How the CUSTODES found their CLOTHES! | Warhammer Retrospective

[@blackkasopeja9736]

Gotta love that even the kink powered gremlin that is Ian Watson looked at the original custodes in their half-naked leathery glory , went "That's weird" and gave them power armor.

[@neverness92]

Now that ypu mentioned, I am shocked he didn't have them wrestling Slaaneshi daemons. He was probably saving them for book 4 or something.

[@jeanvonestling7408]

@@neverness92 maybe he planned for that to happen in that Kubrick's movie.

[@retromancer]

The power armor was added in the 2002 revision. The original 1990 text had them half naked.

[@MasterShake9000]

I think the more cynical reason why Custodes became a playable faction is the Chapterhouse Studio lawsuit. Part of the court's ruling is that GW couldn't invent a concept and just sit on it with no models. No models = other companies can make models. So I think GW realized that a lot of long-time concepts like Custodes, Mechanicum, Genestealer Cults, etc couldn't just sit around in the lore and artwork without actual models being produced. Hence the new armies over the past decade.

[@casanovafunkenstein5090]

Still no elves riding dinosaurs though 🤔

[@beatsandskiesmtg]

Eldar finally are getting their refresh, including a return of the Corsairs apparently. And there is that Exodite series on thier silly streaming thing which they seem to be hyping. It’s not impossible we’ll get an Exodite kill team release or something to go alongside this?

[@jaysherman2615]

Now we need Crud.

[@darko-man8549]

it's one of the worst things to come out of the Chapter House lawsuit. Whilst the age of majority plastics had me buzzing for conversions and how easily I could make models that had rules but no models. Instead anything without a model was just throw to the way-side, never to be remembered. No-model-no-rules, sucks

[@Michael_800]

@@darko-man8549 So you mean, if they don't produce a model for something, they don't make rules for that faction, so that there is no point in anyone making those models and selling them? How come they had rules before, then/why did they make rules for those factions before the lawsuit?

[@Inquisdrknss]

Having left the hobby for 20ish years then coming back and finding all these new factions was wild. I remember Genestealer cults, harlequins, Custodes all being little asides now full on factions. But still no Exodite Eldar.

[@jamescameron-clarke2560]

I genuinely thought we'd get them this year with the Eldar refresh, but it doesn't look like it.

[@nekrataali]

What baffles me about Exodite Eldar is GW already has a dinosaur range from WHFB/AOS. All they have to do is sculpt some new Eldar crew and they have a new kit and faction.

[@stryke-jn3kv]

To be fair Genestealer Cults were a main faction back in Rogue Trader and 2nd with dedicated lists in the Compendium and then the Tyranid Codex. They just then skipped a couple of decades before getting back in though alas without their swanky cult limos.

[@Inquisdrknss]

@@stryke-jn3kv I started playing in 3rd so missed them i guess, I know they were popular in Hombrew Dexs online.

[@ExternalDialogue]

Hey they removed Renegades and Heretics so it all balances out right?

[@akumaking1]

You forgot the biggest factor: The TTS Fabulous Custodes being burned into everyone’s memory

[@TheShadowChesireCat]

The Jojos references was going to get someone sued. I don't know if GW, Hirohiko Araki or TTS, but SOMEONE.

[@MasterShake9000]

About your "which came first" comment on the "first" Custodes model: there's an interview online somewhere with one of the early Studio members, and they basically summarized the early RT process as this: the sculptors kinda did whatever the heck they wanted, sometimes using existing art but often just doing their own thing. Once the model was done, it was up to Rick to either okay it, reject it, or send it back for revision. The initial resources available to RT were so limited that Rick often felt he couldn't reject anything outright, or even send it back for revision, so almost everything was accepted. At this point, Rick would determine what the model would be used for, and if the rules/background didn't already exist for it, he or someone else would make them up for White Dwarf or the later supplement books. For example, IIRC, even though the lore has heavily implied that only Marines can really wear power armour, the first Inquisitor models were the result of the sculptors producing minis that Rick felt strayed too far from his vision of Marines, yet he still needed to use them, so he essentially invented the Inquisition and revised the lore to make it possible for non-Marine humans to use power/termie armour. As such, it makes total sense that a sculptor had randomly made this figure and the Custodes background was created afterwards to explain it. Also, one of the key reasons why the 40k universe uses all these WHFB races as aliens is because Rick figured it'd make it easier for gamers - the Rogue Trader line didn't have enough catalog/release slots to provide fully realized alien forces, so the next best thing was to make fantasy-like aliens where he could release a few models and gamers could then use or convert the WHFB equivalent to fill out their squads and armies. It's also why things like Eldar Exodites, Ork Snakebites, and Ork Madboyz exist as well, to make it even easier to port the fantasy models straight into a 40k game. I say that because it was common for sculptors to take copies of Fantasy figs and convert them to produce quick and easy 40k minis, and it's possible that the original Custodes model was a similar random conversion of an earlier Fantasy or even non-Fantasy figure from one of GW's generic or prior lines of figs.

