Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

The writers don't think that far ahead. In fact, I think the writers don't even have a set size in mind. Like the Emepror, the size of the primarchs changes depending on the needs of the narrative.

 Melissia wrote:
The writers don't think that far ahead. In fact, I think the writers don't even have a set size in mind. Like the Emepror, the size of the primarchs changes depending on the needs of the narrative.

They're never shorter than an Astartes.

I did say "depends on the needs of the narrative".

The narrative, of course, always needs them to be at least as big as the regular astartes.

I think it's safe to say that they're at the least larger than regular Marines. I've never seen any of the Primarchs sans Alpharius/Omegon ever be portrayed or described as the same size as an Astartes. I have seen them frequently be described as much larger, though. Some decent art scaling:

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131222080427/warhammer40k/images/7/76/Vulkan_Dropsite_Massacre.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81bFrvN%2BsaL.jpg

 BlaxicanX wrote:
I think it's safe to say that they're at the least larger than regular Marines. I've never seen any of the Primarchs sans Alpharius/Omegon ever be portrayed or described as the same size as an Astartes. I have seen them frequently be described as much larger, though. Some decent art scaling:

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131222080427/warhammer40k/images/7/76/Vulkan_Dropsite_Massacre.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81bFrvN%2BsaL.jpg

While I generally abhor doing so, it's better to go off the actual models simply to get a general idea, even if GW's scaling is completely screwed up. HH book cover art is more inconsistent than Marvel, to the point that scenes on the cover often never even happen in the book.

Marvel's still not as inconsistent as DC when it comes to DC's depiction of Wonder Woman, but I digress.

What's the scale of the models?

 Melissia wrote:
Marvel's still not as inconsistent as DC when it comes to DC's depiction of Wonder Woman, but I digress.

What's the scale of the models?

Ever tried to shove ten marines into a land raider? Or how space marine height doesn't vary at all, is barely taller than guardsmen, guardsmen mind you who are horrible mutants with gigantic, bulbous heads. Or bolters no way in hell firing .75 bolts.

I asked that in response to this:

 Wyzilla wrote:
While I generally abhor doing so, it's better to go off the actual models simply to get a general idea, even if GW's scaling is completely screwed up

As in, what's the tabletop's scale when it comes to the primarchs?

GW SCALE
Scale, SCALE!!...what is this scale you speek of.
Two GW figures fresh out of the same mold aren't in scale with each other most of the time.

 Melissia wrote:
I asked that in response to this:

 Wyzilla wrote:
While I generally abhor doing so, it's better to go off the actual models simply to get a general idea, even if GW's scaling is completely screwed up

As in, what's the tabletop's scale when it comes to the primarchs?

Pretty big.

Hm. Actually, accounting for the difference in base heights, that looks like a fairly good representation to how the primarchs are in my mind compared to the normal marines.

For some weird as feth reason, I couldn't find a single picture of a Primarch model just standing among/next to regular Marine models.

EDIT- Spoke too soon.



Lorgar.

 Melissia wrote:
Hm. Actually, accounting for the difference in base heights, that looks like a fairly good representation to how the primarchs are in my mind compared to the normal marines.

It also varies on the primarch. Vulkan is ginormous, while angron, if he was standing upright, would probably be much shorter.

But yes, Forge World is the model company we deserve.

Edited to fix the pictures.They were slowed there for a minute.

edit- God damn it Wyz.

I consider Primarchs about 33% taller than their Marines on average, but outliers can be significant, with Alpharius and Omegon being shorter in contrast to Magnus and Vulkan who are larger.

regarding Marine Height BTW, the 6th edition CSM codex states unambigiously that Space Marines are 7 feet tall. page 36 first paragraph for referance. the exact quote is

..The Space Marines stand 7 feet tall, with thickened bones, two hearts, hyperdense muscles and all manner of special organs that allow them to survive and fight in the most hostile conditions

BrianDavion wrote:
regarding Marine Height BTW, the 6th edition CSM codex states unambigiously that Space Marines are 7 feet tall. page 36 first paragraph for referance. the exact quote is

..The Space Marines stand 7 feet tall, with thickened bones, two hearts, hyperdense muscles and all manner of special organs that allow them to survive and fight in the most hostile conditions

Clearly in-universe propaganda. Don't trust the foul texts of Chaos.

