Curate, connect, and discover
Adeptus Custodes - Blog Posts
P1 artist: 凉子，commissioned by me
Custodes Uncia🐆 and 🐇sister …
Truly fuckin gorgeous 😍, and let's not forget her sister of silence gf!!! 😭💖💕💗❤️💓🫶😭🥹
She is so pretty. I truly dont understand the haters point of view here.
LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RAHHH
Just what amount of waves did yesterday's news cause for the official account to jump in with a clarification?!
Well, it does not get any more canon than this really.
Adeptus Custodes
I registered on Tumblr three long years ago and never posted anything. So, what will my first post be about? Something of current interest. Let it be a female Custodian, why not?
BY SLAANESH, THE OFFENDED GUYS' ARSES ARE BURNING SO BRIGHT THAT THERE'S NO NEED FOR THE ASTRONOMICAN IN THE IMPERIUM NIHILUS ANYMORE! *ba-dum tss*
And the vast majority of them - who would've guess! - are straight men. Mind you, I don't want to talk shit about all cishet men - there're lots of good open-minded guys (like my close friends), but their "kin" certainly don't do them justice. Imagine: one single woman in a previously all-male faction can ruin the whole hobby for you! Really? Have you really liked it that much in the first place?
One dude basically typed the whole-ass lecture in reply to my jesting (!) comment (in which I didn't even write that I wanted Girlstodes! I just wrote that ppl, who wanted them, are laughing now!). He acted like some overzealous Dark Apostle. Why? I dunno.
"The Custodes contain the Holy Emperor's gene-seed and are breeded to be loyal only to him! That's why they can't be women!" said this dude... Sorry, WHAT? MFer, your logic is deader than Horus and his soul is fckn obliterated!
Then he wrote that a petition with several thousand signatures needs to be created so that the Custodians remain an exclusively male faction, that GW tries to please the "screaming minority" and that Dan Abnett needs to take his pills. Yes, he was dead-serious.
These guys try to justify themselves this way: "I hate this idea because GW made a retcon and this is against their lore - not because I'm misogynistic and hate women (a-ha, I totally believe you)." Well, I bet that we, girls, wouldn't have started the whole barbaric shit-storm if GW had made the Brother of Battle! Let's be real: you don't care about the lore (or I would've 100% respected your opinion) - you use it as a shield. You only care about your ego - so fragile that it can be broken by one single blow, like a crystal glass.
I can understand why some ppl don't like the female Astartes: the Primarch's gene-seed is required for their creation and it's only male-compatible canonically. But the Custodians are created in a completely different way! Their genetics is altered on the molecular level with some unreal and long-forgotten science-sorcery. The Emperor basically made the pinnacle of human creation. Only the men can be the "pinnacle", eh? The duality of life as it is, lmao.
I'm not a great painter, but I am easily pleased when a vague smear of paint starts to look like a mountainside below birds and flying golden serpents.
Made me a new stompy friend, adorned with old Terran "Edge Ward" designs to protect from daemons and in-laws. Lot of fun putting this one together, and as with the one I did a few months back I cannot undersell how delighted I am that nailart transfers are literally the same stuff as your usual wargaming transfer sheets.
Some observations:
"No new sculpts after the fact."
Games Workshop have been transparent about their 10th Edition roadmap; which includes releasing a new codex for each faction, to bring them into line with the new rule set.
Between the rapid pace of release and the focus on mechanical changes, most of the codexes have been accompanied by a modest number of new models at best.
Games Workshop previewed a single new Adeptus Custodes model at the start of March: the Shield-Captain. One hardly requires inside insight to deduce that the Custodes probably won't be getting more models in the immediate near future.
"Social media department jumped the gun and tried to put out fires with the wrong hose."
This is an attempt to discredit Games Workshop's immediate response, via Twitter, that female Custodes are canon (both in the present setting, and retroactively throughout the setting's history).
Discreditation only makes sense if one assumes the following:
First, that there are actual 'fires' (i.e. that this change is impacting Games Workshop's business model in some capacity). There is no evidence that this is the case: the complaints are coming from a small minority of fans; and specifically, far-right fans.
