Sorry for my ignorance......

By Yooper, in Deathwatch

Also, the bolter rounds aren't 25mm, they're .75 calibre.

Baziel said:

I think everyone has posted up everything I would have explained about Space Marines. I especially like the description of how Ultramarines, Space Wolves, Black Templars, and Dark Angels would react to the given situation. Bravo!! LOL! Couldn't have said it better myself! :) Oh, and "NO!", Space Marines are not mind wiped! If you really want a good look at the Space Marine culture, and how they live day to day. I highly recommend the "Horus Heresy" line of novels. They are a great read, and will give you a better understanding of Space Marines, not to mention an awesome description of the Warhammer40k Universe. Go get the first novel today!! You won't regret it!

Except that the recruiting practices, indoctrination and overall mindset of the space marines was a lot different during the crusade (under the secular Emperor) than it is today (under the theocratic Imperium that places great value in blind faith and obedience).

Hellebore

Hellebore said:

Except that the recruiting practices, indoctrination and overall mindset of the space marines was a lot different during the crusade (under the secular Emperor) than it is today (under the theocratic Imperium that places great value in blind faith and obedience).

Hellebore

Exactly. There is ten millennia gap between the time of the Great Crusade and the "current era" of the RPG settings. A lot of things have changed. The HH books are worth reading but you should keep this fact in mind.

taugundrone said:

To answer your questions, A space marine is a 2.5 meter tall genetically engineered, brain wiped, kilmaimburn machine that carries a 25 mm bullet, semi-auto rocket-propelled grenade launcher pistol , as a standard sidearm. other include the assault rifle variant, the heavy machine-gun variant, and the variant that glues 6 of the assault rifles together. Many posters do not believe they can be roleplayed because they are BRAIN WIPED!!!!! How are they more roleplayable than soulless capitalists?

If they were BRAIN WIPE you would call then Thousand SONS!!!!!!!!!! Now that BRAIN WIPED! Not to mention nothing but ash but that's another story.

SonofDorn said:

Also, the bolter rounds aren't 25mm, they're .75 calibre.

Sorry for the other errors, but the latest fluff massacre said .998 caliber.

Yooper said:

I am somewhat new to 40k, I just started with the release of DH. So my question is, what EXACTLY is a space marine? Why do half the posters here think they can't be roleplayed? To me this looks way more roleplayable(?) than RT.

Thank You.

Becuase while it's true that spacemarines have only 5min to themselves in a given day and only 4 hours sleep a night.

Most people ignore all the fluff and the books and the video games that show them as highly intellegent and educated men, many have lived for more than 50-100 years, some of the oldest in the books being about 4-500 years old. It is true they are quite violent but also they have many and intricate rituals, thier own religion seperate to the administratum, the abilioty to problem solve and be self sufficient.

Their is plenty of political intrigue in spacemarine culture, mostly caused by barbarism and violence. But also when one chapter wishes to be noble and others dont. for example, the salamanders saved and helped to rebuild a town on armageddon once the war was over, and almost attacked the marines who bombarded it cos of an orc presence.
Or the fact that the spacemarines often rule small parts of the imperium, such as Maneus Calgar being Sector Govenor of Maccrage.

Apart from that they are 7+foot tall, super genetically advanced, SAS teams in light tank armour and 50 caliber sniper rifles for pistols. (that fire explosive bullets), they have a penchant for still holding the flag with one hand after their legs are blown off and firing back all the while screaming prayer to the emporer and winning,

They can't be both disciplined/noble AND shifty at the same time.

Do you really think that a squad of deathwatch would be all backstabby and politicking in the middle of the battlefield? When they are on mission they are on mission. A space wolf will save a dark angel from enemy fire because they are brothers in arms on a mission.

If deathwatch kill teams acted like this they'd be disbanded due to unreliability.

As I've said previously, in the fighting cages, between missions or during any free time they might have, THAT'S where that kind of chapter turmoil my come in. But actually during a mission is completely unproffessional and against the concept of the highly trained marine we are given.

Hellebore

It all comes down to how you define "noble". I'm pretty sure I have a different idea of a noble ideology compared with someone from the middle ages, and their concept of nobility would vary from say, the samurai code. It all comes down to interpretation and culture. So you get a bunch of guys from radically different cultures and all act and react differently to the same situations and yet each sees his own actions as noble.

for a nice little look of how to roleplay this 2 meter near-human killing machine called "Space Marine", I present:

The Daily rituals of Space Marines

Space Marines have very organised daily routines including combat duty, prayer and indoctrination sessions with very little free time. This lends itself well to the disciplined and monastic nature of the Space Marines. They also spend very little time resting, made possible by the training and implants.

0400 - Morning Prayer - Led by the Company Chaplain the Space Marines renew their oaths to the Emperor and the company relics are displayed. This time is also used to give out orders, announcements and other administrative tasks.


0500 - Morning Firing Rites - The Space Marines engage in target practice with their personal and squad weaponry, awards and punishments are dispensed for consistently good or poor accuracy respectively.


