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I was reading Descent of Angels, and on page 74 or 75, it says Zaharie's armor systemes failed. What exactly is the armor that the Order uses? I thought that the Mk I "Thunder" armor was just advandced plate mail, or is this armor something else entirely? Could I get some clarification?

Whilst I haven't read Descent of Angels and am not sure what armour the Order is using, 'Thunder' armour is really basic power armour. It was the first of the powered armour marks and was not built to a specific design but was a general type of armour used by 'techno-barbarians' from the Age of Strife. The first of the Emperor's Space Marines were clad in this type of armour.
It was really basic - no life support, nor was it air tight as those sort of things weren't necessary for fighting on Earth. Interestingly only the body & arms had power, from an enclosed power source which increased the users strength & fighting prowess rather dramatically, whilst the legs were covered in tough breeches & rudimentary armour plates.

So, in effect, Mk I 'Thunder' had basic systems but nothing near as advanced as that found in Mk 2 'Crusade' and beyond.

I would infer something much like Thunder armour, of a significantly lower in technological level than power armour proper.

The PA at the time had to be reasonably developed, because it first came into use by the techno barbarians on Terra during the age of Strife, and it was from them that the Emperor obtained the technology.

Mks II and III all had various inneficiencies in their power output and various other areas so did mk V. Mk IV maximus plate was the first truely modern power armour as each mark had been discovered to have their own faults. I would imagine the Dark Angels would be using MKII crusade pattern armour during DoA as it was set relatively early in the crusade. Although having said all this even modern Power Armour can short out through extreme physical stress or damage to power packs and cables. Early marks just had less ifficient reactors in their powerpacks.

They basically had Thunder Armour. STCs meant many other worlds had power armour too. The psuedo-Imperium in the first book also had power armour that was pretty sophisticated.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:They basically had Thunder Armour. STCs meant many other worlds had power armour too. The psuedo-Imperium in the first book also had power armour that was pretty sophisticated.

Thunder armour was not based on an STC. Also where has it ever been stated that Power Armour came from STC's? Look at Terminator armor, it came from technicians space suits. I suspect that Power armour that were worn by other human civs were something that they themselves developed using what tech they had. But the STC's themselves didn't give off Power armour.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Here is some info about Power armour:

From Lexicanum: http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Power_Armour#.Tt83ULKMiKs

From Warhammer 40k wiki: http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Power_Armour

Power Armor through the ages.

The people of Caliban had the tech for some sort of primative power armor much like Thunder Armor. The suits also had squad based Vox systems.

They also had Bolt Pistols and Chainswords.

Grey Templar wrote:The people of Caliban had the tech for some sort of primative power armor much like Thunder Armor. The suits also had squad based Vox systems.

They also had Bolt Pistols and Chainswords.

Yes, that's why it seems like they must have had some sort of STCs. They are a medieval people with power armour and bolt pistols.

I don't think Thunder Armor is based on an STC.


Its more likely that the equipment to make said technology was simply what survived from the original colonists and the Knightly orders were the only ones who had the machines, and retained the knowledge of their maintanance and upkeep.

I'm just going by the fact that PA is not exclusive to Earth or The Emperor so it may have been around during the Dark Age of Technology and seemingly everything from the Dark Age had an STC.

it was definitly around during the Dark Age.

But not everything has or had an STC. Bolters and TDA are examples of non-STC technology.


its possable that the STC hasn't been found for Bolters but the Bolter technology has simply been in common enough use that it hasn't disappeared.

TDA is actually an alteration of maintanance suits created with work inside an iperating fusion reactor. No STC, just a evolution of the Technology. AKA something new.


Imperial navy Ship designs arn't based on STCs. The Armored prow was developed in the years following the Horus heresy.

That's fine. I don't know why TDA keeps coming up. If PA was around during the Dark Age it probably had an STC which is the simplest explanation for why it appears on worlds that The Imperium didn't even know existed and vice versa.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:That's fine. I don't know why TDA keeps coming up. If PA was around during the Dark Age it probably had an STC which is the simplest explanation for why it appears on worlds that The Imperium didn't even know existed and vice versa.

