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Howard A Treesong wrote:You just know Leman Russ had something the size of an elephant's trunk stashed in his slacks.

No, Magnus the Red did. You don't really think their rivalry was about SORCERY, do you?

LightningClawsFTW wrote:Different planets have different cycles, which means a 12 year old on one planet could be 19 on another.

10-14 standard.

Ovion wrote:From what I've gathered, a female implanted with a Gene Seed dies a rather horrible death.

Also in the Space Wolves book I recall Ragnar being sexually involved with some psyker / inquisitor something woman (who later died or got trapped in some pyramid thing with a plague demon)

Ragnar said he had feelings he believed he shouldn't be having, however his imagination was about as far as it got. They were never anything more than a SW and psyker on a mission with an inquisitor. Although, I would imagine she had a rather interesting time reading his thoughts...

Ovion wrote:From what I've gathered, a female implanted with a Gene Seed dies a rather horrible death.

If they die, it's usually the most pleasant thing that could happen to them. Those that live with a gene-seed that doesn't match their DNA suffer far more, often ending up as raving madman/madwomen attacking everyone that even comes near.

Hm. Well, that IS your average marine to a non-imperial...

English Assassin wrote:Learn the difference between evidence and inference, people.
I'll cheerfully concur that the Astartes as depicted are uninterested in sex: they are, fundamentally, the protagonists of war stories, not Mills and Boon novels. But, unless it can be explicitly substantiated from a canonical source that they are deliberately and specifically chemically neutered, claiming that they are is inaccurate and misleading.

He's got a point - although I maintain my position of the "bits" being affected by the creation process (atrophy due to chemicals and/or outright removal - the latter seems more practical for interfacing with the armour), I have actually never seen it directly stated in a GW source. It's just something I file under personal interpretation due to common sense, and a preference for "keeping things grimdark", in this case a further sacrifice of the candidate's humanity.
As far as novels go, we already know their authors state what they want, and you can probably find anything in one if you just keep looking long enough. Not that there would be an official "canon" to go by, anyways. I'm afraid this topic is just yet another one of those subjects where there are countless different, at times overlapping interpretations.

Lynata wrote:

English Assassin wrote:Learn the difference between evidence and inference, people.
I'll cheerfully concur that the Astartes as depicted are uninterested in sex: they are, fundamentally, the protagonists of war stories, not Mills and Boon novels. But, unless it can be explicitly substantiated from a canonical source that they are deliberately and specifically chemically neutered, claiming that they are is inaccurate and misleading.

He's got a point - although I maintain my position of the "bits" being affected by the creation process (atrophy due to chemicals and/or outright removal - the latter seems more practical for interfacing with the armour), I have actually never seen it directly stated in a GW source. It's just something I file under personal interpretation due to common sense, and a preference for "keeping things grimdark", in this case a further sacrifice of the candidate's humanity.
As far as novels go, we already know their authors state what they want, and you can probably find anything in one if you just keep looking long enough. Not that there would be an official "canon" to go by, anyways. I'm afraid this topic is just yet another one of those subjects where there are countless different, at times overlapping interpretations.

Mine's still the best

aquilaenet wrote
In the third book of the Inquisition War trilogy, it goes into depth about a space marine named Lex. Lex takes off his armor and is wearing a netted bodysuit under his armor and nothing else. He has studs on his spine that interact with the suit. His black carapice is under his skin and cannot be seen by anyone. He has all of his equipment intact. Lex talks to a curious dwarf and the dwarf asks him about it. He is fully functional and can have sex to full capacity like a normal human. He is Imperial Fist and talks that he is trained to subdue any sexual desires. It is a form of self denial and disapline. When talking to the dwarf, he took it as an insult that anyone would think a space marine would succumb to such a simple desire.

So I know that some of the novels play fast and loose with the canon, but if the above example is considered in-canon, then that answers whether they have their equipment, and whether they can physically have sex.

It still doesn't answer whether they are sterile or not.

Those books are good but quite old and so auto-lose in any sort of canon showdown.

Anyway, I guess the black carapace allows control of power armour somehow without any sockets or plugs or other interfaces.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:Anyway, I guess the black carapace allows control of power armour somehow without any sockets or plugs or other interfaces.

Oh, my comment was referring more to the waste recycler. There are only so many ways to connect to there.
Regarding the suit control interface, that one cross section of a power armour did show a row of "spikes" in the back of the armour that would poke into the spine of the Marine wearing it. I rather like the idea; suitably grimdark.

As far as age of sources goes - that doesn't really have to mean anything. As per Andy Hoare, even Rogue Trader fluff was still 100% in effect for the writing of the SoB's last proper Codex.
That being said, we know from GW vets and even BL authors alike that "canon", especially for details such as these, simply isn't in effect, so anything written anywhere is quite simply irrelevant. There is no universal truth, there is no right or wrong, and there is no proof for anything.
And besides, we all know that even very recent novels can introduce a lot of funny ideas. *coughmultilaserscough*

Grass4hopper wrote:
So I know that some of the novels play fast and loose with the canon, but if the above example is considered in-canon, then that answers whether they have their equipment, and whether they can physically have sex.

