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Made in au
Stalwart Veteran Guard Sergeant





We know that the delivery of raw materials, foodstuffs and personnel is possible to a more a less reliable degree for short warp jumps. This is how Agriworlds feed the teeming billions of Hiveworlds, and how Forgeworlds continue to churn out products and armaments from their manufactorums long after the resources of the planet itself are exhausted.

I suggest that there must be some form of courier service and means of delivering correspondence outside of using astropaths, if only for communication and regular transport within a sub-sector itself.


My question is:
1) Is there any sort of official organisation or service that would deliver mail, letters and small packages between worlds?

2) Would this extend to non-official correspondence such as to families or loved ones elsewhere?

3) If so, to what rank of Imperial servant would such a service be restricted to?

 Psienesis wrote:
I've... seen things... you people wouldn't believe. Milk cartons on fire off the shoulder of 3rd-hour English; I watched Cheez-beams glitter in the dark near the Admin Parking Gate... All those... moments... will be lost, in time, like tears... in... rain. Time... to die.


"The Emperor points, and we obey,
Through the warp and far away."
-A Guardsman's Ballad 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




It depends on how far the regiment was operating from their homeworld. If it was relatively close and the regiment was receiving supplies from the homeworld, I could see officers and NCOs getting the privilege of sending letters back home.

However you have to take my opinion with a grain of salt. I personally believe that a lot of the grimdark fluff around the IG is completely immersion breaking. For example, the fact that Imperial guardsmen are never expected to return home ever, they just fight fight fight until they die is extremely unrealistic. Nobody would want to join the IG unless regiments came back home with stories of glory and conquest, and there would NEED to be veterans who have seen actual combat to train the PDF. Obviously SOME veterans make it back home. In what proportion is probably dependent on how far the regiment is operating from its homeworld and what they are doing.

There is also the stupid issue of recruitment into the guard being "permanent" in the lore. As veterans get older, realistically they would need to be mustered out otherwise they would lose combat effectiveness. A "term of service" is a much more realistic thing, after which the soldier gets sent back home and retires from the guard, or mustered out onto a nearby planet if his home is too far away. I just imagine a regiment full of old men with Gandalf beards and laugh. Officers too, tend to be rich noblemen looking to put a feather in their cap (with military service) and return home to take up the family business and compete with other local aristocracy.

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2018/06/22 23:36:51


 
   
Made in us
Douglas Bader






A guardsman has no need to get a letter delivered home because home is wherever they are killing the enemy. A guardsman's planet of origin is a peaceful hell that their thoughts never return to, except maybe in their worst nightmares.

There is no such thing as a hobby without politics. "Leave politics at the door" is itself a political statement, an endorsement of the status quo and an attempt to silence dissenting voices. 
   
Made in ca
Stormin' Stompa






Ottawa, ON

In proper 40k fashion, there probably is a postal service for guardsmen. It's just so bloated and byzantine that any message you send home will arrive long after all your loved ones have died. Somewhere there is a mountain of letters from fighting men and woman that will never be opened, slowly crumbling to dust.

Ask yourself: have you rated a gallery image today? 
   
Made in au
Stalwart Veteran Guard Sergeant





w1zard wrote:It depends on how far the regiment was operating from their homeworld. If it was relatively close and the regiment was receiving supplies from the homeworld, I could see officers and NCOs getting the privilege of sending letters back home.

However you have to take my opinion with a grain of salt. I personally believe that a lot of the grimdark fluff around the IG is completely immersion breaking. For example, the fact that Imperial guardsmen are never expected to return home ever, they just fight fight fight until they die is extremely unrealistic. Nobody would want to join the IG unless regiments came back home with stories of glory and conquest, and there would NEED to be veterans who have seen actual combat to train the PDF. Obviously SOME veterans make it back home. In what proportion is probably dependent on how far the regiment is operating from its homeworld and what they are doing.

