...no one wants.

If the rumor is truth, GW wants it.

Seriously, though, we all take what we want from these games and leave the rest, right? No reason to stray from the SOP now, eh?

Many years ago, I knew some fellas who thought the Emperor/Horus thing was better replaced by God Almighty and Lucifer. Psychic powers were miracles, Librarians were living saints, Tyranids represented the physical manifestation of the sins of greed and gluttony. They really were quite into rewriting everything with a romanticized Catholic spin. It was kinda comical, really, to listen to them as they played their TT scenarios based on Bible verses and psalms...

I'll never forget when one of them cried out, very loudly, mid-battle "Christ compels thee!" When he realized everyone was staring he said simply "Well, He does. See?" Evidently, a lowly Frateris Militiaman had just felled Kharne with a 1-point two-handed weapon upgrade (+2 S, 2nd Ed).

Yeah, well, let's be serious: the whole Emperor/Horus deal is heavily based on Christianity, plus the whole concept is similar to one's psyche...but that's me talking on that second part.

Now to use that example, it's like calling Matthew the tax collector xXxXxMaDGaNgStAKilLaZ345xXxXx now because...some reason or another. Same dude, still collecting taxes and having wild parties..but he's got a different name and everyone who starts reading the bible will now call him xXxXxMaDGaNgStAKilLaZ345xXxXx, one of J-wiz's peeps yo.

Word.

That analogy is...well, awful Braddoc.

More correctly, it would be more appropriate to say: Mathew works as a tax collector. In the United States, this agency is known as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Likewise

Mathew is a soldier of the Imperial military. To the average citizen of the Imperium of Man, he is part of the Imperial Guard. In the prayer-tongue, the nobles call it the Astra Militarium.

The Adeptus Astartes, were always the Adeptus Astartes in the books and lore.

The Adepta Sororitas were always the Adepta Sororitas in the books and lore.

The Imperial Guard were always the Imperial Guard in the books and lore.

Now because some guy at GW farted Astra Millitarium we should just accept it? BS. Astra Millitarium sounds more for something the Astartes would be more than the Imperial Guard,or perhaps the Munitorium is trying a PR campaign to get people to flock at the recruitment center?

I just don't see where they would tie in this new naming idea. The Astra Militarium? Really? Are the going to be part of the Adeptus Astra telepathica now? or just related? In most previous background the IG are not an adepta unto themselves. They are beholden to several (Most specifically the Munitorium) but are not one themselves. (At least as I understand it.) The Astartes ARE an adepta unto themselves and thus why they have so much autonomy unlike either the guard or the navy! I think this is just a rumor but we shall have to see...

I just don't see where they would tie in this new naming idea. The Astra Militarium? Really? Are the going to be part of the Adeptus Astra telepathica now? or just related? In most previous background the IG are not an adepta unto themselves. They are beholden to several (Most specifically the Munitorium) but are not one themselves. (At least as I understand it.) The Astartes ARE an adepta unto themselves and thus why they have so much autonomy unlike either the guard or the navy! I think this is just a rumor but we shall have to see...

Yeah GW could be going the political way; let loose a rumour, see how it goes in the public, then either go for it if it's popular or deny it as being just some wild rumour without any base in reality.

Radwraith, being an Adeptus doesn't grant autonomy. The Adeptus Astartes has their level of autonomy due to being the bulwark of humanity and the 'descendents' of the Emperor and his Angels of Death.

The Astra part of the name has nothing to do with the Astra Telepathica and isn't related to that either Radwraith. Astra just means star. So the whole term sorta boils down to "Star Military"

Braddoc

The Adeptus Astartes are the Space Marines

The Adepta Sororitas are the Sisters of Battle

Now the Astra Militarium is the Imperial Guard

It's a rather small, narrative detail that won't effect the Imperial Guard in a really significant way. I'm not understanding this level of resistence to what equates to a single line or two in the fluff section.

Stripping one's of a name is a rather big detail.

Why should after 30 years GW change the name of one of their armies?

IMO the new name does not really sound good or even impressive.

The IG has so far been a very good sale, with lots of options for personal modification/styling.

It seems to me to be a very poor decision to give a tested design an overhaul.

Don't bring up the Squad, they got whipped before their codex was out.

Edit: Not to mention what does pop into your head when you hear 'Imperial Guard'

and what when you hear 'Astra Militarium'?

"Astra Militarium" does indeed, as Cogniczar says, seem to amount to "star military" in pidgin latin.

This is why I wonder if it's a global term for the Imperium's Adeptus Terra military, rather than just the Guard alone. After all, I would have thought that the Imperial Navy have a better claim to be the "Military of the stars" than the footsloggers of the Imperial Guard.

I agree with Radwraith too that the Guard wouldn't be an Adeptus, though. They're a subordinate branch of a Departmento of an Adeptus, the Adeptus Terra.

