Well, that just makes it confusing IMO.
There's no fluff that i'm aware of that shows refitting construction vehicles was common enough to include it as a regular force composition.
With whats been displayed so far, the models used for both Forge Knights and Knights Paladin are the same models...

It seems as if this was someones idea that seemed good at the time, rather than something thats been rationalised.
In my mind, the IG and SM force lists allow Titans - and a similar thing should be the same for the AMTL, i.e. they get to use Knights Paladin as another unit option.

Otherwise - it seems as if this unit has been created simply for the sake of it, rather than any other reason.

Tee

Remember that traditionally Knightworlds were (Mechanicus notwithstanding) high-tech feudal agriworlds, not Forgeworlds. Forge Knights are modified construction rigs. So what you have are essentially giant Sentinel Power Lifters. Yes, they have an Arc-Lance, but it's a modified arc welder instead of a purpose-built weapon. The other arm is just a big hydraulic claw. Paladin models are relatively plentiful, and often get pressed into service as Forge Knights, but they aren't the same.

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SG

Ghost's Paint Blog, where everything goes that isn't something else.

Forge Knights are an intentional smudge because they:
A- allow you to use any knight model without confusion
B- allow the list not to have special rules or otherwise confusing things like dc1 war engines on a unit that is not core to the list.

Their background attempts to pay homage to the original background for the knights (agricultural machinery pressed into war service) whilst updating it to better fit with modern 40k.

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Interesting – I'd always assumed the Forge Knights in this list were based on the Forge Knights from Mechanicum, rather than WD126/7. Certainly the most recent (and least kooky) background mentioned Forge Knights has them as dedicated military units.

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Industrious, red-robe wearing member of the PCRC

Hi Apologist, what sources are you referring to, I haven't come across this and if there's a gap in my reading I'd like to fill it.

What about a name change?

I'm not aware of the backgroud so shoot me down if it's firmly established, but the knght bit adds a strongly military feel to what should be (as described above) a press ganged power lifter, or as I like to think of them, 20ft tall killer skutters.

something like machinist cohort? (note the use of a thesaurus)

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You see a mouse trap? I see free cheese and a f*cking challenge! - Scroobius Pip

I think part of the problem is that the army list just uses a photo of a Knight Palladin. A Knight Palladin can be used as a proxy for a Forge Knight, but it's hardly an ideal one unconverted; as it looks just like a regular combat knight rather than a machine designed for construction/repair. I don't think there's anything wrong Ad-Mech fielding construction/repair machines in their armies - Tech Priests purpose is construction/repair, but they regularly fight on the front line too.

I previously suggested to Ben he used a photo of my Forge Knight conversion instead as the Forge Knight photo in the army list instead (and the offer's still open):

Done, I'll put that in.

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Forge Knights play a large (though not leading) role in Graham McNeill's Mechanicum, one of the Horus Heresy series from Black Library. Handily, Ares Lictor, one of the Forge Knights, turns up in the free preview extract from BL:
Mechanicum extract

It's actually pointed out to be a Paladin:


My emphases.

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Industrious, red-robe wearing member of the PCRC

In fact, I'm not entirely sure where the idea that Forge Knights are machine designed for construction/repair comes from.

WD127 mentions Drovers, which are unarmed walkers, but these are only mentioned in contrast to the Knights - 'the Drovers had to rely on the Knights of the nobility for protection'. The Knights from Knight Worlds were always war machines first and foremost, as the inhabitants ' mimick[ed] the lifestyle of the Eldar [Knight] clans' - the implication being that the humans of the time built their Knights in imitation of the Eldar Knights: big war machines.

They also differ from the Drover walkers by having a throne control system, which creates a personality of sorts in the Knight; as opposed to the Drovers' 'simple mind-link like that used on a Dreadnought. This makes them slow, lumbering machines when compared to the sleek thoroughbreds used by the nobles. The Sentinel walker used by the Imperial Guard is in fact a copy of the tried and tested Drover suit adapted for combat with the addition of basic armament.'

Obviously this is very old background; and it only refers to Knights from the Knight worlds - so am I missing a reference that talks about Forge Knights in between the old WD126 and the recent Mechanicum?

I don't mean to sound confrontational - I like the lists as they stand and appreciate the time and effort that's gone into them: I'm simply interested from a background point of view as to why the Forge Knights in the AMTL list are portrayed as they are.

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Industrious, red-robe wearing member of the PCRC

I made it up as a modernisation of the idea that Knights were agricultural machinery that had been weaponised, and the community generally ok'd it.

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Currently doing a plastic scenery kickstarter

I believe they're a new invention for the epic list, much like the Hunter, Obelisk, Siegfried, etc.

If you want to field the various Knights you could use their dedicated list, or perhaps ally a Knight World and Titan Legion army if you want to field them together.

Ah, cool. I always thought the original background was a bit hokey - the adapted agricultural machinery explanation works for me

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Industrious, red-robe wearing member of the PCRC

Most of the 40k fan work for Ad-mech includes forge knights seperatley to knight households too.

I don't know how much of it is idea incest / mutually agreed conventions and how much stems from how the independence of the knightworlds was stressed in the original fluff. It also allows more modelling creativity which is more important at 40K scale.

One explanation I've seen is that forge knights are part of the assembly line for low demand or 'experimental' products. Once the production methods have been assessed and codified then dedicated assembly lines are built.

Forge Knights were invented so that a generic knight type could be included in the list without having to reference the old agricultural background. It allows people who want to include paladins or whatever to do so as a counts as, with a unit that is more fitting to the current ad-mech background.