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Hello world,
I've rescently breifly heard a friend of mine speek of a kind of robotic suit (no not tau battlesuits) that is somewhat similar to the dreadnought. However you do not have to have died to be put in this suit, it's kinda like a vehicle (not the imperial guard walker).
What I wanted to know is, well first off, is this even true? And if it is, could rogue traders obtain some?
I'm asking this for fluff reasons in a codex I'm writting for fun.

Could this be what your friend is refering to?
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Knight#.TwpRfPl36gM

The Dreadknight?

It's possible he might be thinking of the original dreadnought fluff, by which they were just funny-looking battlemechs whose pilots could get out, walk around and visit the pub after a battle, rather than the walking tombs they are now.

I'm pretty sure there's nothing other than the aforementioned Knights and the Wardean vileness that is the Nemesis Dreadknight which fulfils those criteria nowadays, however.

Might have been referring to this:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Space_Marines/Space-Marine-Dreadnoughts/CONTEMPTOR_PATTERN_DREADNOUGHT_BODY.html

Pretty sure they have a standard pilot rather than the walking tomb of a dreadnought.

No, they're just an older mark of Dreadnoughts.

English Assassin wrote:It's possible he might be thinking of the original dreadnought fluff, by which they were just funny-looking battlemechs whose pilots could get out, walk around and visit the pub after a battle, rather than the walking tombs they are now.

I'm pretty sure there's nothing other than the aforementioned Knights and the Wardean vileness that is the Nemesis Dreadknight which fulfils those criteria nowadays, however.

Eh? Dreadnoughts have always, always been piloted by a marine interred in an amniotic capsule via mind link, even those dodgy original ones.

If you mean a Dreadknight then no. They wouldn't begin to have a chance.
If you mean a Comtemptor Dread... maybe... They wouldn't be able to pilot it... i don't think they would be able to anyway...

farmersboy wrote:

English Assassin wrote:It's possible he might be thinking of the original dreadnought fluff, by which they were just funny-looking battlemechs whose pilots could get out, walk around and visit the pub after a battle, rather than the walking tombs they are now.

I'm pretty sure there's nothing other than the aforementioned Knights and the Wardean vileness that is the Nemesis Dreadknight which fulfils those criteria nowadays, however.

Eh? Dreadnoughts have always, always been piloted by a marine interred in an amniotic capsule via mind link, even those dodgy original ones.

Check your Rogue Trader rulebook, p. 40 and WH40k Compilation pp. 56 - 65...

The only walker the Rogue Trader would be able to get his hands on and actually use would be an IG Sentinel.

Dreadknights are only available to Grey Knights and if, by some chance, a RT got their hands on one they might end up in a lot of trouble. Also they'd need an Astartes to pilot it unless the Rogue Trader is 8'6" tall with the reach of an Astartes to pilot it.

Post-Heresy Dreadnaughts are a definite no-no. They are walking tombs for Marines too incapacitated to live on unaided, yet whose knowledge and expertise is too valuable to lose. The only person who can pilot a Dreadnaught is a crippled Astartes hooked up to it from the inside.

HOWEVER! There is a little loophole. Dreadnaughts are often left deactivated for months, years, decades. Maybe even centuries. IF a Rogue Trader were able to get hold of a piloted Dreadnaught, somehow, then when the Dreadnaught is woken up its 'pilot' might suffer from memory loss and confusion due to the long period of deactivation. A Rogue Trader might then possibly be able to persuade the Dreadnaught to go attack what they want squished, but it's not as if a proud, even arrogant Astartes will take orders from a puny human Rogue Trader. If the Rogue Trader had some control words, maybe knowing the name of the commander of the Company to which the Dreadnaught belonged, or perhaps it's most hated foe, it could be goaded into doing what the Rogue Trader wants. But it'd come at quite a price.

There were dreadnoughts with escape mechanisms.
The pilots could eject from them.

Not all of the operators were locked into boxes and stuck inside them via spinal links.

Eldar dreads (pre-wraithlord, which is an extension of the "spirit warrior" spirit-stone driven dread frame) had living pilots who were simply connected by mind-impulse (psychic) link and were able to separate from their machines.

Also war walkers (lighter armoured version of the dread with more guns - at the time). In RT, characters could be given a war-walker as an upgrade.

There is also the Ork Killa Kans and Deff Dreads? Though I don't think you can get out of them very easily once you are in them...

You used to be able to buy an ejector system for them (a big spring you sat on ).

The orks inside are wired in, but are still functional, once the wires are pulled out again, IIRC. Letting them out would be a not-too-bright move though, as they tend to be psychotic

Ascalam wrote:You used to be able to buy an ejector system for them 9a big spring you sat on ).

The orks inside are wired in, but are still functional, once the wires are pulled out again, IIRC. Letting them out would be a not-too-bright move though, as they tend to be psychotic

That seems both needlessly cruel and hilarious at the same time... and i'm not talking about the 'ejector seat'...

Orks are awesome that way..

Kan pilots are happy to be kanz, and would refuse to leave

Kaldor wrote:Might have been referring to this:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Space_Marines/Space-Marine-Dreadnoughts/CONTEMPTOR_PATTERN_DREADNOUGHT_BODY.html

Pretty sure they have a standard pilot rather than the walking tomb of a dreadnought.

AlmightyWalrus wrote:No, they're just an older mark of Dreadnoughts.

Not exactly. Contemptors are the precursor to Tactical Dreadnought Armor ("Terminator armor"), not dreadnoughts.

Deffdread pilots realized quickly that the only downside to being wired into a tiny metal can is being wired into a tiny metal can. I doubt that they enjoy their position in life

OT, the only that I can think of would be kans and dreads other than any really old imperial tech.

-cgmckenzie

Ouze wrote:

Kaldor wrote:Might have been referring to this:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Space_Marines/Space-Marine-Dreadnoughts/CONTEMPTOR_PATTERN_DREADNOUGHT_BODY.html

Pretty sure they have a standard pilot rather than the walking tomb of a dreadnought.

AlmightyWalrus wrote:No, they're just an older mark of Dreadnoughts.

Not exactly. Contemptors are the precursor to Tactical Dreadnought Armor ("Terminator armor"), not dreadnoughts.

No, they are true Dreadnoughts. I have no idea where you got that from.

VI th legion wrote:

Ouze wrote:

Kaldor wrote:Might have been referring to this:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Space_Marines/Space-Marine-Dreadnoughts/CONTEMPTOR_PATTERN_DREADNOUGHT_BODY.html

Pretty sure they have a standard pilot rather than the walking tomb of a dreadnought.

AlmightyWalrus wrote:No, they're just an older mark of Dreadnoughts.

Not exactly. Contemptors are the precursor to Tactical Dreadnought Armor ("Terminator armor"), not dreadnoughts.

No, they are true Dreadnoughts. I have no idea where you got that from.

Indeed, that's why they're called Contemptor Pattern Dreadnoughts, not Contemptor Pattern Tactical Dreadnought Armour.