It still doesn't answer whether they are sterile or not.

To the far left is normal Human, to the fer right is a Space Marine.



Now find me a female that can have sex with him and survive.

Well he'd have to take the armour off first.

Now find me a female that can have sex with him and survive.

Maybe if she had on some Adepta Sororitas Power Armour!



6ft 2in (1.90m) bride, The above b-ball player for the imperial measuring system is 7 ft 6 in

There you go. I think she's pregnant atm too actually so it can happen!

Just make sure she's on top I guess.

Void__Dragon wrote:As far as I know, no Slaaneshi Marine has demonstrated a sex drive, but even if one has, that could be explained by Slaaneshi mutations giving him a drive (And possibly equipment, if indeed the Marine lacks it, Slaanesh is easily capable of such things).

Well... Julius was described as being in 'orgasmic pleasure' when he got stabbed in the groin... that's the only thing which could be read as having a sex drive that I've seen regarding Space Marines apart from one of the Space Wolves books. Then again, if Slaanesh likes giving people boobs with eyes, there's no reason it wouldn't give them other things too.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:Those books are good but quite old and so auto-lose in any sort of canon showdown.

And yet by your own admission, you can't find anything to contradict it; until you can, there's no showdown to contest.

In the book Rynn's world I rem one of the captains saying he was offered things like, family relics, food, gifts and even women. but he had no use for them.
I would assume they are capable but simply trained to have far more important things.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:Anyway, I guess the black carapace allows control of power armour somehow without any sockets or plugs or other interfaces.

Given everything else we "know" that power armor can do, I think subdermal interfaces seem among the least unbelievable. You can start a lot of modern cars just by having the "key" in your pocket no?

Lynata wrote:

KamikazeCanuck wrote:Anyway, I guess the black carapace allows control of power armour somehow without any sockets or plugs or other interfaces.

Oh, my comment was referring more to the waste recycler. There are only so many ways to connect to there.
Regarding the suit control interface, that one cross section of a power armour did show a row of "spikes" in the back of the armour that would poke into the spine of the Marine wearing it. I rather like the idea; suitably grimdark.

As far as age of sources goes - that doesn't really have to mean anything. As per Andy Hoare, even Rogue Trader fluff was still 100% in effect for the writing of the SoB's last proper Codex.
That being said, we know from GW vets and even BL authors alike that "canon", especially for details such as these, simply isn't in effect, so anything written anywhere is quite simply irrelevant. There is no universal truth, there is no right or wrong, and there is no proof for anything.
And besides, we all know that even very recent novels can introduce a lot of funny ideas. *coughmultilaserscough*

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/30/412484.page

I don't know if it has been said here yet, but in Brothers of the Snake, the space marines are depicted as wearing tight fitting bodygloves or wearing a thong/border-line naked. But their homeworld is a hot ocean world so that makes sense.

Durza wrote:Well... Julius was described as being in 'orgasmic pleasure' when he got stabbed in the groin... that's the only thing which could be read as having a sex drive that I've seen regarding Space Marines apart from one of the Space Wolves books. Then again, if Slaanesh likes giving people boobs with eyes, there's no reason it wouldn't give them other things too.

True, but, well, I guess the best way to explain this is that for a Slaaneshi Marine, any kind of strong sensation is the equivelant to an orgasm.

Oh, and Julius didn't get stabbed in the groin, rather, he drove his spear through the groin and out the upper back of an Iron Hands marine. Pretty gakky way to die, all things considered. Julius got stabbed in the chest by Lightning Claws, I believe.

Brother Coa wrote:
Now find me a female that can have sex with him and survive.

Well, as far as it's not missionary position - any of my ex-GFs ? Considering SM physical endurance and control...well,many girls would be crazy 'bout them.

PS I'm 2m, 180 kg

IDK, the psycho-conditioning may have stripped them of the ability to have erection on demand.

I can imagine the poor marines having bad ED and being slightly confused about everything. "Sooo is something supposed to happen? Is there a button or something?"

Grey Templar wrote:IDK, the psycho-conditioning may have stripped them of the ability to have erection on demand.

I can imagine the poor marines having bad ED and being slightly confused about everything. "Sooo is something supposed to happen? Is there a button or something?"

I can see the librarians having less trouble though ;P

CalgarsPimpHand wrote:That said, in Fulgrim, it is implied that Fabius Bile has found a way of re-awakening the sex drive in the Emperor's Children. Then during the "concert" in which the audience basically crosses to Slaanesh, there's a lot of rape or sex in general implied, even from the marines in attendance.

IIRC when one of them looks at the scantily clad opera lady he is described as having a strange feeling of the sort that usually only occurs when he gazes at his primarch. So homoeroticism ftw. Oh Graham McNeill, we do love you so.

