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I'm pretty new to the universe of Warhammer 40k and I am very interested in getting the Adeptus Mechanicus Skitarii boxes. So I have been reading about them and I have some questions.

It seems that there are a variety of different Skitarii on different Forge Worlds and most of them are decidedly more or less human with cybernetics and implants or are genetically engineered humans. Are there ever any regular humans? Are the genetically engineered humans still humans without machines or are they something like from HR Giger? What I know is that some Forge Worlds that have them are vat-grown, cloned, or born and then their limbs are removed and replaced with cybernetic prosthetic limbs.

What got me into Warhammer 40k was the Death Korps of Krieg and call me old-fashioned and probably not a big deal to some of you, but I still like humans with gas mask and respirators. The Death Korps is so expensive that it seems Skitarii is an alternative. I think the Tempestus Scions is OK, but seems expensive pointwise. So with some small hope, I am looking to see if there is at least some group of humans in the Skitarii force.

If not, then I wonder if it's possible to come up with lores and fluff for the Skitarii, since every Forge Worlds are different? I came across this from someone asking about the fluff of Skitarii symbolism and this is someone's reply:

 Verviedi wrote:
The small symbol in the corner is the maniple insignia, the number is the Cohort insignia. Consider the small symbol the platoon symbol, but the number the company symbol.

I couldn't find the list of the Forge Worlds and the numbers, so I thought maybe I could come up with my own Forge World with a number I can put as a decal on the troops.

I would appreciate any advice, suggestions, or alternatives. Thank you!

Oh, neat, a quote of mine in OP. You don’t see those every day.

As a rule, no two Skitarii are exactly alike. Forge worlds will use different patterns as suits them - Skitarii from the world of Cypra Mundi will be different from those of Mars.

The sort of genetic engineering you’ll see from the Mechanicus usually seeks to preserve the Holy Human Form to some extent. That means you’re not going to see many Giger-esque mutations. Instead, you’re more likely to get what appears to be human, but bulkier and more heavily muscled.

The majority of the genetic alterations would be more subtle - improving eyesight, speeding up cognition, making bones denser, removing internal structural flaws, etc. You’d also see things like combat drug glands implanted, to improve their effectiveness and aggression.

Biology is just as much an accepted science as mechanics, that’s what the Magi Biologis and Genetors do. Having a force of subtly altered “regular humans” would be perfectly acceptable, in my eyes.

Also, there’s probably thousands of forge worlds, so feel free to make whatever you’d like. Two of the major forge worlds defy explanation (Lucius and Graia), so it’s very unlikely you’d come up with something that truly has no lore explanation.

On the Geiger side of things, his works were very biomechanical in appearance if you went more towards the mechanical rather than biological you could be onto a winner. The forge world ad mech stuff is much more like this. But with the scope in 40k anything is possible is you make it cool enough. Good luck.


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Or if you like Geiger look at dark eldar haemunculus stuff. The build all sorts with flesh and you can literally have it look however you want. They don’t know limits.

Skitarii seemed to have changed quite a lot in the fluff. Earlier books have them as just regular human storm troopers aligned to the machine god. Newer fluff seems to have them as much more mechanical and less autonomous with tech priests able to basically control them in battle.

phillv85 wrote:
Skitarii seemed to have changed quite a lot in the fluff. Earlier books have them as just regular human storm troopers aligned to the machine god. Newer fluff seems to have them as much more mechanical and less autonomous with tech priests able to basically control them in battle.

Yeah, Skitarii & Tech-Guard were catch-all terms for the AdMech version of Guard. Then the actual models & Codex came out and introduced us to Mars type Skitarii.

 Verviedi wrote:
Oh, neat, a quote of mine in OP. You don’t see those every day.

As a rule, no two Skitarii are exactly alike. Forge worlds will use different patterns as suits them - Skitarii from the world of Cypra Mundi will be different from those of Mars.

Also, there’s probably thousands of forge worlds, so feel free to make whatever you’d like. Two of the major forge worlds defy explanation (Lucius and Graia), so it’s very unlikely you’d come up with something that truly has no lore explanation.

This is what I wanted to hear. Absolutely a relief for me. Thanks so much, I appreciate your reply!


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phillv85 wrote:
Skitarii seemed to have changed quite a lot in the fluff. Earlier books have them as just regular human storm troopers aligned to the machine god. Newer fluff seems to have them as much more mechanical and less autonomous with tech priests able to basically control them in battle.

Which early books have that? I wonder if there's a way to use those information today.

MarsStraub wrote:
Which early books have that? I wonder if there's a way to use those information today.

They're in 'Dark Adeptus', fighting alongside Grey Knight and one of the Tau books.