The Auretian Technocracy, which was discovered and destroyed by the Warmaster, had it's soldiers armoured with powerarmour.
The technology for these suits of armour was aparently STC based.

KingDeath wrote:

KamikazeCanuck wrote:That's fine. I don't know why TDA keeps coming up. If PA was around during the Dark Age it probably had an STC which is the simplest explanation for why it appears on worlds that The Imperium didn't even know existed and vice versa.

The Auretian Technocracy, which was discovered and destroyed by the Warmaster, had it's soldiers armoured with powerarmour.
The technology for these suits of armour was aparently STC based.

Its more likely that they had some STC's and used them to develop power armour.

Caliban was settled 5-10 thousand years before Thunder Armor existed on Earth.

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

KingDeath wrote:

KamikazeCanuck wrote:That's fine. I don't know why TDA keeps coming up. If PA was around during the Dark Age it probably had an STC which is the simplest explanation for why it appears on worlds that The Imperium didn't even know existed and vice versa.

The Auretian Technocracy, which was discovered and destroyed by the Warmaster, had it's soldiers armoured with powerarmour.
The technology for these suits of armour was aparently STC based.

Its more likely that they had some STC's and used them to develop power armour.

Same difference.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

KingDeath wrote:

KamikazeCanuck wrote:That's fine. I don't know why TDA keeps coming up. If PA was around during the Dark Age it probably had an STC which is the simplest explanation for why it appears on worlds that The Imperium didn't even know existed and vice versa.

The Auretian Technocracy, which was discovered and destroyed by the Warmaster, had it's soldiers armoured with powerarmour.
The technology for these suits of armour was aparently STC based.

Its more likely that they had some STC's and used them to develop power armour.

Same difference.

It doesn't have to be STC based. Just putting it out there.

It could be like in evolution, how certain animals evolve into certain shapes even though they are not of the same species or genus. (IE. Dolphins sharks seals penguins, have relatively streamline bodies and , pointy at one end, flippers/fins)

Just putting it out there, it does not need to STC

Is it new if its just equipment repurposed for a different task?
Curious what other changes whent along with the TDA thing.

The Interex also had power armour. Not only that but power armour that closely resembled the armour of the marines. I believe the HH book in question also mentioned them having an STC machine or at least a lot of STC knowledge.

The thunder armour was an attempt by the war ravaged people of Earth to produce the armour of the STC. As production capacity increased after the hook up with Mars then a better version of the armour was produced. Each mark since then has been an attempt to produce a better version of the armour of the STC with the available materials.

I agree with Blazin, Reznov (for once ) and Templar.

I would guess that it's a progressive thing, as their technology advanced they updated their armour.

Johnson, as with all the Primarchs, had much knowledge on tactics and inventing added to his being. It's quite possible that he had a hand in modifying the existing equipment that the Knights had available to them, much like Mortarion with the population of Barbarus.

Pilau Rice wrote:I agree with Blazin, Reznov (for once ) and Templar.

Oh Pilau Rice, you just broke my heart. I thought we were friends .

Anyway, sorry about not posting the Horus Rising post that I said I'd post, I've just been busy with school. I hope you understand.

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

Pilau Rice wrote:I agree with Blazin, Reznov (for once ) and Templar.

Oh Pilau Rice, you just broke my heart. I thought we were friends .

Anyway, sorry about not posting the Horus Rising post that I said I'd post, I've just been busy with school. I hope you understand.

I wasn't saying I didn't like you, I was implying that I didn't agree with you the majority of the time

No bother, i've left that thread down to you guys to argue over. I was going to bring up a few more things but decided against it as I can't be bothered do go around and around in circles again.

cadbren wrote:The Interex also had power armour. Not only that but power armour that closely resembled the armour of the marines. I believe the HH book in question also mentioned them having an STC machine or at least a lot of STC knowledge.

The thunder armour was an attempt by the war ravaged people of Earth to produce the armour of the STC. As production capacity increased after the hook up with Mars then a better version of the armour was produced. Each mark since then has been an attempt to produce a better version of the armour of the STC with the available materials.

Yes, and so did the false Imperium. Not, kinda like, power armour. Exactly the power armour that GW has trademarks on.