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For the sake of the question, lets say you're at your FLGS and you're about to play a game. Your opponent has Imperial Fists, but he/she is using MK III pre-heresy marines, cataphractii terminators, contemptor dreadnoughts, etc. He/she gives a lore-based reason behind heresy Imperial Fists being in 40k, such as they were trapped in the Warp but escaped, or they found an old forge world that still produced MK III power armor, so on so forth. He/she is also using the basic SM codex rules of 40k, and specifies which model is what. Would you be okay with this?

Edit: And furthermore, would this be acceptable in a slightly more competitive/professional setting, such as major tournaments or GW-hosted tournaments?

Of course.

Not sure why anyone wouldn't?

I don't see any reason to disallow it, even without lore justification.
Don't worry.

I would not mind one bit. i have no idea about competitive places!

i mean, i think the mark iiis look nifty so i'd probably be happy to see and face off against some

The only slight hiccup I could see if if some units had slightly different 30k/40k rules. I.e. is he using his contpmptor dreads using “normal” dread rules, Ven dreads, 30k Contempor or 40k contemptor? Are his CTDA suits equipped and fielded as such for 40k?

But as long as he is consistent, I have zero problem. Power armor is power armor. The Mk. is only decorative.

I'm glad you guys think this, as I'm really digging the 'retro' vibe of the 30k marine armour, and being able to use them for 40k games would be fantastic.

Also, as someone has pointed out, at least the Hersey armour looks clean and less busy. 40k power armour feels really over the top with the eagles, skulls etc. However, I give credit that there is a very good reason all modern power armour has the eagle symbols, but I still prefer the 'retro' armour.

Plus the FW kits have less bling and that appeals to me.

Even if using 30k rules there intact weaker at lower point levels than 40k with all formations etc.

30k gains when it gets bigger and its ancient weapons of legent and primarchs.

30k models, yeah the simpler look appeals.

Honestly I'd encourage it. It'd also look cool to see a mix up of all the different armours as well instead of all Mk 7 and maybe 6 or 8 all the time.

I am never against playing a devote worshipper of the Chaos god, Forj'Wurrld. I'd much rather see 30k marines over Spruecrons any day.

A lot of 30k mark armours look better than their 40k successors, that's good enough reason for me.

On the subject of power armour, I shall quote the 40k webstore pages for the MkIII & IV:

"Clad in ancient suits of power armour, impressively powerful and daunting to behold, Mark III Space Marines are a living reminder of the dark days of the Horus Heresy."

"Mark IV power armour is ancient and powerful. The most common pre-Heresy armour still in wide use, with even a few Chapters still producing new suits, it is a testament to the ingenuity and longevity of the Space Marines."

Forge World's MkII-V models were originally released for the Badab War (which was less than a century ago) not the Horus Heresy. Perhaps an entire force of MkIII or IV might be a bit odd, but no more odd than an entire army of MkVI or VII and who on earth would refuse to fight that?

I play Space Wolves so 30k armour is a nice amount of Space Marine armour that isn't completely weighed down in trinkets.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Gashrog wrote:
On the subject of power armour, I shall quote the 40k webstore pages for the MkIII & IV:

"Clad in ancient suits of power armour, impressively powerful and daunting to behold, Mark III Space Marines are a living reminder of the dark days of the Horus Heresy."

"Mark IV power armour is ancient and powerful. The most common pre-Heresy armour still in wide use, with even a few Chapters still producing new suits, it is a testament to the ingenuity and longevity of the Space Marines."

Forge World's MkII-V models were originally released for the Badab War (which was less than a century ago) not the Horus Heresy. Perhaps an entire force of MkIII or IV might be a bit odd, but no more odd than an entire army of MkVI or VII and who on earth would refuse to fight that?

If memory serves Mk2 overheated quickly, Mk3 was really hard to replace parts so was succeeded quickly...or am I getting Mk3 and Mk5 mixed up?

 Nevelon wrote:
The only slight hiccup I could see if if some units had slightly different 30k/40k rules. I.e. is he using his contpmptor dreads using “normal” dread rules, Ven dreads, 30k Contempor or 40k contemptor? Are his CTDA suits equipped and fielded as such for 40k?

But as long as he is consistent, I have zero problem. Power armor is power armor. The Mk. is only decorative.

This. It is well-established canon that many marines are using power armor from the Horus Heresy / Great Crusade, still. Generations of marines have used the same armor, passed down from marine to marine as the last one falls and their body and geneseed are recovered. New marks of power armor are made to replace the times when old armors are damaged beyond use or are unrecoverable.

Go for it. Many chapters have a reason to use older mk. power armor, and it looks real nice. Fluff-wise, maybe especially employ them for vets and honor guards.

 Dakka Wolf wrote:
I play Space Wolves so 30k armour is a nice amount of Space Marine armour that isn't completely weighed down in trinkets.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Gashrog wrote:
On the subject of power armour, I shall quote the 40k webstore pages for the MkIII & IV:

"Clad in ancient suits of power armour, impressively powerful and daunting to behold, Mark III Space Marines are a living reminder of the dark days of the Horus Heresy."

"Mark IV power armour is ancient and powerful. The most common pre-Heresy armour still in wide use, with even a few Chapters still producing new suits, it is a testament to the ingenuity and longevity of the Space Marines."

