Guestbook « Philverse

Guestbook

This is a place where you can leave comments about my website: www.philipsibbering.com.

Please include the ’subject’ on the first line to make my life easy

I have transferred the guestbook entries from my old site over to this page’s comments. This page will serve as my guestbook until I sort out a forum or something (attached to this blog or separate, I have not made my mind up as yet).

Philip

48 Responses to “Guestbook”

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1 Sephiroth March 25, 2006 at 3:29 pm

Subject: Concepts

Very nice ideas here Philip. Although I want you to understand I am in no way demanding, I’d reeeally love to see a continuation of the Tau concept.

Good stuff.
2 Flangetastic March 27, 2006 at 9:35 am

Subject: 3D models

Great work your doing, any chance of your posting some pics of your 3D models in wireframe? I work in the games industry and so am a bit sad when it comes to modelling lol

[Philip: Sure, added the Wireframe/ Muscle Rig for ‘Warrior Coven’ at the bottom of the page.]
3 Flangetastic March 27, 2006 at 4:31 pm

Subject: Wireframe model

Thanks very much, always nice to see how other people have been building their meshs. The muscle rig on the Eldar is that Muscle TK your using? Been using that myself, great for getting the skinning process fine tuned isn’t it.

When’s your main site back up and running?

[Philip: I have TK, but that's Michael B. Comet's C Muscle System (digital comet) - very nice. It’s something I would really like to get into much more, modelling and rigging is just so much fun! It’s like a 3D puzzle gone wild

Main site will be up soon, just clearing out and arranging folders (spring clean!) ]
4 Flangetastic March 27, 2006 at 5:16 pm

Subject: Rigging

Lol, you wouldn’t think rigging was as much fun if you had to rig an endless array of F1 characters like I have to. Thank heaven for Warhammer 3D modelling, it’s the only thing which keeps me sane in these times of dull computer game titles.

Cool I look forward to viewing your site soon then.

[Philip: I’ll e-mail you when it’s up in the mean time have butchers and my ‘sig page’, I link to this via forum sigs. Modified Link. The first pictures have links to flash pics (zoom).]
5 Flangetastic March 27, 2006 at 10:17 pm

Subject: Picture samples

Great work, gives me something to aim for.

[Philip: ]
6 Arcanum April 17, 2006 at 9:15 pm

Subject: Birdy

I’ve mentioned this before, but I wanna see the birdy!

Love the space marine size chart, I can definitely recognise some of your space marines in the art I’ve got around.

Particularly that blood angel inferno cover..

[Philip: There’s an Eldar face sketch are around here someone, when I get a chance I’ll spruce it up a bit and post it.]
7 masecase November 28, 2006 at 8:56 pm

Subject: C’Tan

When you are really going through with your idea, that artilects and C’tan might be the same, you have a whole lot of work before you.

[Philip: Sure have ]

Not only you have to explain, why the C’tan turned the Necrons but also why got back to the beginning of the universe. Also you would have to change their personality and ambitions and explain, why they attacked humans. Certainly not all of them could have been classified as mutants, since the chance of two humans being identical fairly slim.

[Philip: Who says the Necrons have turned on humanity? They use ‘Gauss Flayers’ which strip matter and suck it into the weapon. What if the ‘matter patterns’ are stored for later, what if the Necrons are collecting current human samples? There are many ways of adding new twists!]

What would be really interesting would be an article about the emperor and the primarchs. Your article about the marines, that talks about their new chromosomes (Z-Z) suggests, that either, the primarchs were created from ground up or the emperor was genetically engineered and by fare younger than assumed.

[Philip: Working on it ]
8 Selden Jones January 16, 2007 at 5:24 am

Subject: Digital Art Questions

Love your work. I have XSI 6.0, Photoshop CS2 and Painter 9.5 as well as Zbrush. I was wondering which programs you used for instance on the cover of Tempest and a brief idea of how you use them together.

[Philip: Maya and PS for textures, background painted/ filters in PS

I plan on using Zbrush and XSI for modeling and then somehow importing them into PS and Painter for rendering. Anyway, any help or suggestions, comments etc. would be appreciated. Take care.

[Philip: Glad you like my work, for info on using advanced CGI programs I recommend CGTalk
http://forums.cgsociety.org/index.php?
A wealth of info can be found here, along with new shaders and techniques]
9 masecase January 27, 2007 at 4:41 pm

Subject: Adeptus Mechanicus

I just thought, that, while improvement is slow in the Imperium, it still happens. But according to your concept most of the tech is so insanely advanced that a normal man could no way figure it out. But how does the Adeptus Mechanicus cope with it?

[Philip: Implants!]

My 5 cent on the matter is, that they use the Bionic Bridge you mentioned in your 40k version to use the calculating capabilities to augmente their own minds. So why do they still progress so slowly? Well, it might be to the mentioned superstition or because at some point the human brain limits the system.

[Philip: There's a little more stuff on Implants later under the Adeptus Mechanicus Overview.

I think it progresses slowly because their is a big difference between having your mind loaded with info (via Implants)and truly understanding it to the point your can think creatively with the information. There really is a vast amount of information for the Dark Age of Technology the the Adeptus Mechanicus has to deal with, so much so that even with Implants the human mind can't cope (hence all the divisions of the Adeptus Mechanicus). As for creating new technologies I think the Imperium takes the view of the whole system not individual parts, the system is designed to last technology wise, and to be highly modular. Also the Adpetus Mechanicus maintains tight control of advanced technology and I'm sure they would not share anything new unless they really had to, which considering the Imperium's combat abilities is usually 'no'.]
10 Spiteful February 1, 2007 at 6:47 pm

Subject: Imperial Bolters and their ilk

Well, I’ve had a go at bolters myself from a pretty technical perspective. When I ran into your site I thought that you may be interested. It’s on 40k Online’s background forum. Can’t miss it.
it tackles a few issues such as armour penetration, weight etc, but may be a bit technical in the long run. Thought that perhaps you may have an idea on how to make it a bit more usable.

