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Are medics in 40k protected in any way or are they combatants?

Yes, and no. Apothecaries are Space Marines, so they are required to fight. However, an apthecary's brothers will defend him from harm to complete his invaluable tasks. On the other hand, the Impeiral guard field medics are somewhat valued by ranking officers, but are little more protected than the common soldier (so, not at all)

That helps actually! I'll just model them after our current doctrine! Fight, gain fire superiority then treat! Markings or no markings?

Everyone shoots the medic.

Guess I won't be painting on red crosses!

^ Everyone will still know. 'Twould look cool possibly.

cavmedic79 wrote:Markings or no markings?

Depends. Some non-GW sources have IG medics (often called "medicae" just because) wear the Apothecary's helix because their authors assumed that this is the 41st millennium version of the red cross. GW itself, however, has established that this icon actually represents Space Marine geneseed, which the Apothecaries are supposed to "harvest" if a Battle Brother dies. Hence in GW's world, it is only worn by Apothecaries. So there's a bit of a contradiction again depending upon which book you're looking at.

I'd say you could simply use the red cross, perhaps modify it a bit, or even invent an entirely new symbol. Anything can be justified by simply stating this is how it's done on the regiment's homeworld. Such badges likely differ as much from regiment to regiment as their uniforms do - the only truly uniform symbol being the Imperial Aquila and/or the human skull. The more skulls the better.

I was considering using the blood angels blood drop with the skull! Or the non sanctioned(non-offensive) red diamond!?

If the officers wear markings there's no reason the medic (and other specialist staff) wouldn't wear markings. More "civilized" or extremely honor-minded regiments would probably find it offensive to not wear all the marks you're entitled to, as in badges/buttons/symbols. And some would not for whatever reason. Catachans don't seem too big on markings, maybe because they're all brothers from the same tribe or something. Ragtag penal troops or low-morale regiments won't have many markings since they either don't deserve them or never learned to use such.

cavmedic79 wrote:Are medics in 40k protected in any way or are they combatants?

What do you expect? Tyranids eat them last?
Necrons only spare them if they use the 60 Mio. year old Medic symbol.
Orks kill them because they spoil the fun.
Out of courtesy, Dark Eldar let them take part in medical experiments
Khorne steal their blood reserves and Papa Nurgle seems offended by medics

Lynata wrote:
I'd say you could simply use the red cross, perhaps modify it a bit, or even invent an entirely new symbol. Anything can be justified by simply stating this is how it's done on the regiment's homeworld. Such badges likely differ as much from regiment to regiment as their uniforms do - the only truly uniform symbol being the Imperial Aquila and/or the human skull. The more skulls the better.

IG command squad medpack is marked with caduceus, so that might be the way to go.

Spetulhu wrote:Catachans don't seem too big on markings, maybe because they're all brothers from the same tribe or something.

But imagine if they'd just tattoo their regiment's number and rank + qualifications on their skin. Badass!
Better hope you don't get demoted tho.

Crimson wrote:IG command squad medpack is marked with caduceus, so that might be the way to go.

Hey, nicely spotted - I'll keep that in mind!

OP's idea with the blood drop or a diamond (would that be blood diamonds? har har ...) is cool, too!

The caduceus is over done! Good for the pack itself, but don't really want to use it on the IG troopshoulderpad/helmets.

Lynata wrote:

Spetulhu wrote:Catachans don't seem too big on markings, maybe because they're all brothers from the same tribe or something.

But imagine if they'd just tattoo their regiment's number and rank + qualifications on their skin. Badass!
Better hope you don't get demoted tho.

Crimson wrote:IG command squad medpack is marked with caduceus, so that might be the way to go.

Hey, nicely spotted - I'll keep that in mind!

OP's idea with the blood drop or a diamond (would that be blood diamonds? har har ...) is cool, too!

They (the Catachans that is) could do it like we do in the real military with a "meat tag" as it's called. Name, serial number, blood type. I know one guy who got a unique symbol for every qualification he earned but many don't so they aren't idenfitiable as unqiue or "different" and thus more susceptible for being tortured in the event of capture by the enemy.

