WH40k astropaths

[Cykeisme]

As I understand, interstellar communication in 40k is achieved by psykers telepathically sending messages over astronomical distances.

However, how exactly are these messages provided to the sender, and how are they taken down by the receiver?
Are they limited to essentially "word of mouth" messages consisting of teleptathically "spoken" words, which are then transcribed by the receiver? Or are the senders/receivers of both ends cybernetically wired up to allow large amounts of data (text, images, etc) to be sent?

[NecronLord]

Cybernetics in some cases. Word of mouth in others. It depends on volume of traffic. Blind is your best reference, which is set in the Witches (Astropath's) Roost of Hydraphur, a segmentum capital.

[Peptuck]

Also, depending on the message type and how much interference is involved, it can potentially kill or injure the astropath. E.g., the astropath at the beginning of First and Only, who catches a Vermillion-level transmission after a lot of mental straining and work, and is able to send it on, but dies in the process.

[Cykeisme]

Ouch.

What's a Vermillion-level transmission, and what do the levels indicate? Sheer volume of data, or something more complex?

[Gullible Jones]

From the sound of it, that might indicate that it's top secret; perhaps the encryption on such messages is designed to break human minds that don't know how to decode it.

That's just a wild guess though.

[andrewgpaul]

IIRC, that mention in First And Only is it, as far as message levels go. You now know as much as the rest of us

Some older material (Specifically, fluff for Space Fleet) says that, due to the nature of warp space, some messages arrive a significant time after they were sent - years, centuries ... occasionally, before they were sent

I seem to recall Inquisitor/Draco describing how Inquisitorial messages can be encrypted even from the Astropaths involved. Whether that's dependent on the Inquisitors being psychic (as Jaq is), I don't know.

[Teleros]

I seem to recall Inquisitor/Draco describing how Inquisitorial messages can be encrypted even from the Astropaths involved. Whether that's dependent on the Inquisitors being psychic (as Jaq is), I don't know.

If both parties are using a previously agreed code then it probably wouldn't be that hard .

[Block]

IIRC, that mention in First And Only is it, as far as message levels go. You now know as much as the rest of us

Some older material (Specifically, fluff for Space Fleet) says that, due to the nature of warp space, some messages arrive a significant time after they were sent - years, centuries ... occasionally, before they were sent

I seem to recall Inquisitor/Draco describing how Inquisitorial messages can be encrypted even from the Astropaths involved. Whether that's dependent on the Inquisitors being psychic (as Jaq is), I don't know.

There was reference to message levels in Soul Drinker if I remember right, but nothing particularly specific.

[Peptuck]

Ouch.

What's a Vermillion-level transmission, and what do the levels indicate? Sheer volume of data, or something more complex?

Clearance level.

First and Only indicates that most battle plans have Magneta-level clearance, and Vermillion-level is "mythical." In FaO, a patrol ship stumbles across the message, and even without knowing what's in the message, the crew immediately sacrifices their lives to ensure that it gets sent back to the fleet. Before the ship in question is destroyed, the astropath is already dead from the mental strain of catching and sending the message.

[NecronLord]

I seem to recall Inquisitor/Draco describing how Inquisitorial messages can be encrypted even from the Astropaths involved. Whether that's dependent on the Inquisitors being psychic (as Jaq is), I don't know.

I'm pretty sure it's a relatively mundane cipher. Jaq sends one to some Space Marines, invoking exterminatus. Then the astropath doesn't send the counter-order when he finds out it's not necessery.

I cheered when that bitch died.

[Siege]

Related question: since Astropaths are essentially psykers, I'd imagine there are variances in their power, eg. there ought to be such a thing as an Alpha-class Astropath. Is there any word on such things?

[Imperial Overlord]

Related question: since Astropaths are essentially psykers, I'd imagine there are variances in their power, eg. there ought to be such a thing as an Alpha-class Astropath. Is there any word on such things?