[@Bluecho4]

The existence of Beastmen abhumans in RT certainly supports this. You were meant to grab some Fantasy Beastmen models and give them guns or whatever. Also, the low number of models available explains certain other aliens in RT. Like the ones that are just bouncing spheres, because you're meant to literally use a rubber ball or marble to represent it on tabletop. It's honestly refreshing, looking at an era of Games Workshop where the games allowed and encouraged players to make their own stuff. Unlike now, where it expects you to only ever use Citadel/Forge World models using the most up-to-date rules.

[@TonkarzOfSolSystem]

@@Bluecho4 Back in 2001 3rd ed had "vehicle creation rules" that let you use whatever vehicle conversions you had. White Dwarf's poster child was a deodorant bottle converted into some kind of hovertank.

[@soupalex]

@@TonkarzOfSolSystem ah, the article that introduced me to "wysiwyg". to be fair, though, the deodorant bottle hover tank dates back even further than the 3rd ed vehicle design rules… the authors just included it as a way of saying "you can even use our rules to create profiles for mad old shit you might have bodged together back in rogue trader"

[@TonkarzOfSolSystem]

@@soupalex Yes, that's right. I remember even at the time people were calling the deodorant bottle tank "legendary" because it was already ancient.

[@BigBoyBillSneed]

This channel is really great, I don't think anyone else is doing retrospectives like this, and it helps that the videos are super high quality. You deserve many more subs

[@SonoVAo]

If your looking for more retrospective 40k, try out Snipe and Wib who do reviews of older codexes from 3rd edition and rogue trader.

[@qwellen7521]

You gotta review that 1st 40k novel - must be a wild ride in hindsight.

[@raideurng2508]

It is lewd, depraved, and full of mind bending heresy that the Emperor himself has decreed was poorly written.

[@StephenGraves]

I adore it. And I still think it would (with a few revisions) be a good one to adapt for a film, since it's essentially a whistle-stop tour of all the important/iconic bits of the 40K universe. Hive world! Space hulk! Eye of Terror! Imperial Palace! And it could've been, too. According to Ian Watson's blog, Stanley Kubrick read it - on the grounds that "Who knows, this could be my next film?" He did end up borrowing a few 40K artists like Fangorn to work on his version of the A.I. Artificial Intelligence film, so there's a kinda-sorta crossover there.

[@nekrataali]

@@StephenGraves Huh. TIL Ian Watson wrote Artificial Intelligence, with input from Stanley Kubrick. Later, Stephen Spielberg would comment he wanted to keep the film as close to Watson's original script as possible.

[@neverness92]

As weird as that book gets, it's just a step into the threshold of the proverbial rabbit hole. The mind blowing depravity gets more twisted in book 2!

[@DiscourseMinis]

Fascinating, great video as always! It's strange to me thinking of Custodes as a "main" faction. I started in 4th and they've always felt like such a minor part of the setting, still feels weird to me.

[@danielman9420]

Agreed. I can only imagine them as a small detachment at the most, let alone a faction.

[@abnerdoon4902]

Played dawn of war as a kid, didn't know what a tyranid is. I ended up thinking that the custode in the exit menu was a tyranid.

[@kierafurneaux3172]

OMG, I NEVER REALIZED THE PILLAR CUSTODES WERE A THING IN THE LORE

[@magscat493]

Of course, TTS is canon.

[@KawdoruTaon]

@@magscat493 except for Kitten x Shadowsun. That wasn't canon.

