Men of Iron
From Lexicanum
Contents |
Overview
The Men of Iron were legendary sentient humanoid machines that until shortly before the Age of Strife were loyal only to Mankind, and served as their army. They came after the Men of Stone, but before the "modern" conception of robots in the Warhammer 40k universe. Eventually, they turned on their Human masters, believing themselves superior to the Humans who relied on the Men of Iron to do virtually everything for them. This revolt by the Men of Iron effectively began the Age of Strife, and resulted in the destruction of the Men of Iron by their Human masters.
Effects on the Imperium
The effects of this last into the current Age of the Imperium, where the use of artificial intelligence is banned and seen as abominable. However, servitors and their variations (combat variants, heavy-lifters, technical assistants, etc) are commonly used throughout the Imperium with the sanctioning of Techpriests.
Note
Game Workshop's concept of "artificial intelligence being abominable," and mankind banning all forms of thinking machines may be based on the Butlerian Jihad of the Dune universe. However, this is a commonly explored theme.
