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Okay I know the Space Marines in the fluff are suppose to be the elite fighting force of humanity. However at only about 1000 strong per chapter, even with say 1000 chapters that is only 1 million space marines in total. With a population of at least a Quadrillion that would mean that there is only 1 space marine for every Million humans.

Most special forces have a ratio of 10,000 to 1 in the populace they serve currently. So under this space marines are 100 times more rare in the imperium then Army Rangers, SEALS, or Delta Force are today in America. In order for this number to come out there should be either 100,000 chapters of space marines or 100,000 Marines per Chapter. Currently a single Army Rangers Battalion has more soldiers then a Full Space Marine Chapter.

I would think that on the massive scale either the chapter size or number of chapters just doesn't cut it. Either increase the number of Chapters or increase the number of marines in a Chapter.

Think Big GW. Think Big.

I think that the current fluff makes it difficult to imagine there being more than a few hundred chapters, although I'm compelled toward original foundings myself.

Still, a lot of those trillions of people are conscripted; planetary defense forces are often not to be taken lightly. A Space Marine strike, whatever it lacks in numbers, works with precision compared to an IG gunline. It's the classic storyline; desperate humans fighting off overwhelming hordes of alien scum until the cavalry arrives with Big Guns and Snazzy Hats.

The IG bear the brunt of an attack; let's just say it's conscript-class Chaos cultists with Tzeentch CSM having established a base of leadership on the planet. The major and tactical hives are beseiged, and the PDF is on the defensive as usual. They know the terrain, they're fighting from their own supply depots, but can't hold out forever, as Chaos Marines are leading raids and attacking strategic locations with far more efficiency than the standard humans.

In the final hour, an enormous block of cheese falls from the sky. Space Wolves or something jump out, save the day by crushing the Chaos Sorcerer Daddy and a Big Bird or two, and then proceed to drink the planet's pubs dry.

Note that chapters tend to only deploy a 100-man company, or a few, to the average support-request. The whole force of 1000 super-men rarely get stuck in at the same place and time, for the same reasons that our current militaries don't try these sorts of tactics. They're just asking for an orbital bombardment, for one thing.

If the 40K universe concentrated its military like the US, it would be,

"In the grim darkness of the forty-first millenium... well, it's been pretty quiet since everything was destroyed in M17.470. So it's mostly just grim darkness."

If you want to look at the 10,000 to 1 ratio, you have to start including the Sisters, Storm Troopers (Inquisitorial and Guard), Hardened Vets, Ratlings, Ogryn, and any similar unit. Space Marines are not the only 'Special Forces' in the Imperium.

fluff-marines may deal with a game-army (1500-2000 points ) singlehandedly.
Source: "Brothers of the snake".
40k games-marines would need to be more like 1000Legions, not chapters,to sustain ingame losses .
But those 1k x 1k description is fluff-marines.

The 10,000:1 modern day ratio would apply more to Storm Troopers or Hardened Vets than Marines or SoB. There is no modern analog for a Space Marine, but Master Chief from Halo probably comes about as close as anything.

One guy, with the capability to tear apart a planet's worth of baddies. That's what Space Marines are. Each and every one.

10000 to 1 which makes 25000 special forces in the United States? Really? Where did you get that number?

Still my guess would be the nature of warefare is such that the previous ratio's don't count. I mean each space marine is almost a walking modern tank!! They are better off walking straight at you and firing than hiding behind a rock wall?!?! Discuss that with a modern trooper??

remember that 1000 is the actual battle brothers (for most chapters), there are countless servitors, scout recruits, techs, ect...for each chapter. some SM chapters also have more than ten companies, new marines are always being recruited from somewhere.

YEah in the fluff they really dont need that many men as each one of them would easily be able to wipe the floor with most forces.

Attack_Squig wrote:10000 to 1 which makes 25000 special forces in the United States? Really? Where did you get that number?

Still my guess would be the nature of warefare is such that the previous ratio's don't count. I mean each space marine is almost a walking modern tank!! They are better off walking straight at you and firing than hiding behind a rock wall?!?! Discuss that with a modern trooper??

25,000 special forces? No. To get a 25,000 special forces squad in the US Military you would need a Military of 250 million strong. However, there is about 2,500 special forces in the army (Rangers, Delta, Ect.) which has about 2.5 million members.

I really like the space marines in the fluff. However for being so great in the fluff they sure do die easy on the game table.

Maybe my problem is with the fluff and making every space marine like Rambo but not having the same utility in game.

asugradinwa wrote:I really like the space marines in the fluff. However for being so great in the fluff they sure do die easy on the game table.

Maybe my problem is with the fluff and making every space marine like Rambo but not having the same utility in game.

Yeh space marines are kinda made weaker to make the game more playable. In the inquisitor game theyre about three times as hard as the next rulebook character, which is an inquisitor lord i think.