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A '''Missile Launcher''', sometimes referred to as a '''Rocket Launcher''', is a weapon that fires a rocket-propelled explosive round at a target, yet is small enough to be carried by one man, generally fired from the shoulder.  The lowest technology missile launchers are simply an explosive device with a rocket strapped to the back, aimed by launching it down a tube and thus controlling it’s initial vector.  The more sophisticated missile launchers have built in aiming technology and some even have the ability to track moving targets and chase them. 
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==Imperial Missile Launchers==
 
==Imperial Missile Launchers==
  
 
The standard [[Imperial]] Missile Launcher has a built in targeting device and is fired from the shoulder.  It is a single round weapon, and cannot be fired on the move.  Standard [[Imperial Guard]] doctrine is for one man to carry aim and fire the missile launcher, whilst a second man carries the ammunition and re-loads the weapons.  A well-drilled fire team can maintain a formidable rate of fire, enough to daunt the bravest of tank commanders.  [[Space Marines]] generally carry their own ammunition, being easily strong enough to hold the missile launcher in one hand whilst re-loading with the other.  Note also that whilst an Imperial guardsman will generally fire from a kneeling or prone position, Space Marine enhancements grant them a superior aim even from standing.   
 
The standard [[Imperial]] Missile Launcher has a built in targeting device and is fired from the shoulder.  It is a single round weapon, and cannot be fired on the move.  Standard [[Imperial Guard]] doctrine is for one man to carry aim and fire the missile launcher, whilst a second man carries the ammunition and re-loads the weapons.  A well-drilled fire team can maintain a formidable rate of fire, enough to daunt the bravest of tank commanders.  [[Space Marines]] generally carry their own ammunition, being easily strong enough to hold the missile launcher in one hand whilst re-loading with the other.  Note also that whilst an Imperial guardsman will generally fire from a kneeling or prone position, Space Marine enhancements grant them a superior aim even from standing.   
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====Cyclone Missile Launchers====
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The Cyclone Missile Launcher is a variant specially designed to be fit on a [[Terminator Armour]].
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Loaded with Krak Missiles and Frag Missiles, the Cyclone consits in two "cube shaped" missile boxes twin-linked by a targeter and sensors array, the missile and sensors unit is fixed on the back of a standard terminator armour, this fitting allow the Space Marine to use a [[Storm Bolter]] and [[Power Fist]] with the Missile Launcher, he can fire both firearms simultaneously. Older designs of the Cyclone missile launcher had the sensor array hand-carried by the Terminator, thus taking away the option of a power fist but making it more accurate.
  
 
===Imperial Munitions Types===
 
===Imperial Munitions Types===
  
*’’’[[Frag Missiles]]:’’’ are designed to explode on impact with any surface, raking the immediate area with lethal shrapnel.  Primarily an anti-infantry weapon, it can be used against light vehicles with some success.  Frag Missiles are often ineffective against heavy infantry
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*'''Frag Missiles:''' are designed to explode on impact with any surface, raking the immediate area with lethal shrapnel.  Primarily an anti-infantry weapon, it can be used against light vehicles with some success.  Frag Missiles are often ineffective against heavy infantry.
  
*’’’[[Krak Missile|Krak Missiles]]:’’’ are primarily designed as anti-vehicle weapons, Krak Missiles contain a high strength, low blast shaped charge, causing massive damage to anything it hit’s with minimal collateral damage.  Also very effective against heavy infantry, bunkers and other armored targets.   
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*'''Krak Missiles:''' are primarily designed as anti-vehicle weapons, Krak Missiles contain a high strength, low blast shaped charge, causing massive damage to anything it hit’s with minimal collateral damage.  Also very effective against heavy infantry, bunkers and other armored targets.   
  
*’’’Other Types:’’’ Missiles are extremely versatile and can potentially carry any conceivable type of payload.  Examples include:  Anti-Plant, Virus, Vortex, Smoke, Gas, Tanglefoot, Haywire, Stasis, Plasma and Photon Flash.   
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*'''Other Types:''' Missiles are extremely versatile and can potentially carry any conceivable type of payload.  Examples include:  Anti-Plant, Virus, Vortex, Smoke, Gas, Tanglefoot, Haywire, Stasis, Plasma and Photon Flash.   
  
