I have a mental picture of vox communicators as some sort of earbud/microphone contraption that allows communication within the orbit of a single planet. But it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume there are different varieties, right?

That's not my actual question, though. Do you suppose messages could be left by vox, like voice mail, if a person wasn't wearing their communicator at the time?

I recall reading in one of the novels (Scourge the Unclean or Innocence Proves Nothing perhaps?) where some kind of portable codifier/cogitator is connected to a vox caster to send picts and other data. So some vox sets are obviously far more versatile than others. My guess is there would be a big variety in vox systems and some would be used like our mobile phone systems while others would be like our modern military comms sets with data transfer and automatic encryption/frequency skipping, others would be like simple walkie-talkies, or like older (pre-SINCARS) military sets that only allow comms in-the-clear.

Ophilia Midkiff said:

Depends on the kind of vox-set. Microbeads wouldn't be able to - they're only a relatively short-ranged, simple example of the technology (though not all of them fit into the ear - many designs instead press against the throat and the bones of the face, transmitting vibrations into sound while allowing the wearer to remain quiet and not to fill up one of his ears with an obtrusive earplug). A bulkier vox-set (the ones the Imperial Guard use for long-range communications are often mounted onto backpacks, and are a lot more versatile in their functions than the smaller microbeads. While a messaging service is unlikely to be common on military-use Voxcasters, it may be a feature of other patterns, such as hand voxes (mobile phone equivalents) or stationary sets.

I ended up just having the character happen to be around when her vox was going off, despite the fact that she wasn't wearing it at the time. Guess I need to figure out exactly what flavor of vox she's using. But the discussion is good for future reference!

I've usually described them depending on the quality of the equipment, the Good and Best quality ones are smaller, higher output to give them longer range, better batteries, optional encryptions, frequencies and maybe a little cogitator to write messages in a data-slate type of format. The Poor and Ordinary gear will probably be just as reliable as its made by idiots for even dumber idiots, but there's no-frills there... on a nice day I won't make them use a coal-fired steam turbine hooked up to a gen-set in the basement of mad duke just to use a radio.

I've always though of vox looking a bit like auspexs, or walkie-talkies, I also think they have small earpieces, but I don't know if they send as well as receive, but I'm sure as you said there is variants, it's not impossible to think a Tech Priest might be able to compact a bit of tech, or a new design comes about that increases the efficiency. (It happens, just hardly ever, for all we know it could be a very closely guarded secret if you want to use it.)

But yes, I think it might be possible for messages to be left on a vox, depends the design, it all depends about how you imagine them, as I've said, there either walkie-talkies in my mind, or ear and mouth pieces.

MKX said:

LOL. I have an awesome mental picture of that.

In the few games I've had the privilege to participate in ... microbeads are 'ear-inserted' comm-devices with a range of about 1 km. Higher quality might grant either greater range, or more options (like encryption, voice-mail messages, etc.) ... personal vox-casters are hand-held devices that grant communication out to 'low orbit' range, and have some of the above options (better quality versions might have even more options, or range) ... and Fixed Vox-casters, which have the same basic range as the personal versions, but which have many more options, including messaging, encryption, and other things.

Anything greater than orbital range had to be conducted by Astropathic Messaging.

Hope that helps.

As illustrated above, and with all Imperial technology, there's a wide range of styles to chose from when it comes to ones voxing needs. In the Imperial Munitorum Manual, the illustration for the personal vox is a 3kg backpack. Given that the personal vox in DH weighs a hefty 4kg, I'm guessing thats the default style DH is going with unless you cut down on it's weight and size through item quality. The microbead illustrated looks like a typical headset with single ear piece and small mic and is described as a set that affixes the mic to the throat to pick up sub-vocalized vibrations from the larynx. Your pattern may vary.

We use the Imp Guard variant which is a backpack mounted model. Based on the information provided in the game, it has a fairly good range (sub space at least).

I wouldn't think there are any 'message' systems on any vox's other than a person at the end with a pen and paper. Just going from how simple yet complicated tech is in 40k, there don't seem to be much 'recorded' entertainment (movies, prerecorded music) from novel's i've read. And figure how most of their tech is ancient, most recording 'storage' mediums will eventually wear out, even some of our stuff now can only be recorded on over and over so long before they wear out, the only things lasting that long are fully digital, and thus archeotech. If there are any they would be rare and expensive and extremely heavy in 40k, remember even your basic 'cognator' which is a standard computer weighs a ton there are no laptops, an 'answering' machine would probably be another heavy backpack by itself, even for a scratchy message stored on giant reels of extremely delicate tape.

Since the book lists the Vox Caster weight as 3kg, or roughly 7 lbs (6.61) it's most likely bigger than a cell phone.

Additionally, I agree with the previous poster that the newer the device, the more likely that it is to be bigger and less tech advanced. We're in the Dark Age of mankind here. Technology is slipping backwards, not getting better. Small devices are most likely archeotech and very VERY expensive (that's right, I said "Very very" and not just very.)

In the 40K game, a vox castor is like a Radio, not unlike a common truck or police radio with a speaker, microphone, mini-cogitator, and attachemnt slots for other divices.

If your a DM you are however free to make them as you please.

In my game I stick to the bed side table sized kit and the player has to carry it everywhere, which he happens to.

For Rping purposes, the vox-castor should have a mute button.

The sending and receiving of "messages" could be simply accomplished by attaching the nessecary data slate, saying the nessecary prayers (very simple and low ranking ones) and then beseaching the machine spirits grace to send the message while pressing that big yellow button.

Lask said:

What is a dataslate if not a laptop? I agree that many electronic items in the 40K universe are much heavier and bulkier than we are used to in real life, but there are exceptions. The Inquisition in particular seems to have ready access to electronic items which are at least as sophisticated and miniturised as things we have IRL in the present day. I've recently re-read the Eisenhorn and Ravenor trilogies and both protagonist groups in those novels have ready acces to powerful, compact computers and communications equipment. Probably very expensive equipment mind you, and definitely not available on every Imperial planet.

I also remember reading a passage in a 40K novel recently (I think it was either Scourge the Heretic or Innocence Proves Nothing) where one member of the Angelae leaves another member an electronically recorded vox mesage.

I agree there are smaller devices out there, but I'd categorized them as best quality, minimum and increase the 300 throne price tag on it. For a current sized cell phone, I'd almost consider making it an archeotech pricing. Not really sure how to do that, but it would significantly ramp up the price of the Best Quality Vox Caster.

A Data Slate is a laptop slate (like the iPad) in my estimation.

LeBlanc13 said: