

In fact, the game's intro is narrated by Reditus as he waxes lyrical on the joys of being freed from flesh and serving the Omnissiah in death. Formerly a Magos Dominus, Servo-Skull Reditus acts considerably more intelligent than others of his kind, providing commentary on various issues faced by the tech-priests. Improbably, the skull is also a better close combatant with an increased weapon skill, which certainly cannot be a carry over of experience, since all brain matter is replaced with cogitators, so obviously the Ordos Xenos still knows how to get access to high-quality artificial intelligence or warp shenanigans are afoot.Īn unusually talkative Servo-Skull is found among the crew of the Caestus Metallican in Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus.

Somehow rather than getting the honoured rest that he deserved, his head never left the service of the Ordos Xenos, who then fitted it with a stealth anti-grav and a whole range of sensors and auspexes (presumably because a Space Marine's skull might be big enough to fit everything) which makes it/him extremely useful for recon missions and the like. One particularly "renowned" Servo-Skull is that of Brother Brantor who was a marksman in the Deathwatch.

Granting them an extension of their senses, which translates into +1 to invulnerable saves due to enhanced reflexes and also allows them to re-roll characteristic tests (like Toughness or Initiative) Famous Heads Whilst in 30k, they behave as familiars and are taken as wargear attached to your characters. They can't technically be destroyed, but if an enemy gets within 6" of one it will be removed from play.

A friendly unit arriving by Deep Strike rolls one D6 less for scatter if it aims to arrive within 12" of a Servo-skull and friendly blast templates placed within 12" of a Servo-skull roll one D6 less for scatter. Enemy infiltrators cannot set up within 12" of a Servo-skull and enemy scouts can't use their pre-game move to approach within 12" of a Servo-skull. They are placed on the battlefield (and can be placed anywhere outside the enemy deployment zone) after deployment areas have been determined, but before any forces are deployed. On the 40k tabletop, if you field Grey Knights they are often considered a prerequisite. Occasionally they have pistol sized weapons and can be used as assassination tools or a hands-free ranged weapon. Some of them are used as pict-recorders and message couriers, others as remote viewers linked to a controlling tech-priest, still others as psychic foci or targeting computers to assist Inquisitors and their retinues. Much like the drones used by the Tau Empire, the Imperium puts servo-skulls to many purposes.