 
==Ork Missile Launchers==
 
==Ork Missile Launchers==
  
*'’’Ork’’’ Missile Launcher’s are extremely crude.
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'''Ork''' Missile Launcher’s are extremely crude. Reffered to as “Rokkit Launchas” they are little more than explosive rockets strapped to a stick.  Unfortunately for the enemies of Orks, this makes them extremely easy to mass-produce, and due the simplicity and inherent inaccuracy in the weapon they can be fired on the move with no noticeable loss of accuracy. 
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===Ork Munitions Types===
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*Ork Rokkits: come in one type:  Ork Rokkits.  One size fits all, good for any job, the rokkit is big load and nasty. 
  
 
==Eldar Missile Launchers==
 
==Eldar Missile Launchers==
[[Eldar]] [[Dark Reaper]]s use sophisticated Plasma Missile Launchers with a high rate of fire to take out heavy infantry.
 
  
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The [[Eldar]] [[Aspect Warriors]] known as [[Dark Reaper]]s carry rocket launchers as standard.  Whilst the standard Dark Reapers carry smaller Reaper Launchers, the [[Exarch]]s are known to carry larger Missile Launchers.
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===Eldar Munitions Types===
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*'''Krak Missiles:''' despite being of a higher level of technology, with a greater accuracy, the Eldar Krak Missile is essentially the same as Imperial Krak Missile.
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*'''Plasma Missiles:''' with the same purpose as Imperial Frag Missiles, Plasma Missiles are a more sophisticated anti-infantry missile.  Instead of explosively propelled shrapnel, the Plasma Missile creates, unsurprisingly, an explosive expansion of plasma on impact with a hard surface.  The strength of the Plasma Missile is roughly the same as that of a Frag Missile, but with an increased capacity to penetrate armour.
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*'''Reaper Missiles:''' are fired from the Reaper Launcher.  They fire rapidly, and although they do not create a blast, they are slightly more powerful than Plasma Missiles.  Primarily designed to combat heavy infantry they are the bane of Space Marine commanders.
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==Chaos Space Marines Missile Launchers==
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[[Chaos Space Marines]] carry a mix of issued pre-heresy Imperial Missile Launchers, and modern Imperial Missile Launchers taken from defeated Imperials.  All Chaos Missile Launchers operate the same as Imperial Missile Launchers. 
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==Tau Missile Launchers==
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[[Tau]] ranged weapon technology is more advanced than that of the Imperium.  This includes Missile Launcher technology, however the Tau army is organized such that standard troopers do not carry Missile Launchers like other races.  Instead the two varieties of Missile Launchers available to the Tau are carried on [[Battlesuits]]. 
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===Tau Munitions Types===
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*'''Missile Pods:''' are mounted on the [[XV-8 Crisis]] series battlesuits and come as standard on the XV-81 and the XV-84.  Missile Pods are medium range, rapid-fire missiles slightly less powerful than Imperial Krak Missiles.  A combination of their size and the Battlesuits they are mounted on, a Missile Pod can be fired on the move. 
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*'''Smart Missile Systems:''' are the pinnacle of battlesuit missile technology.  Medium strength and capable of very rapid fire (twice as fast as Missile Pods), the Smart Missile System is so high tech it does not require a line of sight to it’s target.  Instead each missile fired contains a sophisticated guidance system allowing it to maneuver around obstacles and terrain and hit an impact upon a target without risk to the firer.  Due to it’s size, the Smart Missile System can only be mounted on the bulky [[XV-88 Broadside]] Battlesuit and cannot be fired on the move. 
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<br><br>
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==Vehicle Mounted Missile Launchers==
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The [[Imperial]]s and the Tau Empire both make use of vehicle mounted Missile Launchers.
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==Imperial Vehicle Mounted Missile Launchers==
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===Hunter Killer Missiles===
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A Hunter Killer Missile is a single shot Missile Launcher with a self guided Krak Missile pre-loaded into it.  Designed to bolt on to any Imperial vehicle, it provides extra anti-armour firepower for a variety of situations.  A “fire and forget” weapon, once a target is selected, the Hunter Killer Missile will aim, fire and guide itself to the target. 
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===Whirlwind Multiple Missile Launcher===
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The Whirlwind Rhino variant and the Helios Land Raider Variant Space Marine Tanks both mount a Whirlwind Multiple Missile Launcher.  It consists of a large bank of either Vengeance or Castellan Missiles.
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*'''Vengeance Missiles''' are the standard round, with a moderately high strength and large blast radius; they are deadly to Infantry.
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*'''Castellan Missiles''' each contain dozens of mines, which are scattered upon impact.  This gives the Space Marines the ability to rapidly seed minefields in strategic locations without risking troops. 
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===Hyperios Missile Launchers===
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Mounted on the Whirlwind Hyperios Rhino variant, the Hyperios Missile Launcher, combined with advanced targeting is designed for close air defense. 
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===Manticore Missile Launcher===
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The Manticore Missile Launcher, mounted on the Manticore Chimera Variant is a mobile multiple rocket launcher capable of firing a variety of rockets, from standard high explosive fragmentation warheads to oxyphosphur incendiary warheads, from air-gas to surface-to-air interceptor missiles. 
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===Support Sentinels===
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Support Sentinels are armed with either a Multiple Rocket pod, or a Missile Launcher.
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*'''Multiple Rocket Pods''' are a rapid-fire launcher loaded with standard Frag Missiles but with a faster rate of fire. 
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*'''Missile Launchers''' mounted on Sentinels are designed to fire indirectly, however they still fire standard Frag and Krak Missiles. 
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==Tau Vehicle Mounted Missile Launchers==
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Various Tau vehicle mount a Smart Missile System identical to the ones carried by the XV-88 Broadside Battlesuit, however many Tau vehicles have the ability to carry '''Seeker Missiles'''.  Most [[Devilfish]] variants can carry up to four Seeker missiles but there are variations, such as the Skyray, which can carries six as its primary weapon with the option to add up to four more.  Other Tau vehicles vary in their ability and capacity to carry Seeker Missiles. 
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===Seeker Missiles===
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Seeker Missiles are self guided high strength anti-armour missiles similar to Imperial Hunter Killer Missiles.  However the targeting approach is radically different.  Rather than being fired by the crew of the vehicle they are mounted on, with the exception of the Skyray the crew of the Missile bearing vehicle cannot fire the Missiles at all. 
  
