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Hello all. I was wondering if someone knew the answer to a question that's been bugging me for YEARS. Why do some Space Marines not wear helmets, but are otherwise protected? It seems to be a trend. I respect the power armor and all, but if he got shot in the face...or power clawed...or melta'd I don't see how he would be reasonably protected. Especially units with more than one wound. Any ideas would be appreciated

Aesthetic reasons.

Because it looks more heroic to see a space marines face in the thralls of constipatory anguish.

I think they all wear the helmets prety much all the time. The aertwork and models dont because they are heroic propoganda pose.
Before - or after - a battle, the captain removes his helmet, puts one leg on a rock and raises his power weapon. The official photographer takes his picture. Afterwards the captain dons hemet and leads his troops as normal.

It comes back to Rogue Trader era debates as to whether a SM character should have protection against gas weapons. The rules say he should, but WYSIWYG says he shouldnt.

Terminators are the problem, they are designed for hostile environment. Some related artwork showed terminators with helmetless sergeants fighting in places where there is no atmosphere. I guess that in terminator sergeants and officers cases the helmet is replaced by a force field. Which kind of makes sense, as it gives the officer unrestricted vision, yet it is easy to imagine the sort of field protection the helm area could be given on a bulky terminator suit.

Didn't a space marine lose without his helmet some features of his armor? Maybe the vox-unit,enhanced visors,target information,
friend-foe-scanner and such?
I believe space marines are helmeted in combat.Some may drop their helmet when it gets damaged.
Bareheaded marines are just for propaganda-posters (good point Orlanth)or modellers to show their abilities with faces.

So GW can give them models that are screaming.

In the case of the Space wolves at least they go without helmets because it inhibits their acute senses.

They can see and smell better without them on.

Hellfury wrote:Aesthetic reasons.

Because it looks more heroic to see a space marines face in the thralls of constipatory anguish.

This made me laugh until I was nearly in the thralls of the opposite of constipatory anguish.

With their helmets on, Space Marine characters run the risk of appearing like storm trooper clones.
Notice in hollywood how the heroes always have their faces showing?

Bingo!

maybe because the helmet obsutrusts vision, its pretty hard to see what your doing in a battle through two tiny slits

I think it's a rather stupid thing to do. You're just distinguishing yourself to enemy snipers.