[Philip: OM me a link on Anargo ]

And to settle an age old question: Bolters go BANG! the differences in all three acoustic signatures happen so fast that the human ear cannot recognise them. The three are: Initial booster charge, secondary rocket burn and almost immediately a sonic boom: In the Imperium, death is a silent enemy.

[Philip: That’s my take, with a rocket swoosh sound after]

I think that you have a fantastic site and it has proven to be an inspriation. Not 100% sur on somethings though. Why did you choose that the physics in the warp are reversed? It makes the “equal and opposite” law of motion really hard to reconcile, and I don’t know why there is any link between the realm of emotions and of physics. Perhaps you can explain.

[Philip: In the materium our emotions are a product of physics (if looking from a very scientific point of view). However, in the warp everything is reversed, so emotions create warp physics (in a way). However it is also very topsy-turvy, and can change and mix as need be, especially in the shallows, creating very strange and chaotic environments.]

The Space Marines are also someting that i am currently exploring. I have read some of your posts on Anargo, and while they don’t take the biological view that I normally do, there’s a lot of lateral thinking involved that’s pretty cool. If I may tender a few question/problems and suggestions:
Those marines are damned massive. What do they eat? How often do they eat and where do they manage to fit their rations. Especially given the fluff about them hiding out behind enemy lines for months at a time.

[Philip: They eat lots of protein based foods out of armour, but in armour they don’t eat at all - I answer that in the next bit as they are related]

Finally, since their gear (read: power armour) is supposed to help in a vacuum, I assume that it is NBC quality gear (otherwise they would be tactically limited). How do they manage to eat, drink, go etc with this equipment and how long is their reasonable operational limit in this kind of environment?

[Philip: I see the backpack are recycling all marine waste. They have ‘lung ports’ which plug directly into the backpack life support, and urine is reprocessed via drain.

As chemical energy of the marine is really just ‘energy’ with the proper conversions any power source can run a marine, in this case a Plasma Engine.

So, once their armour is on: they don’t eat, urinate, defecate or throw up. They do not need to store ‘rations’ unless rations is counted as Hydrogen in the Plasma Engine. In which can they are in the backpack

There is no reason for them to take of their suit, (unless damaged), even the NFB undersuit has a ‘gel layer’ to keep the marine clean, lubed and recycle sweat. A marine comes out of his suit cleaner than when he went in!

As for damage, the suit’s muscles and bio-photonic nervous system are self repairing, being based on that artificial biology I go on about. The only thing that can cause a marine real trouble is a back pack failure, or damaged linkage.

As you have noticed I think ‘laterally’ when it suits me!]

I hope i haven’t come across as a nit-picking knowitall smartass, but these are questions that I am working on myself and would like to solve in one way or the other. If you could perhaps throw some of your ideas over it would be great.

P.S. If you need to find me I’m on both 40kOnline and Anargo currently, you can just drop me a P.M.
Thanks a lot in advance.

Yours sincerely

Spiteful
11 Ikkaan March 5, 2007 at 5:18 pm

Subject: Imp Guard

I like your thoughts about 40K, some things you like to add are really contradicting.

Sterilisation of new Recruits: Doesn´t make sense, is nowhere stated, and proves pointless as regiments are “disbanded” on freshly conquered worlds to colonize them. How do you colonize if all colonists are sterile?

[Philip: The sterilisation is reversible once the IG completes a tour. It is done by the Adeptus Mechanicus. Going AWOL means no children.]

I fully agree that the tithe should be 50/50 in regards to gender. But your concept of “family units” is completely devoid of the idea to place people in a position regardless of their gender. If you say the gender is unimportant for selection it also has to be unimportant for position.

[Philip: The cull nets men and women, they are all dropped into ‘the grinder’. Once they prove themselves they are assigned. Being assigned involves decisions on which families to assign them too, and which families want them. More info coming later in that section]

So either a unit (no matter what size) is formed either of men or women or it is a mixed unit. If it is mixed, the positions need to be filled with the best person for the job. Pressing soldiers into a position he/she can´t fill is risky at best. I.e. promoting a oblivious and mentally challenged girl for a sniper position and supplying the eagle-eyed, mathematics prize winning guy with a short range shotgun. Positions in mixed units need to be filled by ability, not by gender.

[Philip: About the size of it. Once out of the grinder, they get put where they'll do the most good. As seen in the section, there are roles which are predominately one sex, but that doesn’t rule out the idea that a male can become a sniper, and strong woman join the bodyguard/ assault team. It's all done as the IG see fit. The make the decisions on the ground and what works.]
12 masecase March 6, 2007 at 5:44 pm

Subject: Old Ones

Hello Philip.

Although I really appreciate your decision of creating sub-sites about specific themes of the Philverse, I recommend creating a small notifier on the index, so people don’t have to search through all links.

[Philip: I might do just that. I noticed that for some topics I have tons of forum links, and it may be better to put them in with the bulk of the background in each section. I may change the current links to a ‘table of contents’, or if they keep growing a list sub-sections (or is that sub-sub-sections?)]

