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Hi all.

I have noticed, beyond how Serfs tend to come into a chapter as failed recruits and their descendants, and how they are used as naval crew, PDF forces for the Monastery and homeworld, servants and retainers, there isn't really a great deal past that in the lore about Chapter Serfs.

The whole question stems from a modelling question. I ended up with a spare Stormlord under construction, from using the main gun mount and volcano cannon for my Thunderhawk Gunship triple-stormraven conversion. In the old Apocalypse days of '08 and 5th ed that was lovely, you can slap 40 marines on the back, but now its a Lord of War its transport capacity is limited to Astra Militarum. While it won't stop me including it an Aux. Super-Heavy detachment, it won't net any command points not be used as a transport. Plus with battalions and the Loyal 32 kicking around these days, I thought it time I get some Guard stand-ins.

I play a Blood Angels successor chapter , which is of note because I noticed on the 5th Ed. Codex (2009, Matthew Ward ) cover -despite the other questions that I have to ask about that cover - on the left behind the central figure are human figures, not space marines, in red robes and golden masks, with servo skulls and prodding at a Plague Marine corpse. These figures were absent in the 6th edition codex, but make a return in 8th Ed. Codex (2017, un-cited) on the leaf page after the introduction on p4 and 5. There's even one flying around in the upper left.


5th Edition Cover


2017 P4 and5. Spoiler because its large.


It was my understanding Serfs rarely actually follow the Astartes into the field, between hostile conditions (like the diseases just streaming out a plague marine) and the fast-paced warfare, so who exactly are these cultists?
If anyone has any thoughts more citations in any novels or other Index Astartes or Marine Codexes I don't have access to, that would be greatly appreciated.

As a side note, for anyone interested I also just noticed the new release by Anvil Industry matches them well and if I decide to follow up on this those may well be who I use.

Serfs serving as supplementary forces is a no-brainer IMO. Its likely frowned on in Codex compliant chapters, but for others it makes a lot of sense. Especially those Chapters with close ties to PDF/AM units that they recruit from.

Wasting trained soldiers as menials doesnt make a lot of sense.

Im pretty sure they appear in the background of alot of space marine chapter's pictures. Theyre on the 4th edition DAs dex and i think black templars too? Theyve definitely appeared in a few background artworks anyway. I like the idea of serfs/thrals doing the rear echelon work while the angels of death press on. It a shame they dont have models or any strats to represent them really.

If you've ever read "master of mankind" ive often imagined them to be similiar to the aids that follow the custodes in battle. Carrying ammo, reloading weapons, dragging back casualties etc.

There have been at least one set of rules for serfs in 40k, chaplain grimaldus had a gang of cenobyte servitors who dragged around relics from Armageddon, and they had some kind of unimpressive aura effect. That would have been the 2005 Black Templars codex by graham mcneil.

There’s been lots of artwork with serfs brandishing relics or torches. You’re right, it’s always seemed odd since marines would move much too fast for them most of the time.

Most chapters have non-combat serfs or servitors than follow them onto the battlefield during prolonged engagements carrying ammo or recovering the dead & wounded - the short story "The Memory of Flesh" has servitor driven Rhinos carrying ammo, for example.

Also, in "Ashes of Prospero" the Space Wolves take some of the serfs/PDF ("thralls") into battle with them to bolster their numbers.

Theyre on the 4th edition DAs dex and i think black templars too?

Oh neat, many thanks. I also saw a few in the 8th SM dex also in the inner 2 page leaf, behind the Imperial Fist nuking a traitor's face with a Power Fist.

chaplain grimaldus had a gang of cenobyte servitors who dragged around relics from Armageddon

Ah, that's right.They are still in all the codices 5th onwards if I recall. Though they are more servitor thrall than a full serf.

Also, in "Ashes of Prospero" the Space Wolves take some of the serfs/PDF ("thralls") into battle with them to bolster their numbers.

I hadn't got the chance to read Ashes, but I remember now in the pair Prospero Burns and Thousand Sons, the Sons have the Tizca Spireguard as well. From those at least, thralls like the Skjald seemed like an oddity to them, but they seemed happy enough to have him when he learned to lift an axe.

Thanks, everyone. Now my dilemma is do I go with robed serf cultist/servitor forces like those Blood Thralls in the BA artwork or a more personalised take for my successors with better-equipped troopers like Solar Auxilia/Storm Trooper models. But that's for me to figure out later.

As an aside, wow is that an awful piece of ‘art’.

But yeah, doing Chaoter serfs conversions as counts-as Guard sounds ace. Monastery that Stormlord up, too!

Chapter Serfs vary hugely from Chapter to Chapter.

Some are little more than servitors, others are slaves and servants, still more are fully flegeded warriors, some of which will have at least some transhuman implants even if they are failed aspirants.

They would make an interesting addition to the range, much more than usual flanderised units.

I think there’s artwork of Marneus Calgar and some UM with serfs around them, so sure. Even in the Master of Mankind book, the Custodes had attendants reload their Guardian Spears as they fought. Throw their spears into the ground, fight with swords, grab reloaded spear, repeat.

That seems dumb. Anything with a real chance of killing a custodes is going to be oblitorating any regular humans nearby.

Bobug wrote:If you've ever read "master of mankind" ive often imagined them to be similiar to the aids that follow the custodes in battle.

I'm pretty sure you mean aides. Custodes with aids would be grimdark indeed.

AdmiralHalsey wrote:That seems dumb. Anything with a real chance of killing a custodes is going to be oblitorating any regular humans nearby.

They just hide behind the Custodes.