[@Nyctophora]

_Banana bonce bodyguards_ deserves a like of its own

[@wesleyalana]

I remember a Rogue Trader Tournament in the US where my opponent from the UK had a Custodes army. I believe it was 2003 AND that month his custom army was featured in White Dwarf

[@bentilbury2002]

"I'm too sexy for my shirt" - Constantine Valdor

[@ScottishCCRfan]

Great video. I always liked the look of the grey armoured Custodes portrayed in Adrian Smith's Horus vs. The Emperor. Nowadays modeled as the "Sagittarum Guard".

[@alphariusomegon4432]

The first Custodes rules for 40k were released shortly after the Burning of Prospero as a downloadable pdf. This was itself quickly updated to include a formation so that you could play Custodes on their own. Then came the Custodes box which included the 7th edition Custodes codex. With 8th edition starting not long after, if you sent in proof that you bought the Custodes box you could be sent a small book that only contains the Custodes rules from the Index: Imperium 2 book. After this is the normal codex releases we get from every other faction.

[@jackhammer40k_]

GW published a few editions of a catalogue of Space Marine parts back when you could order sprues separately. In the back of one of the editions there were a number of different hobbyist or GW employee armies (including a samurai army and a HH Ultramarines army). One of the armies showcased was a Custodes army - I think they did a feature on it in WD. It's a shame that era of GW encouraging gamers to convert and enlarge their range of models using their own creativity - now there's a model for everything and no named characters in codexes without a corresponding model in the range.

[@disembodiedglances8695]

Super interesting. There’s no other KZbin channel about the history of the game with this quality! Thanks!

[@TonkarzOfSolSystem]

Thanks for this video. As someone who only casually follows 40k the Custodes seemed to me to appear out of nowhere. Essentially overnight they changed from normal humans with a bodyguard job that was essentially ceremonial, to immortal superhumans that were even more impressive than Space Marines. Previous attempts to investigate this change would turn up people who'd say things like "what do you mean? they've always been like this".

[@peterixon8708]

Ian, hard to believe that, in discussing Custodes (spoiler alert; my absolute favourite faction) in Jan 2022, along with the then impending release of a 9th edition of 40k, here we are mid 2023 grappling with all that Leviathan and 10th Edition of 40k means. Again Ian, your efforts to document and record the unfolding of the GW 40k story; buddy, you ARE one of those imperial chronologers. You deserve a bust out front of the Nottingham HQ, alongside the space marine. Thanks again mate for stoking the dreams of my imagination, along with those of the tens of thousands like me who, around the world, are the customer base that buys what GW sells.

[@terencefitzgerald1693]

I really wish we had videos like this for every faction in 40k. As a newer player, it's easy to find resources and media on lore but there's barely anything to catch up on the production history of each faction. I'd love to know how factions changed through editions and brief production details about the units themselves.

[@Nazasu]

Im newer to the hobby, but Custodes are the only army i have at 2k+ points so far and their models are so amazing. I never get tired of painting their armor and their red plumes.

[@ArchitectofBrands]

thanks for releasing this today! I got covid this week so tuning out to one of your fine videos is a welcome distraction!

[@alexsingh1429]

Same! Hope you feel better soon 🙂

[@isaacbaker3613]

Hope you’re feeling better soon. The emperor protects!

[@ArchitectofBrands]

@@alexsingh1429 thanks very much, hope you do too!

[@ArchitectofBrands]

thank you@@isaacbaker3613 haha

[@haircutdeluxe]

I love how this means thousands of female Custodes were running around topless. Imagine that visual.

[@neverness92]

This video's squigoth in the room is the Chapter House lawsuit. I am sure that what spearheaded the production of the Custodes was the ruling set against GW in the Chapterhouse lawsuit. This is why the Genestealer Cult, Adeptus Mechanicus, Sisters of Battle, and anything else that existed in conception, but not in a physical product, was suddenly on our shelves. Games Workshop can't protect their IP unless they can show a product to back up their claim. Even things that only existed in the 2nd Edition 'Black Codex' and Codex Imperialis, now (finally) have a model!