Something that came up when reading the updated Ad Mech page was the mentioning of the Old Ones home, the VOID, and the rumor of the Ad Mech about a triple distortion warp drive developed by the artilects. In my opinion you should give an explanation about the confrontation of the two mights, or maybe one and the same, mind, that according to your ideas it has no concept of time, which fits quite nicely with my opinions.

[Philip: First I have to sort out all the ‘Infinitum’ stuff from the Fonn and transfer it over.]

Also, where are the Warp Powers like Khorne, Tzeentch and Co?

[Philip: In the depths of the Ethyrium and near the Void. This allows them to be vaguely aware of their other selves in the alternate universes, all linked via the Void.]
13 Brother-Sergeant Halen March 9, 2007 at 10:41 pm

Subject: Just wandering

Like the site Philip. You remind me of a pic of Sanguinus I saw a while ago. You’re a hell of a lot younger than I thought you would be!

[Philip: It’s not that recent, I should update it!]

Looking at the Pic of Poppy, I used to look like that, a while back. Nine years changes a lot!

[Philip: Blimey!]

Still, I love your work, and the concepts bit has been helpful in my writing, (or should I say the inarticulate scrawling of a deranged mind, but hey I can’t win ‘em all).
See you on Black Library.

[Philip: See you too ]
14 masecase March 13, 2007 at 6:59 pm

Subject: Old Ones/Void/Chaos/Emperor

You said, that the Slann believed the Old Ones to be omniscient and all powerful.

I would avoid this description, since it belittles all other threats and makes the constant war in the galaxy seem insignificant.

I would describe the void as the state before existence ( including energy, information, laws of physic…) were since nothing is defined everything is possible. Should you place the Old Ones in this “place” you would have to give an explanation for their existence.

The Warp is thus, according to me just the beliefs of life in all its forms what this state is like. Since emotions also influence your thoughts they also have their imprint in it. Since everyone with a soul is a connection with the void they also manifest similar beliefs. The similarity originates from the weak telepathy. It wouldn’t make sense if you would have to have a minimum connection to the void before manifesting witchcraft.

Now daemons are just physical entities contradicting the universe with their existence which gained life by the beliefs of the mortals. in consuming the soul of the mortals they spread the idea and concept of their existence on an under conscious level via telepathy. Mortals associate the daemons with concepts, so they have to “serve” them to a degree.

—————————————————————
On the Emperor. When applying this to the old shamans system, it wouldn’t make sense for them to connect into one person, since it would limit their influence in the end, especially when considering the later spread of mankind and its ideas.
So how comes, the emperor could overpower the beliefs of a whole universe (multiverse?).

I think he isn’t just the conglomeration of several thousand shaman psyker souls, but is indeed a focus point, where all the souls of mankind merge into one soul embodying one body.

Thus, the chaos gods would still “exist” by emotions and beliefs and the emperor would still have a solid powerbase.
15 Frank Smedley May 15, 2007 at 4:56 pm

Subject: Your Site and Warhammer 40K

Dear Sir,

I have perused your site and all it’s facets. I was quite impressed with your descriptions and ideas reguarding Archo-Tech, The Ad-Mech, Space Marines, and especially Bolters and their associated systems and sub-systems. I do not give praise lightly, nor do I usually post to most web sites. But yours was so exceptional that I felt compelled to write to let you know how truely impressed I was at the clean logic and reasonable technological aspects of which you wrote, and the way in which you presented them.

[Philip: Thanks, I appreciate you taking the time to write this.]

My ONLY, and most minor, less-than-admirable notation would be the spelling errors I found while reading. This is nothing a good spell checker, or friendly editor, could not clear up and tidy the look and feel of your articles.

[Philip: If you (or anyone) want to point out a really glaring one, please feel free to use the email up top]

I can easily see you were inspired by the Machine Spirit itself, and perhaps by HE who sits on the Throne of Mankind as well. My blessings to you, and my profound hopes you continue your researches in the future.

[Philip: May the light of the Emperor shine upon thee, and bear your soul aloft in times of need – now kill some fuggin’ mutants!]

Chapter Master Rymeer,
Crusading Lions Chapter,
Adeptus Astartes.
16 Chris June 13, 2007 at 4:17 am

Subject: Primarchs’ Zodiac Signs

I was reading the Lost Legions thread on the Black Library forum posted by DaemonSlave and I came across the concept of the Primarchs’ Zodiac signs. I’ve been trying to find that list that DaemonSlave mentioned in his thread about your list and I’d love to check that out and see what you came up with.

Thanks

[Philip: One of the lists, the '21 zodiacal constellations of the planets', is in the summery (http://forum.blacklibrary.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11650)

For the Draconic zodiac I have;

Pisces the Fishes Pisces Mortarion (Death Guard)
Cetus the Whale (Tiamat) Cetus Alpharius (Alpha Legion)
Aries the Ram Aries Lorgar (Word Bearers)
Taurus the Bull Taurus Angron (World Eaters)
Orion the Hunter Orion Leman Russ (Space Wolves)
Auriga the Charioteer Auriga Jaghatai Khan (White Scars)
Gemini the Twins Gemini Lion El'Jonson (Dark Angels)
Cancer the Crab Cancer Perturabo (Iron Warriors)
Leo the Lion Leo Rogal Dorn (Imperial Fists)
Sextans the Sextant - UNKNOWN
Virgo the Maiden Virgo Fulgrim (Emperor's Children)
Crater the Cup Crater Ferrus Manus (Iron Hands)
Corvus the Crow Corvus Corax (Raven Guard)
Libra the Scales Libra Roboute Guilliman(Ultramarines)
Scorpius the Scorpion Scorpius Konrad Curze (Night Lords)
Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer Ophiuchus Vulkan (Salamanders)
Sagittarius the Archer Sagittarius Horus
Scutum the Shield - UNKNOWN
Capricornus the Sea Goat Capricornus Magnus (Thousand Sons)
Aquarius the Water Carrier Aquarius Sanguinius (Blood Angels)

If you wish to discuss please take it to the Black Library thread, and I'll pop by ]
17 masecase June 25, 2007 at 8:40 pm

Subject: Chaos

Hello Mr. Sibbering.