There is also the stupid issue of recruitment into the guard being "permanent" in the lore. As veterans get older, realistically they would need to be mustered out otherwise they would lose combat effectiveness. A "term of service" is a much more realistic thing, after which the soldier gets sent back home and retires from the guard, or mustered out onto a nearby planet if his home is too far away. I just imagine a regiment full of old men with Gandalf beards and laugh. Officers too, tend to be rich noblemen looking to put a feather in their cap (with military service) and return home to take up the family business and compete with other local aristocracy.




The Eisenhorn books refer to retired guardsmen, but I cannot recall what they actually say about a service period. Gaunt's Ghosts continually refers to some sort of right that a regiment can claim a planet that they conquer virtually by themselves and rule it, and I have heard of guardsmen becoming part of the new colonists of recently conquered worlds elsewhere as well. Also, the cook of Gaunt's childhood household was a retired guardsman veteran with a bionic leg. In the Vostroyan 'Rebel Winter' a 10 year service period was referred to, though whether those that sign out actually return home wasn't addressed if I remember correctly. This wasn't just an off-hand mention either, I recall it was a dilemma for one of the soldiers whose ten years was coming up whether or not to stay on.

Certainly with the Vostroyans and other regiments that reinforce their regiments with fresh recruits there would be news from home and, logically, a route for messages to be sent back from the front.



Peregrine wrote:A guardsman has no need to get a letter delivered home because home is wherever they are killing the enemy. A guardsman's planet of origin is a peaceful hell that their thoughts never return to, except maybe in their worst nightmares.


Mr Nobody wrote:In proper 40k fashion, there probably is a postal service for guardsmen. It's just so bloated and byzantine that any message you send home will arrive long after all your loved ones have died. Somewhere there is a mountain of letters from fighting men and woman that will never be opened, slowly crumbling to dust.


This is appropriately grimdark. And, depending on distance, likely to be entirely accurate.

 Psienesis wrote:
I've... seen things... you people wouldn't believe. Milk cartons on fire off the shoulder of 3rd-hour English; I watched Cheez-beams glitter in the dark near the Admin Parking Gate... All those... moments... will be lost, in time, like tears... in... rain. Time... to die.


"The Emperor points, and we obey,
Through the warp and far away."
-A Guardsman's Ballad 
   
Made in us
Charing Cold One Knight





Sticksville, Texas

A Guardsman's only home is the battlefield, and his love of The Emperor. He needs not communicate with anything else.
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




 Humble Guardsman wrote:

Certainly with the Vostroyans and other regiments that reinforce their regiments with fresh recruits there would be news from home and, logically, a route for messages to be sent back from the front.

Agreed, but you will get people arguing with you about how that isn't grimdark enough.

If the regiment is far enough away from home however, I can see the administratum just saying no letters though. It wouldn't make sense to waste too much resources on delivering long range correspondence.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/06/23 09:12:03


 
   
Made in fr
Pyromaniac Hellhound Pilot





France

I think there is a postal service just as there must be communications with the rear to send back too heavily injured soldiers, or reinforcements onto the planet. But there most probably must be only a few ranks allowed to send letter because the imperium is very well aware that if his billions guardsman all start sending news back home, it'll get even more bloated. Now, if the conflict takes place near, or maybe even on the home planet, their is no reason it shouldn't happen: at the same time, the officiers are not all stupid and must be aware of how important that is to maintain a relatively high morale among the trrops.

Communications are possible, but they must be very restricted by sheer pragmatism.

As for retirement, the codices explecitly say that the guardsmen are often let on the reconquered or conquered world to rule it woth huge privileges. Normal retirement and going back home is les likely not because you will fight on until you crumble under the weight of your own beard, but because the IG is such a meat grinder that most soldiers never make it to retirment age.

However veterans, although they might not be sent into direct confrontations could very well be used as instructors and serve a bit longer as such but that doesn't prevent them from being sent back hom to perform this duty, while officers could most probaly literaly buy retirement if they are from their world's aristocracy.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/06/23 10:53:42


40k: Necrons/Imperial Guard/ Space marines
Bolt Action: Germany/ USA
Project Z.

"The Dakka Dive Bar is the only place you'll hear what's really going on in the underhive. Sure you might not find a good amasec but they grill a mean groxburger. Just watch for ratlings being thrown through windows and you'll be alright." Ciaphas Cain, probably.  
   
