RTB01 - Imperial Space Marines

Once upon a time, in an island country far away, across the ocean, there were three sculptors, Jes, Aly, and Bob, who toiled away in a Games Workshop, creating toy soldiers.  One day, they decided to try making toy soldiers out of plastic instead of lead (or health approved "white metal").

Little did they know that this new kit of model soldiers would define an entire generation of wargamers (this author included) and would continue to echo three decades later.

The RTB01 Space Marines.  Rogue Trader Box 01 (of 16) was the first, multi-part plastic infantry kit produced by Games Workshop.  Designed by Jes Goodwin, Aly Morrison, and Bob Naismith, this kit was definitive at the time and, were it to be released today, would still stack up against the current range of plastic kits available on the market.  Admittedly, detail is lacking compared to the current GW plastic kits, but in terms of variety of parts, the RTB01 box is not that different from the multipart plastic Space Marine Tactical Squad box released with 3rd edition 40k.

Let's take a look at the box:

On the front is the same art that graced the cover of the Rogue Trader book, this time presented in it's full panoramic glory (ork head not included).

"We are the guardians of humanity.  We face the dangers no man may face.  We are the Adeptus Astartes - Masters of the Stars - the Space Marines"

On the back we see something that some of the current lines could do with a little more of.

Army Bag Patch Located!

I recently discovered a Crimson Fists patch with which I can adorn my army transport!

This dates from the early days of Rogue Trader (of course) and has a few counterparts:

Space Wolves:

Dark Angels:

Imperial:

I have the Imperial one too, somewhere....

Warhammer 40,000: Chapter Approved - Book of the Astronomican

The Holy Grail among Holy Grails, even dedicated Rogue Trader collectors often lack this vital part of the history of the 40k universe.

To the uninitiated, those are Space Wolves on the cover, back when their headquarters was on Lucan, and their leader was Enoch.  That's right--Enoch.

Publication information:

Priestley, Rick et al. Warhammer 40,000:  Chapter Approved - Book of the Astronomican.  Nottingham:  Games Workshop, 1988.  112 pp.

Warhammer 40,000: Compendium

Greatly expanding the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and introducing the Harlequins!  Eldar killer space clowns!

Reprinting White Dwarf articles on:

Legiones Astartes
Terminator Squads
Chaplains and Commissars
Medics
The Badab War
Rough Riders
Whiteshields
Imperial Guard-Ogryns
Imperial Guard
Dreadnoughts
Eldar War Walkers
Vehicles
Land Raiders
Predators
Bikes
Hardware
Craters
Imperial Robots
'Eavy Metal
Space Marines Army List
Imperial Guard Army List
Squats Army List
Harlequins Army List

The colour sections of this book are fantastic.  Everything from Imperial Robot colour schemes (loyalist and traitor) to Space Marine camouflage schemes (including some for Rhinos and Land Raiders).  Didn't know that Space Marines used camouflage?  That's 'cause you haven't read this book!

Publication information:

Games Workshop Design Studio.  Warhammer 40,000:  Compendium.  Nottingham:  Games Workshop, 1989.  200 pp.

Warhammer 40,000: Compilation

Introducing...an all Terminator, all Psychic Space Marine force!  The Grey Knights!

Reprinting White Dwarf articles on:

Grey Knight Terminator Squads
Traitor Terminators
Commissar Training Squads
Leman Russ
Space Marine Armour

Eldar background and Army Lists

Genestealer background and Army Lists

Colour sections include Space Marine and Eldar Aspect Warrior colour schemes.  The Marine section lays down the rules for Dark Angels that have held till the present.

Publication information:

Priestley, Rick et al.  Warhammer 40,000:  Compilation.  Nottingham:  Games Workshop, 1991.  115 pp (plus catalogue pp).

Warhammer 40,000: Vehicle Manual

What do you do when your vehicle generation system is a complicated process of random profile generation?  You revamp it with dedicated vehicle profiles...and random hit locations using a TRANSPARENT TARGETING GRID!

Awesome! 2 entire pages!  1 vehicle!

Publication information:

Priestley, Rick and Jervis Johnson.  Warhammer 40,000:  Vehicle Manual.  Nottingham:  Games Workshop, 1992.  32 pp (plus card data faxes and plastic template).

Warhammer 40,000: Battle Manual

As 40k grew, both in supplements and in the White Dwarf, it became necessary to clean up the combat system and re-orient weapon profiles along a baseline.  Thus, the Battle Manual.  The same profiles would be used in 2nd Ed, as well as in Necromunda.

This is an excellent reference; the book goes into some detail about how each weapon functions, as well as describing combat use and the sorts of fighters who would use it.

You know the 4th Ed Wargear book?  Throw that shit away.  THIS is a wargear book.

Publication information:

Priestley, Rick.  Warhammer 40,000:  Battle Manual.  Nottingham:  Games Workshop, 1992.  96 pp (plus counters and templates).