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Just a random question I had after watching some StarCraft vids. Can the Space Marines don their power armor like a set of clothes, walk into a room and get "stamped" into their power armor like a toy being packaged, or do they get a little something like this?

I believe that it is kinda "stamped" on them, but not by machines because that would be too advanced. I remember a picture showing a Marine donning his armor, and he had a good dozen people (chapter serfs most likely) assisting him with just about everything

Most chapters have serfs do it, bolting on all the plates, using the proper unguents and oils, saying the prayers, etc. I think I read a story once that said most Salamanders do it themselves or something, but for the most part, yeah, serfs.

They put it on like you would put on any suit of armor.

IIRC they wear a sort of skin tight jump suit, then they put on the various parts. Interlocking as they go.

I imagine the boots and shin guards are stepped into like a shoe.

Then they put on the waist and thigh portions, front and back halfes.

Then the breast and back plates. Arm portions put on like normal shirt sleeves.

Then the backpack.

Pauldrons attach to the shoulders externally.

And finally the helmet.



You could put it on by yourself, but it would be easier to have someone help you.

Hm... Okay. It kinda gave me an idea for a story i could write.

washout77, could you maybe find the source of the pic, if not the pic itself? I wanna see it. X3

There was definitely one in the 4th ed SM codex...

Think of a medieval knight donning his armour, attended by his squires.

Grey Templar wrote:IIRC they wear a sort of skin tight jump suit, then they put on the various parts. Interlocking as they go.

I imagine the jumpsuit would be/incorporate the fibers - the "power" part of power armour.

Neutralista wrote:washout77, could you maybe find the source of the pic, if not the pic itself? I wanna see it. X3

This one?

From my understanding (Blood Angels' omnibus comes to mind) the marine is attended by several serfs and sometimes other marines. Before the plating itself is installed, an under layer comprised of fiber bundles similar to muscles is placed over top their existing muscles, this is what allows them to move quickly while still wearing cumbersome armor. The black carapace (a sub-dermal implant) has several injection points that will mate with the fiber bundles and the armor to allow for vital readings as well as control of the armor. Finally the plates and their respective cables are placed and sealed allowing the suit to become air tight and pressurized as needed. The power pack is installed last, and obviously energizes the suit.

 Lynata wrote:

Neutralista wrote:washout77, could you maybe find the source of the pic, if not the pic itself? I wanna see it. X3

This one?

Yep! That one. I also remember seeing one that showed Terminator armor being put on and that was significantly more complex

Yup, it's always been that Space marines are just sci-fi knights, complete with serfs to put their armor on them.

Was a bit easier in 2nd ed



Terminator Armour is much trickier

 AegisGrimm wrote:
Yup, it's always been that Space marines are just sci-fi knights, complete with serfs to put their armor on them.

This.And those are great images of it as well,i have not seen them in a while.

Just curious though, doesn't look like they're ever going to take it off...


So.........how do they go to the washroom....

 Grey Templar wrote:
They put it on like you would put on any suit of armor.

IIRC they wear a sort of skin tight jump suit, then they put on the various parts. Interlocking as they go.

I imagine the boots and shin guards are stepped into like a shoe.

Then they put on the waist and thigh portions, front and back halfes.

Then the breast and back plates. Arm portions put on like normal shirt sleeves.

Then the backpack.

Pauldrons attach to the shoulders externally.

And finally the helmet.



You could put it on by yourself, but it would be easier to have someone help you.

What he says,.. Most chapters use Servitors for them,.. Not the Custodian guard though, they help each other.. This is quite a time consuming process actually... Read some novels,.. a looooot is explained that is not in the Codexes and or rulebooks..

 Makutsu wrote:
Just curious though, doesn't look like they're ever going to take it off...


So.........how do they go to the washroom....

Well,.. i believe there is an implant that takes care of this,.. as Marines also dont take a dump or need to eat or drink...they can do if they wish though....

Also they take it of quite regularly for maintenance, they wear ceremonial robes then etc..

 Makutsu wrote:
Just curious though, doesn't look like they're ever going to take it off...


So.........how do they go to the washroom....

If I remember correctly, I read somewhere how the armour has systems to recycle the marine's body wastes, so yeah, I guess the armour is ready for that event.

 Makutsu wrote:
Just curious though, doesn't look like they're ever going to take it off...


So.........how do they go to the washroom....

In the armor. There are waste recyclers that turn it into a nutrient paste for long-term campaigns, or environments where they cannot remove their helmets to eat.

Marines still have normal body functions, and yes they still need to eat.

Their armor just has waste recycling systems that can keep the marine alive for a very long time by recycling his waste. Theoretically indefinitly as long as the suit had power.

Grey Templar wrote:Marines still have normal body functions

Sort of, at least. If one were to go by the articles that got printed in WD, their bodies have been modified to such an extent that they can no longer survive without regular drug injections as they are totally out of balance. Grimdark!

