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I guess this a simple question, and maybe a silly one, but, uh... can they? i know the space wolves have space wolves, but that's not quite the same thing as a pet i think.

Space wolves have Fenrisian wolves not so much as pets... but as one would have hunting dogs and horses.

I don't see why they cannot have war beasts in most cases on a homeworld. But in space, problematic? It could also be that because a Space Marine lives so long, in such a regimented fashion, that maybe pets are a distraction? Or Bigusdickus forgets to feed his cat and come back to his dorm after an extended mission that was only supposed to be two days. The cat has died or turned to worshipping Khorne to get revenge and spill their master's blood.

Serfs probably have them.

They do! They're called chapter serfs.



I don't think they'd be interested unless the animal was somehow dangerous or warlike. No self-respecting Astartes is going to keep a guinea pig equivalent, for example, but a hunting hawk or a super-venomous spider or a cyber-mastiff or something like that would probably be acceptable, if they could take the time away from their duties to care for it. It'd probably be more of a thing for Chapter Masters or Apothecaries or the like, in my mind. Someone important so that nobody questions if it's really appropriate for a Space Marine to be be taking care of an animal instead of practicing bolter drills.

Hamsters must be extremely popular, especially among the totally-not-about-to-fall-to-Khorne chapters. Little jerks.

The story Last Days of Ector makes a reference to this by proxy. As part of the recruitment for the Crimson Castellans, they refuse to take any recruits that show a penchant for making emotional bonds with anyone outside of other marines. It is seen as a personality flaw and the recruit in question is denied access for his emotional attachment to a girl he likes.

It is only through extenuating circumstances (Involving fighting off a Lictor), that an exception is made and the boy is accepted, with the girl taken in as a chapter serf.

So under normal circumstances, they would not.

jareddm wrote:
The story Last Days of Ector makes a reference to this by proxy. As part of the recruitment for the Crimson Castellans, they refuse to take any recruits that show a penchant for making emotional bonds with anyone outside of other marines. It is seen as a personality flaw and the recruit in question is denied access for his emotional attachment to a girl he likes.

It is only through extenuating circumstances (Involving fighting off a Lictor), that an exception is made and the boy is accepted, with the girl taken in as a chapter serf.

So under normal circumstances, they would not.

That's fair, but on the other hand, that's just one chapter, and each chapter has its own eccentricities.

i started thinking about this because i've got a bunch of these little dog figures that i really like and want to use. and yeah, maybe they wouldn't be "pets" like we have them, but the idea i had is that they're companion animals who are... maybe really good at sniffing out concealed enemies or something, something useful. so they have both a utilitarian and a bonding purpose, but that bonding wouldn't stop them from fulfilling their duties (either one, the marine or the dog). i mean, that sort of thing already exists in the real world: we have dogs that have battlefield roles, they're workers, but that doesn't mean there isn't a bond.

They would be primarily for either specialists or officers too, not for new recruits.

(None of this is gameplay stuff, just fluff for the chapter i'm making up)

You're a 7' tall muscle-bound, armour-plated, genetically altered superhuman killing machine.

If you want a pet, who's going to stop you?

I would say it would be unusual in the vast majority of chapters though, thanks to their psychological conditioning and general 'penitent warrior monk' vibe.

If you've got a homebrew then you can relax their 'warrior-monk' feel and make them a bit closer to Space Wolves level of irreverence.

Do you have a particular thing in mind that you want to do with a Space Marine and a pet?

 amazingturtles wrote:

jareddm wrote:
The story Last Days of Ector makes a reference to this by proxy. As part of the recruitment for the Crimson Castellans, they refuse to take any recruits that show a penchant for making emotional bonds with anyone outside of other marines. It is seen as a personality flaw and the recruit in question is denied access for his emotional attachment to a girl he likes.

It is only through extenuating circumstances (Involving fighting off a Lictor), that an exception is made and the boy is accepted, with the girl taken in as a chapter serf.

So under normal circumstances, they would not.

That's fair, but on the other hand, that's just one chapter, and each chapter has its own eccentricities.

i started thinking about this because i've got a bunch of these little dog figures that i really like and want to use. and yeah, maybe they wouldn't be "pets" like we have them, but the idea i had is that they're companion animals who are... maybe really good at sniffing out concealed enemies or something, something useful. so they have both a utilitarian and a bonding purpose, but that bonding wouldn't stop them from fulfilling their duties (either one, the marine or the dog). i mean, that sort of thing already exists in the real world: we have dogs that have battlefield roles, they're workers, but that doesn't mean there isn't a bond.