Made in us
Douglas Bader






 Maréchal des Logis Walter wrote:
heavily injured soldiers


No such thing exists. Every guardsman knows that death is preferable to being a drain on the Imperium's resources and no longer having the privilege of killing its enemies. What good is life if it comes at the cost of no longer being able to fight? A loyal guardsman would never permit such a thing to happen. In the unlikely event that a guardsman is too badly injured to fight again but no enemies are present for a final stand it is the duty of the regiment's quartermaster to grant an honorable execution and ensure that the Imperium's resources are efficiently allocated.

how important that is to maintain a relatively high morale among the trrops


Morale is maintained because they are guardsmen, the most privileged and honored of the Imperium's soldiers. They are not space marines, treason-prone spoiled children who grow soft behind their armor and obsess over petty rivalries between their cults instead of doing their sacred duty. Being granted a lasgun and enemies to kill is all they need, all they could ever wish for. In fact, writing letters to a guardsman's planet of origin would be an incredibly demoralizing task as it would be a significant waste of time that could be better spent killing the enemies of the Imperium or preparing for the next chance to kill those enemies.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/06/23 11:40:09


There is no such thing as a hobby without politics. "Leave politics at the door" is itself a political statement, an endorsement of the status quo and an attempt to silence dissenting voices. 
   
Made in us
Proud Triarch Praetorian





What would the letter even say?

"Dearest Family,

Not dead yet. Killed some heretic scum. Will write after next battle. Maybe.

Regards,

Loyal Guardsmen #47789876889666731

PS: Death to the Heretics!"
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




 Peregrine wrote:
 Maréchal des Logis Walter wrote:
heavily injured soldiers


No such thing exists. Every guardsman knows that death is preferable to being a drain on the Imperium's resources and no longer having the privilege of killing its enemies. What good is life if it comes at the cost of no longer being able to fight? A loyal guardsman would never permit such a thing to happen. In the unlikely event that a guardsman is too badly injured to fight again but no enemies are present for a final stand it is the duty of the regiment's quartermaster to grant an honorable execution and ensure that the Imperium's resources are efficiently allocated.

how important that is to maintain a relatively high morale among the trrops


Morale is maintained because they are guardsmen, the most privileged and honored of the Imperium's soldiers. They are not space marines, treason-prone spoiled children who grow soft behind their armor and obsess over petty rivalries between their cults instead of doing their sacred duty. Being granted a lasgun and enemies to kill is all they need, all they could ever wish for. In fact, writing letters to a guardsman's planet of origin would be an incredibly demoralizing task as it would be a significant waste of time that could be better spent killing the enemies of the Imperium or preparing for the next chance to kill those enemies.

Careful not to cut yourself on that edge.

 Maréchal des Logis Walter wrote:

However veterans, although they might not be sent into direct confrontations could very well be used as instructors and serve a bit longer as such but that doesn't prevent them from being sent back hom to perform this duty, while officers could most probaly literaly buy retirement if they are from their world's aristocracy.

I do not think this is true. I imagine a lot of soldiers die in combat and don't make it through their "tour of duty", however, an equal amount likely do. Nobody would want to join the Imperial Guard if you had a 90+% chance of getting slaughtered horribly and not making it back home. I don't care how glorious dying for the emperor is.

I would imagine most soldiers end up making it through their tours and retiring. However, I could definitely see a regiment assigned to a really bad warzone could have horrific 60+% casualty rates. Defending on the distance to the homeworld this regiment would either have to be reinforced or rolled into an amalgamated regiment for the remainder of their tour.

Officers don't buy their retirement. The administratum doesn't really care about money since they requisition everything they want. Officers most likely serve their full tours as well and retire, or if they want out early for some reason, pull strings using political favors.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/06/23 21:43:52


 
   
Made in us
Storm Trooper with Maglight





Denver

For what it counts The Regimental Standard has made reference to sending mail "home", such as in this one:

https://regimental-standard.com/2018/02/21/readers-letters/

Interested in gaming related original artwork?* You can view my collection of 40k, BattleTech, L5R and other miscellaneous pieces at https://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=158415

*This means published works by professional artists, not me of course. 
   