On the whole, I don't hate the new name. The creation/retconning of a new High Gothic title doesn't really faze me. In the same way I prefer the High Gothic title of the Adeptus Arbites to their low Gothic title of "Judges", I suspect I'll just end up preferring the Low Gothic title of the Imperial Guard to their High Gothic title. It ultimately changes little.

I wonder if a lot of the dislike for the term just comes from the "shock of the new"? Or people who dislike 40k retcons? A lot of retcons in the setting are annoying, but if you think it through the setting is now so dense that introducing any new element almost always involves some kind of adjustment to the existing background. Want a New Forgeworld tank? You have to explain why it's not been seen before; this typically involves a retcon, leading to howls of protest from certain quarters.

Anyway, the whole thing could be a nonsense. Bell of Lost Souls has a mixed reputation on these things.

Braddoc, I get a vibe that you seriously are afriad that they are suddenly going to stop being the 'Imperial Guard' because they get a 'High Gothic' name.

Segara

Whether someone says Space Marine or Adeptus Astartes, I still get the imagery GW has crafted with their iconic unit.

If/when the Imperial Guard can also be called the Astra Militarium, I'll still get the imagery GW has crafted with their iconic unit.

To answer your question though:

Why did they change the Sisters of Battle army from their 3rd edition 'Witchhunters' codex to their now 6th edition "Adepta Sororitas" codex? Thematic change, and their constantly developing setting. GW has not been static this last 30 years and hasn't adhered to some sort of code about their codex naming conventions.

Why did they change the Sisters of Battle army from their 3rd edition 'Witchhunters' codex to their now 6th edition "Adepta Sororitas" codex? Thematic change, and their constantly developing setting. GW has not been static this last 30 years and hasn't adhered to some sort of code about their codex naming conventions.

Because grey knight got all of the Inquisitors; and again They were always called the Adepta Sororitas or Sisters of Battle.

And yes, the Astartes were always called space marines.

but the Imperial Guard was always called the Imperial Guard, not some nonsense name taken from nowhere .

I'd love the Imperial Guard to get a High Gothic name, but really this is just so GW can put a nice "TM" after the title. The CHS case has them spooked over their IP, so this change isn't to enrich the universe, it's to secure IP rights.

And on a side note, there's really no such thing as the "PDF", that being an organised 'wing' (so to speak) of Imperial society. A planet's own defence forces are just that - it's own. There's no structure between worlds and planets do as they please. That means that some planetary defence forces rival front line regiments (Armageddon's defence forces and especially Cadia's defence forces), whereas others are just whoever they can get to fight. There's no organisation that exists for the PDF like there is for the Guard or the Marines or whoever.

BYE

Adeptus Terra

Adeptus Custodes

Adeptus Ministorum

Adeptus Sororitas

Adeptus Astartes

Adeptus Arbites

Adeptus Mechanicus

Adeptus Titanicus

Adeptus Astra Telepathica

Adeptus Astronomica

Adeptus Administratum

Isn't too hard to believe in Adeptus Astra Militarium. But surely that would mean the Imperial Navy would be renamed....

Adeptus Astra Nautica?

And on a side note, there's really no such thing as the "PDF", that being an organised 'wing' (so to speak) of Imperial society.

By imperial Law every Governor is obligated to maintain a standing defense force. They might not be called PDF on that planets but that is simply the term you will see in the Archives of the Administratum. The PDFs are an integral part of the imperial society and a Governor that does not maintain the required minimum of defensive forces would be removed just like one that did not pay the tithe for he endangered valuable imperial assets.

You might see a lot of planets with PDFs that own quite a reputation or tradition and call them something else. But they are not independent and if war breaks out they fall under the laws of the PDFs meaning that every imperial commander that arrives is automatically their commander in chief etc.

It is quite difficult to have several laws for the first bulwark of imperial defenses if that is actual NOT a "wing" of its society.

I think he meant it's not part of the Adeptus Terra

Adeptus Sororitas

nitpick: Adepta Sororitas

Unlike the other items on that list (that either describe a singular umbrella entity with individually named sub-groups or a collection of individual formations/units), the Sisterhood consists of several specialised militant and non-militant organisations all operating on the same hierarchical level, hence they use the Latin plural of Adeptus.

... or at least that's the rationale I'm employing, even though I suppose it is somewhat possible that someone at GW just opted for this because it sounds female.

nitpick accepted.

I must admit that I'm starting to warm to the name, Astra Militarium, simply because I've heard it so much.

If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even come to believe it yourself.

Not the best source for a quote true, but it feels like that's what's happening...

I'd love the Imperial Guard to get a High Gothic name, but really this is just so GW can put a nice "TM" after the title. The CHS case has them spooked over their IP, so this change isn't to enrich the universe, it's to secure IP rights.

And on a side note, there's really no such thing as the "PDF", that being an organised 'wing' (so to speak) of Imperial society. A planet's own defence forces are just their - it's own. There's no structure between worlds and planets do as they please. That means that some planetary defence forces rival front line regiments (Armageddon's defence forces and especially Cadia's defence forces), whereas others are just whoever they can get to right. There's no organisation that exists for the PDF like there is for the Guard or the Marines or whoever.

