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To that guy who said they were 11 feet, I think you're off by a bit. Pretty sure that 10 feet is the upper end, and that being pretty uncommon.

Grey Knights are Psykers with as pure a gene-seed as is possible. I don't think this makes them 'bigger' than other marines as a rule. Still, some marines are bigger than others, even within a Chapter. This is probably a mix of factors, the gene-seed itself and the genes of the 'donor' human. There is still, apparently, a randomness in the final genetic outcome. It was probably designed that way.

Why do I get the feeling I was manipulated into posting in this thread...

Kilkrazy wrote:It seems more reasonable that a special elite force that fights with space magic and big choppers would find it more cost effective to use their space magic for space magic and simple physical strength for big choppers.

Therefore Grey Knights would be selected both for space magic power and for size and strength.

For a second there, I could've sworn Kyoto-sama hacked your account.

Kilkrazy wrote:

Inanimate wrote:Nobody has mentioned their gear? While an ordinary SM Initiate wields a bolter, even the lowliest of the GK are equipped with storm bolters, nemesis force weapons, ultra-engraved magical armour and teleportation devices. Having access to more advanced tech could be one additional reason for them being so far above normal marines. They don't need to be bigger, just trained and equipped better.

Obviously that is part of it, however it sounds reasonable that by selecting the best of the best, you would end up with taller candidates thanks to superior geneseed and so on.

Also there may be a minimum height requirement. I'm not aware of any fluff for that but it seems likely.

Its funny, because the US Navy SEALS, some of the toughest mofos I've ever met, tend to be on the short side. Not all of them mind you, but a surprising number are the short pugnacious type.

Being the best of the best has nothing to do with height. The only time height ever factors in is if you're trying to intimidate with appearances (hence height requirements for certain units).

In short, GK's would be the same height as normal marines, whatever that is. It used to be in the 7ft to 8ft range, it seems now its the 9ft=10ft range which is just ridiculous IMO.

It seems more reasonable that a special elite force that fights with space magic and big choppers would find it more cost effective to use their space magic for space magic and simple physical strength for big choppers.

Therefore Grey Knights would be selected both for space magic power and for size and strength.

Height has very little correlation to strength. When picking for 'size and strength' you're generally selecting for width (for lack of a better term) rather than height. Not that it matters, as GK, like all Space Marines, are selected when they are still young 'uns, and picking for size and strength there does you no good really.

Only the tallest 25th percentile (1/4th) of SMs capable of becoming a Grey Knight are tall enough to be accepted.
Only 1 in 100 gets through the training and becomes a full Grey Knight.

These assumptions are incorrect. If anything, by your logic they should be reversed, as the age at which candidates are selected they are not full grown, therefore it should be :

Only 1 in 100 gets through the training to become a full Grey Knight
Only the tallest 25th percentile (1/4th) of those that completed the training to become a full Grey Knight are tall enough to be accepted

Remember selection occurs first, at a point before the final height of the candidate is known, then training occurs.

Also in regards to gene seed, I don't think that has anything to do with height. I think that is more a result of the various drugs and growth hormones injected into them over the years. Gene Seed and growth hormone are two different things. Purer gene seed does not = better growth hormone.

chaos0xomega wrote:

Kilkrazy wrote:

Inanimate wrote:Nobody has mentioned their gear? While an ordinary SM Initiate wields a bolter, even the lowliest of the GK are equipped with storm bolters, nemesis force weapons, ultra-engraved magical armour and teleportation devices. Having access to more advanced tech could be one additional reason for them being so far above normal marines. They don't need to be bigger, just trained and equipped better.

Obviously that is part of it, however it sounds reasonable that by selecting the best of the best, you would end up with taller candidates thanks to superior geneseed and so on.

Also there may be a minimum height requirement. I'm not aware of any fluff for that but it seems likely.

Its funny, because the US Navy SEALS, some of the toughest mofos I've ever met, tend to be on the short side. Not all of them mind you, but a surprising number are the short pugnacious type.

Being the best of the best has nothing to do with height. The only time height ever factors in is if you're trying to intimidate with appearances (hence height requirements for certain units).

In short, GK's would be the same height as normal marines, whatever that is. It used to be in the 7ft to 8ft range, it seems now its the 9ft=10ft range which is just ridiculous IMO.

It seems more reasonable that a special elite force that fights with space magic and big choppers would find it more cost effective to use their space magic for space magic and simple physical strength for big choppers.

Therefore Grey Knights would be selected both for space magic power and for size and strength.

Height has very little correlation to strength. When picking for 'size and strength' you're generally selecting for width (for lack of a better term) rather than height. Not that it matters, as GK, like all Space Marines, are selected when they are still young 'uns, and picking for size and strength there does you no good really.

Only the tallest 25th percentile (1/4th) of SMs capable of becoming a Grey Knight are tall enough to be accepted.
Only 1 in 100 gets through the training and becomes a full Grey Knight.

These assumptions are incorrect. If anything, by your logic they should be reversed, as the age at which candidates are selected they are not full grown, therefore it should be :

Only 1 in 100 gets through the training to become a full Grey Knight
Only the tallest 25th percentile (1/4th) of those that completed the training to become a full Grey Knight are tall enough to be accepted

Remember selection occurs first, at a point before the final height of the candidate is known, then training occurs.