Made in fr
Pyromaniac Hellhound Pilot





France

w1zard wrote:
 Peregrine wrote:
 Maréchal des Logis Walter wrote:
heavily injured soldiers


No such thing exists. Every guardsman knows that death is preferable to being a drain on the Imperium's resources and no longer having the privilege of killing its enemies. What good is life if it comes at the cost of no longer being able to fight? A loyal guardsman would never permit such a thing to happen. In the unlikely event that a guardsman is too badly injured to fight again but no enemies are present for a final stand it is the duty of the regiment's quartermaster to grant an honorable execution and ensure that the Imperium's resources are efficiently allocated.

how important that is to maintain a relatively high morale among the trrops


Morale is maintained because they are guardsmen, the most privileged and honored of the Imperium's soldiers. They are not space marines, treason-prone spoiled children who grow soft behind their armor and obsess over petty rivalries between their cults instead of doing their sacred duty. Being granted a lasgun and enemies to kill is all they need, all they could ever wish for. In fact, writing letters to a guardsman's planet of origin would be an incredibly demoralizing task as it would be a significant waste of time that could be better spent killing the enemies of the Imperium or preparing for the next chance to kill those enemies.

Careful not to cut yourself on that edge.

 Maréchal des Logis Walter wrote:

However veterans, although they might not be sent into direct confrontations could very well be used as instructors and serve a bit longer as such but that doesn't prevent them from being sent back hom to perform this duty, while officers could most probaly literaly buy retirement if they are from their world's aristocracy.

I do not think this is true. I imagine a lot of soldiers die in combat and don't make it through their "tour of duty", however, an equal amount likely do. Nobody would want to join the Imperial Guard if you had a 90+% chance of getting slaughtered horribly and not making it back home. I don't care how glorious dying for the emperor is.

I would imagine most soldiers end up making it through their tours and retiring. However, I could definitely see a regiment assigned to a really bad warzone could have horrific 60+% casualty rates. Defending on the distance to the homeworld this regiment would either have to be reinforced or rolled into an amalgamated regiment for the remainder of their tour.

Officers don't buy their retirement. The administratum doesn't really care about money since they requisition everything they want. Officers most likely serve their full tours as well and retire, or if they want out early for some reason, pull strings using political favors.


Pulling strings is more what I envisionned.

I think the retirement rate depends on the regiment. An artillery regiment should theorically undergo less losses than infantry regiments, which are often on the frontline and face very powerful enemies. The fluff is beyond lgic on that topic but sill they are facing such monstruosities thta it is not necesseraly stupid to great losses on a regular basis.

The issue of going back home is not that much dealt with in the canon stuff, but on the other hand it would seem very hard to have the worlds run smooth otherwise: according to the numbers of recruits in dire situations, it would maybe be hard to make do with a portion of your inhabitants being forever and all of a sudden absent.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/06/23 21:54:17


40k: Necrons/Imperial Guard/ Space marines
Bolt Action: Germany/ USA
Project Z.

"The Dakka Dive Bar is the only place you'll hear what's really going on in the underhive. Sure you might not find a good amasec but they grill a mean groxburger. Just watch for ratlings being thrown through windows and you'll be alright." Ciaphas Cain, probably.  
   
Made in gb
Norn Queen






A generic Guardsman? No. A bigwig Lord Commander or Lord Commissar? Perhaps.
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




 Maréchal des Logis Walter wrote:

The issue of going back home is not that much dealt with in the canon stuff, but on the other hand it would seem very hard to have the worlds run smooth otherwise: according to the numbers of recruits in dire situations, it would maybe be hard to make do with a portion of your inhabitants being forever and all of a sudden absent.

Exactly, not to mention what that effect would have on civilian morale.
   
