A little Fluff: Vatarian Plate

This post is born from a discussion we had during Dark Heresy after getting spaced. Several times. It goes into light detail of the various suits of Vatarian plate Armour. On a side note, expect more posts soon.





Mark I-A - The Vatarian Mark I-A suit of armour is a reliable design from early M.37. It is expensive, but is durable, easy to maintain, and strong enough to withstand most types of ballistic weaponry.Additionally, the power cables on the suit are covered by a light carapace coating. The joints are also reinforced with additional padding to protect the wearer from shrapnel. It's internal systems give it the ability to track targets, provide multiple vision settings to see in a higher spectrum, and allows the wearer to patch into local computer and navigation networks. More recent upgrades have increased the vox range to nearly a kilometer without having to tap into an external vox link.

The suit also has capacity to go into space for limited time. The wearer can comfortable stay in an airless/toxic environment for about forty five minutes without having to find another air supply. Along with the internal air unit, the suit also has mag-boots to allow the wearer to walk in a Zero-G area. This is the suit preferred by spacers, assassins, and units on long-range missions that expect little to no supply.

Mark I-B - The Mark I-B suit has all the aforementioned capabilities, with the edition of an improved logic engine. This suit can track multiple targets at once, provide an improved HUD for the wearer, as well as increased motor units that allow the wearer to better move around and fight.


Mark II - The Mark II suit loses some of its internal systems, but has gains in mobility. Now unable to track more than one target at a time, it now can allow the wearer to run faster, just higher, and have overall better gyroscopic control.

The upgrades also mean that Zero-g movement has become much simpler with the addition of Mag-gauntlets. However, this comes with a sacrifice: The suit is only able to operate in airless environments for half of an hour. The power consumption of the suit is also led to exposed power cables along the chest and back. Normally the wearer of the suit would be a scout, a medic, or a light infantryman.

Mark III -  The Mark III suit was developed in mid M.38 as a replacement for the aging, and flawed Mark I and II suits. It has an extended battery life to allow to the wearer to operate for several days without having to recharge. It's internal systems were improved to allow the wearer to track multiple targets at once, have an integrated HUD system that connects directly to the user's weaponry, improved communication and navigations modules, and a wireless logic tool that can hack into various frequencies and signals. The power cables on this suit have been covered by several layers of Carapace plating, and the joins have been reinforced with flak/carapace fibers to protect the wearer from explosive and ballistics damage.

This suit also has external hardpoints to mount various devices and equipment, further freeing the wearer from having to carry cumbersome bags and pouches. There is also an optional Vox Caster unit that can be mounted on the back of the suit, but this would definitely limit the wearer's mobility and maneuverability. This suit is preferred by Commanders, Vanguard Units, and Technicians.

2nd Company (No pictures yet, save 1)

      Before I get started, the picture is from a recent game I had with a few mates of mine. It was supposed to be part of the Arrakian Campaign, but this is the only picture I got from it all. Technical difficulties are a beech. I'll probably end up either repeating the battle, or reenacting what happened with my own forces. Moving on.

I began a project of mine as my numbers are filling out a little more. Second Company. Identifiable only by a red stripe on the armour.
After thinking about it for a while, the red stripe idea just didn't seem like it was enough. I began to go through my bitz box and my "Throwaway models bin" (Models that are broken an unsalvageable on their own) and scrapped up two platoons of Catachans. After some tinkering and kitbashing, I'd made a squad of troopers that looked especially rough. I liked the look, truth be told. Added personality. A type of Veteran-like look that made these guys look like they've seen it all. Armour that is beaten and battered, cyber enhancements, non-regulation looking uniforms. The works. These guys just look like they've seen it all, and don't care. I've determined that will be the look I go for with this company. Hardened Front-Line fighters. I will be able to post pictures as soon as the command squad is finished, so hopefully soon. I'm very very excited about how they've all turned out!

History: Vatarian Plate

Someone asked me this weekend why my commanders are in space marine armour. I replied their not, it's just really fancy carapace armour. But that person asking the question sparked off a question. Why do my commander wear plate?

Long ago before gunpowder and cannon, warriors were led into battle directly by their leaders. These kings and generals needed protection from the hazards of being the spearhead in a charge, so they would be clad in full plate armour and given the weapons of their choice. Their armour was treated with as much respect as the officer that wears it, and each suit is fitted specifically to that officer.  After the Great Crusade brought Vatar into compliance, commanders and generals who proved themselves loyal to the imperium were awarded very primitive forms of power armour. Over time Vatarian armoursmiths were able to replicate and reverse engineer the armour, and soon began to produce a more modern form of Vatarian Plate Armour. This was dubbed VP.M35 and quickly spread throughout the Vatarian commanders. Once a commander has his plate, it belongs to him and he is expected to maintain it to the highest standards. It is not unheard of for the son of a high ranking officer to don his fathers armour, earning it and himself more renown with each battle fought. Currently, the VP.M41 is being tested by a select few high commanders, and is known as "Vatarian Heavy Plate"