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Various Infantry units, as well as some Battlesuits and Drones can be armed with a Markerlight.  Rather than being an offensive weapon in it’s own right, when fired a Markerlight records targeting information which is then transmitted to a Seeker Missile which automatically launches from the vehicle it is mounted on, and guides itself around any intervening terrain or obstacles to impact with the target.  This technology makes infiltrating Tau troops much feared by tank commanders. 
  
**N.B. This Article is a work in progress.  Currently it is planned to be at least 3 times this size, so please bear with me. --[[User:Squirrel|Squirrel]] 20:12, 23 January 2006 (CET)
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==References==
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*Haines, Peter; McNeill, Graham (2004). “Codex: Space Marines'' Games Workshop Ltd. ISBN 1841545260
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*Haines, Peter; McNeill, Graham; Chambers, Andy (2001). “Codex: Tau'' Games Workshop Ltd. ISBN 1841540986
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* Thorpe, Gavin (1998). “Codex: Eldar'' Games Workshop Ltd. ISBN 1872372015
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* Thorpe, Gavin (1998). “Inquisitor'' Games Workshop Ltd. ISBN 1841540773
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*http://www.forgeworld.co.uk
  
  
 
[[Category:Weapons]]
 
[[Category:Weapons]]

Revision as of 13:37, 25 January 2006

A Missile Launcher, sometimes referred to as a Rocket Launcher, is a weapon that fires a rocket-propelled explosive round at a target, yet is small enough to be carried by one man, generally fired from the shoulder. The lowest technology missile launchers are simply an explosive device with a rocket strapped to the back, aimed by launching it down a tube and thus controlling it’s initial vector. The more sophisticated missile launchers have built in aiming technology and some even have the ability to track moving targets and chase them.

