Changed my mind. since itS Space Marine shit, I'll trhwo in black Templars and Dark Angels codexes all at once.. THEN this is finished off.
First DA codex.. 4th edition I believe.
Page 4
Shielded only by the potent psychic power of the Immortal Emperor, the Imperium of Man is besieged by hostile foes.
Much like any significant Chaos God, the Emperor provides some protection to his worshippers from the predations of the warp (at least warp attacks into realspace.)
Page 4
He is armed with the fearsome bolter, a blessed weapon that fires devastating, mass-reactive shells that explode within the body of the target. He is protected by a suit of power armour, shielding him from the fiercest of enemy fire, whilst simultaneously strengthening his blows an dallowing him ot survive in the most hostile of enviroments.
Standard SM armament and armor.
Page 4
This event was called the Second Founding,and over two dozen further Foundings have occured in the ten millenia since. It is not known exactly how many Chapters were created in the afterman tof the Horus Heresy, as many Imperial records are incomplete or lost entirely, and whole Chapters have been created and destroyed in the millenia that have followed. What is known is tha there are just over a thousand Chapters scattered across the Imperium at the end of the 41st Millenium, and the Dark Angels stand first amongst them.
Brief description of the escond founding and a reiteration of the "one thousand Chapters", although this one is interesting in the sense that it describes it as a "current" estimate with slightly more than a thousand.
Page 6
The genes used as the basic building blocks for these elite warriors had taken centuries to gather and refine..
It took centuries to get the neccessary material to make the Primarchs. This no doubt was one major reason why the Emperor just didn't try making more.. he didnt have enough time if he didnt want to set his timetable back at all.
Page 6
The nobles of Caliban were raised from childhood to live and die by the sword: they were disciplined fighters and extremely brave. They rode into battle upon huge, black steeds, and wore a form of archaic powered armour similar to that used by the Space Marines. Like the Space Marines, their main weapons were the chainsword and bolt pistol.
It is interesting to see that a human type world that had apparently degenerated still had some form of power armor as well as other weapons. This would tend to suggest that the "viability" of 40K power armor depends in
large amount on the quality and type (basically not all power armor is the same.)
Which is not to say its os prevalant that there would be individual Guardsmen that had it (Therea re other reasons to restrict it too for example), but it has at least the potential, in some form, to be more common than apparently is.
Of course the definition of "powered armor" is quite open. It doesnt neccesairly, for example, mean "greatly enhances strength/mobility" type. IT might just give enhanced sensory capability, for example.
Page 8
Those knights who were still young enough had the Legion's gene-seed implanted within them, transforming them into mighty Space Marines, warriors fit to serve in the Emperor's armies. Those too old for this process underwent transformative surgery, and whil they would never be as strong, tough, or fast as a Space Marine, they would nonetheless be counted amongst the elite warriors of the Imperium.
I do wonder what this "transformative surgery" might entail (augmetics?), and why it might not have been used more extensivel to provide troops. It coul dhave provided a mid-level force somewhere between the Army and the Astartes (more powerful than the army and more numerous than the Guard). Perhaps it was cost-prohibitive and only was done to the Lion's closest comrades?
Page 8
As the Emperor fought Warmaster Horus on Terra, Jonson was fighting for humanity on the distant Shield Worlds, alongside Leman Russ, Primarch of the Space Wolves Legion. When word reached Jonson and Russ of the titanic battle being fought at Terra, the two generals marshalled their froces and set course for Terra with all haste. The journey took many weeks, for the Space Marines' vessels were assailed by the Daemons of the warp, and delayed fighting further outbreaks of rebellion. After weeks of warp travel, the fleet arrived at Terra, but the Primarchs found to their horror that they were too late.
"weeks" to return ot Terra. We don't know definitively where the Dark Angels were.. (the Heresy novels and collected visions dont mention the shield worlds and keep its locale secret) but we can make some guesses.
collected visions describes Leman Russ as being primarily involved with first Prospero and the Thousand sons, then shortly after helping the White Scars against the Alpha Legion before the Khan returns to Terra. One could conjecture that Russ beat the Alpha Legion perhaps with the help of the Dark Angels, and then together set out to deal with Horus Prospero is around 20-30K LY as I recall on most maps, so by Collected visions the
At the very least though we know they're far beyond Terra, which says at least 10-15K LY away. At the far end it can't be beyond the range of the astronomican, which would be 60-70K LY at the other end. We could reinforce this other value by noting that Horus dispatched all the loyalist Legions far away from himself and Terra, which means that logically they should be on the edges of the Imperium proper as seemed likely (Ultramarines out to Ultramar, for example, where they were attacked by the Word Bearers)
for 10-15 thousand LY and 2-3 weeks, the FTL speeds range from ~174,000c to 390,000c.