How does it come, that you never come up with ideas about chaos. I mean, you have ideas for almost any race except for one of the oldest villains: CHAOS!!!

[Philip: Chaos is a special case, I'm working on some ideas. Part of the set up appears in the 'Fonn' (Amazons) section, but the chaos I imagine is very different and much darker than the current version. I notice you posted over on Warseer so I'll post over there]

Also, according to the fluff posted about the golden age of technology the Machines become the steel version of mary sue and the Imperium to insignificant. Maybe you should delete some zeroes from the 15 Billion.

[Philip: No way! 15 billion of nothing! :p I agree that it's extreme, but it seems logical that the golden age machines would succeed man as the dominant power, only to have mankind trump the machines later with Psyker powers. As for the machine being a Mary Sue? I do not think it fits the definition as such. It's not beyond the 'suspension of disbelief' (or imagination) that an intelligent sci-fi machine could far outstrip humanity in terms of thought processes and maybe even creativity. If anything the humans are closer to a 'Mary Sue' as they gain Psyker powers (exotic trait) and it's the only way they get back into the game and are not totally ignored by machines. The fact that humans go nova and cause the fall of the machine/ human empire and the start of the age of strife; firmly puts them in the stop light.]

Besides that, I like the new ideas, especially tech ( the language).

PS: please keep the star vampires an gods separated.

[Philip: Maybe, maybe not ]
18 Shamus July 8, 2007 at 7:01 pm

Subject: your space marine list

I am very curious, just how did you do the different space marines in the list of custom chapters? I know where to find the marine painter on the B%26C, I have that, but I don’t know where or how you got the *other* marines? The different helmets, the neck guard, the inclusion of the bolt pistol, etc.

[Philip: A mix of the v1 painter, some prototype images of Brother Argos' test of v2 from here and a fair bit of work in photoshop!

Hope that helps ]
19 Daniel September 19, 2007 at 4:58 pm

Subject: Praise

What shall I say? I am impressed!

Games workshop should offer you a excellent paid job for writing their background.

Sincerely

Daniel
20 Z.C. November 21, 2007 at 8:59 pm

Subject: Tau

Alright, I am really impressed by your work, but I was wondering if the information that you had on the Tau were your own thoughts, or official information.
Thanks,
-Z

[Philip: The information on the Tau is my own thoughts. It is unofficial and not endorsed by GW in any way. Think of it as 'fan-fiction'.]
21 Ben November 30, 2007 at 3:24 pm

Subject: Your chapter concepts

I am really loving the work you have done for your chapter concepts and I was wondering would you be able fiddle with the B+C painter image and crate a picture of a marine from the chapter I am creating?

[Philip: Short answer: No. However...

You prayers for all things chaptery may be answered with the next B+C release, as I will be contributing to the war gear module. I've already sent in a couple of cloaks, and when they get back to me with the new templates I can start doing up a load of modifications. I think the problem at the moment at B+C is bandwidth as the modules take up a lot.

If your e-mail is correct, you may get an opportunity to have an image modified during a beta-test, so you could get a mod early - but that's all pure speculation.

Out of interest what did you want? Which off the modifications on my site did you like the look off?

(send email to the admin address at the top of the Guestbook)

Philip
PS: The Ampersand does not work on this Guestbook - I think the coding is wrong]
22 Kage2020 December 6, 2007 at 3:54 pm

Subject: Glad to see…

Hey Phil. Glad to see that you’ve given your 40k concept page a bit of style now, and a pretty one at that. Congrats…

[Philip: Thanks mate, I appreciate you popping by and letting me know your thoughts. The style on the concept page is going to filter down to all the concept pages, but in rewriting all the ideas they seem to have spiralled out into a maze of info-madness and may take a bit of time to sort out! (You know how it is

As for the design, I wanted something a little different to the web pages I see every day, but there are so many pretty pages from so many talented people it's hard to be original. So I went back to basics for inspiration and looked at ye olde typography, and then at manuscripts (which seemed appropriate for 40K). I think of the style as 'modern-manuscript' which I hope will be seen as tying into the 40K feel (it’s a 40K STC e-paper style )]
23 His will December 14, 2007 at 9:57 am

Subject: Greetings, praise and questions.

Hi,

I really like your site. Especially the parts where you explore things that aren’t focused on by GW. For example the Golden Age of Technology. Really interesting.

Are you updating this site? I keep checking back every once in a while, but I see no changes. Should I just forget it existed and then stumble upon it years from now, when I can reread your stuff and be amazed all over again?

Bye bye

His Will

[Philip: I'm glad you enjoyed your visit. As for future updates? Yes there updates in the pipe, I'm still chatting with other fans to sort out a few bits, but the section scheduled to be reworked is the Adeptus Mechanicus page. Perhaps I should have a news page, or a list of updates in the pipeline? Answers in an email please!]
24 Brian O'Mahony December 19, 2007 at 4:10 pm

Subject: 40K Concepts

Just read your Dark/Golden Age of Technology page, and im must say one thing.

WOW.

I’ve always wondered what happened, but never had an iota of how/what could have. It was just too vague. I am seriously impressed. Even though what you wrote isn’t cannon GW stuff, it should be!