Astropaths are selected from psykers strong enough to have useful talents but too weak to properly defend themselves from the warp and they then receive the soul binding ritual (which burns out their optic nerve) and get a large degree of protection from the warp. So overall they tend to be on the weak side. The abilities of some psykers increases over their lives, so potentially there are old astropaths with considerable power. In the background materials for the Calixus Sector, it is noted the the sector's senior astropath is one of the most powerful psykers in the sector.

[The Grim Squeaker]

Related question: since Astropaths are essentially psykers, I'd imagine there are variances in their power, eg. there ought to be such a thing as an Alpha-class Astropath. Is there any word on such things?

Astropaths are selected from psykers strong enough to have useful talents but too weak to properly defend themselves from the warp and they then receive the soul binding ritual (which burns out their optic nerve) and get a large degree of protection from the warp. So overall they tend to be on the weak side. The abilities of some psykers increases over their lives, so potentially there are old astropaths with considerable power. In the background materials for the Calixus Sector, it is noted the the sector's senior astropath is one of the most powerful psykers in the sector.

They cal also be quite nasty in combat, since uncovering their eye will effectively kill just about anything (Of the low end mortal type) that looks at them. (Orks heads explode if they don't look away immediately for example, although Daemon possesed people just get exposed and a good laugh out of the ordeal).

[Peptuck]

Related question: since Astropaths are essentially psykers, I'd imagine there are variances in their power, eg. there ought to be such a thing as an Alpha-class Astropath. Is there any word on such things?

Astropaths are selected from psykers strong enough to have useful talents but too weak to properly defend themselves from the warp and they then receive the soul binding ritual (which burns out their optic nerve) and get a large degree of protection from the warp. So overall they tend to be on the weak side. The abilities of some psykers increases over their lives, so potentially there are old astropaths with considerable power. In the background materials for the Calixus Sector, it is noted the the sector's senior astropath is one of the most powerful psykers in the sector.

They cal also be quite nasty in combat, since uncovering their eye will effectively kill just about anything (Of the low end mortal type) that looks at them. (Orks heads explode if they don't look away immediately for example, although Daemon possesed people just get exposed and a good laugh out of the ordeal).

Those are Navigators, not astropaths.

[Dartzap]

The entire premise behind the recent Desert Raiders is that of a distress message being sent and being received beforehand...

I wont spoil it, although it is a fairly naff novel.

[The Grim Squeaker]

Astropaths are selected from psykers strong enough to have useful talents but too weak to properly defend themselves from the warp and they then receive the soul binding ritual (which burns out their optic nerve) and get a large degree of protection from the warp. So overall they tend to be on the weak side. The abilities of some psykers increases over their lives, so potentially there are old astropaths with considerable power. In the background materials for the Calixus Sector, it is noted the the sector's senior astropath is one of the most powerful psykers in the sector.

They cal also be quite nasty in combat, since uncovering their eye will effectively kill just about anything (Of the low end mortal type) that looks at them. (Orks heads explode if they don't look away immediately for example, although Daemon possesed people just get exposed and a good laugh out of the ordeal).

Those are Navigators, not astropaths.

Doh, blasted brainfart .

[white_rabbit]

Apparently even your basic Astropath can do a sort of "death pulse" suicide attack, those sent as comm units for special operations are given instructions to do so on successful completion of their mission in a

[andrewgpaul]

I seem to recall Inquisitor/Draco describing how Inquisitorial messages can be encrypted even from the Astropaths involved. Whether that's dependent on the Inquisitors being psychic (as Jaq is), I don't know.

I'm pretty sure it's a relatively mundane cipher. Jaq sends one to some Space Marines, invoking exterminatus. Then the astropath doesn't send the counter-order when he finds out it's not necessary.

I cheered when that bitch died.

Yeah, you're right; Digamma Decimato Duodecies is the authorisation code. It's not even that secret, since the Astropath guesses what it is.

[Cykeisme]

Now I only have more questions!
What's the "Emperor's Soul-Binding" process I hear of?
Do Space Marine Librarians have to go through it, or do they do something different/tougher?

Also, messages arriving before they're sent? The warp is indeed weird.

And what happened in that Inquisitor novel?
The astropath received a code to initiate Exterminatus, and passed it on, but refused to pass on the message to belay the previous order?


