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How exactly are Space Marines recruited into their chapters? Are they selected from Imperial Guard regiments, are they swept off the streets and they just "disappear", or do they simply walk into an office and sign a few forms?

Some have tournements like the blood ravens others are taken at the end of battles to be honest it varies from chapter to chapter and each chapter has different types of recruitment so there are lots.

As mentioned recruiting methods vary from chapter to chapter, most chapters also prefer to recruit from feral worlds/hive worlds given the violent/harsh nature of life that many endure on those worlds.

There is a very wide degree of initiations from chapter to chapter, but most (if not all) involve rigorous physical, mental and psychic testing. The tests are often lethal. Also, the recruits are usually very young and so are most likely not from the guard although youth brigades or young gangers are ideal.

Here's a good place to fish around: http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Creation_of_a_Space_Marine

On some more civilized planets the contestants may understand that they are attempting to become Astartes and enter a trial. On another more feral planet, the trial may be a religious pilgrimage or test of courage and they may not even understand that they are being selected. Or anywhere in between.

It's usually feral/feudal/death worlds. It's very rare for a Space Marine to come from a hive world, but if they do they're probably former gangers.

What was that comic series about the Black Templar?

It gives a pretty good picture of how they pick up recruits.

Melissia wrote:It's usually feral/feudal/death worlds. It's very rare for a Space Marine to come from a hive world, but if they do they're probably former gangers.

I read that that is what happened to Shrike. He was a ganger who was taken off the street by the Raven Guard Chaplains.

It was also what happened to Thaddeus.

Back in the day most space marines were recruited from hive worlds where the already psychotically deranged hive scum made perfect candidates when the Legionnes were basically Sardaukar; if you read the wiki on the Sardaukar you'll see the obvious similarites.

Now that individual Chapters have far more detail the types of worlds and cultures they recruit from are more diverse but generally any world where life is harsh and brutal which we are told breeds the best warriors.

Gogsnik wrote:Back in the day most space marines were recruited from hive worlds where the already psychotically deranged hive scum made perfect candidates when the Legionnes were basically Sardaukar; if you read the wiki on the Sardaukar you'll see the obvious similarites.

Now that individual Chapters have far more detail the types of worlds and cultures they recruit from are more diverse but generally any world where life is harsh and brutal which we are told breeds the best warriors.

I don't know... The Fremen were from a Death World and whipped the piss out of the Sardaukar.

Gang Bangers, Heroes, Villains, Survivors (the main one i think). Anyone that stands above their fellow in terms of survival and strength and combat prowess. Anything less would die being initiated and operated on.

arkayne819 wrote:Gang Bangers, Heroes, Villains, Survivors (the main one i think). Anyone that stands above their fellow in terms of survival and strength and combat prowess. Anything less would die being initiated and operated on.

Gangbangers?

Monster Rain wrote:I don't know... The Fremen were from a Death World and whipped the piss out of the Sardaukar.

That's true in the Dune universe but the Sardaukar concept is clearly the inspiration for the Astartes the poor old Fremen got turned into Van Saar.

Valkyrie wrote:Gangbangers?

A member of a particularly violent gang.

Melissia wrote:

Valkyrie wrote:Gangbangers?

A member of a particularly violent gang.

Haha ok, I was a bit worried there

Salamanders are born into it, then when they get older they have to slay a dragon with their bare hands or some jazz.

Space Wolves are in tribes and every so often the Wolf Priests come and take them away. Usually because of their survival, Battle and hunting prowess.


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Melissia wrote:It was also what happened to Thaddeus.

Thaddeus is a Turn-coat loser. I had major Respect for him till Chaos Rising

I love the Space Wolves. Their planet is a frozen, monster riddled hellhole with one stable land mass. That only the Space Wolves get to step foot on. Everyone once in a while they will select the most badass Viking sons from the death world of Fenris, and that's how they get their recruits.

As I recall the Dark Angels take The Rock from planet to planet in their sector taking promising young warriors.

Oddly enough, I have no idea how the Ultramarines do their recruiting.

I have always been a bit amused by the Chapters that limit their recruitment to a single planet ( whether by choice or tradition ). The tactic has both pros and cons. It gives a stable recruitment pool... provided that nothing happens to the planet. Space Wolves and Fenris are a perfect example. The planet is heavily defended but a dedicated enemy ( Thousand Sons anyone? ) only need to get lucky once. Even a single planetbuster bomb getting through could severely cripple the Chapter.

The ultramarines recrut from their own number of planets, keeping a constant stream of recruts and had to diminish their installations
to stay at codex strength instead of growing back to Legion size.

Some recrut only from their homeworlds, others have bases on several planets to recrut from, whilst fleet based chapters recrut everywhere
they go.

All of them seem to have a some sort of challenge to sort out the possible recruts.

The UM seem to have a academy where they train possible recruts.
Others grab from "games" whatever survives.

