STC?

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**oldone**

I just want to ask some questions on STC which I believe stands for standard template construction. I've never seen any really mention on where there from or what they can contain, in the dark eldar codex, a medical drug is in one but also in blood Angels codex I believe the storm raven has an STC ? Does this mean that they can contain any sort of technology? From void shields, to a land raider? As I'm working on a background story for my orks and was wondering what would happen if a mek got hold of them? So can they be multiple STC of the same type? Ie a landraider STC ? AS a mek could get one and make a battle wagon out of it (although with some "improvements" of course

) ? Also how rare are they and if an Ork got hold of it would the imperium lunch attacks to gain it, and as such what scale would it be?

**purplefood**

If there was a known STC the Imperium would stop at nothing to reclaim it.
The technological benefits of having even a fragment can be game changing for the Imperium.
IIRC they usually contain a blue print for some kind of technology, from laser pens to landraiders to leman russes.

**Beaviz81**

Oh purplefood, there were a certain STC, that the Dark Eldar managed to get at. Too bad, it would have granted the humans life forever. Then the Archon was betrayed by Vect of course.

**zedmeister**

STC is a complex computer and database that contains full instructions on how to assemble all imperial based technology and was created during the dark age of technology. From the humble lasgun all the way up to the mighty imperator and beyond. It supposedly displays and outputs schematics, build lists and needed materials that allow the user to literally build from nothing but raw materials. It was given to new colonists to help them get started on their chosen world. A humerous note that I half remember from an old WD is that the rhino is supposed to actually be an agricultural tractor and a basic vehicle.

In the 41st millenium, STCs no longer exist, only STC printouts and schematic copies. If a functional STC system were to be discovered, the imperium would probably enter a new golden age as all sorts of ancient and forgotten tech becomes much more common.

**Revenent Reiko**

Beware spoilers in the link...just dont read the 'significant STC discoveries' entry.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Standard_Template_Construct

An intact STC would contain ALL the techonology that humanity held during the height of the Dark Age of Technology. Hence why they are so sought-after.

Most STC that are found now seem to be incomplete, holding only the information for a single construction, with maybe incomplete data on others.

purplefood is right, if the orks had an intact STC, nothing would stop the Imperium from taking it back.

to answer your last question, they are so rare that there are entire fleets dedicated to the singular goal of finding even a rumour of anything resembling an STC...

The only thing ive ever queried would be how the STcs worked....i mean, if it is

complex analytical and processing systems

then how do they help you actually make anything...especially considering:

Spoiler:

**purplefood**

Beaviz81 wrote:Oh purplefood, there were a certain STC, that the Dark Eldar managed to get at. Too bad, it would have granted the humans life forever. Then the Archon was betrayed by Vect of course.

The Panacea wars?
Lady Malys leads a raid on a Forgeworld where she captures an STC fragment containing a medical miracle that could save billions and then hands it over to Vect? Hardly sounds like betrayal on Vect's part especially since he ordered her to do it, admittedly in a roundabout way.
If the Imperium could breach the webway and enter Commorragh i have no doubt they'd bring down more than a full crusade on the Dark Eldar but they can't so go figure...

**Kanluwen**

Revenent Reiko wrote:Beware spoilers in the link...just dont read the 'significant STC discoveries' entry.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Standard_Template_Construct

An intact STC would contain ALL the techonology that humanity held during the height of the Dark Age of Technology. Hence why they are so sought-after.

Most STC that are found now seem to be incomplete, holding only the information for a single construction, with maybe incomplete data on others.

purplefood is right, if the orks had an intact STC, nothing would stop the Imperium from taking it back.

to answer your last question, they are so rare that there are entire fleets dedicated to the singular goal of finding even a rumour of anything resembling an STC...

The only thing ive ever queried would be how the STcs worked....i mean, if it is
complex analytical and processing systems
then how do they help you actually make anything...especially considering:

Spoiler:

the Iron Men STC appeared to be capable of solely making the Iron Men (as opposed to any different STC template), and was also a huge room that could produce the Iron Men themselves at the same time.

STCs have two different parts to them.
Remember, it's called a "Standard Template Construct". The blueprints were part of it, but there was also an attached mechanism for creating the object from the blueprints.

The significance of the STC which appeared in "First and Only" was that it was fully intact, able to construct the item that they had the blueprints for.
Finding the blueprints is certainly a big deal, as evidenced in the book where mention is made of an Imperial survey team which found the complete blueprint for a new pattern of monomolecular bladed combat knives for the Astartes and the fact that each member of the team was rewarded supremely well but finding a fully intact STC would be like discovering the Holy Grail.

**Pilau Rice**

WD 140

THE QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE
The Adeptus Mechanicus is driven by the quest for knowledge. This quest takes many forms, including research and exploration, but its ultimate embodiment is the search for ancient STC systems.