Imperial Missile Launchers

The standard Imperial Missile Launcher has a built in targeting device and is fired from the shoulder. It is a single round weapon, and cannot be fired on the move. Standard Imperial Guard doctrine is for one man to carry aim and fire the missile launcher, whilst a second man carries the ammunition and re-loads the weapons. A well-drilled fire team can maintain a formidable rate of fire, enough to daunt the bravest of tank commanders. Space Marines generally carry their own ammunition, being easily strong enough to hold the missile launcher in one hand whilst re-loading with the other. Note also that whilst an Imperial guardsman will generally fire from a kneeling or prone position, Space Marine enhancements grant them a superior aim even from standing.

Cyclone Missile Launchers

The Cyclone Missile Launcher is a variant specially designed to be fit on a Terminator Armour. Loaded with Krak Missiles and Frag Missiles, the Cyclone consits in two "cube shaped" missile boxes twin-linked by a targeter and sensors array, the missile and sensors unit is fixed on the back of a standard terminator armour, this fitting allow the Space Marine to use a Storm Bolter and Power Fist with the Missile Launcher, he can fire both firearms simultaneously. Older designs of the Cyclone missile launcher had the sensor array hand-carried by the Terminator, thus taking away the option of a power fist but making it more accurate.

Imperial Munitions Types

  • Frag Missiles: are designed to explode on impact with any surface, raking the immediate area with lethal shrapnel. Primarily an anti-infantry weapon, it can be used against light vehicles with some success. Frag Missiles are often ineffective against heavy infantry.
  • Krak Missiles: are primarily designed as anti-vehicle weapons, Krak Missiles contain a high strength, low blast shaped charge, causing massive damage to anything it hit’s with minimal collateral damage. Also very effective against heavy infantry, bunkers and other armored targets.
  • Other Types: Missiles are extremely versatile and can potentially carry any conceivable type of payload. Examples include: Anti-Plant, Virus, Vortex, Smoke, Gas, Tanglefoot, Haywire, Stasis, Plasma and Photon Flash.

Ork Missile Launchers

Ork Missile Launcher’s are extremely crude. Reffered to as “Rokkit Launchas” they are little more than explosive rockets strapped to a stick. Unfortunately for the enemies of Orks, this makes them extremely easy to mass-produce, and due the simplicity and inherent inaccuracy in the weapon they can be fired on the move with no noticeable loss of accuracy.

Ork Munitions Types

  • Ork Rokkits: come in one type: Ork Rokkits. One size fits all, good for any job, the rokkit is big load and nasty.

Eldar Missile Launchers

The Eldar Aspect Warriors known as Dark Reapers carry rocket launchers as standard. Whilst the standard Dark Reapers carry smaller Reaper Launchers, the Exarchs are known to carry larger Missile Launchers.

Eldar Munitions Types

  • Krak Missiles: despite being of a higher level of technology, with a greater accuracy, the Eldar Krak Missile is essentially the same as Imperial Krak Missile.
  • Plasma Missiles: with the same purpose as Imperial Frag Missiles, Plasma Missiles are a more sophisticated anti-infantry missile. Instead of explosively propelled shrapnel, the Plasma Missile creates, unsurprisingly, an explosive expansion of plasma on impact with a hard surface. The strength of the Plasma Missile is roughly the same as that of a Frag Missile, but with an increased capacity to penetrate armour.
  • Reaper Missiles: are fired from the Reaper Launcher. They fire rapidly, and although they do not create a blast, they are slightly more powerful than Plasma Missiles. Primarily designed to combat heavy infantry they are the bane of Space Marine commanders.

Chaos Space Marines Missile Launchers

Chaos Space Marines carry a mix of issued pre-heresy Imperial Missile Launchers, and modern Imperial Missile Launchers taken from defeated Imperials. All Chaos Missile Launchers operate the same as Imperial Missile Launchers.

Tau Missile Launchers

Tau ranged weapon technology is more advanced than that of the Imperium. This includes Missile Launcher technology, however the Tau army is organized such that standard troopers do not carry Missile Launchers like other races. Instead the two varieties of Missile Launchers available to the Tau are carried on Battlesuits.