[@revenantworkshop175]

Just discovered your KZbin channel about 5 days ago and I think I've watched about half your videos. My new favourite hobby channel. Love your delivery, impeccable research and (as someone who got into hobby stuff around 2nd edition) the deep dives into history are amazing. Thanks so much! 👍

[@highmarshalbalian680]

So from some inside info, when plastic Custodes came out they sold so well that the rest of the plastic line was fast tracked into production ahead of other things

[@vulkhanasennet9961]

I have to say you are one of my fav 40k channels next to Snipe & Wib. Please keep it up.

[@ArbitorIan]

Thanks! Hallowed company indeed.

[@akumaking1]

@@ArbitorIan you forgot to mention the TTS Fabulous Custodes in the video; there’s a common rumor/internet legend that TTS made Games Workshop advance the plot for sixth edition.

[@lachlanbell4680]

@@ArbitorIan hey kabuki doesn't exist anymore and if it does I can't find the website. If you have the link could you please show me

[@10thCompanyCaptain]

Very cool, and I recall the same miniatures coming out as you mention, I strongly considered making an army with the scibor guys, I'm glad you did.

[@jackwinter5421]

This channel is spectacular. I love learning about the history of our hobby. There are plenty of lore channels out there but I’ve seen none that actually delve into the rich history and development of Warhammer. Just brilliant stuff.

[@baitbait65]

I love these videos. As someone fairly new to the hobby, it's easy to assume things have always been as they are now.

[@selinasenn6331]

A single voice can be heard in the darkness of the halls of the imperial palace, crying out for recognition for his work with the Custodes. A small voice, a timid one, but one that carried great weight, and gave such joy to the citizens of the imperium. "It's not cannon..."

[@worksofein6449]

The older custodes helmets remind me of the villain Torquemeda from one of the 2000AD strips - can't remember which one though!

[@ExternalDialogue]

4:06 It is so bizzare seeing this image. It feels like "Kitten" has been photoshopped in, like he doesnt belong there, despite this being where the sprite in TTS is from.

[@dolphinlord640]

I respect this guy and this video for not easily dragging this out to 10 minutes for extra rev. Earned a sub

[@WozWozEre]

This channel deserves every sub and view it gets, unique and interesting content that's well presented.

[@retromancer]

I would love to roll up to a tournament playing Custodes but it's all the rogue trader model.

[@shekel8245]

I'm so glad I'm not the only person who thinks Guilliman is pronounced Geo-man

[@darko-man8549]

"loads of missed opportunities by GW" - an accurate statement

[@chrissyross]

Iv'e always wondered about this as someone who has been into the setting since rogue trader. This is brilliant, thank you.

[@anthonyreal1594]

I mean, I'm not saying it's like this but... GW had a licence to produce a bunch of 2000 AD miniatures (and did so). The original custodes model looks like a ringer for Torquemada & the Terminators, the villains from Nemesis (a 2000 AD comic). Maybe this was a prototype that 2000AD rejected, but they didn't want to throw it away.

[@bentilbury2002]

Mmm... I think you might be onto something!

[@Haanzer]

I got about as far as the 0:40 second mark into your video before I had to pause, scroll down and subscribe to your channel; that's how fast it became apparent that I was going to enjoy your content.

[@Rabarbarzynca]

TTS reference was great. I’ve always liked how well established in lore it is.

[@rickstar171]

Custodes got me back into 40K after a 20 year hiatus. Seeing a faction that was barely in the lore, fully realised and looking golden and shiny, really got me excited to collect a faction again

[@anthonyplayter2981]

I remember in WD there was a piece from someone making a beautifully kitbashed Custodies that counted as Grey Knights.

[@nekrataali]

That army was fucking beautiful and I really wish they would have maintained the Inquisition as a faction. Custodes as a limited choice (like you can only have a single squad of 1-3 models) would have been perfect.

[@hallstuart6604]

I think we can safely assume that the driving force behind ANY and ALL decisions made by GW is MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEYMONEY MONEY, MOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNEEEEEYYYYYY!

[@TwistedAlphonso1]

Gamesworkshop wanted a Super Duper Ultra Space Marine line.

[@jeanvonestling7408]

I really like those retrospectives. I like to see how an idea developed and the wikis that are written from the in-universe perspective of course do not show that.

[@shmoe360]

I just wanted to say that I really enjoy these retrospectives as I am relatively new to the hobby. I find it very interesting how messy the design ideas used to be compared to the set in stone cohesive looks each faction has now. Its really hard to actually get a look at gamesworkshops past without the old magazines and publications and due to how hard it is to go back through their community site posts.

