Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Just wanted to know if there is one. Or if anyone could type up everything fluff says the Arbites use.

Never has been listed specifically, but I'd imagine it's:

Basic Arbites: Bolt Pistol, Autopistol, Bolter, Autogun, Shotgun, Grenade Launcher, Flamer, Power Maul, Chainsword, Shield
Heavy Support: Heavy Bolter, Plasma Gun, Meltagun, Autocannon, Heavy Stubber, Mortar
Vehicles: Repressor, Rhino, Chimera, Leman Russ, Sentinel
Air Support: Valkyries/Vultures

Various pieces of fluff also talk about unique armored vehicles for patrols/light operations akin to 4-6 wheeled APC's.

I imagine that half their equipment depends on whoever writes the damn novel, but bolters and shotguns as well as power mauls do show up in their GW sources. A unique "hallmark item" seems to guided Executioner ammunition for their shotguns.

It is also noteworthy that they have their own fleets of warships.

Also power mauls are fairly standard, as are suppression shields (IE lesser version of storm shields.

There are several attempts at making a Codex Adeptus Arbites.
There is a Dark Heresy sourcebook on Arbites: Book of Judgement
And several Arbites novels are collecten in the BL Omnibus "Enforcer".

The DH sourcebook, as well as the main book and its various supplements that detail Arbite-specific gear, are probably your best bet.

Look at the Necromunda Resources on the Enforcers. They aren't Arbites, but they are based on them.

Obligatory link to that: http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1330051_Nec_Enforcers.pdf

Lynata wrote:Obligatory link to that: http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1330051_Nec_Enforcers.pdf

Cheers, I was using my phone so couldn't link it.

OP, this link will give you a decent idea of what the Arbites are equipped with.

Lynata wrote:

It is also noteworthy that they have their own fleets of warships.

They do? For what purpose? Those really bad riots that need orbital bombarment?

The Arbites ARE an interstellar organization spanning the entirety of the Imperium. It's enforcers that are limited to one world.

So they're like The Inquistion but deal with crime I guess....

KamikazeCanuck wrote:So they're like The Inquistion but deal with crime I guess....

Sort of, but far more limited.

Arbites are (as the neme suggests) arbitrators of Imperial law. "Enforcers" deal with planetary law, and go under many names-- we would call them police, for example-- but the Arbites enforce Imperial law, and go only under the Adeptus Arbites name. They often concern themselves with, for example, the upper echelons of Imperial society which often have the power to go without punishment otherwise, but they also go after heretical cults and are frequently used by or frequently use information from) the Inquisition, whom have similar goals.

There would be some Jurisdictional disputes I guess. Heretical cults are against the law and of interest to the Ordo Herecitus. Dealing with aliens is against the law and of interest to the Ordo Xenos for example.

Jurisdictional disputes is what half the Imperium is about. "Divided We Stand" and all.

That said, I imagine the Arbites would often work together with the Inquisition and/or the Ecclesiarchy when dealing with such matters. Whether this would be an alliance of pooled resources or two operations conducted independently in the same area, interfering with each other, would be up to the commanders involved.

As an example, when you go by GW fluff, the whole reason the Sisters of Battle have access to the Repressor-template is due to the amicable relationship between the Order of the Sacred Rose and the Arbites Fortress-Precinct on Avignor.

Regarding those disputes, you could perhaps say that Enforcers are the regular police, the Arbites are the FBI and the Inquisition are the CIA. They all work for the same country and are at times forced to work together, though this is usually not appreciated by the personnel involved. An Inquisitor waltzing into an Arbites investigation is like the Agency snatching a case from the Feds due to "matters of national security".

Lynata wrote:Jurisdictional disputes is what half the Imperium is about. "Divided We Stand" and all.

That's for sure. Nothing like a good old fashioned debate about who gets to bomb the heretics first....and what type of heretics they are to boot.

Within the bounds of imperial law a high ranking arbitrator's authority is almost unlimited. One even temporarily commandered an Imperial Dictator class cruiser to achive his goals ( Execution Hour ).

The Enforcer Omnibus deals a bit in the authority matter, and it's a good read in any case.

Arbites have ships if not fleets, in order to enforce laws when it comes to smuggling and other illicit practices concerning the worlds they officially police.

And they do have the authority to put down people that break the law even if they might not always have the firepower to do so if the individual is high enough in the hierarchy of some other Imperial organisation.

Spetulhu wrote:The Enforcer Omnibus deals a bit in the authority matter, and it's a good read in any case.

Aside from making up a lot of things on the spot, certain details unnecessarily contradicting established Codex fluff - but I suppose that's simply what you get when giving authors so much leeway. The story and the characters themselves are nice, though, even if I found sections of the book a bit "dry" and dragged-out. Still nice that the Arbites got some novel love, too, and Shira is a badass.

As far as the spaceships are concerned, the following was published in the Battlefleet Gothic Magazine, issue #10 - I am unsure if this was ever picked up elsewhere, though:

"While the Imperial Navy and the Adeptus Astartes fight the wars of the 41st millennium, the forces of the Adeptus Arbites take on a more subtle but no less important role. They are the police, the hand of justice in Imperial space. Not only do the Arbites operate planetside, but they also possess some naval forces with which to hunt down small pirate bands and other petty criminals.

The Arbites Punisher class strike cruiser is a policing vessel which is used to provide local system security to quell small rebellions in nearby systems and root out pirate bases. The design of the Punisher is very similar to that of its Space Marine strike cruiser equivalent. Much of the design is identical, with the exception of the more typical Imperial prow, which (to the untrained eye) can give the Punisher the appearance of a Dauntless light cruiser. There is also slightly less armour plating on the ship's engine ports compared to its Astartes counterpart.
During the Gothic War, the Inviolable Retribution under command of Arbitrator Jamahl Byzantine provided invaluable assistance in the evacuation of the Imperial world of Belatis. Arbitrators Byzantine and Korte, along with the crew of the Lord Solar Macharius went above and beyond the call of duty to rescue Captain Leoten Semper and several loyal Imperial citizens.

Adeptus Arbites ships are rare compared to their naval counterparts, and rarely participate in joint fleet actions. An Imperial player may only take one Punisher for every 1.000 points. It would be appropriate for a corresponding scenario or subplot to be used to explain its appearance.

The Punisher class strike cruiser carries regular Imperial torpedoes as well as barrage bombs. Arbites vessels are also supplied with a single salvo of melta torpedoes, rules for which and other special torpedoes are provided on page 4 of Warp Storm. [...] The Punisher class strike cruiser has been designed with the intent of scanning the surrounding star system to rot out pirates and heretic strong holds. As a result of this, Arbites vessels benefit from an improved sensor array. [...] Barrage bombs, the bombardment cannon and special drop pods make the Punisher quite adept at assaulting planetary targets. [...] The Punisher has limited attack craft capability for the purposes of defence and advanced scouting. It can launch squadrons of Arbites Eagle interceptors. The ships only carry fighters and do not have the facilities to service and launch bombers or assault boats."

That's a damn fine ship actually. Can't believe the Grand Provost finished last here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/329665.page
He's got some firepower!