Only thing I’m unsure of is how one of the C’Tan which is “rumoured” to be buried under Mars be there?

[Philip: The C'Tan isn't on Mars. What is there is an AI, but it's hidden. I may make it a C'Tan later, but at the moment I'm still figuring out how to shoehorn the C'Tan in, so they are 'seamless']
25 Davij038 December 19, 2007 at 11:18 pm

Subject: Congratulations, possibilities, questions etc.

Firstly great website, though a bit hard to navigate and find certain theories…

The Space marine chapter legions… [here]

Are they a spoof, if you will, or are you serious that they could be real successor chapters such as Mortificators, Crimson fists ETC? Or did you make them as some tribute/40K version of some of Earths mythology?

[Philip: 'Serious', tongue in cheek (as most 40K can be), and fun. Here's a link to the thread on Bolter and Chainsword.]

Some of them, the Red Maw are good, but others are…rather badly cliched…I’m sorry to say this, as I can see a lot of work and thought has gone into them but well…Look at the Certified! They’re like the Churchill marines!

[Philip: I like them!]

Anyway, I have an idea, maybe you might be interested in.

And I’m afraid its linking 40K with Fantasy…

Olde ones: They are mentioned in both universe, as have chaos. And so Have a fair few number of similar races…)

Now, what if, the WHF world was a “Testing ground” for the races in 40K?

[Philip: I quite like the two separate, except when I mix them (like the Fonn!)]

Cheers!

Davij
26 Aaron Brown January 3, 2008 at 9:12 pm

Subject: Great Inspiration!

I really enjoy your take on many things in the 40k universe. It’s inspired me to start writing my own concepts down about things in the 40k universe.

In fact, I nipped your format for organizing chapter information and used it for creating background for some of the other chapters that have no background.

Thank you and keep up the good and imaginative work! It’s hard to find good fan material on line about 40k that isn’t over-the-top fan [profanity removed].

aaron
[link removed - email sent]

[Philip: I've been reading through your site (before I removed the link), quite a few chapters you have on the boil!]
27 Kage2020 January 6, 2008 at 1:05 am

Subject: Comment…

Quote Philip;

As for the design, I wanted something a little different to the web pages I see every day, but there are so many pretty pages from so many talented people it’s hard to be original. So I went back to basics for inspiration and looked at ye olde typography, and then at manuscripts (which seemed appropriate for 40K). I think of the style as ‘modern-manuscript’ which I hope will be seen as tying into the 40K feel (it’s a 40K STC e-paper style )]

LOL. Well, it definitely achieves that look, though your paranoia with regards to people pilfering your artwork still astounds me. Maybe you should just get more “open source” on it, with the whole GNU license (or something similar)?

Regards… Kage

[Philip: Some is still in flash format, but that's because it uses GW owned material. You'll find that much of *my* art for the site (concept scrawls) is in regular jpeg format. As for 'open source' I putting together a little project that uses the Creative Commons licence, and it is something I am very passionate about!]
28 masecase January 23, 2008 at 12:31 pm

Subject: Space Marine Proportions.

just wondered, how your Space Marines are able to work their equipment, considering, that they can barely reach their own shoulders*. I think, that you are familiar with the old Warhammer monthly comics and the blood quest series. Do you remember the episode, when Cloten broke free from fabius bile’s dungeon and massacred his acolytes? I think those proportions are more suitable for a marine. Muscles on mass, agile, huge, and far more effective than the models displayed on your site. Beside this, I like your ideas.

[Philip: * They can reach their own shoulders. The shoulders are quite flexible. The armour (chest plate) is a problem around the shoulders (look at mediaeval cuirass), but it usually has a winged symbol which is a distinctive part of the marine image. There are a few changes I would make to the armour - but that's all for another day!]

Also, I don’t think, that the Artilects should evolve into C’tan, but Old Ones. This would solve several continuity problems you would create otherwise. For beginning, as the xenology book clearly indicated, the emperor was an Old One. Secondly, why should the Artilects return to normal space and design such an obvious weakness to the warp ( considering your C’tan version as described in the BL-forum) if they are able , according to myths, wuhu.., to reach void zero? Wouldn’t it make sense for the Old Ones, after they got decimated by the C’tan to recreate their race?

So were does the Void-Dragon fit into this, supposing he is still resting on Mars? Well, the secret cult, sacrificing victims to him, could be indeed be members of the higher echelons of the Cult, who know of the danger lurking under them and try to keep him sedated and without need to rise once again, by feeding him. They are a small sect who kept this secret since the age of strife hidden, lest more headstrong individuals try to destroy it by brute force and wake it in the process.

[Philip: My ideas on the C'Tan are constantly changing so *anything* is possible. Everything really is still up in the air about the C'Tan. As for 'xenology' remember what BL says about 'canon' and 'truth'? ]
29 Sam January 30, 2008 at 2:36 am

Subject: Bolter Rounds

I spent a few years working for a defense subcontractor and I have to say that I reckon you’re on the right track with the design for bolter rounds. In principle they should work (if you can pack enough oomph into the kicker!), and in point of fact the current world has something similar, though nowhere near so small! For an example look into rocket assisted projectiles for modern field howitzers, such as the US’s M198.

[Philip: Thanks for the head's up]
30 Captain Stern February 4, 2008 at 9:42 pm

Subject: Primarch Info Page

Can you give us a possible date for the completion of your Primarch Info Page? Believe me, there are lots of us interested. It doesn’t have to be complete, just submit what you have (if anything)!