For some reason, this doesn't seem to get printed in the Codex anymore. Maybe the topic was too controversial, or maybe they thought it'd deviate too much from the "awesome space knights" theme. But let's see what the time holds.

Waaghboss Grobnub wrote:Read some novels,.. a looooot is explained that is not in the Codexes and or rulebooks..

Unfortunately, a lot also contradicts the Codexes and/or the rulebooks. Author interpretation can be as creative and as far-fetching as fan interpretation, and is just as valid.
Pick what you like. I for one dig the "medieval knights + squire" style. But something like that cinematic from SC2 ... hey, if anyone prefers that, why not.

 Makutsu wrote:
Just curious though, doesn't look like they're ever going to take it off...


So.........how do they go to the washroom....

They are super humans, they can stop an Ork in his tracks, fight Tyranids and fight Chaotically powered Space Marines, i think their bladders would be strong enough to hold it in for a while. Either that, or theres a tube that runes down their leg and into a bag, which has a hatch in the side of the boot so you can replace the refill the bag.

The AdMech has an app for that, I'm sure.

My question though is how do Chaos Marines like the Death Guard ever take off their armour haha? it must be a pain with all of their intestines hanging out.

 ImperialFists2ndCompany wrote:
My question though is how do Chaos Marines like the Death Guard ever take off their armour haha? it must be a pain with all of their intestines hanging out.

They don't call it fleshmetal for nothing.

I believe the earlier poster equating them to medieval knights where their armor is donned by their chapter serfs and is likely complex but fits together logically. Humanity may not understand the technology it uses but that same technology is fairly ubiquitous in its ease of use.

I recall reading a short story about a CSM who "fused" with his armour (Daemonblood from Ben Counter) ... up to the point where it hurt when his shield was hit.
Considering the oftentimes twisted looks of the Chaos Marines' gear, I'm quite willing to consider the Warp actually affecting their equipment, and in at least some cases letting them "bond".

(and it explains how they manage to get along at all without any sort of AdMech support)

The novel Chaos Child has an inquisitor named Jaq Draco puts on Chaos Power armour from a dead Chaos Marine that has suction cup type tentacles that attach to the spine to link the user. But, that novel is old as dirt haha

Ow, kinky.

The idea itself is kinda cool, tho. Sounds just like what Chaos would do. Of course, the suction cups would probably have little needle-like teeth too.

Coincidentally, the old Rogue Trader rulebook had a cross section of Marine power armour showing metal spikes on the inner side of its backplate, right where the wearer's spine would be located. Ouch!

 Lynata wrote:
I recall reading a short story about a CSM who "fused" with his armour (Daemonblood from Ben Counter) ... up to the point where it hurt when his shield was hit.
Considering the oftentimes twisted looks of the Chaos Marines' gear, I'm quite willing to consider the Warp actually affecting their equipment, and in at least some cases letting them "bond".

(and it explains how they manage to get along at all without any sort of AdMech support)

They do have the Dark Mechanicus.

reaper with no name wrote:They do have the Dark Mechanicus.

Ya, but no firm ties like they exist between Mars and the Adeptus Astartes, as decreed and sanctified by Imperial edict.
With the Dark Mechanicus, I would imagine it would be very much like relationships towards the other Chaos warbands. All about barter and abusive exploitation of one another. Pure opportunism. Contacts minimised and working together only when it is absolutely necessary. That is, after all, the most glaring weakness of Chaos, a side-effect of Chaos' anarchistic struggle for supremacy where the strong rule the weak, and lastly the manifestation of both the Space Marines' and the Mechanicus' deep desire for independence and absolute self-governance.

It certainly helps if one's "Dark Gods" at least help a bit with maintenance then.

I kind of assumed they did the same thing that normal Marines did, (slave labor) it's just that the Chaos slaves are less skilled and more over-worked. (Aaron Dembski-Bowden's Night Lords trilogy shows a little of this, although it's entirely possible that Talos's series of slaves were the exception, rather than the rule.)

For menial stuff, absolutely!
But where does the knowledge come from? The machinery and the tools? With the Adeptus Astartes, they can always tap Mars directly, have their TechMarines trained there and order equipment for their forges. On the other side of Cadia, though? Total technological dependence would be ideal blackmail material for the Dark Mechanicus. It'd effectively render CSMs their pet thugs .. and I don't think these corrupted Tech-Priests would be more forthcoming, helpful and openminded than their loyalist counterparts. They will demand compensation for their services. Which is why I think that your average Chaos Warlord would like to limit his dealings with this organisation to the bare minimum. Stuff like trading slaves and resources for a superweapon once in a while, but no ongoing, permanent contracts that bind them to the others' manipulative will.

Just my current interpretation, mind you! I haven't read that much about Chaos Marines yet - my focus are the Imperial factions.