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Salamanders are the only chapter that live with their human families outside battle, and hence have closer ties to their humanity than other chapters do.

This I found on TVtropes. Is this true? Where does this comes from? Can Space Marines even have children? Are they allowed to get married? Doesn't their acidic spit causes trouble with their love life?

Belexar wrote:

Salamanders are the only chapter that live with their human families outside battle, and hence have closer ties to their humanity than other chapters do.

This I found on TVtropes. Is this true? Where does this comes from? Can Space Marines even have children? Are they allowed to get married? Doesn't their acidic spit causes trouble with their love life?

Since space marines don't marry, the post is referring to the parents, brothers, cousins, etc. I don't think this is true, but if it were, the salamander marines would end up outliving them.

That would be another problem. Even though, they could still llive to see their grand-grand-grand-nieces or something.

Families being a loose term. Their various keeps/fortresses/monasteries/etc. are located within each major city. They frequently interact with the population and dwell within close proximity to normal humans. During the Time of Trial, the Salamanders will escort the thousands of citizens into the protected cities to survive the massive volcanic eruptions.

In short, they're not married, nor do they have kids. They may retain relationships with their original parents and/or friends, though there are no specific details about that, but its plausible and could be inferred from other fluff. Only the 1st Company Firedrakes live on Prometheus in the the Chapter's fortress monastery.

If it's true, would make for an interesting dinner conversation


"What did you do today, Son?"

"Ah I had to defend a small planet from a Tyranid Invasion. Damned Bugs. Ended up having to blow the planet up, but we got everyone off first. How about you, dad?

"Had the day off. Watched the big game on the telly. "

To me the idea of seeing the larger than life Salamander (minus the armour of course) sitting around the table with his parents is quite priceless for some reason XD

Salamanders are one of my favorite chapters because of the relationship they have with the normal people.

"hey dad, wanna play some rugby?"

"No, I love my spine.

Soladrin wrote:"hey dad, wanna play some rugby?"

"No, I love my spine.

I love you

hahahaha

"listen im going to be having afew friends over today i hope you dont mind"

"sure bring them in it'll be nice to finally meet some of your friends"

Ultramarine walks in

"Where is the heresy??!!"

Grey knight walks in

"Where is the refreshments?! i hope it is the blessed by the emperor kind!"

They're one of the few SM chapters that actually care about human life in my opinion.

Viersche wrote:They're one of the few SM chapters that actually care about human life in my opinion.

Which makes them weak.

As far as I know (correct me if I'm wrong), the Salamanders only "adopt" a local family as part of Chapter tradition. It's not their own (as this would be a bit difficult, limiting the scope of recruitment or forcing all families to move to the vicinity of the fortress-monastery where it may get a little crowded over the millennia), nor do they found it.

KingDeath wrote:

Viersche wrote:They're one of the few SM chapters that actually care about human life in my opinion.

Which makes them weak.

I'm not so sure about that - does it actually affect their battle prowess? Personally, I think it's more an issue of throwing the ratio of narrative advantages vs disadvantages off-balance. I always perceived one's humanity to be a price that has to be paid for these kind of strengths. A sacrifice that has to be made "for the greater good", so to say. Some may consider the inherent arrogance and lack of compassion in most Marine Chapters to be "uncool" - I on the other hand always thought this kind of trade is suitably grimdark and gives them a realistic weakness ... whereas Chapters like the SW are really just "bad dudes in powa armour" with no pay-off whatsoever for their superhuman abilities. Even Hercules had weaknesses, and it is weaknesses much more than strengths that make characters feel more "complete".

Very much a subject of personal preferences, though.

Lynata wrote:As far as I know (correct me if I'm wrong), the Salamanders only "adopt" a local family as part of Chapter tradition. It's not their own (as this would be a bit difficult, limiting the scope of recruitment or forcing all families to move to the vicinity of the fortress-monastery where it may get a little crowded over the millennia), nor do they found it.

KingDeath wrote:

Viersche wrote:They're one of the few SM chapters that actually care about human life in my opinion.

Which makes them weak.

I'm not so sure about that - does it actually affect their battle prowess? Personally, I think it's more an issue of throwing the ratio of narrative advantages vs disadvantages off-balance. I always perceived one's humanity to be a price that has to be paid for these kind of strengths. A sacrifice that has to be made "for the greater good", so to say. Some may consider the inherent arrogance and lack of compassion in most Marine Chapters to be "uncool" - I on the other hand always thought this kind of trade is suitably grimdark and gives them a realistic weakness ... whereas Chapters like the SW are really just "bad dudes in powa armour" with no pay-off whatsoever for their superhuman abilities. Even Hercules had weaknesses, and it is weaknesses much more than strengths that make characters feel more "complete".

Very much a subject of personal preferences, though.

Weak in the sense that their humanity might cause them to take unecessary risks that a less mercyful chapter would avoid.
Like you i prefer my spacemarines to be mercyless and utterly detached from humanity but for those who wish a somewhat more human chapter the Salamanders and Spacewolves are, of course, a great choice.
It is just somewhat annoying when every second spacemarine chapter suddenly transforms into paladins of virtue these days.

Spacewolves not so much, they just respect battle prowess.

SilverMK2 wrote:Salamanders are one of my favorite chapters because of the relationship they have with the normal people.

That's funny.

Salamanders are one of my least favorite chapters because of the relationship they have with the normal people.

I wouldn't say that compassion is a weakness the salamanders are one of the few chapters that protect the weak and they are one of the strongest chapters.

I can see how it can be seen as a problem in battle though. If you read Helsreach with the black templars it has Salamanders dropping into the city to help the defenders but when the orks start attacking the civilian bunkers the salamanders go to help them leaving the black templars with out support.

They really are allowed to have links to their past lives? Crazy.

the black templars in that book are a bit stupid to me, well the entire doctrine of engaging the enemy in meele is stupid, almost all the time they were outnumbered and lost to many troops just for that

the salamanders were true to their oath protect the civilians with their life

Soladrin wrote:Spacewolves not so much, they just respect battle prowess.

Not even that.
Space Wolves respect anyone who fights for the Emperor. And they do mean fight... the Inquisition don't really count for the most part.(In their eyes anyway)

Name one Space Marine chapter that actually LIKES the Inquisition, not just accepts.

Soladrin wrote:Name one Space Marine chapter that actually LIKES the Inquisition, not just accepts.

Grey Knights, Exorcists, Red Scorpions, Crimson Fists...

Stop making up chapters.

Sorry my bad i'll find some real chapters then.
The Polar Raptors, Royal Archangels, Zeta Golems and the Crimson Wizards.

and the sisters of battle........

Believe it or not the Sisters of Battle aren't an SM chapter... or are they?
No, they are not.

They are female SM's aren't they? :O

Its possable that the Salamanders might be with their actual biological family, although this would be limited by their immortality.

It isn't limited by space as, IIRC, the populace of Nocturne is mostly confined to a cluster of 7-8 cities(IIRC, each company recruits from a seperate city)

KingDeath wrote:

Viersche wrote:They're one of the few SM chapters that actually care about human life in my opinion.

Which makes them weak.

This post next to the pony avatar made me lol.

But on the serious, I see where you are coming from. If you like your grimdark with extra grim, then Salamanders are maybe not your cup of tea. I like my grimdark like I like my Indian food. (Mild.)

Although I have to confess that I play Salamanders, so my opinion is biased. Although now thanks to purplefood, I want to play Zeta Golems.

You think that's bad?
I want to make a crusade army with about 10 different chapters just so i can have all the ridiculous names in.