[Philip: A lot of people are asking, and I have been *very* busy. As as stop gap measure, an extract from that PM to another fan on the subject;

+++++++++++
Primarchs
Basically - to give a quick idea: Human Alpha Psykers are the first Slann created men (think of Hesiod's Five Ages) the Golden Men are our 'Gods' from antiquity (Greek) and the Emperor is the gestalt entity of all the gods combined (yeah, that powerful!).

The Primarchs are hosts to those gods separated out from the Emperor's gestalt soul, so they are in fact the old Greek minor 'gods', but much weaker (and lacking proper Alpha class abilities). They are more like the later generation, the beta and lower class Psykers (silver age) and the marines are more like the bronze age.

The Emperor's main persona is the 'Zeus' alpha psyker, the Thunder God, and is the same persona in many cultures that have a Thunder God (he got about a bit!).

On the page I hope to include Primarch profile breakdowns, abilities and the 'god' they resemble, their role in the Emperor's great plan and links to the Imperial tarot. I would like to tie it into the Dark Heresy RPG, though the super-stats may be difficult to work out (I may have to resort to my 'house-rules')
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This is not final, think of it as a rough outline

Update: page added (rough): Primarchs]
31 Captain Stern February 5, 2008 at 1:28 am

Subject: RE

Oh… Well, that’s a shame because I’m not a big admirer of the new Old Ones background and their prominence in the latest background. I preferred them in their previous 40k incarnation, when they were lizard aliens, and technologically not that much beyond the eldar (as I’m sure you’re aware). I look forward to any pictures you may have though - I’m a big fan of your depiction of Magnus.

[Philip: These are the old Slann for Rogue Trader (old skool) as depicted on page 194 'The ancient Slann and their Inheritance'. The Old Ones in Philverse are more like the super beings in Cthulhu mythos, and are more in keeping concept wise as proto-(chaos) gods (indeed I have some branches of Philverse where the degenerate Old Ones become the chaos gods!).]
32 Captain Stern February 5, 2008 at 2:02 am

Subject: RE

I should have mentioned that my main objection to your vision of the primarchs wasn’t that their nature and existence was down to the machinations of the Old Ones (though it’s a big qualm of mine) but rather that they were A. Inferior/weaker to Alpha Psykers and B. There were creatures (creatures of human orgin anyway) that were comparable to them before. For me, the primarchs were a brave, bold new cast of the die by the Emperor on behalf of humanity, the revolutionary ultimate weapons to effect the take-over of the universe by humanity - following the failure of all the other races to do the same when they had their chances. Case in point: I remember reading about Bjorn in the 2nd ed Space Wolves codex reminiscing about Leman Russ, about how he believed that there was no way such a man could have existed before, about how he couldn’t be dead these ten thousand years - He had burned with pride, power and life. Sentiments, yes (though from the mightiest of Space Wolves), but I always got the impression there was a truth to it that Bill King was trying to tell us.
33 Carlos Pandiella (damonx9) February 12, 2008 at 6:38 pm

Subject: Love to see this stuff.

Hey there Phil, I came here from the Black library ages ago.

Just though I would sign the book and say that your site just really kicks it harsh.

(that’s a good thing)

It’s one of the reasons I love Warhammer and WH40K. The endless amount of back drop you can put into the world without ever destroying it. Only enriching it.

You gotta love it.

Thanks for all the great mind stirring concepts.

[Philip: Thank you for taking the time to let me know your thoughts on what I am doing here on this site. If you are on the constant look out for background enrichment you my like to pay a trip to the 'Anargo Sector Project'.]
34 Paul Mulkey February 19, 2008 at 8:41 pm

Subject: Marine Chapters

I love what you did with the marine templates for each chapter and was wondering if you could submit those conversions to bolter and chainswords SM painter.

[Philip: I sent in the capes, and I am waiting on the templates - it's been a while since I made the offer]

Another thing was could the standard bolter casing be a enlarged shotgun casing?

[Philip: Could be, depends how you want to imagine them. I was thinking of grenades when I wrote up my version of bolters ]
35 masecase March 2, 2008 at 11:19 am

Subject: Emperor

Keep in mind when theorising about the emperor, that a lot of the background hints, that he is in fact an Old One, or a an avatar of one, see Xenology for more details. This would also tie with the Machine G(h)od concept of yours and the old, original Relationship of the Omnissiah and the Machinegod.

I may be biased, but I like the idea of the Emperor being “Jesus Christ”.

[Philip: Jesus Christ as the Emperor? I think Jesus was a man of peace through peaceful means, whereas the Emperor most certainly isn't. The Emperor is warlike. I tend to see the Emperor as being more like the gods Zeus (Greek) or Jupiter (Roman). In the alternate reality of 40K, I imagine the equivalent of Jesus could be taken as being the mortal son of the Emperor, just like Hercules but instead of super strength he has the power of healing. Jesus is depicted in art with a halo much like the Emperor, so there could be a link between the Jesus of the alternate reality of 40K and the Emperor.

