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Hi all,

I was reading up on admech and I was wondering if anyone knows if the culture is just about hoarding technological knowledge? Or all knowledge? For instance, would the tech priests also horde maps, books, artwork, etc under their search for knowledge? Or is it limited to technology?

Anything, cult mechanicus is about hoarding tech but their role in the imperium is finding out everything about everything.

I'd say everything that could be classed as 'information', but with a definite bent towards what orks would call 'umie widget gubbinz'.

Everything. While the STC is their 'Holy Grail', different branches will investigate / collect different things.

There's a short story where Fabius Bile trades a pre-Schism map of Mars to a Dark Mech priest.

Ok, cool. I figured it was more well-rounded than just tech. Some of the fluff says they have huge libraries just filled with stuff. I wanted to create some units that were like art collectors, tracking down paintings, original novel manuscripts, sculptures etc. and I wanted to know if this would fit the lore of Cult Mechanicus.

Think of it like an Indiana Jones movie or Dan Brown novel - that painting or book might contain clues that lead them to a bigger prize.

They definitely collect everything.

Their worship of the Omnissiah fundamentally believes that the Machine "knows all, and comprehends all" as part of it's 16 Universal Laws.

Therefore, just as they modify their bodies to grow closer to the Omnissiah through mechanization, and their spirits to grow closer to the Omnissiah through editing out of such human weaknesses as emotion, so too must their minds grow closer to the Omnissiah by hoarding knowledge - information is the core of the 'soul' of the machine.

Rajah wrote:
Hi all,

I was reading up on admech and I was wondering if anyone knows if the culture is just about hoarding technological knowledge? Or all knowledge? For instance, would the tech priests also horde maps, books, artwork, etc under their search for knowledge? Or is it limited to technology?

They arent going to care for artwork or novels. That isn't knowledge, it's stories and emotions.
Nonfiction Books, maps are of some value because they contain information.
It isn't limited to technology. A physics textbook isn't technology, it's just fundamental knowledge of the universe. An engineering textbook still isn't technology(although it gets close to describing how to build technology)

I see. So anything that is purely "art" and only has artistic value would not be something that would interest AdMech?

Rajah wrote:
I see. So anything that is purely "art" and only has artistic value would not be something that would interest AdMech?

I'm sure one of the Magi in the 'Forges of Mars' trilogy is an art collector - I'll have a skim and see if I can spot it.

Cool, I might have to check the book out if you can find the reference.

Rajah wrote:
I see. So anything that is purely "art" and only has artistic value would not be something that would interest AdMech?

It's a big universe, and magos are both eccentric and human. There is nothing to say that a particular magos wouldnt find art to be pleasing, just like a IG commander or SM capitan might find it pleasing.

But some magos have quite a bit more latitude to pursue their interests than your average IG commander or SM captain. Only Inquisitors have more freedom to be eccentric.

Yeah, good point. I'm going to do it and argue with everyone that it is valid fluff.

Old maps and books would definitely be of interest to the Mechanicus. They might find some clues to ancient technology in them. And as far as "art", they probably would still collect some art occasionally. Though it might be so eclectic that only a fellow Ad Mech individual could possibly appreciate it.

For an example from Dark Heresy, there is one part in one adventure where the PCs find an Ad Mech person who has set up his residence with tons of hanging chains that every so often clink together. An astute observer would realize that the chinking chains are playing an Imperial war hymn associated with the Titan Legions. So that's definitely a piece of art, but one that would be difficult to appreciate.

And of course while the Ad Mechs might not want art and historical artefacts themselves, there's no reason to say their Explorators wouldn't take it as 'currency' to deal with other organisations.

I assumed the Ordo Chronos of the Inquisition were mainly interested in time travel, warp-related time distortion et al, the recent canon of the Chronostrife suggests they have a broader interest in history. I can imagine them having a big old vault of various artistic treasures

A novel, painting or musical score might not be "knowledge" as such, but a magos could still use it for learning or verifying something.

An old novel might let him better understand some nuance of High Gothic, for example. A painting could contain symbols that some culture saw as important. A piece of music could give some understanding of the sounds, rhythms and instruments the ancients found pleasing (or even be a mathematical code). Maybe not immediately useful but centuries later that particular knowledge could come in handy in unraveling a riddle to open a vault under some ruined city on a dead world.

