Like the topic says, I am wondering what you guys think the effects of (incomplete or whole) geneseed on an adult human.

I'm considering having one of my players be purposefully contaminated by an apothecary of the VIII Legion, the rest of this adventure is still in the works.

I get the feeling it would be unpleasant, but I wonder if it would be possible for the PC in question to gain any unique geneseed traits (in a limited fashion) without dying a slow and agonizing death. What do you guys think?

Hi,

Your poor sod is going to die a messy death, that will be similar to radiation poisoning.

Here is what will occur.

1) Gene seed itelf mutates him on a lethal scale (the fluff survival rate for a properly prepared/monitored/nurtured neophyte in adolecence is 33%) this will be long and drawn out as the following occur: His current organs begin to shut down, the geneseed begins to make new half functioning organs, his bone and muscular structure grow to unsustainable size eratically, his body attacks itself as it rejects genetic material that is foreign to it (this last part will result in extreme sickness rashs and delerium)

2) Because of poor maintence of the tools by this Arch-HEretic the poor man now is infected from surgery develops blood poisoning and dies in two weeks.

3) Corruption ensues because of the chaos taint on the gene seed he is hidieously mutated in obvious ways that disfigure the holy form of man, if he survives for long he will be put down by the first righteous servant of the emporer who sees him.

Now radiation poisoning is a horrible and drawn out affair of extreme pain and sickness that is horrible to watch as the body slowly breaks down, i imagine inapropriate application of gene seed is similar.

By the way - if you are hoping that the unfortunate lab rat survives then I have the following solutions:

Chaos taint actually has the oposite effect and the gene-seed and current genetics meld seemlessly, there is ofcourse side effects and he may be more or less a space-marine/chaos space marine. such an outcome would be an extreme heresy and any Ordos operative of most leanings would destroy the entire project, if for no other reason than to keep space marines happy with him.

By miracle (0.00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001%) chance the operation succeeds - He who is on Terra - didnt muck around and the poor sould is no longer human… but he isnt a marine either. he is half way, he has all the organs that you think appropriate except the Black Carapace but they are only half as effective, he gains 3d10 insanity points and fearless. his strength and toughness are increased by 20 and his agility by -20. He gains 5 wounds but the transformation has wracked his brain making him vulnerable to psychic attacks on the mind.

thank you for the detailed reply, that is most helpful.

Also, I've been reading the night lord books, and their gift of far-seeing seems to only manifest in those who cannot handle the geneseed, would it be "believable" for my poor sod (if he survives) to be wracked with similar visions?

Found this topic and felt like a bit of resurrecting....

The wh40k novel(s) about the dark angels mention Luther and other adult knights getting space marine 'upgrades'. They are not quite as good as proper space marines bred from a young age but are good enough to join the crusade as space marines.

Does anybody know more about this? It seems to suggest quite clearly that adult males can be given certain space marine organs etc.

Found this topic and felt like a bit of resurrecting....

The wh40k novel(s) about the dark angels mention Luther and other adult knights getting space marine 'upgrades'. They are not quite as good as proper space marines bred from a young age but are good enough to join the crusade as space marines.

Does anybody know more about this? It seems to suggest quite clearly that adult males can be given certain space marine organs etc.

Read the space wolves book in the HH series. Basically its like overhauling an engine on a car. They skin you, scrub out the wrinkles, add ductape to your bones, replace your mucles and otherwise reset the aging clock a few decades. The non-marine marines like luther get human power armor instead of astartes. They usually have quite a bit of cyber upgrades as well.

Uuhhff.... I realise this thread is old, but ...

Geneseed =/= Implants

Just getting Space Marine glands implanted won't suddenly have the individual grow adamantium around their bones - its only purpose is to make the actual implants merge better and faster with the body (otherwise the failure rate of aspirants would be even higher, especially given the decline in technology that has turned the creation of Astartes into mystified pseudoscience).

Likewise, the age cap for potential Marine recruits is tied to implant growth and has little to do with the geneseed itself. It's just that the recruit's body won't be able to absorb and bond with the implants if it is already fully grown, or may even cause catastrophic tissue rejection.

In fact, the geneseed for new Space Marine legions is created by "infecting" human slaves with it, harvesting it again and again until there's enough for a whole Chapter. The Index Astartes article in WD #247 goes a bit deeper into this grisly, grimdark detail.

"A new Chapter cannot be founded overnight. A single suitable gene-seed must be selected for each zygote. Zygotes are then grown in culture and implanted into human test-slaves. These test-slaves must be biologically compatible and free from mutation. Test-slaves spend their entire lives bound in static experimental capsules. Although conscious, they are completely immobile, serving as little more than mediums within which the various zygotes can develop. From the original slave come two progenoids, which are implanted within two more slaves, from which come four progenoids and so on. It takes about 55 years of constant reproduction to produce 1,000 healthy sets of organs. These must be officially sanctioned by the Master of Adeptus Mechanicus and then by the High Lords of Terra speaking for the Emperor. Only the Emperor can give permission for the creation of a new Chapter."

Obviously, however, this is only one source of fluff, and other material may describe things differently.