Valkyrie wrote:

arkayne819 wrote:Gang Bangers, Heroes, Villains, Survivors (the main one i think). Anyone that stands above their fellow in terms of survival and strength and combat prowess. Anything less would die being initiated and operated on.

Gangbangers?

Hive gangs ( i.e. Necromunda ) are a good source of recruits - hence - gangbangers

Valkryie
most chapters have home planets they recruit from. they tend to be total hell holes, because space marines only want tough-as-nails recruits. the dune analogy is pretty good. same premise (the saudarkar were from a death world too, though....) some chapters, like the dark angels, recruit wherever they can because their home planet got wiped, others, like the imperial fists or the ultramarines, recruit from a network of more or less normal planets. Each chapter has alot of freedom about how to do go about it, but space marines tend not to be conscripted en masse like guard.

arkayne819 wrote:Space Wolves are in tribes and every so often the Wolf Priests come and take them away. Usually because of their survival, Battle and hunting prowess.


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Melissia wrote:It was also what happened to Thaddeus.

Thaddeus is a Turn-coat loser. I had major Respect for him till Chaos Rising

Odd, considering that Tarkus betrayed my friend (evil) and Martellus betrayed me (good). Avitus speaks damn close to heresy half the time.

The Salamanders require the testee (if you will) to make some kind of trek through a few extra-dangerous parts of Nocturne.
I think.
Also, i'm pretty sure that fleet-based chapters don't generally just recruit wherever they go-they have a few planets across a sector or two, and research the planets quite a bit. If they didn't, they could somehow accidentally get one of them "tainted" planets! And having several set planets to draw from guarantees a stable pool of recruits.

Lord_Inquisitor wrote:The Salamanders require the testee (if you will) to make some kind of trek through a few extra-dangerous parts of Nocturne.
I think.
Also, i'm pretty sure that fleet-based chapters don't generally just recruit wherever they go-they have a few planets across a sector or two, and research the planets quite a bit. If they didn't, they could somehow accidentally get one of them "tainted" planets! And having several set planets to draw from guarantees a stable pool of recruits.

This pretty much. Many chapters that don't have a planetside base have a few chosen worlds ( usually death/feudal worlds or palces with a heavy martial tradition ) where they hold trials for recruits every 1-2 generations.

The recruits have to be below 18 I think, because the extra organs need to grow naturally with the SM body. They are also some of the best warriors on their planet, which is often feral or deathworlds, I'm sure the recruits from the SW planets think the SM are 'gods' or 'spirits' and are proud when they're children are taken to join the 'gods'. The process takes years of training and waiting for the organs to grow. They learn the history of their chapter, battle techniques, weapons training and real combat exercises (Scouts are trainee-Marines who can't yet wear power armour) I'm sure they also get their brains rewired for greater devotion to the Emperor and to remove any undesirable knowledge they may ave gained before being selected. Many die when the organs are rejected so they must be constantly training thousands of new recruits but only a few hundred will ever become full-on SM

arkayne819 wrote:Thaddeus is a Turn-coat loser. I had major Respect for him till Chaos Rising

All of them can be a turncoat, it's not set in stone, and it's because you ordered them to dabble in heresy. If you keep all of your guys with zero corruption, then the techmarine turns, otherwise whoever gets the most corrupt is the traitor.

I'm not sure about the age thing. I'm not certain but I'm sure I've seen some fiction where the aspirant was clearly over 18, the BT comic is one, but I could be wrong. Unfortunately I've not read the comic, I've only seen some select scans. It may divulge his age at some point.
I also recall a BT narrative-driven campaign that was on the GW website for a while, detailing an aspirant's rise through the ranks. The first scenario followed him on his way to one of the BT's isolated Monastery Keeps. He had been trekking his way there for several days, fighting off the elements and various predators. He was intercepted by an Initiate not far from the Keep and was judged worthy, by virtue of his trials in getting there.
And I'd wager that other melee oriented chapters, Blood Angels for example, also use the 'gladatorial' method shown in the BT comic.

BearersOfSalvation wrote:

arkayne819 wrote:Thaddeus is a Turn-coat loser. I had major Respect for him till Chaos Rising

All of them can be a turncoat, it's not set in stone, and it's because you ordered them to dabble in heresy. If you keep all of your guys with zero corruption, then the techmarine turns, otherwise whoever gets the most corrupt is the traitor.

Speaking of Chaos Rising...
I'm guessing some Space Marines can leave their chapter to work in the Deathwatch like Cyrus did. Or did Relic mess up?
And how did Thaddeus become a Space Marine anyway, wasn't he a gangleader (16+ years old) when Thule recruited him? Did he manage to survive the implants despite being almost too old?
and who else thought Martellus' reason for turning was kinda...shallow?

Yeah marines leave the chapter for a while when they join the deathwatch they stay with them for a while and then return.