STC systems were created during the scientific high-point of the Dark Age of Technology. During this time thousands of human colonies were founded on distant worlds. Many of these colonies failed to survive, some were lost, and of those that survived most achieved only a subsistence level economy. Yet almost all of these colonies managed to retain a high level of technology thanks to the huge base of computerised information carried from Earth. This massive computer databank was known as the Standard Template Construct (STC) system.

The objective of the STC systems was to provide all the technical information needed to construct anything that settlers might need. The user simply asked how to build a bolter, tractor, house or whatever, and the computer supplied the details for fabrication. STC systems would calculate the constructional loads placed on locally-available materials, work out the depths of foundations, define the means of manufacture and assembly, and present the most efficient ways of achieving what it was the settler asked.

The systems were designed to be practically idiot proof, so that even the least technically-accomplished person could build a vehicle, aircraft or weapon given time.

One result of the STC system and its pivotal place in human colonisation is that human material culture is very similar, even on worlds which are many thousands of light years apart.

The STCs are often said to embody the sum total of human knowledge. This is probably true as far as technical accomplishment goes. Although most colonists required little more than designs for agricultural machinery, programs were included for all sorts of advanced constructions such as nuclear power grids and fission reactors. However, the early colonists' needs were simple and were met by conventional energy forms and relatively low-level technology.

Every original colony had at least one STC system. With the passage of time these gradually failed, and passed out of use. Some colonies were forward-thinking enough to make drawings or hard-copies of some designs, which were in turn copied repeatedly with varying accuracy. Some STC systems became corrupted and useless, and were eventually destroyed.

Today there are no known surviving STC systems, and only a very few examples of first-generation print out. On some worlds information about the ancient STC is regarded as holy and design copies are guarded as secret and sacred texts, housed in the inner sanctums of temples.

For thousands of years the Adeptus Mechanicus has pursued all information about the STC. It is their lost bible, Holy Grail and Cup of Knowledge. Any scrap of information is eagerly sought out and jealously hoarded. Any rumour of a functional system is followed up and investigated.

By their efforts much information has been retrieved or can be reconstructed by the vigorous analysis and comparison of copies. Yet the most technically-advanced knowledge eludes the Adeptus Mechanicus, for the early colonists were mostly simple folk whose needs were practical. Only rarely did anyone bother to take copies of the theoretical and advanced work which the STC contained.

**AlmightyWalrus**

A fully intact and operational STC basically means the Imperium wins. The AdMech would be able to repair the Golden Throne, thus saving the Emperor. Having done that, they'd go about building legions of Castigator Titans and similar weapon systems which should mean that they'd be able to wipe the floor with any other force in the Galaxy bar possibly the Necrons.

**purplefood**

Might wanna spoiler some of that post Kan...

**Pilau Rice**

AlmightyWalrus wrote:A fully intact and operational STC basically means the Imperium wins. The AdMech would be able to repair the Golden Throne, thus saving the Emperor. Having done that, they'd go about building legions of Castigator Titans and similar weapon systems which should mean that they'd be able to wipe the floor with any other force in the Galaxy bar possibly the Necrons.

Would they? The Golden Throne, as far as I know, wasn't created using any STC, but was the Emperors own creation, much like the Primarchs.

**Kanluwen**

Nothing plot related, so it's okay.

**AlmightyWalrus**

Pilau Rice wrote:
AlmightyWalrus wrote:A fully intact and operational STC basically means the Imperium wins. The AdMech would be able to repair the Golden Throne, thus saving the Emperor. Having done that, they'd go about building legions of Castigator Titans and similar weapon systems which should mean that they'd be able to wipe the floor with any other force in the Galaxy bar possibly the Necrons.

Would they? The Golden Throne, as far as I know, wasn't created using any STC, but was the Emperors own creation, much like the Primarchs.

Created by the Emperor, but building upon the technology of mankind during the Golden Age, using technology available to him.

**Pilau Rice**

AlmightyWalrus wrote:
Pilau Rice wrote:
AlmightyWalrus wrote:A fully intact and operational STC basically means the Imperium wins. The AdMech would be able to repair the Golden Throne, thus saving the Emperor. Having done that, they'd go about building legions of Castigator Titans and similar weapon systems which should mean that they'd be able to wipe the floor with any other force in the Galaxy bar possibly the Necrons.

Would they? The Golden Throne, as far as I know, wasn't created using any STC, but was the Emperors own creation, much like the Primarchs.

Created by the Emperor, but building upon the technology of mankind during the Golden Age, using technology available to him.

Yeah, so, he built it to his own design using technology available at the time. No STC design for that, just what he had in his head. Unless he left the blueprints lying around somewhere like he did with the Primarch Project data.

**Kaldor**

The writers are deliberately vague about it, but my interpretation of an STC is a artificial "intelligence" with all human knowledge contained within it.

So basically you'd land your ship on a foreign planet, and start asking your STC how to go about building things, come to it with problems, etc etc.

**AlmightyWalrus**

Kaldor wrote:The writers are deliberately vague about it, but my interpretation of an STC is a artificial "intelligence" with all human knowledge contained within it.