20-30K LY (where the White Scars or Space wolves are estimated to be) we're talking twice that between 350,000c to nearly 780,000c.
At the far edge of the Astronomican to Terra (50-70K LY) is somewhere between 867,000c and 1,820,000c
It should be noted that if the Space Marines were delayed, this speed probably isnt an upper limit. (in all probablyilty they had to make several smaller jumps from system to system to get their bearings, and got attacked in the process.) It would be accurate probably though to within an order of magnitude.
Page 9
The massed guns of the Dark Angels fleet obliterated Caliban's defence laser batteries and then scoured the planet in a devastating bombardment, driving the rebel Dark Angels deep into their fortress monasteries.
Apparently not enough to render the place uninhabitable, but serious enough one imagines.
Page 9
The two adversaries laid blow after blow upon one another, shockwaves form their impacts shaking the monastery and causing chunks of masonry the size of battletanks to crash down around them. Meanwhile the massed guns of the fleet continued to pound the planet, until many monasteries were reduced to miles-wide craters, angry magma spewing from the raw wounds in the planet's crust. The very surface of Caliban began to crack and have under the strain of the bombardment, the fury of the Dark Angels blinding them to the devastation they were wreaking upon their own world.
..
As the planet itself started to break apart, the battle between Jonson and Luther reached its climax.
Luthre and Jonson destroy the monastery around them as a side effect of their uber battle, and the Dark Angels bombardment quite clearly is blowing big holes in the crust of the planet (magma shooting up, cracking the crust, and "miles wide" craters) The novel "angels of Darkness" also describes stuff like the oceans boiling or such as I recall, suggesting that the bombardment was definitely extemrinatus level. Considering that the planet was weakened neough for a warp storm to blow it apart... no shock really.
We dont know how many ships there are or how long the bombardment went (aside from the fact it lasted throughout the battle) but if we assume a day and thousands of ships of varying types and assume that the oceans were boiled/vaporized. Assuming boiling its somewhere in the e26 joule range, the power output would be somewhere in the e17-e18 watt range.
Another possibility is with the craters, Blasting a 2 mile crater in the ground would be easy with 6 MT (more for beam weapons or impactors). Cracking the crust or similar probably requires much more.. 10+km reaching into the single or double digit GT range (possibly consistent with the magma bit - depending on source magma chambers of volcanos can form anywhere from a kilometer to ten km, although I've heard some say "several km" is typical and can go up to tens of km. Broadly consistent either way.). although we dont know if its single or multipel shots (cratering would suggest a single event, but it could be argued either way.)
The two calcs seem roughly consistent with each other, but the absence of hard numbers makes it little more than supportive conjecture for other calcs. Still, it snice to know.
Page 9
..the Chaos Gods realised that, once again, they had been denied, their pawn defying their will. They lashed out in fury and frustration. A rent appeared in the very fabric of space and a warp storm of unprecedented fury engulfed Caliban. In an uncontrollable, swirling flood of psychic energy the warp rushed into the physical universe. Those 'fallen' Dark Angels who had served under Luther and his clandestine masters were sucked from the face of Caliban inot the warp and cast throughout space and time. Caliban, already weakened by the bombardment, was ripped apart and destroyed in a cataclysmic explosion, the debris being sucked into the warp.
The only part of the planet that survived the storm was the huge fortress monastery where Jonson and Luther had fought - the Tower of Angels. Protected by force fields of awesome power, the monastery and a huge chunk of the bedrock of Caliban held together.
Warp storm + bombardment fragged the planet. We dont know however the extent that one or the other did the damage, however.
It is worth noting this as an example of how destructive warp storms can be, though, and that the Tower of Angels' defneses managed to hold it together through the bombardment. It gives us an indication of how durable Imperial forcefield defences can get.
Page 10
..the Unforgiven have continued their Primarch's tradition of conducting particularily effective and well-planned campaigns, although there exist instances where an Unforgiven Chapter has failed to support Imperial forces when requested to do so. On occasion, the Unforgiven have abandoned a campaign at a critical juncture iwth no reason being offered to explain why, leaving entire armies to be slaughtered and whole worlds to burn.
As I've said in the past, the Dark Angels have a habit and history of being complete dicks in pursuit of their "forgiveness". One would think that atonement might better be sougt from the Emperor if they simply just DID THEIR FUCKING job and helped their allies, but..
Page 10
In time, a huge warp drive was added, allowing the Rock to travel across the entire galaxy. The Rock itself does not stay in any one system for long, at most only a few generations. The Chapter gathers recruits from each world at which the Rock pauses.