As a side note; I think that if the Emperor is 'Jupiter' and also 'Zeus' the god of thunder, then I think in 'our' era the Emperor currently resides on Jupiter! The great eye (Great Red Spot) of Jupiter is where the Emperor is watching us from right now. A Psyker so powerful he can withstand the crushing gravity, and create a storm so massive that it's more than three Earth diameters across. The Emperor is an Uber Alpha Psyker - totally off the charts.]
36 masecase March 3, 2008 at 11:38 am

Subject: Jesus

I didn’t mean to say he is in fact Jesus, but that the same concept apples to him. Passed on to the emperor it would be a harmonic blend of old fluff (Rough Trader), not quite as old fluff (Realms of Chaos: The Lost and the Damned, Slaves of Darkness was contradicting anyway and didn’t reach the quality of the other in my mind) and new fluff ( Xenology). Although it depends on the sect to which you might belong to or not, a lot of priest and pastors tells us, that Jesus was god’s son, because he was filled with his essence or spirit, or something like that…

Anyway, Using the concepts you made of the Universes, The Emperor might indeed be a conglomeration of the first super psykers, who lived alongside the slaan*, or in your case slann*. But how could, even a thousand alpha-psykers best beings, which are according to rumours corrupted almighty beings from before the start of every existence? Maybe if he became like Buddha and merged his spirit with Old One responsible for the creation of our universe.

Thus he became the Omnissiah: Almighty, and even more important, all-knowing in matters concerning the workings of our universe. A god in most ways, but still a man, with doubts and fears, but clear in his purpose. Although not necessary true, the bible also describes how Jesus feared his death, even though he believed and loved god.

[Philip: I see. where you are coming from. As for the Omnissiah I detail some of my thoughts in the "Notes: Religion of the Machine Ghod". You can access it via the RSS feed.

*Slann is the correct term from Rogue Trader (Most likely derived from the novel Slan by A. E. van Vogt)]
37 kamin989 April 4, 2008 at 10:09 am

Subject: The Fonn

Your concepts are interesting but I have a few problems with them. For instance, the Fonn. First you connect 40K and WHFB. Okay, that’s not so bad. And then I reach the Layway. If I’m not mistaken, a similar concept exists in the Gotrek and Felix book “Giantslayer”. Then you talk about the “barrier”. If your “layway” is the same as the Paths of the Old Ones from that book, which they seem to be, (as the concepts are pretty much the same) then you have an error, as the Paths of the Old Ones had nothing to stop Chaos forces from marching through, and even had Daemons in them. Then you start talking about the city of the Fonn, “Centropolis” (which is a rather silly name for the Warhammer World), and I’m getting quite surprised by this. And you spell “leyline” wrong, unless I’m mistaken and you’re misspelling it deliberately. I’m surprised by what you say about the Southern gate, as this completely contradicts the established lore, which says that the Southern gate is just like the Northern gate. And where are all the Beastmen in the Southern wastes? Oh, but they (the Southern wastes) don’t exist according to your article, or at least not in the form that I know them as.

And so we get to the “Intergalactic Heirarchy”. The bit about the Old Ones isn’t that interesting, so I go to the Old Slann. I’m utterly shocked by this. A small fire salamander? Is this supposed to make sense? The most common creature in the universe? It’s a bit confusing. Bioforming using Orc DNA? According to the Lizardmen Army Book, the Orcs were pests that showed up at the end of the Age of Creation, and in the Seventh Edition Rulebook, their spores stowed away on the Old Ones’ spaceships. So you contradict the lore again. Before that, you mention them being Warp entities, which doesn’t make much sense, as I thought the lore said that the Slann were just creatures with souls, not Warp entities possessing a host. And finally we get to the Fonn. Strangely, they give birth in “immaculate conceptions”. And the Fonn themselves seem to be a blatant steal off the Amazons of Lustria. Then we go to the Slann. They’re insane apparently. This is rather strange, as the Lizardmen Army Book doesn’t mention distinct groups of insane Slann and sane Old Slann and just mentions the Slann as servants of the Old Ones who lead the Lizardmen and fight against Chaos. I have to admit that I don’t understand how you could contradict the lore so much just in making a new race and a small group of classes.

Please don’t take this as an attack; I’m just trying to point out a few holes in your intriguing concepts.

[Philip: The Fonn and Amazons are one and the same, two related populations each in a different location.

As for continuity, this is all a re-image and development concepts for my own personal amusement. It is derivative but not bound by what has gone before. I go with the idea often put forward by the Black Library of an expanded background, and that all the background may be true or false or misleading and nothing it 100% accurate - it is all an interpretation. Perhaps on the revamp of this site I will make this clearer from the get go? ]
38 James Tucker, Fort Hood Tx. May 7, 2008 at 8:17 pm

Subject: WH40K concepts and Reimagining

Philip,

I seriously enjoyed your WH40K Reimagining and concepts!

I am a big fan of Fluff material, especially when it comes to WH40K. I enjoyed your website immensely, I was enthralled by your “scientific” approach to the WH40K world. I often find myself daydreaming about many of the concepts and theories you have put fourth. I was most impressed with your page about the Space Marines. Although I have never actually played the game…I am an avid WH40K hobbyest, I love painting the models and have just about every model Games Workshop has put out since the Rogue Trader days. I have all the Codexes that have come out over the years and all the “Index Astartes” that have been produced.

I have found that with all the useless information my brain has amassed over the years about WH40K, I have found that your web page has filled in gaps and explained things I always wanted to understand about the 40K world!!!

Thanks for your awesome mat’l on the website, it’s very refreshing…if you put all the info into a book I would be the first in line to buy it.

I know, it’s sad that I am 40 years old and still painting Space Marines!!! My wife always looks at me funny when I bring a new WH40K set home to paint.

[Philip: Glad you liked it!]
39 Ratibor May 9, 2008 at 10:25 am

Subject: Rainbow Warriors and Iron Hands

I am VERY IMPRESSED upon Rainbow Warriors and Iron Hands. I want to see some chapter’s colour scheme mixing features of Rainbow Warriors and Iron Hands…
40 Xavier Kharne June 24, 2008 at 2:20 pm

Subject: BL Message Boards

Hi Phil!

