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.

So here is a weird question for everyone:

What space-marine chapter do you think seems the most "happy" of all the chapters out there?

Specifically: I was thinking about serving my own time in the military, and how, sure, there were those super gung-ho dudes you ran into every so often... but mostly it was people who were serious about their job, and doing that job well, but could still crack a joke or enjoy a beer when the occasion called for it. (Or even when the occasion did NOT call for it, come to think of it.)

My point is: there has to be at least SOME space-marine chapter that isn't so incredibly serious all the time that they are practically space-monks. I mean the frikkin Space Wolves are basically vikings, so you know they at least enjoy a good feast with some good mead or whatever.

So, barring people who are traitors, what space-marines seem to actually have a good time during their off hours?

Space Wolves are definitely front runners in that regard. Salamanders tend to be a lot less prone to partying than Space Wolves, but they're pretty chill and seem to have retained a decent chunk of their humanity.

The Salamanders also continue to interact with their families and populace of their homeworld. I'd imagine that keeps them grounded and more focused on the intended role of the marines as "defenders of humanity"; whereas chapters like the Marines Malevolent and Minotaurs consider humans weak and worthless and so don't give a damn about collateral damage. So the Salamanders may or not be the "happiest", but they are the most humane of the marine chapters.

Wyldhunt wrote:
Space Wolves are definitely front runners in that regard. Salamanders tend to be a lot less prone to partying than Space Wolves, but they're pretty chill and seem to have retained a decent chunk of their humanity.

Wyldhunt wrote:
Space Wolves are definitely front runners in that regard. Salamanders tend to be a lot less prone to partying than Space Wolves, but they're pretty chill and seem to have retained a decent chunk of their humanity.

This is probably why they have been my favourite chapters, wolves since 2nd and Salamanders since the armageddon codex when they got their own list and were I3...


It's all comparitive though. They are psycho-indoctrinated bio-modified child soldiers, they live a life of unending conflict. Everything they do is built around this, even their entertainment. wolves treat a lot more things as entertaining, but even then, it's still fighting their pack mates and competitions etc...

I think it's gotta be spacewolves too.

This made me wonder about the CSM side. Are any of them really, truly happy?

Stay with me a minute here, as I look the question.

I'm not sure any of them are really happy in the real sense of the word. Many of them have had their brains and minds twisted to the point that following their gods stimulates their pleasure centers. But is there a difference betweenhaving your pleasure center stimulated and being actually happy? Drugs may stimulate a junky's pleasure center, but most people would look at his life and think he's not really happy.

Some bits on the emperor's children make it clear that they're addicted to stimulation, their brains are rewired to the point only more and more stimulation from noise, colors, violence, etc can interest them, Sure sounds like a junky 'chasing the dragon" to me.

I'm not sure I'd call what the CSM have happiness, so maybe in real terms most loyal marines are happier than them.

March for Maccrage!

We still have FISH in our OCEANS!

leerm02 wrote:


My point is: there has to be at least SOME space-marine chapter that isn't so incredibly serious all the time that they are practically space-monks. I mean the frikkin Space Wolves are basically vikings, so you know they at least enjoy a good feast with some good mead or whatever.

To be fair, this also varies significantly depending on author, some of their stuff, particularly their HH stuff, is really almost "tryhard" levels of grimdark, the chapter's personality is insanely variable and contradictory depending on who's writing them at the time

For the most part it boils down to Space Wolves (sometimes), Salamanders to a lesser extent, and maybe some Ultramarines stuff (particularly when they're portraying themselves as administrators of peaceful Ultramar). I can't think of too many others off the top of my head.

I think a Marine’s happiness is more a case of contentment, rather than joy.

I myself am not “joyous” or happy by most people’s standards, but I do take great satisfaction in some things, and often feel content with a job well done.

I expect the same is true of many Space Marines. Satisfaction at a mission accomplished. Content that their sense of honour is upheld, and that their deeds are worthy of memory in the Chapter.

Space Wolves to be honest.

They’re the most Ork like of The Imperium’s forces. They live for battle, and are very good at it. They love a heroic death and compose poetry about their exploits.

Yes they stress over things, but get their release by doing exactly what they were genetically designed to do - wrecking face and saving civilians.