They would be primarily for either specialists or officers too, not for new recruits.

(None of this is gameplay stuff, just fluff for the chapter i'm making up)

That sounds absolutely workable, and I'd love to see the conversions and fluff you come up with for it!

Hmmm. Boo anyone?

 Spinner wrote:

That sounds absolutely workable, and I'd love to see the conversions and fluff you come up with for it!

Working on a couple right now! I'm not the best at this, but it's fun.

Also, yes, Boo. someone needs to take care of the details (and the eyes)

*that second sentence was for Aben Zin, of course

well, isn't there a deathwatch white scar with a pet eagle?

I think that as long as the chapter is a homebew, giving your HQ a dog or the such is a very cool idea!

~Mikey

Astartes lack most of the human emotions that we regular humans evidence that leads us to wanting to keep pets.

If it is not a strategic or tactical advantage, it is worthless to the Astartes.

 Psienesis wrote:
Astartes lack most of the human emotions that we regular humans evidence that leads us to wanting to keep pets. If it is not a strategic or tactical advantage, it is worthless to the Astartes.

But it could be a Chapter tradition which supposedly teaches the marine something.

Imperial Fists make scrimshaw out of the hand bones of fallen battle brothers (or in extreme cases expose their own hand bones and engrave the names of the fallen there), for example. Space Wolves drink and boast. Salamanders regularly visit family in the village they were recruited from. Blood Angels adorn their wargear with incredibly fine artwork. And so on. Surely these practices have little tactical or strategic value?

Keeping a pet might be supposed to teach the marine that other living beings are dependent on his success in battle (the Chapter will sacrifice the pet and bury it with him) and so he not only fights harder but controls his temper so he doesn't let pride kill him in a futile last stand (oh, and ofc handling a pet also teaches him to be very very careful lest he break such a small thing, giving him greater fine motor control).

Astartes are supposed to lack most of the human emotions that we regular humans evidence that leads us to wanting to keep pets.

It's relatively clear from the examples above that the psychological indoctrination marines go through is either unreliable, poorly understood or (in the case of the Space Wolves) probably not implemented at all.

Some chapters might be better at it, or have properly functioning equipment, or recruit from a more compliant population.

Either that, or what each marine is indoctrinated to believe is entirely the choice of the chapter master/apothecary in question.

jareddm wrote:
The story Last Days of Ector makes a reference to this by proxy. As part of the recruitment for the Crimson Castellans, they refuse to take any recruits that show a penchant for making emotional bonds with anyone outside of other marines. It is seen as a personality flaw and the recruit in question is denied access for his emotional attachment to a girl he likes.

It is only through extenuating circumstances (Involving fighting off a Lictor), that an exception is made and the boy is accepted, with the girl taken in as a chapter serf.

So under normal circumstances, they would not.

Interesting - I don't recall a female Chapter Serf being mentioned before.

re pets - depends on the Chapter - some would, most wouldn't. The animals would likely be cybered up if they were going on campaign, its possible that a Librarian or similar might have a Gyrinx through associations with Inquisitors or the like.

Space Wolves and White Scars definitely do, so I dont see why other Chapters wouldnt. They do probably prefer pets that are great at tearing up heretics though. Creatures with sharp fangs or claws and such.

I dont see any reason they cant?

Out side of beasts of war, i dont know of any chapters, or even named characters that have pets that dont serve some sort of purpose. But honestly i dont see why a space marine cant have a like say pet cat or bird.

 amazingturtles wrote:
I guess this a simple question, and maybe a silly one, but, uh... can they? i know the space wolves have space wolves, but that's not quite the same thing as a pet i think.

No they cannot. 1 in 5 Chaos marines went renegade to care for a kitten that is forbidden by the Codex Astartes.

 Iron_Captain wrote:
Space Wolves and White Scars definitely do, so I dont see why other Chapters wouldnt. They do probably prefer pets that are great at tearing up heretics though. Creatures with sharp fangs or claws and such.

Ok. War guinea pigs= check.

i know, i know, i asked this question seriously, but i've realized when it comes to "serious lore" and "fun things to try to convert"... i'll go with non-canon fun times every time.

They could have some jokaeros , and whatever those things are the dark angels have running around

As long as the pets can kill.
Wolves, bears, lions, etc.