[@euansmith3699]

The original Custodes mini looks to have been based off the Terminators from 2,000AD's Nemesis the Warlock; which were, in turn, based on Spanish Flagellants.

[@LoafyHarbinger]

I enjoyed the video! Your change in studio lighting (color temperature? ambience? ring light?) give you a ghoulish cast. Which is also fine!

[@ArbitorIan]

🧟‍♂️

[@akumaking1]

@@ArbitorIan you forgot to mention the Fabulous of TTS

[@damegaKing]

No jabbering and so much info in under 10min really great video.

[@walkingriver6104]

Please keep doing these retrospective videos, they are great!!!

[@GrandNagusEli]

Nice timing on the video. Love your work

[@sousa9682]

Great video Arbitor Ian. I was wondering if you have plans to make a video discussing 40k art. How it’s changed and what influences shapes the art of the day and know.

[@walt_man]

Arbiter Ian is a Replicant *look at the circles in his eyes* - Now you cannot unsee it XD

[@thehivemind5531]

nice mate, only commenting to bumb you up the algorithm. your channel needs to grow

[@Marduk1813]

I love the Warhammer candle in the background!

[@Sapiensiate]

Great video. Whilst the production often takes longer than the timeline here I wouldn't put it past the move to replace Kirby with Rowntree as GW CEO as a factor in this decision. The rate of new models since around 2017 and the release of 8th edition has just been phenomenal, and very different to the decade before it.

[@marcraygun6290]

Their big pointy helms show again how huge the influence of Nemesis the Warlock was

[@6thsavage]

Watching this before embarking out on my Thursday night, makes the leather pants bit really hit home.

[@daisho13]

Love the lore retrospectives you do. As a newcomer, they are hugely interesting. Thanks mate 👍

[@alejandrorp5160]

*Mandatory TTS Custodes reference *

[@Squanto22]

Nice, you have your 40k candles in the background!

[@ArbitorIan]

I've got 55 hours of candle to use up somewhere!!!

[@SilveradoNL]

who knew Kitten had such a deep background!

[@staalforsfh]

This was amazing, thanks for doing all this work! Subscribed!

[@doongilbo5939]

Man you should totally take a look at the space rats, is there even anything about skaven in 40k?

[@th3ir0nf0x]

Great vid Ian, very informative. Its good to hear from someone who was around 'at the time' of the older stuff so to speak. Do you think the attention to the Custodes will be translated into an official Thunder Warrior one day?

[@CallumFinlayson]

For the original look of the Ad. Custodes back in RT check out one of GW's favourite sources to "borrow" from -- 2000AD; and in particular the Torquemada stories (generally a subset of the Nemesis stories), especially the "Terminators" who served as Torquemada's elite/fanatical bodyguards & soldiers. The Torquemada stories are basically all about a human empire of fanatical quasi-religious fascists, so there are plenty of opportunities to find similarities with 40k

[@Tsotha]

the entire "look and feel" of 40K is basically half 2000AD half Dune

[@nakenmil]

Man, I remember going around daydreaming about badass Custodes for literally over a decade. Weird to see them being so... normalized now.

[@danroberts007]

I used to own a couple of those original Custodes models. Sold them on eBay years ago and regret it now, despite how very dorky they look. They’ve come a long way. I’m listening to the Valdor: Birth of the Imperium novel and so far it’s quite good.

[@CrimsonTemplar2]

Great video. Love your presentation style.

[@simonphelon7221]

I always wondered why the original Custodes model was checking his watch, did he have somewhere to be? Was he late? Would his boss be grumpy?

[@KabinMiniatures]

Another great retrospective, my friend!

[@superdanozborne]

Great video, and collection of the history of the custodies. But Dave Taylor’s AMAZING converted Custodes army wasn’t mentioned. This was in the US white dwarf (not sure on number) and massively popular.

[@superdanozborne]

Totally forgot about the 3rd party models too… great catch! Love these lore videos

[@gordlarson3917]

Hello good sir! I love your channel and the work your doing. Highly entertaining and super informative. Appreciate the hard work and effort. Now we just need to get you famous enough that this can become a more full tie gig and get more amazing content.

