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I'm trying to find interactions between Commissars and Space Marines. The Commissar is supposed to be a no-nonsense person whose looking for victory and loyalty. Most of the books I've read have interaction only between IG and the Commissars.

How do they interact with Space Marines and others not IG? Like the Inquisition or even Sisters of Battle. In fact, the only Sisters of Battle fluff I've read is in Tales of Heresy...

Has anyone seen, or has any idea on how Commissars treat Space Marines? I would figure they would treat them the same as any man, unlike how IG troops tend to revere the Marines with awestruck looks...

Space marines are demigods in the eyes of most humans (including commisars), commisars have no power over them and dont even have a reason to interact with htem as their job is soley IG based.

There are some clips of this interaction in the live action portions of that old computer epic 40k game (Final Liberation, or something like that). The clips are all over YouTube.

Well Final Liberation, the old EPIC 40,000 game, had some cutscenes of the Commissar conversing with an Ultramarine.

I think it would generally vary from Commissar to Commissar, depending on things like how much combat they've seen, if they've ever fought beside or encountered Astartes before, etc...

Generally I think they still treat the Astartes with the same awe as the Guardsmen, they just do a better job at hiding it behind a mask of calm respect.

Commissars are responsible for guard only.
They cant do anything about SoB, Ad Mech , Space Marines.
A commissar is part of the imperial warmachine and will met a lot of the other servants of the emperor in his active time.
Would depend on his standing with the higher up ranks ( example: Gaunt , Cain ) what he gets to see or is permitted to be part of.

SoB are independent, Ad mech is also independent, as are space marines.

The commissar would most likely treat them with respect ( if he dont want to have an untimely accident ).

And the inquisition is superior to the commissariat, so he would follow orders.

corpsesarefun wrote:Space marines are demigods in the eyes of most humans (including commisars) [...]

I don't know. I think that Commissars in a way are Space Marines without the physical/genetic modification part. And I bet they know that. So I'd say they respect Marines, of course, but they wouldn't see them as gods, because they know they're just several implantations away from being the same thing, and the implantation isn't exactly a special achievement of the Marines, it's just given to them. Of course, the Commissars vary, but I'd vote for them being aware of their own "skills" and maybe considering the Space Marines as their "bigger brothers", not their Living Gods.

I don't think a commissar would be ballsy enough to execute an SM for sowardice. But nor do I think it would be necessary. He would most certainly feel intimidated by the sheer awesome presence of the figure. But not so much as the common IG.

They probably talk to them the same as everybody. But with a bit more respect.

Well Ciaphas Cain was a liaison for his headquarters with the Reclaimers. At the most it seems like he was there as a diplomat for the guard to the marines. But I would think that a normal commissar would be star stuck at seeing a marine and being able to interact with one. As the the execution part, they have no power over marines. They only have authority over the guard and navy.

The whole point of the Comissariat is to make sure that they stay in line, so of course they wouldn't converse with SM. That would be like a High Lord talking to a basic IG trooper.

MC

The New Romance wrote:

corpsesarefun wrote:Space marines are demigods in the eyes of most humans (including commisars) [...]

I don't know. I think that Commissars in a way are Space Marines without the physical/genetic modification part. And I bet they know that. So I'd say they respect Marines, of course, but they wouldn't see them as gods, because they know they're just several implantations away from being the same thing, and the implantation isn't exactly a special achievement of the Marines, it's just given to them. Of course, the Commissars vary, but I'd vote for them being aware of their own "skills" and maybe considering the Space Marines as their "bigger brothers", not their Living Gods.

Commisars have completely different training, work for a different splinter of the imperium and have different religious beliefs, not to mention the different job and equipment.

A space marine is to a commisar as a commisar is to a civilian factory worker.

I don't think that's an accurate comparison. As far as I know, SM don't have any direct power to order IG forces. I would think that a commissar is to a SM what a SOB is to an SM. They are pretty much completley different forces. Independant of each other.

I don't think a commissar would be ballsy enough to execute an SM for sowardice. But nor do I think it would be necessary. He would most certainly feel intimidated by the sheer awesome presence of the figure. But not so much as the common IG.