 Exergy wrote:

Rajah wrote:
I see. So anything that is purely "art" and only has artistic value would not be something that would interest AdMech?

It's a big universe, and magos are both eccentric and human. There is nothing to say that a particular magos wouldnt find art to be pleasing, just like a IG commander or SM capitan might find it pleasing.

But some magos have quite a bit more latitude to pursue their interests than your average IG commander or SM captain. Only Inquisitors have more freedom to be eccentric.

Indeed. The AdMech has their own idea of art, and they certainly enjoy it. In the book "Eisenhorn: Malleus", the inquisitor remarks about a marvel he sees in the AdMech's office on one of the planets he visits. They've figured out how to suspend and power up a titans head indoors without anything attached to it at all. I've a feeling that's the sort of thing that the AdMech thinks of as art.

 Bi'ios wrote:

 Exergy wrote:

Rajah wrote:
I see. So anything that is purely "art" and only has artistic value would not be something that would interest AdMech?

It's a big universe, and magos are both eccentric and human. There is nothing to say that a particular magos wouldnt find art to be pleasing, just like a IG commander or SM capitan might find it pleasing.

But some magos have quite a bit more latitude to pursue their interests than your average IG commander or SM captain. Only Inquisitors have more freedom to be eccentric.

Indeed. The AdMech has their own idea of art, and they certainly enjoy it. In the book "Eisenhorn: Malleus", the inquisitor remarks about a marvel he sees in the AdMech's office on one of the planets he visits. They've figured out how to suspend and power up a titans head indoors without anything attached to it at all. I've a feeling that's the sort of thing that the AdMech thinks of as art.

Yup. Also the Ad Mech often have extra senses that normal humans don't have. Which would mean they could have art work that is imperceptible to the naked eye.

Something like a device which constantly cycles through some mathematical equation. A circular holo display which shows the value of Pi down to the 150 quadrillionth digit. A display which shows the precise distance to, and the position, of mars in the night sky on this particular planet.

 Exergy wrote:

Rajah wrote:
Hi all,

I was reading up on admech and I was wondering if anyone knows if the culture is just about hoarding technological knowledge? Or all knowledge? For instance, would the tech priests also horde maps, books, artwork, etc under their search for knowledge? Or is it limited to technology?

They arent going to care for artwork or novels. That isn't knowledge, it's stories and emotions.
Nonfiction Books, maps are of some value because they contain information.
It isn't limited to technology. A physics textbook isn't technology, it's just fundamental knowledge of the universe. An engineering textbook still isn't technology(although it gets close to describing how to build technology)

Oh they absolutely would care for artwork and novels, because they wouldnt know they are fiction, if they see a piece of art with the emperor holding a super laser mega cannon, they will look for it, never knowing the super laser mega cannon was just the artists embelishment, same with books, its the Ad Mech, they investigate even the mere mention of lost tech.

Ah those cray cray robut men

What a great thread. Thanks all. A group I know is starting a campaign and every faction needs a hook as to why they are on the planet. My hook is going to be an Admech fleet is looking for an incredibly rare piece of art that holds the key to finding an STC!

Rajah wrote:
Hi all,

I was reading up on admech and I was wondering if anyone knows if the culture is just about hoarding technological knowledge? Or all knowledge? For instance, would the tech priests also horde maps, books, artwork, etc under their search for knowledge? Or is it limited to technology?

They take technology hoarding very seriously:

That pic is the best!

A higher level tech priest will have a decent amount of freedom and resource to pursue his interests. There is, or at least can appear to be, science in art and literature. There may be a route to higher understanding and appreciation of the Omnissiah through the study of artistic applications, the results and general regard thereof. Art can also be seen as a study of the subconcious. I can imagine a priest believing such systems can be interpreted and catalogued. The machine behind the mind, revealed.

I've been intrigued by the notion of a forge master having a mathematical interest in social economics and the complexity of large scale, long term interactions. From that, using his understandings/calculations to help steer the development of a tribal recruitment world for the benefit of his chapter.