Why did I bring up Orks? They’re 100% the happiest of all the various species we know about. They don’t ponder grand philosophies, or worry about, well, pretty much anything. Their economy is based on Teef. And if you’ve run out and spent your own teef? Well they’ll regrow in a year or three. And in the meantime, there is nothing wrong about smacking another Ork in the gob and taking their teef.

Stress free ‘ooligans!

Philosophically it would be hard to know how much free will orks have as their personalities and knowledge have been heavily engineered into them.

their brain is wired to receive joy from violence, they can't think about it any other way, even if they could conceive of the notion.

Their ability for independent thought seems very varied.

All of which adds to their overall level of content.

There’s little stress, because their societal rules are just accepted. You boss around whoever you can get away with, and sometimes need to scrap it out. If you win, cool, you’re literally The Boss. If not? Well, they won it fair and square so time to do what they say.

Been reading Waaaargh The Orks the past couple of days, so Orky life satisfaction is on my mind!

I'm not sure if Space Wolves are necessarily the top pick. Sure they feast in Viking style, but some of the portrayals (IIRC it was in the Ahriman books) show that they have a real overriding, broody need to hunt down Chaos. Which doesn't seem like an activity that brings them any joy, just a sort of mild balm for their obsession.

Vaktathi mentioned Ultramarines and they definitely seem the most mentally balanced of the bunch. But they also don't seem that happy, more like they have a strong sense of accomplishment fulfilling all their duties and following the rules.

I think it's part of the whole grimdark aesthetic that at most people in the setting can be content with their duty or their lot in life, but not really happy.

 Hellebore wrote:

Wyldhunt wrote:
Space Wolves are definitely front runners in that regard. Salamanders tend to be a lot less prone to partying than Space Wolves, but they're pretty chill and seem to have retained a decent chunk of their humanity.

This is probably why they have been my favourite chapters, wolves since 2nd and Salamanders since the armageddon codex when they got their own list and were I3...


It's all comparitive though. They are psycho-indoctrinated bio-modified child soldiers, they live a life of unending conflict. Everything they do is built around this, even their entertainment. wolves treat a lot more things as entertaining, but even then, it's still fighting their pack mates and competitions etc...

I was the opposite! I actually got put off playing Salamanders once I found out they were 'goodie two shoes' marines. Different strokes and all that.
I like the gimdark nature of humans having to rely on these inhuman, callous killing machines to survive and of worshiping space marines as angels only to have them turn their fury on civilians when they fail to live up to their impossible ideals of hardiness and devotion.

The Salamanders list was cool though, I first encountered it in WD rather than Codex: Armageddon but it felt like you were making sacrifices to gain other bonuses, like the initiative 3 and the limitations on fast attack.
I remember that unique psychic power really coming in handy against my mate's Tyranids!

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

Why did I bring up Orks? They’re 100% the happiest of all the various species we know about. They don’t ponder grand philosophies, or worry about, well, pretty much anything. Their economy is based on Teef. And if you’ve run out and spent your own teef? Well they’ll regrow in a year or three. And in the meantime, there is nothing wrong about smacking another Ork in the gob and taking their teef.

Stress free ‘ooligans!

Even the Eldar think that-

"The Orks are the pinnacle of creation. For them, the great struggle is won. They have evolved a society with no stress or angst. Who are we to judge them? We Eldar who have failed, or the humans on the road to ruin in their turn. And why? Because we sought answers to a question an Ork wouldn't even bother to ask! We see a culture that is strong and despise it as crude."- Uthan the Perverse

Definitely the Space Wolves. Their whole country is about glorifying fighting, drinking and banter. That's also what they do all day every day.

I wouldn't use someone called the Perverse as a standard for what all Eldar believe....

pm713 wrote:
Definitely the Space Wolves. Their whole country is about glorifying fighting, drinking and banter. That's also what they do all day every day.

I wouldn't use someone called the Perverse as a standard for what all Eldar believe....

To be fair he was prob labeled “the perverse” by other eldar for daring to think another culture (orks) was superior somehow.

 agurus1 wrote:

pm713 wrote:
Definitely the Space Wolves. Their whole country is about glorifying fighting, drinking and banter. That's also what they do all day every day.

I wouldn't use someone called the Perverse as a standard for what all Eldar believe....

To be fair he was prob labeled “the perverse” by other eldar for daring to think another culture (orks) was superior somehow.

That is exactly my point.