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Space Marines are said to be significantly taller when encased in their Power Armour. The only way they could be taller is if they were on stilts. This is supported by official artwork showing Space Marines with disproportionately long shins.

Perhaps it is to make them more intimidating on the battlefield? But moving with stilts is unnatural and cumbersome. Maybe it is to protect their precious feet?

From one of the early cutaways of Power Armour, their boots have retractable spikes in, so they're all basically tottering about on platforms

Maybe the feet of power armour are mounted on pistons to provide more thrust in each step and allow them to run faster? I'm sure I've seen some kind of mechanised walking frame design which does that.

Because the boots are not just a layer of leather, but have things like magnetic plates, gyros, and other traction assist devices. And isn't the shin armor so large not just because of armor, but because of built in compartments for nutrients, water, stims, and meds?

I always thought the height increase from power armor was minimal. Terminator Armor is what really ups the size and height of the wearer.

Maximus Bitch wrote:
Space Marines are said to be significantly taller when encased in their Power Armour.

Are they? Where?

 insaniak wrote:

Maximus Bitch wrote:
Space Marines are said to be significantly taller when encased in their Power Armour.

Are they? Where?

I'd also like to know. As far as I know, the only mention of height increases from power armor was the magnetic pads in the soles and slip-resistant material on the bottom of the feet. Not to mention the thick layer of ceremite. With all that in mind, though, it shouldn't really increase his height more than a few inches; which is hardly significant, as the OP mentions.

Looking at the model I'd expect any height increase to be noticeable but somewhere shy of a foot. The addition to bulk with the backpack and the shoulders could help create the impression they're taller than they are, too.

 AnomanderRake wrote:
Looking at the model I'd expect any height increase to be noticeable but somewhere shy of a foot. The addition to bulk with the backpack and the shoulders could help create the impression they're taller than they are, too.

None of the 40k models (especially Space Marines) are at all indicative of size or scale in the fluff. They are ridiculously out of proportion and small compared to the information the fluff provides as well as the official artwork.

Actually, the Space Marine models are ok. It's just deformed gigantism Cadian guardsmen who are the problem.

Space Marine Cross-Section - enjoy

 Daba wrote:
Actually, the Space Marine models are ok. It's just deformed gigantism Cadian guardsmen who are the problem.

Woah woah woah, first off the we're called ABHUMANS thank you very much! We've evolved to such sizes to carry around the large adamantine gonads it takes to face down the horrors of the galaxy But back on topic though, I always though that there might have been abit of height increase due to armor plating and the thick boot soles, but that the bulk of the armor just made it seem they were significantly larger.

Boots can mag lock to metal aboard space hulks and boarding operations. Its also thick armour plate to protect the wearer from any kind of chemicals and that may be on floors or in what your booting with size 25 ceramite toe caps.

Reason they may gain some height.

Space Marines only really gain a few inches in power armour. They are pretty much all 8 feet without it...
GK are bigger though, aprox. 9 feet.

 Wulfmar wrote:



Space Marine Cross-Section - enjoy

That's first edition though, and extremely outdated.

I was pondering this the other day. Id say they gain a good 6" to 8" overall from armour. I dont think 2.5" thick armour is improbable. So 2.5" over the top of the head and 4" soles for mag plates, cushioning, spikes or what ever doesnt seem to unreasonable.

I blame BL. Really this 7 foot 6 in bare feet Space Marine thing is a relatively new concept. They've always been bulky sure, but if you look at the RT era artwork they're maybe 6 foot 6 guys in armor, not giants.

It's not the models that are wrong, it's the fluff.

 Ashiraya wrote:


That's first edition though, and extremely outdated.

Seriously... you're going to quibble that a picture of a Space Marine cross-section is the wrong edition and therefore must be wrong? I'm sure the Space Marines (which haven't changed much since they were released) will be approximately the same

That's like complaining 'your (generic game)magic cards are 6th edition and we're on 6.1 now!'

Get back under your rock. Shoo!

 AnomanderRake wrote:
Looking at the model I'd expect any height increase to be noticeable but somewhere shy of a foot. The addition to bulk with the backpack and the shoulders could help create the impression they're taller than they are, too.

