Anyone else think its odd Techmariens don't have any excellerated access to high level driving / piloting skills? Seems to me those would be in their balliwick.

I completely agree, seeing as how the book I'm reading at the moment (Angels of Darkness) has the techmarine as the Thunderhawk pilot.

But not all Techmarines are going to be skilled in driving around or piloting things. Knowing how to build and repair vehicles doesn't require knowing how to drive or fly them.

MILLANDSON said:

I would argue it does actually. Talk to someone who repairs Tanks - bet they can drive one as good or better than the average Tank Driver. They also have a deeper level of interaction with the device.

Though to your point, I'm not suggesting just giving a tech-marine skill in Driving / Piloting - I am saying I believe they should be available earlier and cheaper than they are for a regular Space Marine as being related skills to their vocation.

Any Space Marine should do perfectly well in using a Jump Pack and maneuvering a bike or trike. Additionally he should be educated in operating a vehicle based on the Rhino-Chassis and a Landspeeder. At least a Space Marine who has undergone his training according to the Codex Astartes learns how to operate these things.

A Techmarine should, in addition to the stuff above, know how to operate a Land Raider and a Thunderhawk.

They don´t necessarily need to be super good in driving vehicles but they should at the very least have their "driving licenses"

moepp said:

Every Marine starts with Drive (Ground Vehicle), so that covers bikes, Land Raiders and all Rhino-derived vehicles. Land Speeders, Storm Ravens, Thunderhawks, Caestus Assault Rams and other vehicles are covered by different skills, however...

N0-1_H3r3 said:

Yes, my bad sry.

But pilot (personal) as trained skill is a must have for any Marine imo. I´ll grant that to my group as soon as we start.

The other things I´m not sure of. Drive (Hover Vehicle) as basic skill for anyone (Landspeeder is not a flyer is it?)? Most marines who don´t stick with piloting landspeeders only get their "driving lessons" with those craft and otherwhise operate as gunners.

A techmarine should also be able to pilot a Thunderhawk. Which cathegory is it pilot (flyer) or pilot (spacecraft). I mean, I know that a Thunderhawk works perfectly well in space, but spacecraft is such a broad cathegory, I mean it includes capital ships...

moepp said:

I don't see any reason why a Techmarine would automatically be able to pilot a Thunderhawk, or a Landspeeder. Presumably, Techmarines are trained to drive ground vehicles as a scout, as they would probably train as Scout Bikers.

I don't see any indication that they would receive training in Landspeeder piloting or Thunderhawk piloting before receiving their Servo-arm and both Landspeeders and Thunderhawks aren't normally equipped to accomodate a servo-harness. This isn't to say that a Techmarine must always wear his Servo-Arm, nor claiming that Landspeeders or Thunderhawks cannot be modified to seat a Servo-armed Techmarine.

However, it does seem perfectly reasonable that some Techmarines receive training in Thunderhawk/Land Speeder piloting, and others do not. I don't see any reason to assume that they ALL receive training in this field.

I can't speak to tanks, but I can guarantee you that not everyone who repairs aircraft can fly them. I also know that not everyone who repairs spacecraft can fly them, either (are all the NASA mechanics astronauts?). I suspect a Thunderhawk, despite its armor and armament, is more akin to an aircraft or spacecraft than a tank.

I dont think anyone is suggesting that it should be given to them automatically. Just that it should be available to them at an earlier rank (and possibly cheaper, although I'm not convinced about that) than a standard SM advance.

moepp said:

Landspeeder is Drive (Hover)