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So, I am interested in the Armageddon warzone as something of a personal project. One of the important players in that conflict is the Forge world Voss Prime, closest such world to Armageddon. Voss Prime is a world with enviable production output but below-average quality of plasma weaponry, and is one of the largest Forge worlds in the Imperium. It's titan legion also deployed en-masse to Armageddon (Legio Invigilata).

Now, I'd like some Imperial Guard units equipped with gear commonly produced on Voss. Known examples include a variant of the Lightning fighter, some autopistol designs, and Voss produced large numbers of Malcadors during the Great Crusade. The folding-stock pattern of lascarbine used by the Steel Legion is the Voss pattern. You might expect above-average numbers of these items in the Armageddon warzone.

However, there is a problem...


Voss is apparently an entirely separate Forge world to Voss Prime, also located within the Segmentum Solar, albeit closer to Terra itself. It is highly unclear, to me, which Forge world is referred to when equipment is described as "Voss pattern"- I have not personally encountered any references to "Voss Prime pattern" equipment.

Given the location of Voss matches the location given in the Horus Heresy maps, probably all the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy era references refer to the world close to Terra. This does make sense as Voss seems to have been brought into the Imperium very early during the Great Crusade and played a large role in supplying war materiel in those early years. In addition, it is closs to Cthonia, for which Voss had exclusive rights over mined output.

This is a Horus Heresy era map:


However, the Voss pattern lasgun is almost certainly from Voss Prime given its use by Armageddon forces.

The other gear is much less clear to me.

Honestly, I think this was probably a lore mistake made by GW around 7th edition which they have run with since, but it is very confusing. There are no references to both worlds being distinct entities until the 7th edition Skitarii codex. It seems weird to me that Voss Prime would go from being a non-entity during the Horus Heresy (not shown on maps) to one of the most productive worlds in the Imperium by the 41st millennium, but it is plausible. Another plausible option is that Voss Prime was founded by loyalist refugees from Voss during the Horus Heresy, when Voss sided with Horus, or otherwise began as a satellite Forge world of Voss.

What are people's thoughts on Voss pattern gear?

Interesting spot – I'd always considered Voss and Voss Prime to be the same world (or at least in the same system). I think you're right that this was likely originally a mistake that they've now hung a hat on; and that's got a charm of its own. I've always appreciated the sheer scope of the 40k background because it not only allows for things like an entire star system being misfiled, but positively revels in the fact!

Ten thousand years is a hell of a long time, even in the grim darkness of the far future, so I think there are lots of plausible explanations for whether Voss and Voss Prime are related, and if so, how and why.

I'd agree with your assessment that Voss Prime provides Armageddon, and err towards is being the source of the named gear common through the Imperium in M41. That's largely based on Voss' output mainly being referenced as relating to the Solar Auxilia, while Voss Prime's calls out the modern Imperium. Of course, physical distance doesn't necessarily imply ease of travel in the warp, so it is possible that Voss supplies Armageddon.

It's of particular interest as I'm working on my own Armageddon project, The Ashes of Armageddon – if you'd like to compare further notes, please do get in touch.

Both existed during the Heresy, one was just more important due to being closely aligned with Horus both in the Crusade era and the Heresy proper.

Seeing as Voss aligned with Horus pretty much from the get-go, it would make sense that Voss Prime would then take primacy in the millennium following the Heresy.

Apologist wrote:Interesting spot – I'd always considered Voss and Voss Prime to be the same world (or at least in the same system). I think you're right that this was likely originally a mistake that they've now hung a hat on; and that's got a charm of its own. I've always appreciated the sheer scope of the 40k background because it not only allows for things like an entire star system being misfiled, but positively revels in the fact!

Ten thousand years is a hell of a long time, even in the grim darkness of the far future, so I think there are lots of plausible explanations for whether Voss and Voss Prime are related, and if so, how and why.

I'd agree with your assessment that Voss Prime provides Armageddon, and err towards is being the source of the named gear common through the Imperium in M41. That's largely based on Voss' output mainly being referenced as relating to the Solar Auxilia, while Voss Prime's calls out the modern Imperium. Of course, physical distance doesn't necessarily imply ease of travel in the warp, so it is possible that Voss supplies Armageddon.

It's of particular interest as I'm working on my own Armageddon project, The Ashes of Armageddon – if you'd like to compare further notes, please do get in touch.

Ooh interesting, will dig into that later.

Voss Prime is definitely a supplier to Armageddon. My query was more on whether that is where the Voss pattern lasgun originated. Forge worlds will produce patterns that originated on different Forge worlds, such as Ryza still producing Phaeton pattern hulls for most of its Leman Russ tanks (with Ryza pattern turrets). So it is conceivable that the Voss pattern lasgun originated on Voss, but is now being produced in large numbers by Voss Prime and the Armageddon sector.

Gert wrote:Both existed during the Heresy, one was just more important due to being closely aligned with Horus both in the Crusade era and the Heresy proper.

Seeing as Voss aligned with Horus pretty much from the get-go, it would make sense that Voss Prime would then take primacy in the millennium following the Heresy.

This makes a lot of sense, and I can see Voss being greatly diminished following the Scouring. I couldn't find any reference to Voss Prime in the Great Crusade/Horus Heresy era though, where did you encounter it?

Apparently, it was founded during the Dark Age of Technology but honestly, it wouldn't shock me if GW writers really meant Voss and not Voss Prime.

The 8th Ed Admech book mentioned VP being around since the Dark Age and also notes how Voss was reclaimed post-Heresy after it joined the Dark Mechanicum.

Who knows with these sorts of things.

What’s wrong with Voss? I've always liked them. Generally agree with them on most things.