Made in us
Humorless Arbite





Maine

 Peregrine wrote:
 Maréchal des Logis Walter wrote:
heavily injured soldiers


No such thing exists. Every guardsman knows that death is preferable to being a drain on the Imperium's resources and no longer having the privilege of killing its enemies. What good is life if it comes at the cost of no longer being able to fight? A loyal guardsman would never permit such a thing to happen. In the unlikely event that a guardsman is too badly injured to fight again but no enemies are present for a final stand it is the duty of the regiment's quartermaster to grant an honorable execution and ensure that the Imperium's resources are efficiently allocated.

how important that is to maintain a relatively high morale among the trrops


Morale is maintained because they are guardsmen, the most privileged and honored of the Imperium's soldiers. They are not space marines, treason-prone spoiled children who grow soft behind their armor and obsess over petty rivalries between their cults instead of doing their sacred duty. Being granted a lasgun and enemies to kill is all they need, all they could ever wish for. In fact, writing letters to a guardsman's planet of origin would be an incredibly demoralizing task as it would be a significant waste of time that could be better spent killing the enemies of the Imperium or preparing for the next chance to kill those enemies.


Where did the exalted button go!

Voxed from Salamander 84-24020
 
   
Made in us
Douglas Bader






w1zard wrote:
Nobody would want to join the Imperial Guard if you had a 90+% chance of getting slaughtered horribly and not making it back home. I don't care how glorious dying for the emperor is.


You do not care, because you are not a guardsman. You are a civilian that a guardsman dies to protect, a lower class of person than even a space marine. For a guardsman honorable death in service to the Imperium is the most noble use of one's life and the surest way to guarantee an eternity at the Emperor's side. But a guardsman understands that not everyone can share their strong faith, and that even those who stray from the Emperor's light can receive the gift of protection.

However, I could definitely see a regiment assigned to a really bad warzone could have horrific 60+% casualty rates.


60% casualties would be a fairly low rate. "Horrific" is 100% casualties in wars of attrition, where the primary strategy is "we have more men than you have bullets, we win". Except that "horrific" isn't really the right term for a war where so many guardsman are granted the opportunity for martyrdom. Do not judge the Imperium by our modern standard of morality and duty.

There is no such thing as a hobby without politics. "Leave politics at the door" is itself a political statement, an endorsement of the status quo and an attempt to silence dissenting voices. 
   
Made in gb
Norn Queen






w1zard wrote:
Nobody would want to join the Imperial Guard if you had a 90+% chance of getting slaughtered horribly and not making it back home. I don't care how glorious dying for the emperor is.
You realise that 1) The Imperium is a Theocracy and they have been indoctrinated to think that, yes, dying for the God-Emperor is glorious and 2) 99% of Guardsmen don't get to "choose", they are "told".
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




 BaconCatBug wrote:
w1zard wrote:
Nobody would want to join the Imperial Guard if you had a 90+% chance of getting slaughtered horribly and not making it back home. I don't care how glorious dying for the emperor is.
You realise that 1) The Imperium is a Theocracy and they have been indoctrinated to think that, yes, dying for the God-Emperor is glorious and 2) 99% of Guardsmen don't get to "choose", they are "told".

Only on worlds where forced conscription is a thing, which I admit is some of them, but not all of them.

In the Macharius novels, the majority of his army were volunteers... As in they could quit any time they wanted, in fact it was a plot point that he was trying to inspire his troops to stay on because so many were leaving the Imperial Guard. In the IG codex, it also specifically says that PDF compete in exercises for the right to join the Imperial Guard. No matter how much I believed in the emperor of mankind, there is no way in hell I would compete for something I knew was a guaranteed death sentence. Human psychology just doesn't work like that.

Besides, in plenty of other stories there are characters that are retired guardsmen, and that means at least some of them must survive. In what numbers is probably dependent on assignment, but I find the whole "joining the guard means never seeing home again and dying gloriously for the emperor 100% of the time guaranteed no matter what" to be completely unrealistic as to be immersion breaking.

Yes, even more unrealistic then other things in the setting already are.

