I've told you lot before Space Marines are smooth as action mans junk. There's just no need for it any other way.

HappyDaze said:

This might just show that Alan Merrett needs a kick in the goolies, but then again that's an old soap box.

Kage

Face Eater said:

If that's the case, why was Ragnar so famous for getting laid? He happen to have a freak mutation or was he just that superhuman with his tongue?

"Once you've had Blackmane..."

BaronIveagh said:

Anyone got a source on this? It's the first I've ever heard of it.

As far as I can remember, the only references to space marines and sexuality are few and far between. The most vivid example I can think of is in Ian Watson's Inquisition War series; there's a segment where some Slaanesh Chaos marines are being..ummm...'discourteous' to some women who work at a public bath in a planet they've conquered. However, this is also the series that heavily features the Star Child and has a Squat as a main character, so it can be argued to be a bit out of date.

In the Space Wolf series by William King, second book (if I remember correctly), Ragnar finds the female inquisitor attractive. And, of course, there's that little blurb in the Space Wolf codex about the wolf lord making a drunken pass at what he thinks is an attractive lady.

Even in Fulgrim, the 'seduction' of the marines isn't what I'd describe as sexual. During the super-awesome rock opera/orgy/murderfest, the author mentions how the marines just open-up and shoot at everyone, as it's "all they've ever known."

Ultimately, I guess it's up to the individual reach their own conclusion. Personally, I think that allowing your biologically enhanced super-soldiers to be distracted by such things is a terrible idea, but to each his/her own.

As for Chem Geld talent itself and whether it was NPC-only, the talent was first introduced in Dark Heresy as part of Adeptus Mechanicus techpriest advancement packages. Where it fits well, because fluff already states that while some AdMech are sexually active the cult itself sees this as one of the weaknesses of flesh and thus many AdMech go for the chemical solution quite eagerly.

As such, I expected to see it in Techmarine advancement packages and was quite surprised not to see it there as the talent was still listed. Yes, it would make techmarine less affected by "rousing the troops" with great speech and such but if you read the Techmarine fluff in, for example, Codex the techmarines are described to be a bit of outcasts in many chapters and are regularly awkward in social interaction with their brothers.

Since I'm pretty sure FFG or GW will never give a cut-and-dried answer to marine sexuality as a big question I'm pretty content to class it under "all chapters have different cultures, all marines are inidivuals". IMHO having a holier-than-though monastic Dark Angel be disgusted about merry Space Wolves carnal obsessions is just another little thing that can add depth to roleplaying marines.

I'm sorry, I'm flashing back to a Sgt screaming at one of the men in line 'WHAT'S WRONG PRIVATE? You look a little slack in the shorts! DON'T YOU LOVE THE ARMY? When I say ATTENTION I expect EVERY PART OF YOU TO BE AT ATTENTION!"

That flashback aside, I belive it was in one of the Space Wolves novels, though I forget which one.

If you REALLY want your Space Marine to have Chem Geld, you can always take it as an Elite Advance.

All I have to say is, "Don't ask, Don't Tell"

Depending on the chapter of course.

They are 2.1 meters tall IN ARMOR. Well with in a human norm, but tall.

HappyDaze said:

There has to be a joke in there somewhere.

Kage

HappyDaze said:

If a space marine wants to do this to prevent temptations, which chapters would provide the chemicals needed ? (and how would those chemicals mess with the rest of a Space Marines physiology ?)

Which chapters would go for a permanent surgical alternative ?

And which chapters would tell the space marine something like: Don't waste the Apothecaries time, if you want them gone then you can use your combat knife to remove them yourself.

LOL I can just see the Ultramarines response: "Meditate on page 396 of the Codex Astartes....."

BaronIveagh said:

Nah Ultramarines are basically Romans in space and we weren't that prude about sex.. quite the contrary heh

Even in the Space Wolves Codex there is no statement that SW still get "some" the only reference is to Lukas the Trickster pg 52 Space wolf 5th Ed Codex. "A near-legendary figure amongst Fenris' womenfold, Lukas was once famous for sharing a dozen beds in a single night."

Take from it what you will

Yep, Lukas owned a bed & breakfast...

Kage

I'm reading the italian translation of the codex for that passage and it says something like this right after that line. "Since he has become a Space Wolf, however, blah blah blah"

That's the problem with some of the stuff in the codex about astartes. On one hand they tell us they are recruited around 10-11 years of age and then you hear the incredible stories of some of this guys that can not possible have happened that young..

No surprise there. You have to remember the nature of the authors and what their tennage years were likely spent doing. That their "uber-boys" end up being fantasy stand-ins is perhaps not that surprising.

Kage

Kage2020 said:

I take it to mean that Lukas simply spends more time fighting and travelling around. Since the other Chapters in DW are essentially Paladins, in my interpretation the Space Wolves become really rough vikings (including pleasing the ladies) - with a sense for nobleness, not to forget.

Alex

maniacmcgoo said:

That's actually about as explicit as I'd expect in a product marketed to children. It clearly states he's shared the beds of a dozen 'womenfolk' in a night. I don't see how that can be read any other way than he had sex with those women.

Unless ... he was playing regicide with them?

Well, the next sentence begins with, "But since his elevation to the ranks of the Space Wolves..."

It's debatable as to whether it's referring to his romantic exploits before being selected, or after.

Kage2020 said:

Nope. It's a serious solution for those that insist on playing a gelded SM. They can have it their way at a cost determined between them and the GM. I doubt many will actually want to take it, despite what's being said on this thread.

Also, the appearent demise of Svengar the Red (pg 10 SW codex) when he makes a pass at one of the hostesses only to discover she's not what she appears to be...

HappyDaze said:

You could also inflict it on any of your players that are uncharacteristily 'socialable'.

Face Eater said:

I prefer to avoid inflicting things upon my players. I usually don't even do such things to their characters either, since it's - pardon my pun - a **** move.

I don't know. Imposing the consequences of their actions always seems to be appropriate. After all, surely even if your in the spotlight (as Deathwatch would have it) you're just as, if not more, likely to see the dirt and tarnish...

Kage