I was a long running member of the BL message boards a few months ago under the name QuietWolf. I went offline due to a house move and have only just come back on.

I noticed that I didn’t see you about and when I asked some of the long standing members they said you hadn’t been around in a while!

Just wondering what you’d been up to and whether we’d be seeing you on the boards any time soon!

I miss you trying to shoe-horn C Blocks into everything!

Cheers!

[Philip: Hobby wise; a bit of collecting (figs and rules), setting up 'Warspike' (rule set prototype), getting my .com site up to speed and generally messing about ]
41 Frootbat June 25, 2008 at 12:05 am

Subject: Sensei Knights

One thing that really intrigued me about some of the more obscure bits of old fluff (and in the Inquisition War trilogy books) Was the Sensei Knights, the supposed immortal sons of the Emperor who where for one reason or another psychic blanks to him and he didn’t even know they existed. Also that If they where sacrificed they would create a new ‘human’ chaos god called the Star Child and allow humans to conquer the warp. I was just wondering if this is something you have ever discussed previously (I couldn’t find any references anyway) seeing as all your other ponderings on this site are fantastic I’d like to hear what you think on this one of my favourite bits of obscure fluff.

[Philip: I have discussed it before on forums, and I have some ideas. I will add it in as part of the stuff on the Emperor - some ideas of which can be found on my Philverse blog here: Sole Survivor ]
42 Kage2020 July 26, 2008 at 7:11 pm

Subject: Links…

Hey, Phil. You’re link for Anargo is a bit out of date. Try “http://anargo-sector.net/”

[Philip: It's all out of date! The .net has been retired and serves as an archive while I transfer everything over to the .com - which is the up to date site ]
43 Kage2020 July 27, 2008 at 5:24 am

Subject: Well bloomin’ ‘ell…

…you learn something new every day. I’ll keep on look at the .com site from now on!
44 masecase October 6, 2008 at 5:44 pm

Subject: Old Ones

I think you are giving the old ones too much credit. In face of them everything ells becomes meaningless, even the chaos gods and the emperor. Make the old gods more powerful, let the artilects merge with the man on the holy toilet, but don’t let everything become the experiment of one aloof force. Sure they can be vastly powerful, but they should remain a mortal race like they used to be. Oh, and please, don’t force a connection between the Necrons and the Iron Men, just because they are both made of a bit slap.
45 Kyle October 27, 2008 at 11:13 am

Subject: Chapters, extra bits and Tuberdours

First of all a thank you for some wonderful space marine chapters im think of modelling my next space marine army on the blood eagles

secondly i just want to know how u got some of the more unique stuff for ur marines for example the fur capes and the greek style adomen for the aqua marines

p.s loved your wfrp career as well my char is a Tuberdour just last seesion he almost got killed by a big un ina premature spawning
46 Dominic October 31, 2008 at 9:49 am

Subject: Dark Age/ the Emperor/ Old Ones

Hey Phil

I really love your site and have had hours of interest reading your various backgrounds. I especially like the Dark Age of Technology one.

I would really love it if you did something on the Emperor, uniting the various fluff and mysteries surrounding him and putting your own unique ‘philverse’ spin on it.

[Philip: There is some information about the Emperor and how I see him on this Blog: Sole Survivor, and some more over on my webbie: Of Ghods and Primarchs]

Also some ideas re: extragalactic travel, civilisations and lost Old Ones would fit in nicely with your Dark Age of Tech background.

[Philip: I wrote a little bit about the Old ones in my Warhammer Fantasy background regarding The Fonn (Amazons). To my mind it is much the same for 40K, yet I do not go into it that much in the 40K concepts page. I wish to hold back on this info and regard it more as the details of the 'mythology'. I figure the Emperor does know all about the stuff mentioned under the Fonn background (as there is a reference to the 'web way' and the whole artificial Imperial Gate on Terra). However it will not be spelled out in the 40K section.]

Please keep adding stuff? This site is one of my favourites and you are a terrific storyteller/artist.

[Philip: Thanks ]

Cheers

Dom
47 jamie November 17, 2008 at 4:08 am

Hi

I was wondering about your art work. My husband has started reading your books and really likes them. I really dont know much about them to be honest. He gives me the run down on what happens as he finishes them. He is deployed right now. He is a blackhawk pilot for the Army. See I want to send him a box for xmas and he was say’n how much he liked the art work and I was hope’n that you could let me know if you have any books of your art? I know that your the guy cause he told about the book False Gods. The title kinda stuck in my head. I hope that its ok that I used this place to ask you. I was reading some of the post and these people are really serious about your work. That one person wanted to know about how the space marines pissed and pooped!!! WOW! My husband told me about the space marines too. So I’m really nervous about leave’n this but I dont know how else to get a hold of you. Sorry if this is the wrong way. Or maybe you could sign one of your favorites I will pay you for it. sorry and thank you
48 Philip November 17, 2008 at 10:34 am

Hi Jamie,

Yeah, what are these fans like eh? Crazy! Gotta love that creativity through I know it can be pretty intimidating wander into a fanboi zone, so kudos for bravery. Though I think you’ll find we’re a friendly lot.

As for art, or more specifically 40K art, there is: The Art of Warhammer 40,000. It’s a collection of all the best of 40K art, it’s heavy and cost £30. It doesn’t include my cover of False Gods within (as that was done later) and if that is what he likes the poster of False Gods is still available for £8.

I hope that helps, and if you have any further questions you can direct them to my email (as found here). If you would like me to remove your post due to you feeling uncomfortable; ask and it shall be done.

Best wishes,

Philip
PS: He has a tough job, wish him luck.

Philverse

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