Hi,

For anyone who as the book and is a bit sharper than me - or even a FF person if I'm lucky.... So, what exactly is a MIU? (or was it MUI - book is at home as it's satisfyingly heavy ).

The section on artificer armour mentions that it has a MIU included and I think there was a mention of it again somewhere else in the book - similarly un-explanatory. Nothing matches that acronym in the detail of what powerarmour does or in the wargear section....

Well if it is anything like the one in Rogue Trader then it is a "Mind Impulse Unit" which is a piece of cybernetic equipment that can improve various skills including BS.

It also allows people to interface with Power Armour the same way a Space Marine's Black Carapace does, allowing them to get the full benefit of it.

Though most suits need to be specially made with this in mind, since those that don't feature/require an MIU or something in place of it, would be dangerous to wear.

A Mind Impulse Unit is basically a jack that allows the user to plug directly into machines to control them, similar to the neck ports in The Matrix.

Thanks for the replies. Interesting that they should specifically mention it's in Artificer Armour... Maybe I should read the Techmarine section and cybernetics when I get home.

One thing to consider, IIRC, is that Astropaths are seen to "jack in" to computer systems in a process that is not necessarily the same as MIU. One could argue that MIU is basically a more immersive interface, however, including full haptic immersion etc., whereas the direct neural interface/"jack" of the Astropath is geared towards "simple" information exchange.

Just a thought.

Kage

There are the "cerebral plugs" from the Dark Heresy: Ascension book. They are common availability as opposed to MIU's rare or very rare and are "a common sight in the Imperium". The description seems like a far more basic version of MIU.

Thanks for the official confirmation. That would seem to cover the DNI rather than MIU.

Kage

Don't be silly. The MIU doesn't allow one to control a system, such as power armor, better. It allows the user to more effectively speak to the machine spirit to ask it to please go left...

There are many different types of MIU, even if they operate the same type of machine. In Dan Abnett's Titan novel, Warlord Titans are piloted by Princeps who live in little upright full-body sensory deprivation tanks, whereas in Codex Titanicus, and Siege of Vraks II, princeps just "plug in" like in the Matrix. This is explained in the Vraks book by saying that some Forge Worlds prefer one type of MIU, others prefer the other. Personally, I would dislike having my boss, naked, in a little tank in the back of the room while I'm trying to drive, but that's just me...

Though it should be noted that the interfaces used in Titans are really on a level of their own, and the little MIU's used for Power Armour or fire little hands-free weapons are nothing in comparison.

The unit in a Titan has been described as melding together the Princeps and Machine Spirit in to effectively one being.

Hence the suggestion, above, about the differing "types" of neural interface, though of course with modifications as mentioned by Lightbringer (e.g. sensory deprivation tanks, full VR/haptic interface, etc.). All of which, as pointed out earlier as well, you can subsume under the general consideration of "machine spirit" for flavour, but at least this gives you more of an idea of what it might actually do and how they might differ.

Kage

OK, so end result appears to be that the helmet of Artificer Armour has a port for you to plug directly into any similarly equipped stuff. Assumed most useful when piloting something, or for Techmarines in general.

Actual game effect (bonuses): unknown at this time.

Er... actually I read the section on cybernetic implants last night. MIUs are totally in there.

Originally (in the original WH40K:Rogue Trader) an MIU is a mechanical device using arcane technology which allows you to control...err...sorry, 'speak to the Machine Spirit' of a machine using the tiny spark of psychic power every human possesses. MIU's could control Servo-Skulls, Servitors, weapon targeting systems, Dreadnoughts...you name it.

Psychic Bluetooth, in other words.

Hey, that's pretty bitchin' considering the book was published in 1987(?) when cell phones were the size of bricks and music still came on large vinyl discs. AND there was some sort of wireless security preventing other people from using the device. Remember, there was no such thing as WEP/TKIP back then and 'hacking' usually implied a physical activity using some sort of hatchet or axe!

I should specify it's a surgically implanted intra-cranial device, of course.

The way we play, there's different versions of MIU, the psychically controlled kind being the rarest, most expensive kind. Wired MIU's being the cheapest...

Personally I steal (read: draw inspiration from) alternate game systems. Thus, I've got various types of "MIU," from standard DNIs, internal cogitators and wireless links and networks, induction MIU fields, etc., etc. Oh the joys.

Of course, not quite medieval Europe but it works for me.

Kage