The Rock is larger than the heaviest class of star ship, and armed with enough firepower to devastate an entire fleet. Its cliff-like sides are studded with gun turrets, lance batteries, torpedo tubes and observation blisters, and its cavernous docking bays are able to accommodate many hundreds of smaller vessels. Clustered around the Rock are swarms of lesser craft - Thunderhawk gunships and transporters and escort frigates.
..
To this day, the Tower remains undisturbed and eerily silent, protected by the same force fields that shielded it from the destruction of Caliban. What secrets lie forgotten within its dark halls none can say. Even the Dark Angels dare not set foot upon its hallowed ground....
I have to wonder where the Imperium just happens to get "super huge warp drives" to do this sort of thing. I mean Phalanx may have come already equipped but other fortress monasteries like this...
I also wonder what class the "hundreds of smaller vessels" would be. Larger than gunships and frigates, but presumably smaller than battle barges? And there probably are more than "hundreds" of frigates?
Page 12
Some believe that Cypher is watched over by those dark powers that spirited the Fallen away during the fall of Caliban, repeating this feat whenever his pursuers close upon him. Others state that Cypher is under the protection of some other, higher power.
Discussion on the nature of Cypher's warp patron.
Page 14
..the Dark Angels were one of the Few Chapters that did not use the strict Codex organisation liad down by roboute Guilliman. This being said, an outside observer would find it difficult to spot any differences between the Dark Angels and a Chapter rigidly organised according ot the Codex such as the Ultramarines.
..
The Chapter relies on a large support staff, and highly ranked members include the Victuallers and the Grand Masters of the fleet, the Arsenal, Recruits and the Watch. Although each Grand Master is a Space Marine, there are actually relatively few Brethren in the Chapter's support staff, and most combat roles are performed by the Chapter's Human serfs. The Chapter inlcudes a large number of support staff that do not know the full history of the Chapter, but hold great responsibility nonetheless. Many are non-combatants of advanced years tasked with the day-to-day administration of the Chapter. The largest group of Dark Angels Space Marines in the support staff are the Chapter's Armourers and Techmarines, who are aided in their tasks by hundreds of mono-task Servitors.
Chapter organization. note the non-marine positions, and the hundreds of servitors assisting the Techmarines.
Page 14
Members of the Deathwing always fight in Terminator armour, and are never fielded in power armour as is the case with most other Chapters.
This likely means the Dark Angels 1st company has a fuckload of terminator armor.
Page 14
The 10th Company consists of a number of Scout squads; youths who have been recruited and partially transformed into Space Marines. There is no formal size for this company as the rate of recruitment is not fixed.
Again, scout companies are not strictly fixed the way other companies technically are. And as a rule attrition favors a Chatper keeping as many scouts as they possibly can.
PAge 14
All of the companies, with the exception of the Deathwing, the Ravenwing, and the Scout company maintain Rhino transports for each of their squads and officers. The Command squad of each company has its own Razorback, and more are held centrally by the Armoury, each being allocated to individual squads as dictated by the needs of their mission. Drop pods are held by the fleet. The Deathwing has a permanant establishment of Land Raiders for carrying Terminator squads, and more are held in the Armoury for use as requested by the Company Master on the Spot.
..
Many of the Battle companies and REsreve companies include a number of dreadnoughts.
Company breakdown of the Dark Angels.
Page 16
It is believed that when the Dark Angels Legion was divided, the Terminator armour-equipped Assault company was divided into a number of 100-strong units and each assigned to a Chapter formed from the Legion.
This suggests all the DA spinoffs are all Terminator armor heavy.
Page 16
Chapter legend states that a band of Deathwing brethren returend to the world of their birth, only to find their people enslaved to xenos invaders. Abiding by the traditions of their people, the Brethren painted their armour white, symbolising that they were dead mean walking..
..
Fighting through hordes of Genestealers, the Brethren penetrated deep into the alien lair, and faced the largest Genestealer any had enocuntered before.
fluff mention of the Deathwing short story I've covered alreays.
Page 18
This procedure of implantation is just the beginning, for it takes several years for the genetic implants to turn an ordinary Human into a full Space Marine. During those years, the warrior is known as a Space Marine Scout - he is neither fully a Space Marine nor enitrely Human.
Nineteen varieties of gene-seed, corresponding to the nineteen different superhuman organs which make a Man an Astartes, are surgically implanted into an aspirant.
"sveral years" to make a Space Marine.
Page 19
Zeriah was a formidable opponent, and he killed a dozen Dark Angels before he was near fatally wounded by an assault cannon round that blew half of his chest away.
Assault cnanon round takes out half the chest. That would make it *approximately* as powerful as a bolt round.
PAge 19
Piscina IV is a planet covered in teeming oceans and dotted with chains of small, volcanic islands. The Dark Angels have long utilised the world as a source of recruitment.
..
The small contingent of Dark Angels stationed on their recruitment world responded quickly.
..
The wounded Belial led the Dark Angels, outnumbered thousands to one, stubbornly fighting to disrupt Ghazghkull's plans to invade nearby systems.
This world is the setting of the "Angels of Darkness" story.
Page 20
Upon the surface, the 5th Company found itself engaged by Men altered by the cybernetic arts, and held entirely in the thrall of some blasphemous machine intelligence. Such a thing was outlawed by ancient decree...
As stated elsewhee at times, "machine intelligence" at least that that isnt moderated by an organic element, is outlawed.
Page 21
Even as Thunderhawks bore the fighting vehicles of the [3rd] company planetword, twisting and diving to avoid the enemy fire, Tactical squads burst from their drop pods to engage the enemy.
Thunderhawks carrying ground attack vehicles.
Page 21
..but the words of power were neve completed for BAradiel levelled his silver plated storm bolter and blew the Anarchist's head from his shoulders. HE did not stop firing until Potcheck's body was a pulped and bloody smear across the ground.
Chaos Magister, who controlled an engire legion of Daemons and heretics. 60 or so bolts (assuming a "regular" clip) to pulverize the body 15 kj per bolt - worth 3-4 grams of TNT.
Page 24
A Space Marine is a towering giant, dwarfing an ordinary man in height and bulk.
..
He is the equal of a dozen, even a hundred lesser soldiers, but he is merely one amongst the thousand Battle Brothers that make up a Space Marine Chpater.p
Space Marine's better than a dozen/hundred lesser soldiers. A bit higher than other sources.
Page 25
Once dead a Space Marine can live on through his gene-seed, the Apothecary using his Reductor to remove the progenoid organs from the body. From the genetic imprint held within these precious organs, future generations of Space Marines are created, and the continuation of the Chatper is assured.
Gene seed retrieval is seen as a sort of immortality.
Page 26
Each bike is fitted with twin-linked bolters, and the bikres often carry an assault wepaon to augment their firepower. Attack bikes are often equipped with a multi-melta to add extra punch against their armoured targets.
Bike armament.
Page 26
Armed with a heavy bolter and assault cannon, Ravenwing LAnd Speeders can cut a bloody swathe through eenemy troops before their presence is even noted.
Dark Angels landspeeder variant.
Page 26
One of these Land Speeders carries the deadly assault cannon, and one the Typhoon missile launcher, whislt the other three carry a heavy bolter.
a nice mix of firepower ought to give some flexibility.
Page 26
..the Ravenwing will if necessary call in the Deathwing to launch a devastating close assault. They do this by way of the teleport homers fitted to every Ravenwing bike - the Deathwing waiting in orbit homing in on the signal.
Deathwing will launch teleport attacks, since they're the ones with the Terminator armor.
Page 29
acting as an infiltration force, armed with bolters, shotguns, or bolt pistols and combat blades...
..
Sometimes the Scouts will be equipped with deadly sniper rifles from the Chapter armoury, allowing them to slay the enemy from afar.
Armaments of scouts.
Page 29
The Dark Angels issue their Scouts with special 'Manstopper' shells for use in their combat shotugns. These use a particularily heavy solid cartridge with a massive propellant charge, making it more powerful than a normal solid shot.
Dark Angel scouts (if not tohers) are issued special shells more powerful than normal shotgun shells.
PAge 29
sniper files boast deadly ammunition and powerful telescopic sights that enable the firer to target distant foes with unerring accuracy. Capable of firing powerful shots with lethal precision, sniper rifles can fell even the sturdiest enemy.
Sniper rifle description. Often in earlier fluff (and novels) it would be a needle sniper rifle. We may presume it could encompass more than one kind of rifle.
Page 29
Space Marine neophytes who have not yet received their own suits of power armour are instead clad in scout armour. Scout armour is formed of thick plates of carapace armour, easily capable of stopping a bullet. The fatigues are made from ballistic nylon, providing further protection from harm without hindering the Scout's movements. Less cumbersome and noisy than power armour, scout armour is ideal for the subtle infiltration work that its wearers embark upon.
Scout armor described. While it is technically carapace, one could assume that it incorporates thicker, heavier plates than carapace a normal man would wear, due to the Scout's enhancements.
Page 31
Because of the oaths sworn to the Machine-cult of Mars, the Techmarines are never initiated into the Deathwing, instead kept at arms length from the Chapter's darkest secrets. Only the highest ranking Techmarine, the Master of the Forge, is trusted enough to be party to some of the secrets of the Inner Circle, and it is his duty to maintain the machines in the dungeons and secret places of the Rock.
Techmarines.
