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As the title says, I'm pondering the apparent disappearance of that most grimdark of lifeforms, the Cherubim.
For those who don't know of them, Lexicanum link. A few years ago, when DH and WH had their own codices, there were a few models flying around, but they seem to have gone, and the artwork featuring them seems to be diminishing too. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas as to why this is, were they possibly too grimdark?
We still have Servitors going strong in all background and there's still plenty of models of them around. And then we have Servo Skulls, there's lots of options going for these little critters, they're still all over the artwork and are an iconic part of the background.
In short; why do we still have Servitors and Servo Skulls knocking about, but less and less of the fantastic Cherubs?

No idea that seems sucky.

My librarian had a cherub and some other familiars then I found out 2 editions later when I came back that they were removed from the game, terrible :(

It gives some eerie mystery feel to the game or something.

probably because GW wants to market its product. to a younger audience and even though grimdark isnt family friendly by its very nature that wont stop them from trying will it?

So it looks like Cherubs are getting the Slaanesh treatment?
I do miss the days of the creepy familiars following the Librarians around.

I don't know, the brb pretty much has them on every page.

They're more a civilian thing. With few stories being about civilians, including ecclessiarchy, they don't appear that often.
Most stories are about marines and then IG fighting. Cherubim are a type of servitor and no real place on the front lines so we don't hear about them.

That, combined with the fact that they only really appeared on the battlefield as Inquisitorial retinues means that since all the Inquisitors were moved into Codex: Grey Knights and the option for Familiars was dropped from Inquisitorial Warbands they don't really have a place to be fielded. The only models that can take familiars now are Chaos Sorcerers.

I miss the Slaanesh models. When I first started 40k I had some old metals ones with the triple nips. Sold them back then now kinda regret, for nostalgic reasons of course...

There must be hundreds of cherubs in the main rule book? Its not like they had anything but the most minor roll in the game. Stuff comes and goes, I wouldnt put anything into the disappearance of a couple of models.

Celestine still has two of them.

They hold her cape up for her.

Because Mat Ward.

There is not other reason.

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Because Mat Ward.

There is not other reason.

This is literally the reason I don't like Space Marines, Blood Angels and Necrons ._.

 BrotherOfBone wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Because Mat Ward.

There is not other reason.

This is literally the reason I don't like Space Marines, Blood Angels and Necrons ._.

I think Kid was using a healthy dose of sarcasm there..

Huh, a surprising number of people want to see more pictures/models of dead babies. That is kind of extreme, even by grimdark standards.

Not dead. Just...augmented.

 ashrog wrote:
Huh, a surprising number of people want to see more pictures/models of dead babies. That is kind of extreme, even by grimdark standards.

Cherubs are not dead babies. In 40k they are constructs, much like servo skulls. In mythology they are of course winged angels which leaves it open for interpretation in 40k. Maybe the cherubs that attend celestine are angelic while the ones flying around inquisitors are constructs.

 BrotherOfBone wrote:

 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Because Mat Ward.

There is not other reason.

This is literally the reason I don't like Space Marines, Blood Angels and Necrons ._.

In the case of Space Marines, you odn't like it because Ward is regurgitating Priestleys crappy fluff from 2nd edition?

cadbren wrote:
They're more a civilian thing. With few stories being about civilians, including ecclessiarchy, they don't appear that often.
Most stories are about marines and then IG fighting. Cherubim are a type of servitor and no real place on the front lines so we don't hear about them.

This. 40K is, has and always will be a TT, miniature-based war game. As much as I believe there is so much RPG potential in this universe - and I sincerely do - it's never really caught on to a great degree. Things like familiars are an RPG element, great for a Deathwatch or Dark Heresy character, but having little to no value in a TT game.

G-d damn, I'd love to find a DH or DW group.

JWhex wrote:

 ashrog wrote:
Huh, a surprising number of people want to see more pictures/models of dead babies. That is kind of extreme, even by grimdark standards.

Cherubs are not dead babies. In 40k they are constructs, much like servo skulls. In mythology they are of course winged angels which leaves it open for interpretation in 40k. Maybe the cherubs that attend celestine are angelic while the ones flying around inquisitors are constructs.

Servo Skulls are dead imperial folks too

Augmented ones, to be sure, but still very very dead.

http://www.wobblymodelsyndrome.com/comic-48.html

The Cherubim are alive, i think, just genetically fethed with...

Cherubim are vat-grown, they're genderless lumps of augmented flesh.

Simple - Cherubims are Ecclesiarchy thing. Other factions have no use for them whatsoever, if/when SoB are rewritten into Ecclesiarchy 6th Edition Codex they will probably return.

Somedude593 wrote:probably because GW wants to market its product. to a younger audience and even though grimdark isnt family friendly by its very nature that wont stop them from trying will it?

Have you taken one look at Dark Eldar Codex recently?

Kid_Kyoto wrote:Because Mat Ward.

There is not other reason.

Yeah, because he totally written the SoB Codex.

I swear that name acts like blank on psykers to everyone in love with their own fanon.