0700 - Battle Practice - Generally this is close quarters oriented, however live fire or hazardous environment training may be done instead (or as well).


1200 - Midday Prayer - In addition to prayer any injured Space Marines can report to the Apothecary.


1300 - Midday Meal - Normally local wildlife killed during the morning activities.


1315 - Tactical Indoctrination - This can take many forms, from information on a new alien species or technology to strategy. A debrief of the morning's battle is common as well.


1500 - Battle Practice - This focuses more on combined tactics in conjunction with vehicles, Dreadnoughts and devastator squads and normally includes a trial of a new tactic introduced during the tactical indoctrination.


2000 - Evening Prayer - In addition to prayer, gene-seed testing may occur at this point.


2100 - Evening Meal - A feast (by normal human standards) is provided by the Chapter serfs, and some Chapter Masters may allow alcohol to be consumed.


2130 - Night Firing Exercises - If the chapter is based on a planet where there is no perceptible night or they are based on a fleet, firing exercises are under taken in exotic environments such as underwater, through dense fog or smoke or in zero gravity.


2315 - Maintenance Rituals - Each Space Marine is expected to maintain his own power armour and weapons, and it is often checked by the Chapter's Techmarines.


2345 - Free Time - Space Marines are permitted this time to reflect upon their duty to The Emperor, however many Chapter Masters regard free time as a frivolous waste, and a dangerous distraction in the extreme.


0000 - Rest Period - Space Marines are allocated 4 hours in which to sleep.


It should be noted that many chapters will not keep strictly by this agenda, and may shorten prayer times for example, or even cut out one of the activities in the list, such as free time, if the Chapter Masters do not approve of it.

Many chapters will rotate and randomise the daily schedule to keep the brethren alert and ready. (Codex: Space Marines (3rd Edition): Legionnes Astartes daily rituals, p.48)

Hehe, a friend of mine shed some light on the issue:

Deathwatch base

0400hrs

"Praise the Emperor for his light protects and leads..."

0425hrs

"- God-Emperor willing we'll take out the nest with minimum collateral damage, projected casaulties should go not over half a million civilians. And don't open fire until you see the whites of their eyes -"
"But sir, they don't -"
"Shut up, I wasn't being literal."
"Yes, captain, sorry captain."
"Now, I've had some complaints from the Apothecary which I wish to adress in front of you all. I understand the need for a quick relaxation, like all of you I was once knee deep in xenos and heretic gore and that sort of thing can wear a fellow down, no question about it, but this sort of thing will not be tolerated. Once and for all, the NARTHECIUM is a medical device and NOT a free drug dispenser."

0500hrs - Target practice

"PRIVATE SPIERS!"
"Sir, yes sir?"
"WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT MANEUVER?!"
"Tactical cover removal, sir."
"REALLY?! BECAUSE IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE YOU BLEW UP THAT BUILDING JUST SO THE CHAOS MARINES COULDN'T TAKE COVER BEHIND IT."
"Well..yes, sir."
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT BUILDING WOULD HAVE CONTAINED IF THIS WERE A REAL COMBAT SITUATION?!"
"Several hundred civilians -"
"SHUT UP WINTERS, NOONE ASKED YOU ANYTHING! WELL, SPIERS?"
"Oh."
"THAT'S RIGHT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PROMETHIUM FACTORY. YOU COULD HAVE BLOWN ALL OF US UP, YOU IDIOT!"

1200hrs - Midday Prayer - In addition to prayer any injured Space Marines can report to the Apothecary.

"Sir, permission to report to the Apothecary."
"WHAT?!"
"Well, it's my arm sir, it's been severed almost completely, it's only holding by a thread and-"
"YOU ARE A SPACE MARINE! WALK IT OFF!!!"
"Sir yes sir!"

1300 - Midday Meal - Normally local wildlife killed during the morning activities.

"What is that smell?"
"Bravo company's on chow duty today."
"And the smell is?"
"Well, they went out for some bloodbeasts, the big fuckers down by the canyon. They used promethium bombs, saves on skining and building a fire."
"Oh. Practical."

1315 - Tactical Indoctrination- This can take many forms, from information on a new alien species or technology to strategy. A debrief of the morning's battle is common as well.

"LISTEN UP, MARINES. THIS IS A NEW TYPE OF MUTANT SIGHTED ON DRUSSIA IV. AS WITH ALL OTHERS, HIS MAIN WEAK SPOT IS HIS ENTIRE BODY, SO THE USUAL TACTIC OF SHOOTING HIM WITH A BULLET THE SIZE OF HIS HEAD SHOULD DO THE TRICK. FOR EXTRA PRECAUTION THE USE OF EXPLOSIVE ROUNDS IS RECOMMENDED BUT NOT OBLIGATORY."

1500 - Battle Practice - This focuses more on combined tactics in conjunction with vehicles, Dreadnoughts and devastator squads and normally includes a trial of a new tactic introduced during the tactical indoctrination.

"Now, the lession we all learned from today's maneuvers is to stay away from Bravo company assault area if you smell promethium."


