Whatever happened to?........

[Mr Mystery]

Evening all!

So over the years, 40k has evolved in various ways.

From an overall streamlining of the rules, to various alterations to the background, via greater definition of the overall style.

And it's one of those style changes that I would like to see brought back.

Namely, back banners. There was a time when every squad had one, typically on the unit leader. Orks had loads if you include the old glyph plates, which whilst still there, don't play the same role!

I just miss the bombast of them. They were a declaration of presence on the battlefield, and a clear hangover from 40k's origins as an expansion for Fantasy.

But how about you? What things from yesteryear do you fondly remember?

[Brakkart]

I love back banners, every sergeant and captain in my army has one and I have a large banner too in my command squad, honour guard squad and stern guard squad (where I know it doesn't count for anything, but it looks cool). I decided to do that pretty much when I settled on Imperial Fists for my army as they go into battle in bright yellow armour, so subtlety and stealth are not their thing at all. They want you to know who you are fighting and banners help with that.

[Lukas The Trickster]

- The old Imperial Guard stormtroopers - the ones with the berets!
- Flocked bases painted Goblin Green
- White Dwarf when Adrian Wood and Paul Sawyer were editors
- The octagonal citadel pots that flicked paint everywhere when you opened them
- Inferno! and Warhammer Monthly magazines, and the Citadel Journal
- GW stores having a sale each year!

[Denzark]

Scratch-building - especially terrain - without citadel components, in WD.

[Nabterayl]

I do [space marine] back banners only on my veteran sergeants. I know that there's no difference for now between a regular sergeant and a veteran sergeant, but I enjoy the lore of Sgt. Justus being set apart from his brother sergeants in the 4th company by bearing his personal heraldry into battle.

I haven't been around as long as some of you guys, but I miss the ability to just buy options for your entire army, like the Imperial Guard doctrines or the old space marine chapter traits. I don't think the implementation of those ideas was beyond improvement, but I enjoyed the feeling of being able to pay for the option to flavor an army that way.

[magickbk]

Crazy variant lists. Back in the 3rd edition era, there were tons of variant lists in WD and in other books, and it made for tons of variety.

And Specialist games, with White Dwarf support (Necromunda and BFG FTW!). They were awesome for a few week break from the main games, and an interesting foray into different parts of the universe.

[Lexington]

Old-style Lightning Claws, the kind that emerged from the top of the gauntlet, Wolverine-style. The newer model always looks to me like they stuck some knives on brass knuckles. Ugly, ugly, ugly.

[Wolfshade]

Cluetin Guardian of the Shroud. Ok he never had a model but still...

[Mr Mystery]

Who?? Not sure I'm aware of that character.

[Wolfshade]

In Codex Angels of Death, he was BA sarge (?) who was to look after the shroud of sanguinius. Once a game it could be revealed causing a buff army-wide to assault or something similar