I going with you. I think it is the over all bulk that gives that impression. Marines are already supposed to be roughly 7-8 feet (sometimes more so given a certain Imperial Fist in the HH Unremembered Empire). Fluff behind technology of 40k aside, we can always look to the clothing we wear today as an example, particularly women's clothing. Many lead us to believe X is smaller or larger or longer, whatever the case may be. But in reality it is our mind or eyes drawn to X due to the accompanying variables which makes us believe it to be true.

Maximus Bitch wrote:
This is supported by official artwork showing Space Marines with disproportionately long shins.

Yup spot on! This is one of the reasons why even the best Space Marine costumes often look disproportionate and goofy. It's probably related to the heroic scale being disproportionate in the first place. Marine's armour looks super cool the way it's proportioned, but an anatomically correct human would never fit inside it. Terminator Armour is even worse: the poor guy would need to have both his shoulder dislocated and moved up over his ears.

While I was looking around for some photos of goofy cosplay armour, I actually found some people who'd done a pretty good job on the proportions (and yes they used stilts and wrist extensions). I've often thought about this, so it's really cool to see it in action.

 Wulfmar wrote:

 Ashiraya wrote:


That's first edition though, and extremely outdated.

Seriously... you're going to quibble that a picture of a Space Marine cross-section is the wrong edition and therefore must be wrong? I'm sure the Space Marines (which haven't changed much since they were released) will be approximately the same

That's like complaining 'your (generic game)magic cards are 6th edition and we're on 6.1 now!'

Get back under your rock. Shoo!

Actually, Space marines have changed a lot since they were released. Everything has changed a lot since 1st Edition. Space Marines didn't used to be post-human, genetically enhanched warrior-monks with centuries-long life spans. They used to be perfectly normal human beings who were recruited out of military prisons and routinely mind-wiped. They used to be able to switch between different Marine factions (because they weren't chapters back in those days) with one notable Ultramarine Librarian having been originally a member of the Dark Angels... Almost everything printed in the Rogue Trader book is no longer considered canon, unless it is duplicated or reprinted in a later source. Especially the half-Eldar Space Marine.

So please, tell me again how everything is the same since 1st Edition.

I'm sorry - we're talking about made up armour and fluff that GW and the BL contradict and change when the whim takes them. I posted a picture because someone had mentioned it.

I'm not going to tell you how everything 'is the same since 1st edition' because... I frankly don't care. If made up stories mean that much to you and you treat is seriously, then please... Why don't you go and find their most recent, up to date version of the image?

squidhills wrote:
Especially the half-Eldar Space Marine.

Illyan Nastase was actually from White Dwarf, not the Rogue Trader Rulebook. Besides, the image from RT of a Space Marine's armour is still useful. There are a few things which have been altered, the stabilising jets for instance, and the nerve electrodes seen as how the Black Carapace dispenses with such a crude method of connection but in general terms it is still a fairly relevant image.

 Wulfmar wrote:
I'm sorry - we're talking about made up armour and fluff that GW and the BL contradict and change when the whim takes them. I posted a picture because someone had mentioned it.

I'm not going to tell you how everything 'is the same since 1st edition' because... I frankly don't care. If made up stories mean that much to you and you treat is seriously, then please... Why don't you go and find their most recent, up to date version of the image?

There is no need to be upset.

Doubting the legitimacy of a first edition source is warranted when you consider the many other things first edition introduced that now are unthinkable, like female Space Marines.

If you are not here to take the discussion seriously, then why exactly are you here?

Even only a couple inches would seem really significant in person.

 Grey Templar wrote:
Even only a couple inches would seem really significant in person.

Especially when you consider that SM aren't just tall, they are also wide. Adding 4"-6" to a normally proportioned human would seem like a lot in person, it would almost feel like double the height if that human happened to be built like an NFL linebacker on super-steroids.

Look at this tasty comparison picture.

Sibbering is an artist, not a writer. His theories are interesting but just theories.

That Space Marines waist, legs and stance seem narrower when he's in armour. Is that just the perspective throwing me off?

Probably. Smooth lines vs organic edges can give a false sense of scale.