(Games Workshop have previously sought to distance themselves from the latter; ironically, because said association does pose a threat to the business model).
Second, that the company's social media team are either able to announce major lore changes without first consulting with the relevant internal parties, or that they face no consequences for doing so.
(This would appear not to be the case, given that the relevant Tweet remains publicly viewable, and no retraction has been issued.)
"Intent is to push female Custodes character in Amazon show without it 'breaking lore' because Amazon execs wanted a woman in power armor and wouldn't settle for SoB."
There's a lot to unpack here.
The idea that Amazon executives perceive power armor as a majorly marketable concept is ludicrous; as is the idea that they are sufficiently well-versed in lore to accurately differentiate between the Adeptus Custodes and the Sisters Of Battle.
(These are matters of interest for the kind of nerds that comprise the fandom; and not high-level entertainment industry management.)
Let's just assume for a second that this is true, however: then why on earth would said executives try to soft-launch what they believe to be a highly-marketable concept via codex microfiction?
After all: such executives are famously fearless when it comes to meddling with source material; yet we are supposed to believe that they feel it important these changes are reflected in a rules supplement?
And that brings us to...
"...Cavill threatening to walk away from the project."
Henry Cavill famously quit the cast of The Witcher because it diverged too far from the source material. Now he's working on developing Warhammer: 40,000 content for Amazon; not as actor (although he'll undoubtedly feature), but as executive producer.
The aforementioned Amazon executives would be displaying an incredible lack of business acumen in attempting to force source material changes on a star actor and producer who has been quite clear in his refusal to accept such changes.
"GW figures it can ride it out if it stays mum on the subject."
An interesting note here: to 'stay mum' is a British idiom (i.e.: "Remain quiet"). And yet earlier, the same author used the word 'armor' (and not it's equivalent British spelling, 'armour').
This is purely speculatory on my part; but I'm inclined to believe that the author is American. If so, this raises questions about how precisely they acquired inside information from a company headquartered in another country (which is precisely why they are cosplaying as a Brit).
(It has also been my observation thus far that the majority of fans kicking up a fuss over female Custodes are far-right-aligned Americans. British fans are, of course, equally capable of overreaction; but there's been a very specific culture war aspect to the complaints that is very much a hallmark of American conservatism.
This is worth noting for a variety of reasons; but one of the most pertinent is that the American far-right utilizes a "Ends justify the means" approach to debate; i.e. outright fabrication of evidence is entirely permissible.)
Last, but not least:
The stories and information posted here are artistic works of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact.
Any party treating any part of the original post as fact is either deeply unaware of the lack of credibility inherent to anonymous image boards, or is so entrenched in their position that they are willing to accept and endorse non-credible evidence.
Neither is a good look.
I found the original because I kept seeing this being quoted at random.
To everyone crying because "GW is making fun of us, they think we're stupid😡", yes. Yes you are. Yes you are if you believed this obvious troll.
They even added the "trust me bro, my dad works at Nintendo".
There's a point of discussion that comes up periodically in transgender advocacy circles. To paraphrase:
Do you love transgender people? Or do you hate transphobes?
That is to say: those that claim allyship with the transgender community should be motivated by love; for love begets help and support.
Conversely: those that are motivated by hate will seek, first and foremost, to attack others. While there is a time and place for opposing transphobia (violently so, even), this cannot be the preeminent response to any and all issues.
...
Mat Ward's tenure as a named codex author drew mixed responses. His overhaul of Necron lore, for instance, is generally considered a positive turning point for the faction. (His heavy-handed promotion of the Ultramarines, less so.)
If you are motivated by a love of the Warhammer: 40,000 game and setting, then you might wish that some of Mat Ward's more controversial contributions be corrected. As his work was published in what is now the distant past, it is also likely that your wish has already been granted.
As such, it does not make sense to expend energy on what is effectively now a non-issue.
If you are motivated by hate, however, then you might perceive Mat Ward's failings as forever unforgivable; his mockery and harassment not merely permissible, but necessary; and his departure from Games Workshop, a hard-won victory.
...