So Magnus is the tallest while Vulkan is the "largest", yes? I know Vulkan's fluff came much later than the others, as he really didn't have much on his own. His model is beautifully large though, even compared to Horus. From Lexicanum:

"Vulkan is the largest and the strongest of all the primarchs."

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Vulkan#.VBCPwvldV8E

 Ashiraya wrote:
I consider Primarchs about 33% taller than their Marines on average, but outliers can be significant, with Alpharius and Omegon being shorter in contrast to Magnus and Vulkan who are larger.

Alpharius is only slightly taller than a large man.

Alpharius would have to easily be nearing eight feet tall to be described as taller than Marines.

Magnus was said to be five meters tall in Battle for the Fang.

Lion El'Jonson was said to be a little over three meters tall unarmored.

 Void__Dragon wrote:
Alpharius would have to easily be nearing eight feet tall to be described as taller than Marines.

Magnus was said to be five meters tall in Battle for the Fang.

Lion El'Jonson was said to be a little over three feet tall unarmored.

Lion El'Gnomeson.

At no point is the Lion said to be short for a Primarch, like Alpharius or Angron. Magnus being much larger fits with his characterization as a "giant" among the Primarchs. At ten feet tall he would be a full three feet taller than an armoured Marine.

It's also funny that people like Simon Egan (who works on 40k products) know less about the setting than I do. Vulkan being the "largest" of the Primarchs doesn't just contradict Magnus being described as the largest, it also contradicts a direct comparison to Ferrus Manus. In Fulgrim Manus is directly stated to be taller and wider than Vulkan, and much more so than Corax.

 Void__Dragon wrote:
Alpharius would have to easily be nearing eight feet tall to be described as taller than Marines.

Magnus was said to be five meters tall in Battle for the Fang.

Lion El'Jonson was said to be a little over three feet tall unarmored.

 Void__Dragon wrote:


Lion El'Jonson was said to be a little over three feet tall unarmored.

 Void__Dragon wrote:
three feet tall

Lion El'Gnomeson.

 Void__Dragon wrote:
At no point is the Lion said to be short for a Primarch, like Alpharius or Angron. Magnus being much larger fits with his characterization as a "giant" among the Primarchs. At ten feet tall he would be a full three feet taller than an armoured Marine.

It's also funny that people like Simon Egan (who works on 40k products) know less about the setting than I do. Vulkan being the "largest" of the Primarchs doesn't just contradict Magnus being described as the largest, it also contradicts a direct comparison to Ferrus Manus. In Fulgrim Manus is directly stated to be taller and wider than Vulkan, and much more so than Corax.

That's not Simon Egan's fault. There are some Black Library sources that claim Vulkan is the largest and strongest of all the primarchs.

 Ashiraya wrote:


Lion El'Gnomeson.

I have no idea what you're talking about.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Orblivion wrote:


That's not Simon Egan's fault. There are some Black Library sources that claim Vulkan is the largest and strongest of all the primarchs.

Strongest? Sure.

Largest? Show me, lol. Even the claim that Vulkan is the strongest is frankly only present in Nick Kyme novels.

Check your post again. You wrote that the Lion is three feet tall.

I disagree!

Okay, a little over.

Still, that's gnome size!

The thing about Primarchs is that they don't have to be 20 feet tall.

They look really intimidating anyway.

There are significant contradictions in the fluff.

I place things as:

Rule book fluff
Bl fluff
Official images

The bl books are a mess and untrustworthy.