Tau Munitions Types

  • Missile Pods: are mounted on the XV-8 Crisis series battlesuits and come as standard on the XV-81 and the XV-84. Missile Pods are medium range, rapid-fire missiles slightly less powerful than Imperial Krak Missiles. A combination of their size and the Battlesuits they are mounted on, a Missile Pod can be fired on the move.
  • Smart Missile Systems: are the pinnacle of battlesuit missile technology. Medium strength and capable of very rapid fire (twice as fast as Missile Pods), the Smart Missile System is so high tech it does not require a line of sight to it’s target. Instead each missile fired contains a sophisticated guidance system allowing it to maneuver around obstacles and terrain and hit an impact upon a target without risk to the firer. Due to it’s size, the Smart Missile System can only be mounted on the bulky XV-88 Broadside Battlesuit and cannot be fired on the move.




Vehicle Mounted Missile Launchers

The Imperials and the Tau Empire both make use of vehicle mounted Missile Launchers.

Imperial Vehicle Mounted Missile Launchers

Hunter Killer Missiles

A Hunter Killer Missile is a single shot Missile Launcher with a self guided Krak Missile pre-loaded into it. Designed to bolt on to any Imperial vehicle, it provides extra anti-armour firepower for a variety of situations. A “fire and forget” weapon, once a target is selected, the Hunter Killer Missile will aim, fire and guide itself to the target.

Whirlwind Multiple Missile Launcher

The Whirlwind Rhino variant and the Helios Land Raider Variant Space Marine Tanks both mount a Whirlwind Multiple Missile Launcher. It consists of a large bank of either Vengeance or Castellan Missiles.

  • Vengeance Missiles are the standard round, with a moderately high strength and large blast radius; they are deadly to Infantry.
  • Castellan Missiles each contain dozens of mines, which are scattered upon impact. This gives the Space Marines the ability to rapidly seed minefields in strategic locations without risking troops.

Hyperios Missile Launchers

Mounted on the Whirlwind Hyperios Rhino variant, the Hyperios Missile Launcher, combined with advanced targeting is designed for close air defense.

Manticore Missile Launcher

The Manticore Missile Launcher, mounted on the Manticore Chimera Variant is a mobile multiple rocket launcher capable of firing a variety of rockets, from standard high explosive fragmentation warheads to oxyphosphur incendiary warheads, from air-gas to surface-to-air interceptor missiles.

Support Sentinels

Support Sentinels are armed with either a Multiple Rocket pod, or a Missile Launcher.

  • Multiple Rocket Pods are a rapid-fire launcher loaded with standard Frag Missiles but with a faster rate of fire.
  • Missile Launchers mounted on Sentinels are designed to fire indirectly, however they still fire standard Frag and Krak Missiles.

Tau Vehicle Mounted Missile Launchers

Various Tau vehicle mount a Smart Missile System identical to the ones carried by the XV-88 Broadside Battlesuit, however many Tau vehicles have the ability to carry Seeker Missiles. Most Devilfish variants can carry up to four Seeker missiles but there are variations, such as the Skyray, which can carries six as its primary weapon with the option to add up to four more. Other Tau vehicles vary in their ability and capacity to carry Seeker Missiles.

Seeker Missiles

Seeker Missiles are self guided high strength anti-armour missiles similar to Imperial Hunter Killer Missiles. However the targeting approach is radically different. Rather than being fired by the crew of the vehicle they are mounted on, with the exception of the Skyray the crew of the Missile bearing vehicle cannot fire the Missiles at all.

Various Infantry units, as well as some Battlesuits and Drones can be armed with a Markerlight. Rather than being an offensive weapon in it’s own right, when fired a Markerlight records targeting information which is then transmitted to a Seeker Missile which automatically launches from the vehicle it is mounted on, and guides itself around any intervening terrain or obstacles to impact with the target. This technology makes infiltrating Tau troops much feared by tank commanders.

References

  • Haines, Peter; McNeill, Graham (2004). “Codex: Space Marines Games Workshop Ltd. ISBN 1841545260
  • Haines, Peter; McNeill, Graham; Chambers, Andy (2001). “Codex: Tau Games Workshop Ltd. ISBN 1841540986
  • Thorpe, Gavin (1998). “Codex: Eldar Games Workshop Ltd. ISBN 1872372015
  • Thorpe, Gavin (1998). “Inquisitor Games Workshop Ltd. ISBN 1841540773
  • http://www.forgeworld.co.uk