Page 31
Created by the Adeptus Mechanicus, Servitors are monotask-adapted slaves whose mechanical components are designed so they can perform a single laborious function. There are untold millions of these cyborgs throughout the Imperium, especially on MArs, the home of the Cult Mechanicus. Every one has had the creative side of their brain surgically removed.
..
.. many of the Servitors are recruits to the Chapter who have failed their arduous initiation rites, and had their minds scrubbed after their failure. Some are Chapter thralls who have committed grave crimes, or suffered some terrible injury of mind or body. Still more, it is said, were those unfortunate innocent bystanders who unknowingly witnessed the Chapter engaged upon its secret mission, and were taken and altered, lest they speak of what they saw.
Servitors described. In patricular is the origins of Astartes servitors.
Page 31
The cunningly worught damage control mechanisms and the extremely hard materials used in a Techmarine's armour...
Power armor with damage control mechanisms. And yet another indication that power armor can vary in quality.
Page 32
the anti-infantry variation of the Predator is known as a Predator Destructor, whilst those that are fitted for anti-tank roles have their turret mounted autocannon exchanged for twin-linked lascannon by the Chapter TEchmarines and are known as Predator Annihilators.
Autocannon on the Predator destructor is anti-infantry. The lascannon variant Annihilator is anti-tank
Page 33
The terrific blast unleasehd by the detonation of the huge Demolisher shells is often sufficient to bring down buildings in which the enemy take cover, curshing them beneath tons of fallen masonry.
Demolisher shell.
Page 33
Thanks to the complex targeting system and the excellent communications equipment utilised by the Dark Angels, a whirlwind does not require line of sight to its target...
A bit on command and control systems realted to targeting for the Whirlwind.
Page 33
The Whirlwind is able to fire a special variant missile, called the Castellan. This can be used to scatter mines over a target area, but the Dark Angles use a version of the warhead that throws out searing chemical fire as it detonates.
Whirlwind missile variant deploys mines.
Page 34
..the Land Raider can witshtand hard vaccuum and temperature extremes with equal ease. Each Land Raider is equipped with a Machine Spirit that is able to pilot the vehicle and fire its weapons under extreme circumstances...
As we well know.. Land Raiders get their own highly intelligent machine spirit.
Page 35
Resembling a ship's life pod in look and function, Drop pods are fired from low orbit from an orbiting vessel with colossal force, using a ring of powerful retro burners to direct their approach to the target drop zone.
Inside a Drop Pod, a squad of Drak Angels or a Dreadnought is carried in exceedingly spartan conditions...
..
Drop pods are fitted with inertial guidance systems designed to ensure that they land safely.
Drop pods compared in size to life pods. If we knew how big a life pod is we could measure it.
Page 38
The Chapter's apothecaries rigorously screen potential recruits for any sign of genetic deviation, but not all mutation is physical. Psychic talent is a mutation too, and is at once the most dangerous and the most useful. Detecting and developing nascent psykers is the responsibility of the Chapter's Librarium, removing those recruits whose mutation may prove unstable and nuturing those who might one day have the ability to become one of the Chapter's Librarians.
Boh librarians and Apothecaries are needed to properly scan for genetic purity.
Page 38
In battle, Dark Angels Librarians protect the Chapter from the psychic abominations of the enemy, keeping vigil against daemonic attack. They direct their own unearthly powers against the enemy, unleashing bolts of warp energy to rend and incinerate their foes, or conjuring horrors that freeze the mind and goad even the sturdiest warriors into flight.
Librarian roles. Note using warp attacks to "rend and incinerate" suggesting both TK and thermal attacks (incinerating suggest MW level energies total, depending on the kind of incineration and size/nature of the enemy)
Pgae 39
The Librarian is enclosed by a shimmering psychic shield that protects him from enemy attack.
..
A torrent of psychic flames pour forth from the Librarian's eyes and mouth, engulfing the target!
..
The Librarian hurls a bolt of psychic energy idrectly at the mind of his enemy, causing a deadly mental seizure that can devastate any foe capable of rational thought.
Psychic attacks Librarians can make.
Page 40
A master psyker, Ezekiel is always to be found at the forefront of combat, hewing down the enemies of the Chapter with his dreaded sword, or incinerating them with his mighty psychic powers.
Again incinerating foes with psychic power.
Page 40
Over the cneturies, some of the highest ranking wrariors of the Unforgiven Chapters have gone to war accompanied by diminutive, hooded attendants known as Watchers in the Dark. These act as ceremonial bearers of weapons or other wargear for the Inner Circle. They take no part in war and never speak. THey remain close to their master, if such a term applies, and appear immune to all acts of violence.