I dont think they could full stop!
How would a flashlight execute someone in power armour?

Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.

Commissars have Bolt pistols. Remember...

And that will do what? T4, power armour.
I think the commissar would lose half of his head.

Emperors Faithful wrote:Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.
Bolt pistol.

Commissars have Bolt pistols. Remember...

And SM have bolters, power armour and ALOT more training whats your point?

There are examples where space marines were in charge and IG had to obey. ( u.ventris ) Superior experience and training makes it more likely that marines command a imperial force than IG officers would ever give orders to a marine.

The astartes are independant, but i think in a campaign the gathered forces will follow the orders of those fighting for some hundred
years of service without a debate.

And it may be his first and last mistake if a commissar offends a space marine.

I'm saying, fluffwise, a bolt pistol WILL cave in SM skull at point-blank execution style range.

Most commissars never see a Space Marine. There are only about 1,000,000 SMs in the galaxy, if you believe the propaganda. As they go around in companies of 100, and have to leave some at base there is much less than 1/100 chance of there being any on a given planet.

Alternatively if you don't believe the propaganda, SMs are just big guys on steroids and anti-psychotics, and there are plenty of them. Meeting one would be relatively common but they would not be as impressive.

Emperors Faithful wrote:I'm saying, fluffwise, a bolt pistol WILL cave in SM skull at point-blank execution style range.

Oh sorry your comissar was to slow....

Because fluffwise a Space marine is faster than a commissar.

There less then a million marines, there is max a million but no more.

Most chapters are never upto full strengh so there something like 770,000 to 900,000.

Lord-Loss wrote:There less then a million marines, there is max a million but no more.

Most chapters are never upto full strengh so there something like 770,000 to 900,000.

the 1000 only includes battlebrothers, so nothing from crews...and its possible to meet the officers of a space ship if youre
part of an imperial force and as a comissar attached to a IG officer.
Not to forget BT ( no one knows their size ).
I wouldnt assume its unlikely to see a marine if youre a comissar. Officers and their entourage tend to see more of an allied
force than the grunts.

Since the subject of this topic isnt "will a commissar ever met a space marine", but "attitude towards SM", i think we should
assume both have to meet.

Lord-Loss wrote:There less then a million marines, there is max a million but no more.

Most chapters are never upto full strengh so there something like 770,000 to 900,000.

Sorry but this is total Nonsence.

Firstly: The Thousand Chapters is Propaganda Spin. Even the High Lords have no freaking clue how many Chapters there are
Secondly: Many Chapters use the Codex for Loo Roll and are well WELL above 1000 Marines. One less extreme example are the Exorcists, who maintain an extra scout company, while on the other end of the Scale are the Black Templars, who are about five to seven thousand full battle brothers in strength (Not including Neophites, Servitors, Thralls, Serfs, Crews etc)
Thirdly: The Thousand Marine Number is poetic Licence. A Rigid Codex Astartes Chapters number on average 1500 Battle Brothers plus Scouts. Read the Thousand Marine Myth for a full explanation.

Emperors Faithful wrote:I don't think that's an accurate comparison. As far as I know, SM don't have any direct power to order IG forces. I would think that a commissar is to a SM what a SOB is to an SM. They are pretty much completley different forces. Independant of each other.

corpsesarefun wrote:Commisars have completely different training, work for a different splinter of the imperium and have different religious beliefs, not to mention the different job and equipment.

A space marine is to a commisar as a commisar is to a civilian factory worker.

I'm with you on that one, Emperor's Faithful. Do Space Marines and commissars have different religious belief? Don't they both believe in the Emperor? I mean, there isn't even a religious unity among different Space Marine chapters, so I'd say you pretty much can't tell. Their personal equipment, apart from power armour, isn't that different.

And above all, both wouldn't know fear when it shakes their hand and politely introduces itself. Isn't that the main point about Marines, knowing no fear (besides being bald and screaming )? If so, then commissars are somewhat similar, albeit a foot or two smaller. They're both badasses in faithful service of the Emperor nonetheless, so I wouldn't distinguish them as clearly. Anyway, as long as there's no official fluff on it, we may all have our opinions.