Also in regards to gene seed, I don't think that has anything to do with height. I think that is more a result of the various drugs and growth hormones injected into them over the years. Gene Seed and growth hormone are two different things. Purer gene seed does not = better growth hormone.

Just an FYI, navy Seals do not have any set height requirement. Taller candidates tend to be wiry and have a harder time at BUDS, but are still capable. Most SEAL's end up being a very fit example of the average men in our national pool.

There is a reason for a level of homogeneity in the Navy Seals, it's easier to physically work as a team if your mass is the same and there is a rather dark flip-side. If you have a man down, the gear is already set for the next sailor to take his place. Especially if that man is in a critical support discipline.

chaos0xomega wrote:

Kilkrazy wrote:

Inanimate wrote:Nobody has mentioned their gear? While an ordinary SM Initiate wields a bolter, even the lowliest of the GK are equipped with storm bolters, nemesis force weapons, ultra-engraved magical armour and teleportation devices. Having access to more advanced tech could be one additional reason for them being so far above normal marines. They don't need to be bigger, just trained and equipped better.

Obviously that is part of it, however it sounds reasonable that by selecting the best of the best, you would end up with taller candidates thanks to superior geneseed and so on.

Also there may be a minimum height requirement. I'm not aware of any fluff for that but it seems likely.

Its funny, because the US Navy SEALS, some of the toughest mofos I've ever met, tend to be on the short side. Not all of them mind you, but a surprising number are the short pugnacious type.

Being the best of the best has nothing to do with height. The only time height ever factors in is if you're trying to intimidate with appearances (hence height requirements for certain units).

In short, GK's would be the same height as normal marines, whatever that is. It used to be in the 7ft to 8ft range, it seems now its the 9ft=10ft range which is just ridiculous IMO.

It seems more reasonable that a special elite force that fights with space magic and big choppers would find it more cost effective to use their space magic for space magic and simple physical strength for big choppers.

Therefore Grey Knights would be selected both for space magic power and for size and strength.

Height has very little correlation to strength. When picking for 'size and strength' you're generally selecting for width (for lack of a better term) rather than height. Not that it matters, as GK, like all Space Marines, are selected when they are still young 'uns, and picking for size and strength there does you no good really.

That's very realistic, but when ever was 40K the slightest bit realistic? The GK are the roughest, toughest Space Mariens in the galaxy. They have to be the tallest.

Think of the Potsdam Guards.

GKs are the shortest marines!

11' tall sounds just about right to me. I mean the minis are even a little bigger.

Hey guys, it's not how big they are, it's how they are used.


Don't you know that?

Ok, I was perusing some video clips (don't ask me why) and I came a cross this image from a rocky movie. I sincerely apologize for bringing back any trauma these movies may have caused in the past.

Now, if you imagine that Sylvester Stallone is a normal, say 6 ft tall (which he isn't in real life) then extrapolate the height of Dolph Lundgren (who, in real life is 6'5'') you would get a height around 7 feet.

Here you get an image of what I imagine is a space marine without armor if you were to increase Dolphs size a wee bit. It's not just about height, it's about bulk as well. In this photo, Dolphs upper arm is as almost as big around as Slys chest. It is pretty well established that a marine is not 10 feet tall. The person who came up with the idea of the marines said they were around 7 to 71/2 feet tall, with a mass the equivalent of 4, 7 foot tall basketball players. Perhaps they are a bit taller in armor, but an extra 2 1/2 feet? I don't know about that.

In one of the Heresy books, a female remembrancer notes that she only comes up to a marines chest. There is another comment that refers to the marine having symptoms of Acromegaly as well.

Well, technically the proportional distortions marines have isn't a disorder.


I think most marines grow in girth not in heigth as the primary difference.


A marine might end up a foot taller then he normally would have grown to, but he is probably several feet larger in diameter then he normally would be.


Barrel chested and thick limbed more then tall and overgrown.


Someone who is very largely built will appear taller then a person of the same height, but slimmer build.

a 7ft tall man would seem to be alot taller then that if his chest was 70+ inches around as opposed to say 40"

I agree, the image I posted does kinda show how large a 6'5" man can look to one that is almost as well built as me *cough*. Add another foot to Dolphs height and the coresponding mass and you get one really imposing individual. Let alone a marine 10 feet tall.

In one of the Heresy books it is mentioned that a marine exhibited Acromegaly. That term was actually used if my memory serves me right. I do think that many marines aren't the beautiful studly studs we might want to imagine. The effort it takes to make a marine from a normal human distorts the body shape.

Now, the primarchs are a different story entirely. They were created from scratch. Quite literally designed from the ground up with no donor human to start with.

This is no differance in height, they are still marines. they are just simply all somewhat psykic in some way. that is the only differance

Emperors Faithful wrote:KK, you scoundrel.

HUH? What did I do?

Anyway I think the 10' figure might be old, lately marines have been described as 11' tall (that's in armor of course, maybe only 9', 10' naked).

I'd say since GKs are wearing older, more ornate, more powerful armor saying they're 12' in armor would not be crazy.

I believe in the GK Omnibus there is a small section describing the purity of gene seed. As the GK are relatively new, I believe you can make the assumption they're taller and possibly stronger. (Alpha Legion anyone?) That may be illogical though, just because they're newer and better gene seed does not mean they're any more resilient (physically) than a normal space marine.