Not that that really matters in 40k cause if a 40k enemy captures you, torture's on deck 100% of the time for 100% of the captives.

As for makings, maybe a dull red stripe on the helmet or shoulder pad, clear designator to other troops.

Feeling fancy? Do a Da'Vinci's 'Man' for symbols. Most bad a$$ dudes in medicine they'd be.

cavmedic79 wrote:The caduceus is over done! Good for the pack itself, but don't really want to use it on the IG troopshoulderpad/helmets.

The caduceus is also on the command squad medic's helmet. It's the symbol of the Officio Medicae (as far as a quick Google search tells me)

KnuckleWolf wrote:Feeling fancy? Do a Da'Vinci's 'Man' for symbols. Most bad a$$ dudes in medicine they'd be.

On IG helmets and shoulderpads? It'll be a tiny asterisk.

As you say the caduceus is over done to a degree, but I suppose the reason is because it's a symbol with immediate medical connotations and without the necessary additional baggage a red cross brassard or similar would bring with it. Symbols and badges are something I've long scratched my head over....

Incidentally, as I've been working on fluff medical documents (still only shared the rough drafts so far) I needed an Officio Medicae symbol, and although I was reluctant went for the caduceus as a basis. I hope you don't mind me sharing them for reference:

"Parchment Version"


"Grimdark Version"


But for the shoulder pads and the like, this would obviously be too detailed as has already been highlighted. I like KalashnikovMarine's suggestion of the red stripe on the helmet. Anyone have any other thoughtsfor symbols?

Incidentally, there's no NATO or Geneva Conventions or... anything at all, really... that says that medics aren't supposed to be shot or that medical transport vehicles aren't supposed to be armed, nor fired at, or anything at all of the sort. Guardsmen are Guardsmen, regardless of their actual role within the Guard, and those heathen scum over there or those Xeno horrors certainly don't give a feth about what that funny symbol on your hat means.

Necrons would, if they recognise ém, spare medics.

No-one would spare Painboyz.

They can take a blown to smithereens ork and stitch him together again, resulting in a very live, annoyed and toothless ork

Frankly, in the Grimdark setting, i don't see medics having any special protection from enemy fire. or from friendly fire, come to that.,..

Its 40k, cursory knowledge of the setting answers this question in no uncertain terms.

The answer is of course, NO!

Theres always the much talked about, never followed bit off fluff about most battles being against rouge humans throwing of the yoke of the imperium. In that situation then yeah medics probably would be given a bit of leaway but against every one else flashy coulours / symbols probably equals top of the target list

Well, the Imperium certaintly wouldn't show Medics any leeway. They'd deliberatly target them.

I feel that Medic insignia are more for identifying the medic to their comrades. Always nice to know that there is someone around that can maybe stop you leaking out of all those holes. It depends on whether the enemy knows what the fancy hat means as to whether they will be specifically targetted or not

Well the death korps medics have different uniforms but they shoot the woounded and take their equipment, so it may be a bad example.

 cavmedic79 wrote:
Are medics in 40k protected in any way or are they combatants?

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war, and you're asking if there are rules?

 Kroothawk wrote:
Necrons only spare them if they use the 60 Mio. year old Medic symbol.

If by happen stance some IG unit did use that medic symbol I could quite see some Necrons actually doing that.

I'd agree with Grey Templar. If I was a guardsman and wasn't deliberately ordered not to kill someone in my 15 hour lifespan whom I saw fixing the foe I had just shot, I'd be double tapping both of them just to be sure.

< Taken by the void dragon. >

 Che-Vito wrote:

 cavmedic79 wrote:
The caduceus is over done! Good for the pack itself, but don't really want to use it on the IG troopshoulderpad/helmets.

If you've seen the Catachan 'doctor', then you'll never need look for another medic model.
It's the kind of doctor that you'd trust in the heat of a desperate battle...and pretty much nowhere else.

Why not? If he can fix you with super glue and calling you a pansy under fire imagine what he can do with an actual hospital and medical supplies!