Hey all,

After I finish my IH SMs, since they're supposed to be towards the very end of the Horus Heresy, I thought about making an IG army based during the Age of Strife/right after. I have several questions on the AoS, however. Upon reading Lexicanum about the AoS, it said that the warlords on Terra used Techno Barbarians as their soldiers. When I looked up Techno Barbarians, it said they used a primative form of Powered Armor. What I want to know is, were there any warriors/soldiers used on Terra that were not given powered armor, more like the IG or Imperial Army?

Secondly, is there a rough estimate of how many Proto-Astartes were there?

Thirdly, if I did not have my army based on Terra, it would be based on either the Saturnine Fleet's domain, the asteroid belt, Jupiter's moons, or possible on Venus. What I would like to know is, how common would it be to use space craft during the AoS?

If there are no answers to some of these questions, in the Member's Articles forum, I will post my own fluff for both the army, and the questions if they cannot be answered.

Thanks in advance.

Although the main forces were Techno-Barbarians there seems to have been troops similar to the IA/IG.
I say this because quite a few Regiments from IA seemed to have origins on Terra, even as far back as the Wars of Unification.

The only Proto-Astartes I know of were the Custode-types from during the WoU, other warlords forces may not have even had techno-barbarians, let alone genegineered ones.
So I'll say at least 1,000.

Space craft were used Inerplanetary during the AoS, though this could be quite hazardous. Members and ships of the Saturnine Fleet are represented during 'Battle For The Abyss', and it is mentioned that they have a tradition dating back to the AoS.

That help?

That helps a lot, thanks Gagoc! :D Would having a Custodes leading my army be a bit much, if I used to the Straken rules, do you think?

Fluff will be posted later this week, either tomorrow, or the day after that.

The Age of Strife is SOOOOO pre-Heresy as to be practically myth... remember you can't really mix continents, let alone planets - everyone was fighting everyone else, and the Emperor wasn't in charge.

I picture it being far more like the Necromunda gang styles, rather than Imperial Army.

*slapsselfsilly*Upon reading the Pre-Heresy Timeline, I realize that I was thinking that the Unification Wars were the Age of Strife.

Slapping of myself aside:

That's true, which is partly how I realized that I was thinking of the Unification Wars. Okay, so some Unification Wars questions:

How big was the Emperor's domain during the Unification Wars?

Where was it?

Were there still independent clans running amok besides Ursh, and those other various countries?

I imagine he started at Himalazia and worked outwards? IIRC Ursh is from Iraq to Russia, yes?

I think Tali and some of Nord Merica was a bit cagey for a while?

Also, he conquered all of Terra before Luna and the other planets in the system.

Thanks for the help Shroud! :D

Well I think I understand where he's coming from, because I don't know about you, but I don't think I'd want various warlords running around behind my lines, causing mayhem, while I'm trying to recapture a solar system. :P

Indeed, Ursh is/was Irag, Russia, and other Asian countries.

I see.

Thank you for the help, again. B)

A few helpful bits of info:

Going by the Lightning Tower I think the Himalazia was picked as the location for the Imperial Palace because it was the biggest mountain range rather than because it was where the Emperor started his conquests. Certainly the palace was not built until after unification:

Certainly there were pre-Imperial Army regiments on Terra, although most of them were disbanded following Unification. The 'Old Hundred' (which included Geno 5-2 Chilead from Legion) were the hundred pre-unification Regiments that were allowed to continue in the newly formed Imperial Army.

As for how big the big E's realm was during the Unification wars, well it depends when in the unification wars, clearly. :D Right at the beginning it would have been pretty small, right at the end it encompasses all of Terra.

Thanks for the quotes, Red! :D

But of course! The Galaxy's biggest Emperor must build his palace where everyone on the world can see the lights from it. :P

Oh yeah, I had completely forgotten about the Old Hundred. Thanks for that.

Now why didn't I think of that? Oh well, thanks for reminding me. :D

I think I will make my Regiment part of the Old Hundred, and have them fighting in the Gyptus. I'll probably make some Thousand Sons Marines for when the regiment leaves Earth for the Great Crusade. Heh, I got all my Egyptian names already, both from Gagoc's thread on the Astartes Board, and from playing Rome: Total War as the Eygptians. :P

Have you read Lord Naughty Bitz' short story from the TGC anthology, titled 'The End'?

That has an EXCELLENT sense of the moment of transition between conquering Terra, and looking up into the skies beyond. It made me shiver when I first read it... :D

Hmm, I'll have to read that. Thanks Shroud!

Actually, I had read it before, but reading it again, made it seem like something more.

You got that right.

oooh im intrigued now where is this short story?

@Hero: Here ya go! The End

you guys are right, that was awsome!

Upon reading Lexicanum's Age of Strife article, I saw that the author mentions 'Pocket-Empires' that were formed when the various warp storms waned. I was wondering do you know if this is true? There was no source for the paragraph, so I was curious, since I've been thinking of writing a short story based on a planet/solar system or two during the Age of Strife.

@Hero: Yep, that story was awesome, all right.