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I hope this topic hasn't been mentioned to death before, apologies if it has.


When comparing the "standard" depictions of SM and CSM, one of the oddest differences is that the CSM's backpack nozzles have extended pipes.

These extensions had become characteristic of the CSM. Like the jagged metallic trim on their power armour. One look at that jagged trim and you know it's Chaos.



When GW started depicting the SM Legions before the Horus Heresy, I thought they would depict them with the CSM-style pipes. I reasoned that CSM had those pipes because they were using Heresy-era PA.

This notion never materialised. I guess GW might've overlooked it? Anyway, just sharing this, hopefully it'll be some interesting food for thought.

Making the 30k marines have those pipes would have made perfect sense, but it would have made the 40k CSM players just a little happier. Making CSM players happy is a big no no at GW, which is why they didnt do it.

 Exergy wrote:
Making the 30k marines have those pipes would have made perfect sense, but it would have made the 40k CSM players just a little happier. Making CSM players happy is a big no no at GW, which is why they didnt do it.

Except it has: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N39R0gEZ-zQ/U8F8uh4lTII/AAAAAAAACTU/401PmGX72vM/s1600/anvilus.JPG

It's the Anvilus backpack and it's gotten a few pictures throughout the Black Books.

I know originally the nozzles were depicted in at least one piece of art as thrust nozzles for jump-packs, back in Rogue Trader. The standard backpack was still there, but with an extra section that went around it, as seen on the ancient Chaos backpacks.

jareddm wrote:
Except it has: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N39R0gEZ-zQ/U8F8uh4lTII/AAAAAAAACTU/401PmGX72vM/s1600/anvilus.JPG

It's the Anvilus backpack and it's gotten a few pictures throughout the Black Books.

it has such a small mention in the HH art though, compared to its ubiquity with the CSM.

Oh goodness i love Death Guard so much that picture made me want to leave work and go paint up all my Mk2s and 3s

Maximus Bitch wrote:

jareddm wrote:
Except it has: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N39R0gEZ-zQ/U8F8uh4lTII/AAAAAAAACTU/401PmGX72vM/s1600/anvilus.JPG

It's the Anvilus backpack and it's gotten a few pictures throughout the Black Books.

it has such a small mention in the HH art though, compared to its ubiquity with the CSM.

tghe forge world that supplied horus' troops with power packs late in the heresy only produced that pattern?

the pattern was perfected by the dark mech at the end of the heresy and managed to make it a "all gain, no loss" set up?

BrianDavion wrote:

Maximus Bitch wrote:

jareddm wrote:
Except it has: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N39R0gEZ-zQ/U8F8uh4lTII/AAAAAAAACTU/401PmGX72vM/s1600/anvilus.JPG

It's the Anvilus backpack and it's gotten a few pictures throughout the Black Books.

it has such a small mention in the HH art though, compared to its ubiquity with the CSM.

tghe forge world that supplied horus' troops with power packs late in the heresy only produced that pattern?

the pattern was perfected by the dark mech at the end of the heresy and managed to make it a "all gain, no loss" set up?

Id bet its pretty much what is said in the quote, it came from a Forge World that had sided with Horus late in the Heresy or even after it and provides the CSM version of Mk V armor with it, because they would care less about the inferior rad shielding and have a lot more to gain from the improved void maneuverability in Raiding and Boarding actions.

And the reason its not seen in mass is as the picture states, that's just a prototype, and would have seen limited usage, probably just with forces Loyal to the Warmaster, later to be scavenged off them by Black Shields and Loyalists in dire need of equipment.

The "sarum pattern helm" - what would become the iconic aquilla pattern helm - is introduced the same way (I think on a world eater), which is why they have 'modern' helmets on older pattern armour (that aren't just repairs or replacements as they still have the crests).

The Sarum pattern art in Betrayal does look like MkVII at first glance, but not if you look closely at the details, it's MkV - it even says as much under one of the examples.

locarno24 wrote:
The "sarum pattern helm" - what would become the iconic aquilla pattern helm - is introduced the same way (I think on a world eater), which is why they have 'modern' helmets on older pattern armour (that aren't just repairs or replacements as they still have the crests).

i don't think that was a good decision, art-direction wise, though

 Gashrog wrote:
The Sarum pattern art in Betrayal does look like MkVII at first glance, but not if you look closely at the details, it's MkV - it even says as much under one of the examples.

but still, the Chaos pipes

 VictorVonTzeentch wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:

Maximus Bitch wrote:

jareddm wrote:
Except it has: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N39R0gEZ-zQ/U8F8uh4lTII/AAAAAAAACTU/401PmGX72vM/s1600/anvilus.JPG

It's the Anvilus backpack and it's gotten a few pictures throughout the Black Books.

it has such a small mention in the HH art though, compared to its ubiquity with the CSM.

tghe forge world that supplied horus' troops with power packs late in the heresy only produced that pattern?

the pattern was perfected by the dark mech at the end of the heresy and managed to make it a "all gain, no loss" set up?

Id bet its pretty much what is said in the quote, it came from a Forge World that had sided with Horus late in the Heresy or even after it and provides the CSM version of Mk V armor with it, because they would care less about the inferior rad shielding and have a lot more to gain from the improved void maneuverability in Raiding and Boarding actions.

And the reason its not seen in mass is as the picture states, that's just a prototype, and would have seen limited usage, probably just with forces Loyal to the Warmaster, later to be scavenged off them by Black Shields and Loyalists in dire need of equipment.

perhaps. maybe GW forgot about the pipes during the design process lol

locarno24 wrote:
The "sarum pattern helm" - what would become the iconic aquilla pattern helm - is introduced the same way (I think on a world eater), which is why they have 'modern' helmets on older pattern armour (that aren't just repairs or replacements as they still have the crests).

Yeah a no-name World Eater wears it.

Here's a funny story from MortiS-the-Lost of The Lost and The Damned back in 2011

-"I am Horus lord of Chaos and I want you all to extend the upper vents on your back packs in some way or another so they stick out past your shoulders"
-"but won't that make it difficult to get though doors - you know if we're on a ship or space hulk or something?
-"You dare to defy the Lord of Chaos?!"
-"no but, I'm just saying it will make it difficult to get through doors ... er ... my Lord"
-"HAVE THAT MARINE EXECUTED!!"