Can a guardsman become a space marine?

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**Daston**

Fifty wrote:The earliest fluff indicated that the first phases of the process begin between 10-14. How late they can happen has never been nailed down, but presumably, the later the worse.

IIRC, in the Dark Angels Horus Heresy book, Luther was made into a kind of pseudo-Astartes - more than human, but not fully Space Marine either. He had most of the implants, but not all, and his physical size and strength was not increased as much as younger marines. I'd check, but that particular Horus Heresy book was awful, and I do not want to revisit it.

Anyway, maybe that is the answer - it can be done once you are older, but is less and less effective the later you leave it.

Yep you are right thats. Same for Logar's human father (well the guy who looked after him) he was made more than human but was too old to become a full space marine

**Psienesis**

I think it bears noting that "adulthood" on Fenris begins right around the same time as puberty.

**Durza**

Psienesis wrote:I think it bears noting that "adulthood" on Fenris begins right around the same time as puberty.

Aye, but they'll also only take those who are already good warriors, and a 12-14 year old isn't likely to be one.

**Dark**

When I read the old novels, I assumed Ragnar couldn't be younger than 15, probably he was 16, "too old" according to some theories.

I haven't read Outcast Dead yet, but a friend who did told me that Thunder Warriors are way tougher than Astartes, but they lack the "infinite life span" they have.

Iacton Qruze was a "pre finding Horus" Luna Wolf, so I assume he was one of those proto-Astartes who where inducted as adults, though it's a personal theory and has no real evidence.

**Johnnysd**

With regards to the Dark Angels and the HH book, the ones chosen to become astartes are somewhere aroun 16 years old, with Luther being made into a pseudo astartes due to him being a fair bit older than the others.

**Psienesis**

Durza wrote:
Psienesis wrote:I think it bears noting that "adulthood" on Fenris begins right around the same time as puberty.

Aye, but they'll also only take those who are already good warriors, and a 12-14 year old isn't likely to be one.

They're Vikings. They've been carrying a sword and a spear since they were six.