2000hrs - Evening Prayer - In addition to prayer, gene-seed testing may occur at this point.

"You want what?"
"Well, sir Apothecary sir I was just wondering if there is a way you could remove or deactivate my omophagea."
"You have ten seconds to explain yourself before I call the Sarge."
"Well, sir, it's just that last week I ran out of ammo and had to eat my way through a whole room full of crazed Slaanesh cultists. The memories of their orgies will haunt me forever. I don't want something like that to happen again."


2100 - Evening Meal - A feast (by normal human standards) is provided by the Chapter serfs, and some Chapter Masters may allow alcohol to be consumed.

"What was that?! Did someone hear an explosion?"
"That's just private Alders, took one too many sips of Bravo company vodka."
"Don't they distill it from promethium?"
"Yes, yes they do."

2130 - Night Firing Exercises - If the chapter is based on a planet where there is no perceptible night or they are based on a fleet, firing exercises are under taken in exotic environments such as underwater, through dense fog or smoke or in zero gravity.

"Here in the Imperium we can travel to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, destroy worlds with a single bomb, communicate telepathically across vast distances of space, rebuild ancient ships but we cannot make those bloody morons from Bravo company understand that FLAMERS DON'T WORK UNDER WATER!"

2315 - Maintenance Rituals - Each Space Marine is expected to maintain his own power armour and weapons, and it is often checked by the Chapter's Techmarines.

"NOW REPEAT AFTER ME PRIVATE SPIERS, KITTIES ARE NOT THE PROPER DECORATION FOR A TERMINATOR ARMOR. NOT EVEN IF THEY'RE PHYRR CAT CUBS!"

2345 - Free Time - Space Marines are permitted this time to reflect upon their duty to The Emperor, however many Chapter Masters regard free time as a frivolous waste, and a dangerous distraction in the extreme.

"So, free time, eh."
"Yup."
"..."
"Wanna go blow something up on the practice course?"
"Sure."

0000 - Rest Period - Space Marines are allocated 4 hours in which to sleep.

Great stuff... I already get an idea that Alpha and Bravo company don't exactly like each other ;)

ygg said:

2315 - Maintenance Rituals - Each Space Marine is expected to maintain his own power armour and weapons, and it is often checked by the Chapter's Techmarines.

"NOW REPEAT AFTER ME PRIVATE SPIERS, KITTIES ARE NOT THE PROPER DECORATION FOR A TERMINATOR ARMOR. NOT EVEN IF THEY'RE PHYRR CAT CUBS!"

As for the kitties, I can only point you to take a look at this

Scary, eh?

ygg said:

Hehe, a friend of mine shed some light on the issue:

partido_risa.gif

ygg: That was awesome. gran_risa.gif

For Ygg and Polaris.

Ygg your friends The Daily rituals of Space Marines was good. I almost fell off my chair.

And Polaris that link you posted. Evil PURE EVIL. I think i would like to get my mind wiped right now.

Even Slaanesh would be horrified by That gran_risa.gif

I will also point to the PC game Dawn of War II. While it doesn't provide a lot of detail on the NPCs' day-to-day activities, there is a lot of difference in the various SM personalities. Some are gruff, some are more extroverted. They joke and tease each other. Some have emotional scars from past incidents that they are reluctant to talk about, and so on.

In essence, they pretty much act just like any modern day group of military guys, other than the fact that they don't obsess over women.

dvang said:

In essence, they pretty much act just like any modern day group of military guys, other than the fact that they don't obsess over women.

I think a perfect example of that, and how they might act, can be seen in the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

All of them (The Clones) are identical to the DNA strand, completely indoctrinated and programmed, but still individuals. In fact, they spend most of their time trying to find even more ways to uniquely define themselves. I think a Space Marine might be very similar; just more religious.

In battle, I picture them almost flipping a mental light switch that puts them into the battle-mind, no personality, indoctrinated, etc mode. But outside of combat, I think it would be only natural for them to try and define themselves as individuals. That individualization would likely come through when there's no threat around.

Polaria said:

Great stuff... I already get an idea that Alpha and Bravo company don't exactly like each other ;)

ygg said:

2315 - Maintenance Rituals - Each Space Marine is expected to maintain his own power armour and weapons, and it is often checked by the Chapter's Techmarines.

"NOW REPEAT AFTER ME PRIVATE SPIERS, KITTIES ARE NOT THE PROPER DECORATION FOR A TERMINATOR ARMOR. NOT EVEN IF THEY'RE PHYRR CAT CUBS!"

As for the kitties, I can only point you to take a look at this

Scary, eh?

I've seen that before, absolutely abhorrent! sorpresa.gif Desacration of my favourite Chapter.

@everyone else: thank you very much, I'll forward the complients happy.gif

Routa-maa said:

And Polaria that link you posted. Evil PURE EVIL. I think i would like to get my mind wiped right now.

Even Slaanesh would be horrified by That gran_risa.gif

I think that is the general idea. Its Adepta Sororitas after all.