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The alphas and princeps of the Skitarii have some odd, mechanical, names, such as 4-Gyrodd and 3-Cyx. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas or theories on how they are named and what their names actually mean?

Probably a numeric reference to a ranking system, coupled with the Shift Supervisor on duty when their systems were activated for the first time, or the name of the Forge (not the Forge World, necessarily, but the individual manufactorum) where they were originally assembled.

Perhaps the numeric indicates their place in the production queue?

I do believe it's first name before conversion - Rank(?) - number. I don't like the new name scheme, I prefer the old name scheme of name-greek letter-number.

For example, Julius-Alpha-11
Julius, 11th skitarius of batch Alpha on Mars.

I personally would think they would be numbered and not named. But thats me.

Crassus wrote:
I personally would think they would be numbered and not named. But thats me.

Name and number is more efficient. Think of trying to coordinate all the forges in the galaxy to avoid duplicate numbers, and then trying to find Skitarii # 144602037749202782746373733846302837474029, who is part of the Graia forces redeployed to Armegeddon.

As opposed to Tyx-44. He's the 44th on the production in batch Tyx made on Graia. Simply look up batch Tyx, "oh, deployed to Armegeddon." Crossreference with confirmed KIAs and you soom have an answer.

As oppsed to tryinf to filter through septillions of models to try and find what batch, forge world, unit, deployment, and current status

 Deadshot wrote:

Crassus wrote:
I personally would think they would be numbered and not named. But thats me.

Name and number is more efficient. Think of trying to coordinate all the forges in the galaxy to avoid duplicate numbers, and then trying to find Skitarii # 144602037749202782746373733846302837474029, who is part of the Graia forces redeployed to Armegeddon.

As opposed to Tyx-44. He's the 44th on the production in batch Tyx made on Graia. Simply look up batch Tyx, "oh, deployed to Armegeddon." Crossreference with confirmed KIAs and you soom have an answer.

As oppsed to tryinf to filter through septillions of models to try and find what batch, forge world, unit, deployment, and current status

Thats a good guess, and I think they can go with that amognst non-Skitarii, but doesn't they talk tech-lingo to each other?

Crassus wrote:

 Deadshot wrote:

Crassus wrote:
I personally would think they would be numbered and not named. But thats me.

Name and number is more efficient. Think of trying to coordinate all the forges in the galaxy to avoid duplicate numbers, and then trying to find Skitarii # 144602037749202782746373733846302837474029, who is part of the Graia forces redeployed to Armegeddon.

As opposed to Tyx-44. He's the 44th on the production in batch Tyx made on Graia. Simply look up batch Tyx, "oh, deployed to Armegeddon." Crossreference with confirmed KIAs and you soom have an answer.

As oppsed to tryinf to filter through septillions of models to try and find what batch, forge world, unit, deployment, and current status

Thats a good guess, and I think they can go with that amognst non-Skitarii, but doesn't they talk tech-lingo to each other?

My knowledge here is limited. But based on the novels I've read, Mechanicus units communicate mostly though "data blurts" which I assume is instant wireless transmission of data through the noosphere/network, or binary of some kind.

They do communicate in binary between each other, but they're still using the same name they would with the flesh voice. Just more efficiently.

it's possiable, even likely, differnt forge worlds would have differnt naming conventions. so how Mars names it's Skitarii may differ from how Ryza names theirs