BYE

Pardon my ignorance... CHS case?

I'd love the Imperial Guard to get a High Gothic name, but really this is just so GW can put a nice "TM" after the title. The CHS case has them spooked over their IP, so this change isn't to enrich the universe, it's to secure IP rights.

And on a side note, there's really no such thing as the "PDF", that being an organised 'wing' (so to speak) of Imperial society. A planet's own defence forces are just their - it's own. There's no structure between worlds and planets do as they please. That means that some planetary defence forces rival front line regiments (Armageddon's defence forces and especially Cadia's defence forces), whereas others are just whoever they can get to right. There's no organisation that exists for the PDF like there is for the Guard or the Marines or whoever.

BYE

Pardon my ignorance... CHS case?

Very long story.....if you want the gory details you should google chapterhouse versus games workshop.

In short, chapterhouse is a one-man biz making bitz for GW miniatures. GW ordered him to stop as they claimed they owned the intellectual property and thus should be the only ones allowed to make stuff for them and use the names. Chapterhouse did not cave and the ensuing court case showed GW was full of BS. Most shockinlgy and probably owning to its hobby roots history, they actually didn't own much of the IP or couldn't make it stick that they owned generic terms (as much of their background is actually lifted from history and historical units/personalities). Since then, they have been trying to make sure they do actually own the IP for their creations where possible. Renaming the IG from a generic Imperial Guard (of which there have been quite a few in history ) to something like Arse Militariumese (which no Latin teacher could dream up) would ensure they are the sole owners.....

That's a broadly fair summary, though I think it's a little unfair to say that GW were full of BS. Perhaps it might be fairer to say that many of the key design features which make up many of the canonical miniatures and concepts were deemed to be pre-existing, and not created by GW. This is largely because GW has for years relied heavily on pre-existing military archetypes and tropes.

The judgement is indeed floating around online, but I wouldn't really recommend it as light reading. I don't want to get into this in too much detail, because I'm not an IP lawyer, and the whole subject makes me pass out with boredom after a while, but my understanding of the broad outcome of the judgement was that a chapter design like the Black Templars (which is just a Maltese Cross) or the Ultramarines (simply an inverted Omega symbol) is harder to retain as intellectual property than a genuinely unique logo or design created by GW, like the World Eaters symbol.

So ranoncles is right in that there does appear to be a shift in GW's policies towards attempting to create distinctive and unique products that unambiguously owe nothing to any other source. From my perspective this is actually a good thing - it means GW products are forced to develop their own unique "style" to a far greater degree than before.

I don't really think there is more to say on this topic from my end without risking sounding belligerent for the sole purpose of being belligerent (and then falling into Troll terrority).

I will end my postings in this topic by stating, I am in favor of the name addition (and if the codex changes, i'm ok with that too). At it's worst, it's a legal move to trademark the IP, and at its best it will add another narrative element to the canon. The only way I'd be oppossed to it is if they removed the term Imperial Guard completely, which I find highly unlikely.

In similar news, they are rebranding certain elements like Ogryns under terms like Auxilla Miliitarium, which i think rocks my socks.

Though "Auxilia" itself would not be a new term and has been used for Ogryns since more than a decade: [ Armageddon 3 Force Disposition Chart , first published 2000]

I'm not really sure how a simple name change is going to help GW with protecting "their" IP if all they had trouble with was third party bitz - how would this have helped against Chapter House, for example? True, there are cases like the "Spots the Space Marine" children's book, but I think it's safe to say that GW's lawsuit here was utterly nonsensical.

All in all, whilst there is huge recognition value in names, I don't believe GW would actually win anything by rebranding their stuff, simply because the majority of players are used to and will likely continue to use the established names. But, having seen what legal departments in gaming companies busy themselves with, I won't dismiss the possibility that all of this may just be GW's lawyers trying to make themselves look important and justify their wages.

Anyways, I suppose I don't have a problem with alternate pseudo-latin names as it would just be consistent with the rest, but I'll likely continue to mostly use the established term. On that note, I suppose I'm using the SM and SoB terms more often than AA and AS as well. If nothing else, "Astra Militarium" will at least provide us with a second option to call the IG - don't you hate it if you have to keep repeating the same words?

Well, there is a Trademark war going on. We live in times where you can try to sue a company for using the word "Saga" in their product title.

I bet GW is biting their ass for some missed opportunities to press their claims and now they try to get a hold of most of their products. The thing is you can also have claims with associated names.

They might not be able to Trademark the Term "Imperial Guard" but if someone else has a product line that is called familiar or looks alike their claim has much higher chances to succeed if they can associate their product with an already trademarked products alternate name. It is kinda weird what is possible here.

But yea, the most recent case was the claim of Kings (Candy Crush Saga etc.) on Stoic. They clamed the Term "Saga" in the Title "The Banner Saga" not because they trademarked "Saga" but only because they said the Term "Saga" would be associated with their product line. The result of this is still open yet.