Is it just me, or is there no way for SM to get Chem Geld?

It's listed in the Talents section of the book, but it's not in any of the advance schemes. I also couldn't find any reference to it in the "all SM characters get X" section.

Is this true? And if so, what are the implications?

That if they do impregnate someone they baby will be born as humans do, completely normal, this has been discussed before in the deathwing material

I'd still consider them sterile. There's no way invasive surgery, gene-tampering and chem-therapy leave the reproductive parts intact if they're not careful about it - and considering there's no use for them, I don't see that happening.

IIRC space wolves still bed women.

BaronIveagh said:

and how Ferris is that even possible ? They are not only 2.5 m tall, they are large like a bloody wardrobe..

Lucius Valerius said:

Don't ask me, I don't write fluff, I just report it. But it was current as of the last SW codex. (since it's mentioned that a lost group of Spae Wolves found that their hosts were not human by their attempts to make a pass at the local ladies.)

IIRC Ragnar Blackmane was well known for his... endurance. It's not really clear if this is before or after he becomes a Space Wolf, though. If they're recruiting space marines at the start of puberty, though...

They could bed Ogryn females. I guess this would probably encourage the chem-geld process later.

Despite the fact that it creates more nastiness, the "female space marine" thread seems to take second place to the most common thread about Marines: What happens to their twig and giggle-berries or are they perpetually celibate (seemingly like their nerdy teenage demographic seems to feel).

My answer was always, "Yes they can, but no they don't. Marines are concerned with things other than whether someone is an innie or an outtie, bellybuttons or otherwise."

Kage

Astartes have only one mistress: War.

And it is a fickle beast at best; a hydra of conflict that in the grim dark future means that there is only war.

Yada-yada.

Wait. That sounds familiar.

Kage

kenshin138 said:

Unless they've fallen to Slaanesh. Then it's tentical time!

Actually, I can't say that I've seen much by way of space marine genetalia threads as I have for 'what is canon' and 'fem marines'. The simple reason is that there's no reason they wouldn't have them (and probably a sex drive) since thier abnormal growth isn't (and can't be) generated by testosterone or similar agents.

Righteous Fury is not roid rage.

SPACE MARINE SMASH!

BaronIveagh said:

Guess it depends on how long you've been posting on fan forums. I have seen them many times. That and their normal devolution into what Marines dowith Sisters of Battle, or don't do with them because they... You get the point.

Kage

Maybe it's because our twig and berries are such a focal point of our own existence, such a driving force for near everything we do, it's hard to think about 'humans' or other creatures that don't do the same thing. For many of us it's quite alien to think that a man, however modified that man is, to go without.

Lucius Valerius said:

Just because the rest of their bodies are enhanced and made larger ... it doesn't follow their todgers would be. As for their bodily size, well there are very large and heavy men alive today who seem to manage without killing the girl, so I see no reason by size alone it would be impossible.

Indeed, as Baron says, according to some canon and some Chapters (or ... well one at least) it does happen in setting.

ddunkelmeister said:

I think this is completely in line with GW "don't ask, don't tell" -policy. They expect us not to ask about sexuality in 40K and no matter if we do, they still won't tell about it

As for FFG and Deathwatch, I will say this: One of the big ideas about Deathwatch development process was that Marines are not clones. Each chapter has its own cult, its own culture and its own personality. Each individual marine is just that. Individual. Thus they do not want to force GMs and Players into playing it one way or another so the easiest way for them is to follow GW DADT-policy in this and let the GM make the difficult decisions for them.

Now, as for my personal opinions:

It all depends on chapter. Yes, you read it right. Each chapter cult has very distinct and chapter-dependant ideas about what is okay and what is not. Some chapters might actually bolt a piece of black carapace there and attach what needs to be in little plastic tubes for waste-recycling purposes. Others might be deliberately celibate. I can see Space Wolves making drunken passes at women, too (and no, the size of your piece doesn't scale with the size of your body...) Hell, I could see Raven Guard captain commanding his men to fraternize with locals on purpose to get their cooperation or get some information for some darker-than-black-spec-op.

Oh, and no Chem Geld means you can be seduced...

Hmm I don't know what chem geld is, but according to canon some chapters tried to increase their numbers by "normal" means
(or at least seminormal). Ít was mentioned in the "Rynn's world" novel, that the chapter had tried it when their numbers were
dangerously low, but it had failed disastriously......the outcome was monsters or so if I remember right.

Bond. Brother-Captain Bond.

Of course, seduction is what happens in Fulgrim , so.... yeah.

BaronIveagh said:

In my interpretation the Space Wolves won't shy away from gals, that's for sure. They're going to be really rough vikings.

The reason behind that is that DW is essentially a 'one class game' - Marines are the equivalent of Paladins. So a few Vikings inbetween can't hurt.

...well actually it can and does, come to think of it.

Alex

Another way to consider the possibility of sexually active Space Marines is that with the exception of the fluff/history of the Space Wolves who actively practice gluttony, carousing, and amorous pursuits, most chapters are considered to be warrior-monks who live an ascetic existence aside from the occasional trip to a hellish and horrific futuristic warzone.

By this rationale, I think that it is perfectly acceptable to believe that like most men dedicated to a monastic lifestyle that there are some marines who would struggle with sexual urges and many that would not.

Additionally, with the amount of hypnotherapy a marine undergoes, again I think it is perfectly rational that the pleasure a marine would receive from sexual gratification would be surpressed and possibly redirected into pleasure at service to the Imperium, or supplementing the high experienced during the combat experience (See "The Hurt Locker") reinforcing the drive to do battle with the enemies of the Imperium.

Just gonna throw in that I think chem geld is listed as a part of that blurb stating that not all talents listed are for players. Its probably more for enabling an NPC to not be affected by various chems or seduction.

One thing worth noting is that Chem Geld hinders all Charm Tests directed at the character, not just ones intended to seduce. As Charm is as useful for rousing pre- or mid-battle oratory as it is for propositioning random members of the other gender, it seems somewhat inappropriate to give Marines an ability that makes them less susceptible to an inspiring speech in battle.

It's similar to Orks in Rogue Trader - they don't have Chem Geld, but that doesn't mean anything regarding their inclination or ability to reproduce sexually (in the case of Orks, there is no inclination nor any ability, given that they're asexual mushroom-monsters), which is a matter that doesn't really have any particular influence over the rules except in very specific situations.

Also arousal and anger, frustration and so on are very linked in the brain.

A few things I've noticed.

Marines get access to Carouse, Deceive (which includes seduction), and even Gamble. These are not particularly indicative that all SMs are ascetic monks. There is plenty of room for a sexually active SM, just as there can be some that are shifty in their personal habits so long as their duty to the Emperor is unquestionable.

Lastly, regarding the size bit. I noted that, unless I missed something, SMs are not Hulking outside of their armour. Within the human size range they are at the highest end, but some other humans in the Imperium (particualrly from Feral Worlds) can get pretty big too.

...dear god, my players read this thread and already I've had them make six jokes about marines being hung like horses, since they're built like bulls.

Our DW campeign is already circling the drain... *sigh*

I've been told that in DW astartes are back to human size, about 2.1 m tall while in power armor... IF that is going to be the canon eight from now on, having sex isn't going to be an issue anymore lol