So basically you'd land your ship on a foreign planet, and start asking your STC how to go about building things, come to it with problems, etc etc.

This fits my understanding of them as well. Kinda like a 40k version of Encyclopedia Britannica, except it is way more in-depth.

**Revenent Reiko**

Kan, you officially freaked me out. I was about to continue my question when i saw your 3rd reply, which answered it....

However, yes that is how ive always seen it, with a fabrication unit attached.

still begs the question of how the fully intact STCs would help new colonists actually make anything needed...what if none of the colonists have the technical skill/ dexterity to be able to make something that may be needed? Does a normal STC have the capability to fabricate anything on its own (obviously, only by request, AI is still bad)?

**purplefood**

I think a full STC includes all blueprints as well as a fabrication mechanism of some sort...
OR the blue prints are so easy to follow that literally anyone can put it together...
I think it may be a combination of the two...

**Revenent Reiko**

Thats how ive always thought of it purple, a 'just incase' fabrication unit, or a 'for dummies' section of the STC blue prints

**Tadashi**

oldone wrote: Also how rare are they and if an Ork got hold of it would the imperium lunch attacks to gain it, and as such what scale would it be?

Imagine the entire Adeptus Mechanicus moving against you. Imagine them calling in favors from the Inquisition and the Adeptus Astartes. Imagine a mountain moving a hundred kilometers in a single moment. Nothing in the galaxy will stop the Imperium from reclaiming that STC. If you destroy it, or so much as scratch it, pray for a quick death.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/418407.page

All for a pen...tsk, tsk...so sad, but, it was definitely worth it.

**CalgarsPimpHand**

I also have always believed STCs came in two parts: an AI/database containing the sum total of human engineering knowledge, and some sort of automated fabrication facility.

The fab facility might be more or less complicated depending on the needs of the colonists in question - maybe if you set off on a huge colony ship with plenty of on-board facilities and a diverse skill set among the colonists, you wouldn't need much automation. However if you were setting out to start a religious colony with a hundred of your fellow worshipers, you might spring for the deluxe model that could whip up any of the basic things you might need, from vehicles to power plants to habitats.

The fabrication portion is obviously less important than the AI portion as far as the Ad Mech goes. I imagine with a fully functional STC, they could reverse engineer any design in it sufficiently to build a copy. I think that's why the fabrication side of things is rarely mentioned. It's part of the history of STCs but isn't relevant at the "present" date.

**oldone**

So if my mek got a damage STC? Would of the imperium attack without pause? I may make it that its a print out but has be converted in to orkish(ork language?) Or if the Ork had added a broken piece to his cyborg implants ? Would this work?

**Randomonioum**

Orks getting ahold of a STC fragment doesn't seem unlikely to me. If the imperium knew about it, they would certainly launch an attack on it, or at the very least inform the mechanicus. Most likely, expect a joint attack from both of them. It benefits them both to have this, regardless of what it is.

**CalgarsPimpHand**

And to answer the last part of your question, I imagine there's no telling what a Big Mek could do with a broken-down STC component or set of printed-out plans. It seems totally within fluff and reason that a Mek could "intuit" his way through recovering/interpreting an Orkified version of a human design and have some really wild weapons waiting for when the AdMech and Imperium inevitably came down on him like a ton of bricks.

**Psienesis**

The Golden Throne wasn't built, it was found. They dug it out of the sands of what is now Turkey, I believe.

**oldone**

Thanks guys and gals (possibility

?) For all your help

will write up my fluff

**Grey Templar**

The STC itself is just the computer containing the blueprints.

But it appears from the fluff that most STCs were hooked up to a device, probably a Nano replicator, that would also create whatever you wanted to build as well as giving you the blueprints.

**Engine of War**

if a STC was located on a Demon/Ork/Tyranid/whatever nasty critter in the galaxy infested world and there was a tiny 0.00000000000000000000000000000000000000001% chance that it worked the Admech and all theri forces (titans and all), along side coutless Guard Regiment and i dunno how many SM chapters (alogn with the Sisters and numerous other Imperial millitary capable arms) would attack all out in hopes of retrieving it.

It doesn't matter if The Eye of Terror is next door and a Ork Waagh the size of Armaggedon x 5 on its way there with a hive fleet tendril nearby either, they are gonna try and take it back at all costs.

Even if said STC is something pointless like a fusion powered Coffee maker.... or a Anti Matter Pen.

**SagesStone**

Might not if it is a Daemon world seeing as there is the chance it could be corrupted. Though they'd probably fight just as hard to check if it was corrupted or not.

**Krellnus**

Psienesis wrote:The Golden Throne wasn't built, it was found. They dug it out of the sands of what is now Turkey, I believe.

Yes, it was built by the Emperor as a human-built webway gate, the Emperor was born in Angolia (what is now mostly Turkey)
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Golden_Throne#.T7NcKcU2eXg