The New Romance wrote:I'm with you on that one. Do Space Marines and commissars have different religious belief? Don't they both believe in the Emperor? I mean, there isn't even a religious unity among different Space Marine chapters, so I'd say you pretty much can't tell. Their personal equipment, apart from power armour, isn't that different.

For lack of a better analogy (please dont hurt me mods) It is like the difference between Catholisism and Protistantism. The Imperial Creed (what the Guard/Commisars are supposed to believe) is that The Emperor is the Divine Personified. Space Marines see him as an Ancesteral Father figure who gave life to them and their Primarchs, but not divine. Space Wolves in fact reject any sort of divine notion, he was just so 'ard 'e coud beat up da Leman Russ!

"he was just so 'ard 'e coud beat up da Leman Russ! "
grey space orkz ?

And no, your analogy doesnt fit.

Its not needed too.

This:
The Imperial Creed (what the Guard/Commisars are supposed to believe) is that The Emperor is the Divine Personified. Space Marines see him as an Ancesteral Father figure who gave life to them and their Primarchs, but not divine
is all thats needed.

The answer to this question is somewhat of a cop-out but its the best one imo, "it depends".

Guys like Commissar Yarrick likely would demand a lot of respect from anyone in the Imperium including SM's. Commissars can live extended lifespans with the aid of drugs and 40k technology, giving some the opportunity to gain fame.

As for the generic Commissar, considering their role in IG regiments and their extensive training from core Imperium schools - I'd imagine they wouldn't lose any face around SM's. After all Commissars will shoot an IG commanding officer's head off even in the middle of a hellish battle against all sorts of enemies including power armored foes. Somehow Commissars and the units they lead stand their ground against any odds. That said I doubt the generic Commissar would be barking orders or killing off fellow SM's unless the Commissar is the overall leader/expert such as Yarrick @ Armageddon. There's likely a mutual respect but if the Commissar sees something he doesn't agree with it'd be in his nature to do something about it imo.

Doombot001 wrote:I'm trying to find interactions between Commissars and Space Marines. The Commissar is supposed to be a no-nonsense person whose looking for victory and loyalty. Most of the books I've read have interaction only between IG and the Commissars.

How do they interact with Space Marines and others not IG? Like the Inquisition or even Sisters of Battle. In fact, the only Sisters of Battle fluff I've read is in Tales of Heresy...

Has anyone seen, or has any idea on how Commissars treat Space Marines? I would figure they would treat them the same as any man, unlike how IG troops tend to revere the Marines with awestruck looks...

The Adeptus Astartes don't take orders from IG officers unless directed to do so by their own superiors. Maybe a small squad helping out a larger IG force, the SM's may get seconded to the ranking IG officer and as part of such a force they may have a set task to do.

"With Horus' defeat, and the retreat of Chaos to the Eye of Terror, the Imperial Army underwent massive reformations, and became heavily standardized. The Navy was separated from the Army, which was renamed the Imperial Guard. During this time, the Commissariat was formed to be the bulwark against the influences of Chaos and its traitors. The Commissar was given power to ensure a regiment's continuing loyalty, and was charged to do anything necessary to prevent the corruption or spread of Chaos."

As you can see, Commissars have no authority or jurisdiction over SM's, only IG.

Commisars would be in awe of SM's like any other human, but like already stated, they would hide it a lot better, I believe a SM would have respect for a Commissar though and possibly listen to them, but no more.

@Lord Loss and Gwar!: Just to be clear, it says at ANY GIVEN TIME there are roughly 1 Million marines. It is not, "If all chapters were full strength and taking into account the codex is awesome." The number 1 million takes into account various chapter sizes and casualties.

Given that quite a few marine chapters are not adherents of the imperial cult, I'd imagine that they're under standing orders not to have anything to do with comissars unless they really need to.

Comissars may not have any authority over them but no-one needs accusations of heresy.

An experienced comissar will probably be polite and respectful and get the same attitude back.
A young comissar that still a bit too full of himself may not fare quite so well...