What manner of creature lies beneath the Watchers' long robes none can say, not even the Unforgiven. Perhaps the Watchers are simply vat-grown servitor constructs akin to the creatures that accompany some high-rankin gofficials. Perhaps they are some manner of xenos creature. Perhaps they are something far more sinister, an incorporeal manifestation of the Unforgiven's collective guilt, clothed in monastic robes and shadowing those privy to the Chapter's most terrible secrets.
WAtches in the DArk described. THey are covered in more detail in hthe HH novels.. they are highly psychic, apparently alien, and opposed to Chaos in all its forms (that I remember from the novels. I may have missed details.) They also seem to have a strong connection to Caliban as well - a connection that survived the destruction of the planet.
Just why they serve teh DArk Angels, however.. I do not think has been covered.
Page 41
It was on the fourth day of the Battle of the Sularian Gate that Ezekiel was wounded by a stray Ork bullet. THe crude round shattered his auto-sense receptors and embedded itself in his left eye socket, the force of the shot knocking Ezekiel from his feet.
..
..Discovering that Ezekiel lived yet, he was dragged away from the front to receive treatment.
..
Waiting only for a simple bionic replacement to be fitted, Ezekiel returned to the fray, intent on revenge.
Description of an injury taken by a Space Marine, survived, and rapidly replaced with a crude but functionl augmetic before the battle was over.
Page 41
Ezekiel unleashed the futry of the warp. TEaring into the Ork's mind, the Dark Angel pulped the warlord's brain with the force of his psychic assault. Even with his brain dribbling from his ears, the warlord forced himself upright, determined to slaughter the Dark Angel. Hefting Traitor's Bane, Ezekiel hacked off Groblonik's head and threw it, still howling, into the swirling Ork mob below.
Ork toughness and Librarian psychic power.
Page 42
It was in recognition of his superior skills in hand-to-hand combat that Grand Master Azrael presented Belial with an ancient power sword, the Sword of Silence, a weapon crafted from the same meteoric iron as the Sword of Secrets.
meteoric iron... appears to bhave a special significant to the Dark Angels.
Page 43
The swords carried by the highest-ranking members of the Inner Circle, collectively known as the Heavenfall Blades, are cut from a single block of obsidian. Dark Angels Chapter lore holds that the block formed the core of a meteorite that struck the rock in orbit around the feral world of Al Baradad. THe mightiest of these blades is the Sword of Secrets, carried by the holder of the rank of Supreme Grand Master. Those blades carried by the Msater of the Deathwing and the Master of the Ravenwing also utilise small amounts of obsidian in their working.
..
It is said that a small portion of the meteoric substance was dispatched to each of the Dark Angel's Successor Chapters, that key members of their own Inner Circles might bear weapons of the same heritage as those born by the Masters of the Dark Angels.
More Meteoric iron blades.
Page 45
Shield of the Night: A protective device incorporated into the Master of the Ravenwing's Land Speeder that generates a powerful defensive energy field around the vehicle. In game terms, the field increases the armour value of the Land Speeder from 10 to 14 on the front and side facings.
Shield actually equipped on a vehicle.
Page 45
At the time of the Horus Heresy, many Space Marine Chapters fielded jetbikes. These sleek craft allowed a single rider to soar across the battlefield at great speed, held aloft by gravitic drives the like of which are long lost to the Techpriests of the 41st Millenium.
Since the art of building and maintaining these craft has been all but forgottten by Humanity and it is regarded with superstition and disturst as the province of xenos races such as the Eldar and the Tau. The last of the Imperium's venerable 'Mark 14s's...
...
The Master of the Ravenwing however is privileged to ride into battle upon an example of this nigh extinct technology, a prized vehicle built to the highest standards, the like of which may never be seen again in the service of the Imperium. In addition to its nose-mounted storm bolters, the vehicle is equipped with an underslung plasma cannon, itself an example of ill-understood technology, its fusion generator capable of powering many hundreds of shots.
Jetbikes are apparently lost technology to the Imperium. Note the plasma cannon's fusion generator being able to power "hundred of shots."
Page 46
This takes the form of a winged helmet that is carreid by the Helm Bearer, one of the Watchers of the Dark. The Lion Helm generates a powerful force field, which protects the Supreme Grand Master and those nearby from the direst of attacks.
Lion helm - another example of force field defences. If the Lion actually wore that helm, it also serves as an indicator that a Primarch's military power depened on his gear at least as much as innate abilities.
Page 46
As Supreme Grand Master, Azrael alone is privy to the greatest secret of all. At the very heart of the Rock is a cell, shielded by metre upon metre of adamantine armour and inscreibed with the most potent runes of warding. Within, kept alive for ten thousand yers inside a stasis field, languishes the broken Man who was once Luther. Because of his link to the warp, during rare moments of lucidity, the Dark Angels are able to use Luther as an oracle.
