Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I know that when a human becomes a Marine, they undergo some brain surguries to make them "Know no fear." etc.

Do they make it so they cannot cry/feel sadness?

Space Marines can be sad. Loken and Saul are both sad quite a bit in Galaxy in Flames. I don't think they actually lose their emotions, just their fear. They're probably better at keeping them in check however. Mind you, there are exceptions such as the World Eaters, who are ALWAYS ANGRY, ALL THE TIME!

They can feel sad. The general in dawn of war was full of regret because his homeworld was destroyed.

Given that crying is a useful biological mechanism for removing minor irritations in the eyes and keeping them in good condition, I would say that they could cry. Nothing short of removing tear ducts would stop that and I don't see the point. Now, crying for reasons other than eye irritation, such as biological, I'm not sure.

Check the fluff and comments of loyalist primachs, if Dorn didn't cry at having to destroy parts of the palace and others at the death of their father and the fate of their brothers, they may not. The Emperor's death is probably one of the most traumatic things that has happened to a space marine so far.

Shadowbrand wrote:They can feel sad. The general in dawn of war was full of regret because his homeworld was destroyed.

Gabriel was more angry than sad. He vents his anger by calling down orbital bombardments, FFS.

Morgrim wrote:Check the fluff and comments of loyalist primachs, if Dorn didn't cry at having to destroy parts of the palace and others at the death of their father and the fate of their brothers, they may not. The Emperor's death is probably one of the most traumatic things that has happened to a space marine so far.

Dorn and the Imperial Fists don't cry.

Instead, they pull out laser scalpels and cut things into their bones.

Beat that, Emo Kids!

Space Marines can know all the same emotions as unaugmented humans. The difference is that they are conditioned to keep them in check, but moreover, channel them.

IIRC, one of the HH books mentions thousands(?) of Astartes weeping on Mars(I believe) when the Emperor declared he was retiring from the Great Crusade. I think this was revealed in an interview with Garviel Loken by [that remembrancer].

The Soul Drinkers series probably involves the most show-of-sadness(for obvious reasons).

On a similar note, the Space Wolves books contain many instances of Ragnar experiencing chills of fear and such.

The author of the Ultramarines Omnibus stated that he wanted to portray the Space Marines as still feeling the same emotions we do; but they're conditioned to hell to repress them and hate themselves/consider themselves cowardly if they allow those emotions to surface or influence their actions.

They feel fear but if they allow themselves to acknowledge that fact they become pentient and, I dunno, fast for 40 days or some crap?

I'm not sure brain surgery would remove the human trait for "flight or fight"....this is an instinct! I think the Psycho conditioning would remove the choice of "flight" from the equation, and maybe the surgery is there to increase the release of "combat" hormones in a larger quantity....thereby making the choice "Angry or angrier"

Marines don't cry! Their eyes mist up!

Platuan4th wrote:

Morgrim wrote:Check the fluff and comments of loyalist primachs, if Dorn didn't cry at having to destroy parts of the palace and others at the death of their father and the fate of their brothers, they may not. The Emperor's death is probably one of the most traumatic things that has happened to a space marine so far.

Dorn and the Imperial Fists don't cry.

Instead, they pull out laser scalpels and cut things into their bones.

Beat that, Emo Kids!

lol that sounds like a challenge I would gladly accept!

They can cry, they just don't want to.

Bet they cry if they trap their 'little emperor' in their power armour.

Tears of rage!

Yeah, there's a few instances in the Horus Heresy books of folks weeping over one thing or another.

Just because you're a holy badass doesn't mean you don't feel, it just means you keep it in check because turning into a sobbing wreck in the middle of the battlefield will get you killed.

I reckon they can cry but it would take a lot of pain/grief to make one cry though.

Eldar Own wrote:I reckon they can cry but it would take a lot of pain/grief to make one cry though.

One good example being watching your Primarch collapse before your eyes while leaving the scene of a nasty battle.

ZacktheChaosChild wrote:I know that when a human becomes a Marine, they undergo some brain surguries to make them "Know no fear." etc.

Do they make it so they cannot cry/feel sadness?

NO! THEY`RE REAL MEN!!

in thunder from fenris, skeln and afgar both feel anger and sadness at the death of their various battle brothers.
so yes they may cry... well space wolves at least.

in the heroes of the space marines book one of the stories is about 5 or 6 chaos marines. One of them is constantly crying because the people he kills will never be able to see the truth of the 4 gods and will remain forever blinded by the emperor. I'd assume Space Marines cry because of this. I'd cite it but i don't have my book with me right now

"False Gods" page 175:


Abaddon wept openly, and to see the first Captain so unmanned made Loken's fear for the Warmaster all the more terrible.

So, some may cry...

but for the most part they cry as often as Chuck Norris. BOOOYAH! GOT *ANOTHER* CHUCK JOKE IN!

1hadhq wrote:"False Gods" page 175:


Abaddon wept openly, and to see the first Captain so unmanned made Loken's fear for the Warmaster all the more terrible.

So, some may cry...

But that's Failbaddon, so he doesn't count.

They can cry. I believe Loken, Saul, and Garro did shed a tear or two.

Terje tubbys response reminded me of "Robin Hood Men in Tights". " We're men, manly men, we're men in tights, we roam around the forests looking for fights, we may look like pansies, but dont tell us that or we'll put out your lights...." and so on and so forth i cant remember the whole song. Mel Brooks films kill me.
Back on topic i am sure they can like others have said just repress them. I can be sure of one thing though the day the Emperor is unplugged or no longer able to be sustained the way he is every single marine will cry.

Only tears of joy. For that is the day the Starchild Theory proves true...

Besides, those Dark Angels cry whenever they think of the rock and good ole' Caliban. Ah Caliban. The one place that Lions can actually be called pussy cats and it be true...

I thought I read long ago that the Emperor sheds a tiny precious tear each time a space marine falls in battle. And that servitors gather these into precious relic vials, that are blessed beyond measure.

If the God Emperor can weep, there is no shame in it if the Space Marines do also.

May the Emperor bless and cherish you!
Frankie

Space Marines cry poisoned acid tears.

In Dawn of War by Goto, Gabriel Angelos cries remembering the destruction of his home planet. At least... if I remember well, I've read it yesterday evening when I was a bit tired.

My brothers Space Marines cry every time they play against my Chaos Marines

Yes they cry, and it cites it in the fluff, but the fluff also sets in stone that marines DO NOT FEEL FEAR!