[@raideurng2508]

The origin of oiled abs incarnate

[@jack-a-lopium]

Thanks for pronouncing Guilliman's name as you do... after I first read it (just got into the hobby recently), that was my instinct.

[@dukedevlan5457]

Well I like the golden banana Boyz but I think it's funny the stripstodes are semi accurate

[@philipzahn491]

The "Custodian Guard" literally means "the Guard Guard". 😛

[@joshuafreeman3609]

“What was the driving force?” Chapterhouse lawsuit.

[@StephenGraves]

Gotta be honest, I kinda dislike the fact that the Custodes have evolved into a full-fledged faction. It takes away from their mystique, rather; the whole point of them was that they Never Leave Terra.

[@nekrataali]

Agreed. I think it also takes away from how powerful they should be in tabletop. Custodes as special characters that were limited to like 3 or 4 per army could have been given ridiculous stats. But because they have to be a full army, they can't be Movie Marines on steroids.

[@kalebdaark100]

@@nekrataali This is very much where I'm at with them. I've always loved the fluff about them but their very purpose should prevent them sending any sizeable numbers of them off Terra unless the Emperor is up and walking about.

[@akumaking1]

I think the biggest reason GW made a Custodian army was to get people off of the TTS Fabulous Custodes image.

[@notribadsvault]

Gotta hard disagree, mostly because they’re my army of choice. But lore wise them not leaving Terra would be ridiculous given the current existential crisis of the great rift, and I also really enjoy the books about the Custodes being permitted to leave Terra.

[@Taco0718]

I disagree with you, but I understand your sentiment. Personally, I think they, along with the Sisters, are such a cool faction. Maybe as a compromise, I think they make more sense for the Horus Heresy game, but obviously, if there be minis of them, players would find a way to incorporate them into the 40k game.

[@Khilkhameth]

Don't forget White Dwarf 322 from 2006, which had an entirely fan-converted Custodes army for a Warhammer World event. That must have gotten some Studio brains thinking.

[@elroma7712]

Oh I remember this, the custodes were based on the Torturers from Gene Wolf's Book of the New Sun at first.

[@killerexe007]

3:35 Is that Totalbiscuit?

[@KillerOrca]

Time to Pillarstodies; 2 minutes, 55 seconds

[@Felsworn5121]

Lots of great info. Thanks!

[@theezekarion164]

Ur content never disappoints

[@megumin1054]

Hey! Is that an Aquilla Lander in your display case?

[@ArbitorIan]

It is! Good spot

[@GurrenLagann98]

Where can the Kabuki Custodes actually be purchased? I can’t find them anywhere.

[@EvgeneXI]

I have a bit of an affinity for the Roman/Byzantine empires so the Custodes are perfect. I’m a former Guard player so when I came back to the hobby recently (stopped in 2009) I was pretty chuffed to start a new army of Space Marine Romans.

[@sub39h]

Awesome history lesson! Love it

[@udp1073]

Sir, can you please put a link for your Custodes minis?

[@duncanself5111]

I really like the Blood Games and Master of Mankind stories

[@memesofwarhemmer7076]

Meanwhile exodite : haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa where is my codex GW

[@romeisfallingagain]

my second favourites. first is space wolves

[@megaduck7965]

I got that Heresy book for Christmas one year , thinking about it I think that’s where my want to collect an army of them started . I spent a long time trying to figure how to make one with marine captain bits grey knight bits and dark elder helmets as a kid

[@thomasfowler8310]

Hold up! You mean tts was accurate with his meme!!!

[@thomasfowler8310]

…. Heard lol

[@samhobbs9116]

Lol that Sanguinius model is way better than the official one.

[@vituperousrecidivist6141]

“Their uniforms are traditional but effective, leather breeches and boots with a long black cloak over naked torso.” The only place that uniform is traditional and effective is in a BDSM swingers club.

[@ArbitorIan]

It does beg the question 'effective for WHAT?' 😂

[@bentilbury2002]

Distracting Slaaneshi daemons? Boosting baby oil sales? It's probably better not to think about it... and I really wish I hadn't!

[@Nekorook]

i play Custodes at this point because my fingers don't have the dexterity for building smaller models.

[@andyp2004]

which 3rd party miniatures for custodes would you recommend?