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Basically what the title says; when do things get deemed worthy of a space marine chapter to show up to kill off the heretics/xenos? Also, how do they get the message that they are needed?

When the Guard take too long or if it's a particularly deadly enemy: ie. Chaos Space Marines, daemons, Tyranids.
Sometimes the Marines will show up to settle a grudge or just because they were nearby.
Astartes also specialise in alpha strikes, so may be called in to cripple an enemy army before other Imperial forces arrive.

So how do they know the imperial guard were taking too long? It's not like any old psyker can send a message to an astartes home world asking for help.

An embattled world will put out a distress call.
If any Marines receive it then they'll decide if it's worth their time.

Ok, thanks. This was something I've been wondering about for awhile and I couldn't find a place to get some straightforward answers from.

Space Marines are supposed to be some sort of first response units. They are usually the first Imperial forces to arrive at the scene of a conflict and can be used to destroy an ennemy force before it gain a solid foothold or decent momentum.

Space Marines receive transmissions just like the rest of the Imperium with the help of astropaths. Each Chapter possess at least one astropathic choir in it's forteress and a couple more in each of their spaceships. Then, the Chapter Master (or a Captain in many cases) will choose if the Chapter should answer the distress call and with how much force. There is no specific rule to determine which call should be answered and which should be ignored and it's left to the discretion and good judgement of the Space Marine commanding staff. Should they prove to be unrelliable in their defence of the Imperium, other Imperial institutions may want the Chapter to be investigated by the Inquisition or punished in some way. Situation doesn't need to apocalyptic and it's in fact better for Space Marine, being so few, to act before things really start to go south else vast armies of Imperial Guard must be raised to fight a full blown war.

epronovost wrote:
Space Marines are supposed to be some sort of first response units. They are usually the first Imperial forces to arrive at the scene of a conflict and can be used to destroy an ennemy force before it gain a solid foothold or decent momentum.

Space Marines receive transmissions just like the rest of the Imperium with the help of astropaths. Each Chapter possess at least one astropathic choir in it's forteress and a couple more in each of their spaceships. Then, the Chapter Master (or a Captain in many cases) will choose if the Chapter should answer the distress call and with how much force. There is no specific rule to determine which call should be answered and which should be ignored and it's left to the discretion and good judgement of the Space Marine commanding staff. Should they prove to be unrelliable in their defence of the Imperium, other Imperial institutions may want the Chapter to be investigated by the Inquisition or punished in some way. Situation doesn't need to apocalyptic and it's in fact better for Space Marine, being so few, to act before things really start to go south else vast armies of Imperial Guard must be raised to fight a full blown war.

This.
/Thread.

When GW or Relic/Sierra/EA games wants to make a video game.

SPESH MEH REINS! ATAkK 4 da EMH PER ROAHR!!!

Space Marines mostly act as an independent force. They operate by the dictates of the chapter over a territory of some kind, they are only beholden to the highest levels of Imperial authority. Even Inqusitors have limited authority when it comes to Space Marines.

They keep an eye out for threats and deal with them as they see fit.

If there is a conflict imperial authorities can ask nearby chapters for aid. The chapter will then decide if the problem merits a response.

Marines of course often make promises to defend specific areas. They'll also have vested interests of their own. A chapter will protect the forge world that supplies them with equipment, as well as the worlds which provide them with initiates. Chapters may also have debts of honor with particular planets, maybe a particular world did a great service to the chapter or they simply have taken upon themselves the defense of some key planets. Marines will proportion their skill where its needed, they are valuable resources and they can't be everywhere. If a marine is on planet X it means he's not on planet Y, Z, A, B, and C.

When gak goes down, that's when.