Just how well could an unarmored Space Marine pass himself off as a regular person?

On the one hand, in one of the Space Wolf books a Fallen Dark Angel is able to effectively disguise himself as just a guy, if a rather large one.

On the other hand, you would think that all the different organs, particularly the Black Carapace, would be rather noticeable on some level, as well as things like honor studs and stuff.

What skills would be needed, and at what difficulty, to try and sell such a disguise?

HamHamJ said:

I would think that the Dark Angel example you mentioned would be the norm. They look like men, however, larger men. Think a Andre the Giant size.

The Black Carapace is under their skin, AFAIK it's not actually visible. All of the interface ports that stick through the skin from the carapace, however, would be visible unless covered up.

Concealment and Blather, etc. might be necessary to pass oneself off as just being "big boned".

I'm pretty sure that trying to look like something you are not is the definition of Disguise.

If the average astartes is about 210 cm tall then he's only 15 cm taller than me or about the size of some of the tall guys I know. As for the width of the guy, well I guess that is up to the individual player when he designed the character if he's build more like an olympic swimmer than a brick house than that might be an option, but on close inspection, someone having to administer first aid or a bioscan he will come up as something DIFFERENT. Now mind you I doubt that the average hive world doc knows how to treat a space marine, all they will know is that there is some serious genetic manipulation and implant tech going on far beyond anything he's ever seen, he might even call in the ad-mech because of it. Same goes for bio scanners who might trigger when he gets close, but in theory, yes he can infiltrate.

in the "Tales Of Heresy" short story "Blood Games" the Custodes member was able to disguise his massive build with a displacer field on more than one occasion

to quote the book: "Most aggravating of all, he was obliged to wear another displacer field to visibly diminish and disguise his build."

as the Custodes are towering warriors that are equal if not larger than the Astartes, so i believe it is very believable that a member of the astartes could hide himself as a regular human

Cleric Cromwell said:

I have not read that story, but that line just makes me go huh? How would a displacer field help you look smaller? They physically move you to avoid an attack. A holofield, maybe, but that's eldar tech.

Space Marine goes undercover in a bar:-

Bear in mind that in 40k land people range up to Ogryn size.

AluminiumWolf said:

Absolutely - once you include gene-bulked gland warriors, augmented tech-priests, mutants and Ogryns then there is little reason for our space marine to stand out. In fact he may be a little on the small side.

In The Inquisition War a space marine passes himself off as a big dumb brute bodyguard as he travels with with an Inquisitor after his armor is destroyed by Eldar.

HamHamJ said:

its not really the black carapace he has to worry about, but several other implants

for instance, it is noted throughout the horus heresy books that the astartes have a very unique smell due to their Mucranoid implant, which allows them to produce an oily substance in place of sweat.

also the Ossmodula organ has a very noticeable effect on the marine's appearance, as it fuses the rib cage into a solid mass, which was said to be noticeable when the marine wasn't wearing a shirt