufacture and so must be maintained in the best possible condition for as long as is possible, hence a Space Marine Chapter may well have a number of archaic suits, which now are kept as heirlooms. Although even the earliest forms of Power Armour are far from obsolete, many of the older suits lack auxiliary systems found in the most recent suits.[4]
To maintain, repair and upgrade suits so that they carry the latest systems, the Chapter's Techmarines and Artificers have to constantly work on all the suits that a Chapter owns. Many of the changes made are non-standard and are one-offs for the particular suit they are on, and many additional, purely ornamental adornments are added to recall major campaigns or battles the Chapter has fought in. In time suits become encrusted with unique decorations and individual upgrades and becomes known as Artificer Armour. Because of these heavy modifications, Artificer Armour is often highly superior to newer suits of standard issue Power Armour, and afford much better protection.[4]
Nevertheless, Artificer Armour is priceless to a Chapter and wearing it is not undertaken lightly, for it cannot be replaced if it is lost. Only the greatest heroes are entitled to wear such armour on the battlefield, and when a Space Marine does it is often as a symbol of his martial prowess as well as protection, and may even be chosen over Terminator Armour if it is available.[4] However, the Salamanders chapter create large amounts of Artificier Armour, due to their renowned craftsmanship skills.[6]
Astartes Artificed power armours typically include an MIU installed in the helmet[3a] allowing for direct interface with the power armour.[3b] They also may include automated fibre re-weaving systems, allowing for puncture wounds to self repair without needing the application of repair cement[3a] - useful given exposure to the cold vacuum of space through a punctured suit is particularly dangerous or even lethal, even for astartes.[3c]
Effects and Distribution
The Space Marines of the Adeptus Astartes hold the largest number of suits of Power Armour that could be classified as Artificer, but a number of suits of similar quality have been acquired by high ranking members of the Inquisition, who often collect such items in their line of work.[5]
Famous Suits of Artificer Armour
- Gilded Panoply - Worn by Fulgrim
- Armour of the Word - Worn by Lorgar Aurelian
- Draken Scale - Worn by Vulkan
- Nightmare Mantle - Worn by Konrad Curze
- Armour Elavagar - Worn by Leman Russ
- The Protector - Worn by Azrael
- Secret's Shield - Worn by Ezekiel
- Armour of the Forest - Worn by Corswain
- The Armour of Luis Dante
- The Armour of Mephiston
- The Armour of Erasmus Tycho
- The Armour of Torquemada Coteaz
Images
Sources
- 1: Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pg. 102
- 2: White Dwarf 123 pg.163
- 3: Deathwatch Core Rulebook
- 4: Warhammer 40,000: Compilation, pgs. 18-25
- 5: Codex: Daemonhunters (3rd Edition) - pg. 57
- 6: Codex Supplement: Salamanders (8th Edition) - pg. 59
Uncited
 |
- Warhammer 40,000: Wargear,
[Help] - Codex: Blood Angels (4th Edition), [Help]
- Codex Supplement: Ultramarines (8th Edition), pg. 75 - Special-Issue Wargear