In this respect, @ladymirdan's 'Mat Ward Test' is an excellent barometer of an individual's motivations; and whether they are rooted in a love for the hobby, or hate in search of a purportedly acceptable target.
With this in mind:
I strive to research an issue prior to rendering judgement. In this particular instance (the introduction of female Custodes), I made a point of leafing through the blogs of those most vocally opposed, looking to understand their motives and character.
Time and again, I came across posts in which these people openly delighted in the heartless ridicule of others; justified upon the flimsiest of pretexts.
They do not love Warhammer: 40,000; but rather, are simply seeking excuses to exercise their hatred - of which Mat Ward, and now those championing Custodian Calladyce Taurovalia Kesh, have proven aptly suitable victims.
So I didn't take my own advice and started playing chess with the pigeons.
And my ultimate litmus test for a 40k player once again proved to work. I didnt even have to bring it up (they alway do that themselves).
And that is their opinion on Mat Ward.
This test has never failed me. He is the alt-right 40k boogieman, they haaaate him with a passion for some reason, but they never know anything about him. He has literally written the most popular characters in all of 40k and is responsible for a shit ton of 40k computer games and he incidentally is the reason why they don't print the name of the writer (guess the fuck why. *hint they send Ward actual death threats for changing the lore).
It has gotten to a point that I just block people talking shit about Ward after one warning. Because people who have this opinion has gotten it somewhere. Usually from hanging out with guys like this who think representation ruins the hobby.
I still have to make that “Why people are wrong about Mat Ward and he deserves better”-post/vid.
I'm looking through the notes; and predictably, there are a small number of posters acting as if the introduction of a canonically female Custodian character heralds the end of civilization as we know it.
Others have responded in-depth to their arguments regarding established lore (and the marketing decisions that precipitated said lore); so I will forgo doing the same.
Rather, I would like to focus on this particular sentiment:
"Retroactively changing lore is a surefire way to alienate long-term members of the fandom."
I'm a very long-term member of the fandom. I grew up near Games Workshop's headquarters, and made regular trips to their stores at the height of the Rogue Trader era. I have Jes Goodwin's signature on my Games Day program; and my artwork has been published in White Dwarf.
I'm not going anywhere.
For one thing: this is a storm in a teacup. There is no actual retcon here; for there was no prior prohibition on female Custodians. What we are witnessing is the exploration of a hitherto undocumented narrative space.
(Firstborn vs. Primaris Space Marines? Now that's a retcon!)
For another: it did not take long to determine that the handful of posters leading the charge against canonically female Custodes are also Americans with conservative-aligned views.
As you might imagine, it took some years for Games Workshop - a niche British company - to penetrate the US market. It is certainly not impossible that some of these people might own a cherished copy of the Rogue Trader Compendium; statistically, however, the odds are not in their favor.
I therefore question their qualifications for speaking on behalf of long-term members of the fandom.
It has also been my observation, interacting with American conservatives, they they frequently presume that their views are indicative of the majority.
(One could infer this not to be the case, given that Games Workshop opted to introduce a female Custodian in the first place; which is precisely why these same posters are quick to hand-wave this choice as pandering to the unsavory mob du jour (in this particular instance, 'gentrified lore tourists'.))
To end as I began: these posters are a vocal minority; but they must cast themselves as heroes, staying the hands of giants, less they perceive themselves as madmen, tilting at the windmills of progress.
Per Games Workshop:
You will not be missed.
YESSSSSS. UPFRONT CONFIRMATION
Ah, the Custodes superiority continues
I thought the Custodes were supposed to have the finest equipment the Imperium could supply.
warhammer fact of the day:
did you know? the Sabbat-pattern helmet used by the Sisters Militant of the Adepta Sororitas was designed with a liftable visor so that they can kiss and make out with each other while wearing it (they may have to tilt their heads a little).
this is true and canon. verified information.
Broke: female Custodes are Tzeentchian infiltrators
Woke: female Custodes are not Tzeentchian infiltrators
Bespoke: the idea that female Custodes are Tzeentchian infiltrators is being spread as part of Tzeentch's latest scheme to spread discord and Chaos in the Imperium, to make people doubt the Emperor's most loyal and capable servants