Dark Angels hidden secret.
Page 48
Assault cannon are heavy weapons borne by Space Marine Terminators, Dreadnoguths, or mounted on vehicles. Their rapidly rotating, multiple barrels unleash a storm of shells, each capable of tearing a man apart. The sheer volume of fire poured out means that it can be turned against squads of infantry or even vehicles,w ehre the overwhelming salvo of shells is capalbe of shredding even the heaviest armour.
Each shell "capable of tearing a man apart" hundreds of kj perhaps per shell.
Pag 48
Autocannons fire large calbire, high velocity explosive shells and are most effective used against light vehicles or particularily tough infantry. They are employed in the turret mounts of Prdator Destructors, and are also carried as a linked pair, on Dark Angels Dreadnoughts. They are the ewapon of choice when facing the larger of the Tyranid bioconstructs as well as the ramshackle buggies utilised by Ork tribes.
Autocannon also are light vehicle killers.
Page 48
They [bolters] are compact weapons that fire small missiles, or 'bolts' much larger than an ordinary bullet. Each self-propelled bolt explodes with devastating effect once it has penetrated its target, blowing it apart from the inside.
Bolter description. note bolts are described explicitly as being bigger than a ordinary bullet.
Page 49
Enormous versions of the boltgun, heavy bolters are deadly large weapons that fire fist-sized bolts at the enemy. With a staggering rate of fire and shells even more lethal than the standard boltgun..
Heavy bolters "fist sized bolts although the context hear is ambiguous.
Page 49
Assault cannon: High capacity, fast change ammunition hopper; Barrels last 50,000 firings.
..
Autosense sighting link, REcoil compensator.
Features on ana ssault cannon. Not the barrel life.
Page 50
Lascannon: MK VII: stabilised, backpack contains fluid metal core (rechargable)
..
Liquid metal core rechargable power pack.
..
Momentum correcting inertial lock.
..
coolant cores.
Lascannon features.
Page 50
Lascannon are enormous heavy weapons, deployed specifically to destroy heavily armoured targets.
..
Within the gun itself is a laser chamber that charges an explosive energy blast capable of blasting apart any enemy vehicle. The lascannons used by Space Marine forces vary, from the man-portable variants carried by Devastator squads,, to the Godhammer pattern lascannons borne by the Land Raider.
"blasting apart" a vehicle and "explosive energy blast" hint at more of a mechanical damage mechanism than primary. It also seems that lascannon can vary in power (man portable ones are less powerful than Land raider versions)
Page 50
Meltabombs are deadly demolition charges, powered by a subatomic charge, capable of melting through even the most heavily armouerd targets. They are much bulkier than krak grenades, with a more sophisticated detonation mechanism.
Melta bomb: high yield, focused pyrum discharge.
"subatomic charge", also identifed as a "focused pyrum discharge". If one needs rmeinding some meltaguns use a "pyrum-petrol" mixcture.
Page 50
Master Craftered weapon [bolter]: 30-40 round DRUM magazine.
Bolter has a 30-40 shot drum magazine.
Page 51
Marvels of technology, they [meltaguns] superheat their target with sub-molecular thermal agitation, literally cooking and melting away armour plates. Most effective at very short range, the meltagun is capable of reducing rock, metal and living material to molten slag or ash.
Meltaguns use "sub-molecular thermal agaitation" like a microwave. Can melt or cremate almost any material.
Page 51
A Larger, more destructive version of the meltagun, a multi-melta has a greater range than its smaller cousin. Carried either by Devastator squads, or mounted on Dreadnoughts or other vehicles, multi-meltas are perfect for destroying bunkers and enemy tanks
Meltas on steroids.
Page 51
Plasma weapons fire a plasma 'bolt' of molten gas that explodes on impact, generating the destructive heat of a small sun.
...
Smaller than the plasm acnanon, a plasma gun does not fire a blast in quite the same fashion, rather sveeral smaller 'pulses' of plasma energy instead.
"molten gas"? Plasma gun are a multi shot version of plasma cannon.
Page 52
Storm Bolter: Terminus Rex pattern, 45-55 round twin sickle magazine.
Storm bolter - 45-55 round dual magazines.
Page 52
Plasma pistols are the smallest variant in the plasma weapon family. Each shot from a plasma pistol contains all the destructive fury of a larger plasma gun, alhough the range and rate of fire are less.
Plasma pistols are here noted to be as powerful as plasma guns, but with a lower rate of fire (longer cooling or charging period due to compact size?) and reduced range (not as many coils or accelerators)
PAge 52
Thunderhammers release a terrific blast of energy when they strike an opponent.
Sefl explanatory, and covered many times before elsewhere.