Forge World's MkII-V models were originally released for the Badab War (which was less than a century ago) not the Horus Heresy. Perhaps an entire force of MkIII or IV might be a bit odd, but no more odd than an entire army of MkVI or VII and who on earth would refuse to fight that?

If memory serves Mk2 overheated quickly, Mk3 was really hard to replace parts so was succeeded quickly...or am I getting Mk3 and Mk5 mixed up?

Mark 4 was the one rapidly discontinued because they couldn't fabricate spare parts for it, in part due to the rare materials used in it's construction. Mark 5 was a less advanced suit rushed into production as a stop-gap, it was made using sub-standard materials that had to be reinforced with extra layers to offer the same level of protection as Mark 4, this increased weight led to increased power use and overheating. I've never read anything about Mark 2 or 3 overheating - Mark 3 had reduced rear armour to compensate for the weight of the frontal plating so presumably wouldn't suffer the same problem as Mark 5's all-round protection.

If memory serves Mk2 overheated quickly, Mk3 was really hard to replace parts so was succeeded quickly...or am I getting Mk3 and Mk5 mixed up?

Mark 4 was the one rapidly discontinued because they couldn't fabricate spare parts for it, in part due to the rare materials used in it's construction. Mark 5 was a less advanced suit rushed into production as a stop-gap, it was made using sub-standard materials that had to be reinforced with extra layers to offer the same level of protection as Mark 4, this increased weight led to increased power use and overheating. I've never read anything about Mark 2 or 3 overheating - Mark 3 had reduced rear armour to compensate for the weight of the frontal plating so presumably wouldn't suffer the same problem as Mark 5's all-round protection.

Mk2 looks epic and carries the moniker "Iron Armour" it was big and heavy and overheated quickly so it wasn't great for really mobile forces.
Looks amazing on Devs or whatever your equivalent happens to be.

My newly created Space Marine army is made up of all MK III and MK IV armor and so far nobody has raised a single peep of concern about using "30K models" in 40k. I use the MK III armor for my Sternguard and the MK IV for my other MEQs and so far its worked out quite well. I have my own head cannon for my "chapter's" reason for being in so much ancient armor but most people don't press for any sort of explanation.

I'm putting together a new ultramarines llist to accompany my primarch, it's gonna be heavy on the MK3 and MK IV, my explination, the ultramarines would have hauled out crusade era armor specificly to serve with the primarch

 Dakka Wolf wrote:

If memory serves Mk2 overheated quickly, Mk3 was really hard to replace parts so was succeeded quickly...or am I getting Mk3 and Mk5 mixed up?

Mark 4 was the one rapidly discontinued because they couldn't fabricate spare parts for it, in part due to the rare materials used in it's construction. Mark 5 was a less advanced suit rushed into production as a stop-gap, it was made using sub-standard materials that had to be reinforced with extra layers to offer the same level of protection as Mark 4, this increased weight led to increased power use and overheating. I've never read anything about Mark 2 or 3 overheating - Mark 3 had reduced rear armour to compensate for the weight of the frontal plating so presumably wouldn't suffer the same problem as Mark 5's all-round protection.

Mk2 looks epic and carries the moniker "Iron Armour" it was big and heavy and overheated quickly so it wasn't great for really mobile forces.
Looks amazing on Devs or whatever your equivalent happens to be.

MK2 was the crusade armour. MK3 was the iron and due to bulkiness consumed power like there's no tomorrow and was as such uncomfortably hot. It also had heavier protection to the front including helmet designed to deflect hits toward side(sloping armour! Heresy!) but on behind weaker.

MK2 used to be so that helmet didn't turn but think that's been retconned. If I ever get MK2 guys though I will honour the original fluff and have heads all point forward!

The immovable head was always a bit questionable, although it was stated in the original fluff article the John Blanche concept sketches accompanying the text didn't appear to support it nor did the first generation of miniatures:
http://www.solegends.com/citcat1991a/cat1991ap007smarmourvariants-00.htm

I have a bunch of old metal RT mk* armors. My honor guard includes thunder armor even, etc

The Red Scorpions are known to have a LOT of MK4 Armour.

But no, i would not care if they used MK3 armour
Space Marines are Space Marines

I have no problem with it as far as I've run. I use Mk IV armour on my night lords, mainly because I feel it looks better than the actual chaos marine armour and feels sleeker and better suited for hiding in shadows and stealth, adding to the feel of using night lords. I've run this for a few months now and nobody has called me on it as a marine is a marine in the end.

The only reason to complain would be if your opponent had a bunch of Contemptor Dreadnaughts/Cataphractii Terminators and was using some of them as normal Dreadnaughts/Terminators and some with the distinct Contemptor/Cataphractii rules without clearly distinguishing them.

 Gashrog wrote:
The immovable head was always a bit questionable, although it was stated in the original fluff article the John Blanche concept sketches accompanying the text didn't appear to support it nor did the first generation of miniatures:
http://www.solegends.com/citcat1991a/cat1991ap007smarmourvariants-00.htm

True that. Still I just find it amusing piece of old fluff that I figure would be easy to have Little bit of fun detail if I ever get MKII models(wish there would come another box set with MKII marines!)