Quoting the second post in the thread because I don't want to rewrite everything in a slightly different manner:
w1zard wrote:

There is also the stupid issue of recruitment into the guard being "permanent" in the lore. As veterans get older, realistically they would need to be mustered out otherwise they would lose combat effectiveness. A "term of service" is a much more realistic thing, after which the soldier gets sent back home and retires from the guard, or mustered out onto a nearby planet if his home is too far away. I just imagine a regiment full of old men with Gandalf beards and laugh. Officers too, tend to be rich noblemen looking to put a feather in their cap (with military service) and return home to take up the family business and compete with other local aristocracy.


 Peregrine wrote:

You do not care, because you are not a guardsman. You are a civilian that a guardsman dies to protect, a lower class of person than even a space marine. For a guardsman honorable death in service to the Imperium is the most noble use of one's life and the surest way to guarantee an eternity at the Emperor's side. But a guardsman understands that not everyone can share their strong faith, and that even those who stray from the Emperor's light can receive the gift of protection.

I'm sure some worlds indoctrinate their troops this way, but not all. See the Gaunt's Ghost and Ciaphas Cain novels, and my above remark.

 Peregrine wrote:

60% casualties would be a fairly low rate. "Horrific" is 100% casualties in wars of attrition, where the primary strategy is "we have more men than you have bullets, we win". Except that "horrific" isn't really the right term for a war where so many guardsman are granted the opportunity for martyrdom. Do not judge the Imperium by our modern standard of morality and duty.

But I can judge things by what we know about how real warfare works in the present day because the Imperial Guard are modeled after modern day militaries. Just to be clear, even with the lethality of modern day weapons 30% casualties in a modern engagement is considered "devastating and unacceptable loses". Even at Stalingrad, where the Russians were using conscript human wave tactics, shooting people who retreated and pretty much personified the whole concept of "we have more men than you have bullets, we win", the casualty rate was only 50%. Add in a little grimdark, and I can see a "bad" battle for an Imperial Guard regiment being about 60% casualties.

I'm sure there are battles from time to time where regiments get completely wiped out but those are probably pretty uncommon. Even in the grim darkness of the 41st millennium.

This message was edited 13 times. Last update was at 2018/06/24 02:18:04


 
   
Made in gb
Norn Queen






w1zard wrote:
In the Macharius novels, the majority of his army were volunteers. In the IG codex, it also specifically says that PDF compete in exercises for the right to join the Imperial Guard. No matter how much I believed in the emperor of mankind, there is no way in hell I would compete for something I knew was a guaranteed death sentence. Human psychology just doesn't work like that.
You underestimate how strong religious brainwashing is. There are countless real world examples to prove that.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/06/24 02:17:37


 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




 BaconCatBug wrote:
w1zard wrote:
In the Macharius novels, the majority of his army were volunteers. In the IG codex, it also specifically says that PDF compete in exercises for the right to join the Imperial Guard. No matter how much I believed in the emperor of mankind, there is no way in hell I would compete for something I knew was a guaranteed death sentence. Human psychology just doesn't work like that.
You underestimate how strong religious brainwashing is. There are countless real world examples to prove that.

I don't. There are people willing to kill themselves for causes but those people are pretty rare. It's why groups like ISIS try so hard to recruit suicide bombers, and those suicide bombings are still rare enough even in contested areas of the Middle East that they make the news. Most people want to fight for a cause and live to see it realized, even fanatics.

Also there is lore to back up my positon... In the Macharius novels, the majority of his army were volunteers... As in they could quit any time they wanted after their term of service expired, in fact it was a plot point that he was trying to inspire his troops to stay on because so many were leaving the Imperial Guard.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/06/24 02:31:12


 
   
Made in gb
Norn Queen






One exception doesn't make a majority.
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




 BaconCatBug wrote:
One exception doesn't make a majority.

True, but it sets a precedent and there are many other less obvious examples in the lore about guardsmen returning home, or mustering out on nearby worlds once their term of service is expired. As I said before, I am not disputing that a guardman's profession is a dangerous one and that MANY guardsmen die in service to the emperor. But it is also equally apparent that joining the Imperial Guard is not a guaranteed death on the battlefield, and SOME guardsmen at least, actually survive and retire from service.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/06/24 02:55:10


 
   
Made in au
Stalwart Veteran Guard Sergeant





 BaconCatBug wrote:
One exception doesn't make a majority.