Btw, I remember reading that Space Marine chapters don't use Imperial astropaths because Librarians are more than powerful and capable enough to do the job.
What about warp-astronavigation? Are Navigators still needed, or do Librarians fill the role for Space Marines?


Btw, sneaky off-topic question slipped in edgewise.. what does a generic Close Combat Weapon do game rules-wise (I don't play tabletop)? A WS or S bonus or something like that?

[Peptuck]

What's the "Emperor's Soul-Binding" process I hear of? Do Space Marine Librarians have to go through it, or do they do something different/tougher?

Specific process for the astropaths only. Its what enables them to send and receive messages; they are brought before the Golden Throne, and the Emperor himself initiates the process, burning out their eyes and strengthening their minds and bodies to handle the stresses of being the Imperium's cell phones.

Librarians don't go through that, IIRC (my Space Marine lore is rusty >.>) but Grey Knights are supposed to go through it.

Also, messages arriving before they're sent? The warp is indeed weird.

The Warp regards the laws of physics as quiant notions followed in that alternate reality that isn't a massive ocean of raw thought and emotion.

[Dominus]

And what happened in that Inquisitor novel?
The astropath received a code to initiate Exterminatus, and passed it on, but refused to pass on the message to belay the previous order?

More or less. Moma Parsheen was a vindictive old witch who decided to get back at her former employers by refusing to rescind Inquisitor Draco's order to virus bomb Stalinvast, which he had issued in haste after discovering what he thought was an insidious warp presence spread throughout the lower levels of the planet's various hive cities. This unnecessary act of destruction was a large part of the reason why Draco himself was later excommunicated and declared a heretic, IIRC, though it's been a few years since I read the omnibus and I could well be mistaken on several points...

[Teleros]

Btw, sneaky off-topic question slipped in edgewise.. what does a generic Close Combat Weapon do game rules-wise (I don't play tabletop)? A WS or S bonus or something like that?

Extra attack IIRC.

Librarians don't go through that, IIRC (my Space Marine lore is rusty >.>) but Grey Knights are supposed to go through it.

Marines, Grey Knights, most psychic Inquisitors etc don't appear to need it - just the regular Astropaths. I say Grey Knights because everything I've seen points to them still having their eyes (unless their modifications allow them to survive the eye-burning-out bit ).

[Lord Revan]

Btw, sneaky off-topic question slipped in edgewise.. what does a generic Close Combat Weapon do game rules-wise (I don't play tabletop)? A WS or S bonus or something like that?

Extra attack IIRC.

only if you got 2 IIRC, with generic close combat weapon doing nothing then taking a weapon slot.

[andrewgpaul]

In the current edition of 40K, having a close combat weapon does nothing. As Lord Revan says, if you have 2, you get an extra attack.

In 1st and 2nd edition, various close combat weapons had different Strength and Armour Save Modifer values (a regular hand weapon, for example, used the wielder's Strength and had a Save Mod of 0; a Chainsword had a Str of 4 and a Save Mod of -1).

The Sould Binding isn't to allow the Astropath to send messages, per se. It's because those psykers chosen for Astropath training are too powerful to be wasted powering the Astronomicon or Golden Throne, but too weak to resist attacks by daemons alone. They're soulbonded to the Emperor to protect them from Warp Entities. This usually damages more fragile nerves; most if not all Astropaths are blind, while many lose other senses - touch, taste, etc.

Psykers chosen to be Inquisitors, Librarians and Grey Knights are sufficiently powerful to be able to protect themselves from warp entities unaided.

[Peptuck]

Librarians don't go through that, IIRC (my Space Marine lore is rusty >.>) but Grey Knights are supposed to go through it.

Marines, Grey Knights, most psychic Inquisitors etc don't appear to need it - just the regular Astropaths. I say Grey Knights because everything I've seen points to them still having their eyes (unless their modifications allow them to survive the eye-burning-out bit ).

Well, its not certain if they need it, but the [lr=http://us.games-workshop.com/games/40k/ ... nators.htm]GK Terminators[/url] entry on GW's own page indicates that the Terminators at least go through the soul binding.