Page 53
The ceramite plates [of Terminator armour] can deflect most conventional assaults, whilst the Crux Terminatus on every Terminator's shoulder plate serves as a ward capalbe of turning aside even attacks from power weapons or melta fire. It is even said that Terminator armour can withstand the titanic energies at a plasma generator's core, and that this is in fact the armour's original purpose.
Protective qualities of Terminator armour.
Page 53
Scout Armour:
Mk III issue: ballistic ffbre weave fatigues.
Filtration system/rebreather
MKXII "Arc" secure comnet uplink
Alpha Pattern combat boots incorporating
maglock and nullgrav ability.
SCout armor. Note the "nullgrav" ability as well as fatigues made from "ballistic fibre weave". One wonders if other fatigues (EG for guardsmen, or storm troopers) could be of similar quality.
Page 53
Power Armour MK VII "Aquila" armour
Mark VII Helmet incorporating low light and target
finder capability.
Reinforced greaves incorporating gyroscopic stabilisers.
Helmet with low light and targeting gear, and Leg gear with "gyroscopic stabilizers".
Page 54
Space Marine bikes are fitted with powerful engines and bulletproof tyres, and are incredibly durable.
Bulletproof tires.
Page 54
A storm shield is a solid shield that has an energy field gnerator built into it. The energy field is too small to be of much use against ranged attacks, but is very useful in close combat where it is capable of deflecting almost any attack, even blows from power weapons.
Storm shield with a field generator built in.
PAge 54
Combat shield: Limited issue "deliverance" pattern: Integral field generator
..
Storm Shield: Terminator Issue; MKII generator.
Even regular shields seem to have a built in field generator to boost its protective qualities.
Page 55
Rhino Pattern VIIa
Armour: 30-6-mm
Max speeed: 70 kph (55 kph off road)
Passengers: 10
Fording: 1.20 m
Weight: 30 tonnes unladen
Length: 6.6M
height: 3.6M
Hull width: 4.5M
clearance: 0.44m
..
storm bolter (800 rounds)
Hunter killer missile (single use)
Rhino variant stats. Similar to other stats elsewhere (like forge world, mostly)
Page 73
..the Dark Angels Legion sired at least three new Chapters. These are the Angels of Absolution, the Angels of Vengeance and the Angels of Redemption, but more of these so-called 'Successors' are said to exist. Certainly, more were created than are recorded, and all of these Chapters are extant to this day.
Dark Angels spun off at least 3 other chapters from the original Legion.
Page 73
Blood Angels and their successors follow unconvenional and deviant gene-replication practices which has led to the debasement of their gene-seed.
referenceing the "Insanguination" method and the Sanguinary priests keeping their Primarch's blood in their bodies.
Paged 74
The Angels of Vengeance emobdy one particular aspect of the Dark Angels' character above others - what might be described as a devotion to their cause bordering on the single-minded. The Chapter is wont to become embroiled in battles other forces would have little hope of winning, and of emerging, bloody and battered, but victorious.
The Angels of Vengeance are known for their unrelentting hared of any and all enemies of the Imperium and are thus extremely proactive in seeking out and attacking the alien, the traitor, and the servant of Chaos.
The Angels of Vengeance - one of the Dark Angels successor chapters. They seem to make the Black Templars look moderate and reasonable.
Page 74
In the aftermath of the Siege of San Apolis, losses were so severe that the Chapter was forced to spend almost a century replenishing its ranks and its gene-seed stocks before it could do battle once more.
One wonders how "Severe" severe was.
Page 74
It is believed that Dark Angels Chapter Master Anaziel made a strong request of the High Lords of TErra for a Chapter to be raised late in the 37th miilenium. Much debate followed, for it was unheard of for a Chapter Master to make such a request, and although no clear reason was given by the Dark Angels the request was eventually granted and the Disciples of Caliban were created.
It is generally acknowledged that Anaziel had the Disciples of Caliban created for a very specific and seretive purpose - rumoured amongst the other Unforgiven to be the uprsuit and capture of the renegade known as Cypher, though none outside of the Disciples of Caliban Inner Circle know if this really is their true purpose.
I wonder how the Chapter Master pulled this off.
Page 75
At the height of this terrible war, Army 52 was surrounded by the schismaties and reduced to a meagre twenty regiments, when the entire Consecratros Chapter deployed in their support.
An army had more than 20 regiments to start with.. many more (a hundred or more?)
Page 75
It was at the height of the Defence of Gatlinghive that the Angels of Redemption redeployed at the moment of the Orks' final assault, leaving seven brigades of the Gatlinghive militia to face an Orkish horde 3 million strong.
[/quote]
7 brigades vs 3 million Orks. and the Dark Angels spinoff chapters are as assholish as their parent Legion was.