As a retired veteran I can say for sure that Through boot camp/AIT/cycled into duty, when no women are present there is no sexual drive. Even in times of war, and the constant threat of getting killed, the desire for sex is on about the same level of the desire for a penut butter sandwhich. Yeah you could make one out of penut butter packets and tuna flatbread in the MRE's, but you've got other stuff to worry about.

Another note. Know why there are rarely women on the front lines? Its NOT because of hygene reasons like some would have you believe, it is because when a female is shot and starts screaming, it is primal in our nature to defend, which means sometimes stupid choices. We had a medic accompany us once on a patrol because she was the only medic available on our FOB and we got into a fire fight, she was shot in the foot, and when she screamed, 3 of my squadmates droped their lanes of fire and ran to her... Tis the power of human nature, to ignore the little flying metal pieces trying to kill you and run to a womens aid.

Space marines take years to develope the mentality and I for one can vouche that if its driven into you enough, you WILL believe it.

Abadabadoobaddon wrote:IIRC when one of them looks at the scantily clad opera lady he is described as having a strange feeling of the sort that usually only occurs when he gazes at his primarch. So homoeroticism ftw. Oh Graham McNeill, we do love you so.

Oh Jesus, I remember that part.

Though to be fair, Fulgrim is liek, supar bishie hawt and stuff, it's his defining character trait.

Abyssel wrote:As a retired veteran I can say for sure that Through boot camp/AIT/cycled into duty, when no women are present there is no sexual drive. Even in times of war, and the constant threat of getting killed, the desire for sex is on about the same level of the desire for a penut butter sandwhich. Yeah you could make one out of penut butter packets and tuna flatbread in the MRE's, but you've got other stuff to worry about.

Another note. Know why there are rarely women on the front lines? Its NOT because of hygene reasons like some would have you believe, it is because when a female is shot and starts screaming, it is primal in our nature to defend, which means sometimes stupid choices. We had a medic accompany us once on a patrol because she was the only medic available on our FOB and we got into a fire fight, she was shot in the foot, and when she screamed, 3 of my squadmates droped their lanes of fire and ran to her... Tis the power of human nature, to ignore the little flying metal pieces trying to kill you and run to a womens aid.

Space marines take years to develope the mentality and I for one can vouche that if its driven into you enough, you WILL believe it.

I'd never believed that anecdote about running to the aid of a woman in combat before. If you're serious, hopefully everyone came out okay. If any of my Marines had ever done that (abandoning their sectors of fire in combat), my NCO mind is racing to come up with appropriate punishments that wouldn't get me discharged for hazing or abuse.

Honestly, the reasoning I've always had, and it seems to be the oft unspoken one is of simple logistics. Infantry units are all male, which allows for easy billeting, shower, etc facilities. The Commandant of the US Marines brought up the lack of funding for separate barracks as one of the reasons why he felt a quick transition to repealing DADT was a bad idea. We billet women separately for reasons of gender identity and privacy (not because we are worried about rape). Altering the composition of infantry units in modern military forces means getting around the whole "shared living quarters" problem. These sorts of issues aren't relevant to sedentary or semi-mobile units. For the grunts, it's a big deal.

But before we go too far off on a tangent, yeah, if you take women out of the equation and incorporate high stress and discipline, the sex drive will be sublimated. If you remove sex (and for the most part, women) from the equation and consume a Space Marine's time with prayer, exercise, combat drills and honestly, probably a lot of time sleeping between destinations thanks to the Sus-An modification, they aren't going to have a lot of sexual impulses, with or without some kind of chemical suppressant or other kind of sterilization/castration.

Abadabadoobaddon wrote:

CalgarsPimpHand wrote:That said, in Fulgrim, it is implied that Fabius Bile has found a way of re-awakening the sex drive in the Emperor's Children. Then during the "concert" in which the audience basically crosses to Slaanesh, there's a lot of rape or sex in general implied, even from the marines in attendance.

IIRC when one of them looks at the scantily clad opera lady he is described as having a strange feeling of the sort that usually only occurs when he gazes at his primarch. So homoeroticism ftw. Oh Graham McNeill, we do love you so.

Warhammer does seems a bit homoerotic at times, all those space marines cooped up together all the time. If you can get hold of the novel Space Marines that's quite blatant what with all the sphincters...

Abadabadoobaddon wrote:

CalgarsPimpHand wrote:That said, in Fulgrim, it is implied that Fabius Bile has found a way of re-awakening the sex drive in the Emperor's Children. Then during the "concert" in which the audience basically crosses to Slaanesh, there's a lot of rape or sex in general implied, even from the marines in attendance.

IIRC when one of them looks at the scantily clad opera lady he is described as having a strange feeling of the sort that usually only occurs when he gazes at his primarch. So homoeroticism ftw. Oh Graham McNeill, we do love you so.

It does say that only the humans did sex and rape that night. The Marines killed things.

It's the saltpeter in the meal bricks!