I wouldn't call the Macharius Crusades an exception, given that it was the greatest single crusade since the days of the Horus Heresy.


Generally speaking it seems extremely rare that guardsmen return home to their founding world. Signing up to the IG is akin to admitting you will likely never return. But the fluff very clearly features retired guardsmen of all sorts, so it clearly isn't a death sentence even if that particular world views martyrdom as a jolly good way to go. If that was the case guardsmen wouldn't even flinch at the prospect of ending up in a penal legion.

 Psienesis wrote:
I've... seen things... you people wouldn't believe. Milk cartons on fire off the shoulder of 3rd-hour English; I watched Cheez-beams glitter in the dark near the Admin Parking Gate... All those... moments... will be lost, in time, like tears... in... rain. Time... to die.


"The Emperor points, and we obey,
Through the warp and far away."
-A Guardsman's Ballad 
   
Made in fr
Pyromaniac Hellhound Pilot





France

W1zard is right on volonteers: although certain, maybe many words, are conscripted in a way of another life draft for X age, as a punishment, but on many worls such as forgeworlds, people vonlonteer because they prefer an exotic death to an inhuman working routine. The imperial propaganda (well although it's not a lie that the imperium is quite threatened) also helps a lot.

I still discuss the numbers and I would better see 70% to 80% not coming home, dead or on another planet, although not all.

The losses in a regiment, again, depend on its nature and the battle it foughts: fighting the Ryza Waaagh! or a dark eldar incursion is not the same amount of damages.

40k: Necrons/Imperial Guard/ Space marines
Bolt Action: Germany/ USA
Project Z.

"The Dakka Dive Bar is the only place you'll hear what's really going on in the underhive. Sure you might not find a good amasec but they grill a mean groxburger. Just watch for ratlings being thrown through windows and you'll be alright." Ciaphas Cain, probably.  
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




 Maréchal des Logis Walter wrote:
W1zard is right on volonteers: although certain, maybe many words, are conscripted in a way of another life draft for X age, as a punishment, but on many worls such as forgeworlds, people vonlonteer because they prefer an exotic death to an inhuman working routine. The imperial propaganda (well although it's not a lie that the imperium is quite threatened) also helps a lot.

I still discuss the numbers and I would better see 70% to 80% not coming home, dead or on another planet, although not all.

The losses in a regiment, again, depend on its nature and the battle it foughts: fighting the Ryza Waaagh! or a dark eldar incursion is not the same amount of damages.

I would agree with this. 70% to 80% not coming home either through casualties or mustering out on a nearby world seems like a pretty good estimate.

Although it really would matter how far the regiment was operating from its homeworld. I'm pretty sure regiments that are garrisoned on a quiet backwater planet a single warp jump from their home planet have a near 100% return rate, while other regiments can and do get totally wiped out during intense fighting and nobody makes it back.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/06/24 09:48:30


 
   
Made in ca
Mekboy Hammerin' Somethin'




Kapuskasing, ON

Sure why not. Some letters to the family about the daemons they encountered is nothing, those inquisitors are swell folk and completely reasonable. Regiment rotations to give the troops regular breaks from the frontline. That commissar? Lovely morale chap who sets up parties for the troops, handles the liquor inventory and remembers every one's birthday. Paid leave to go home and visit the family. And if that's still not good enough anyone can say they want out and simply leave the battlefield, Imperium will bring them home free no strings attached.

Noblebright
   
Made in fr
Pyromaniac Hellhound Pilot





France

 ProwlerPC wrote:
Sure why not. Some letters to the family about the daemons they encountered is nothing, those inquisitors are swell folk and completely reasonable. Regiment rotations to give the troops regular breaks from the frontline. That commissar? Lovely morale chap who sets up parties for the troops, handles the liquor inventory and remembers every one's birthday. Paid leave to go home and visit the family. And if that's still not good enough anyone can say they want out and simply leave the battlefield, Imperium will bring them home free no strings attached.

Noblebright


They could use censorship, that'd not be new. And it could then bolster the morale on the origin world even, if they had some news.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/06/24 11:55:03


40k: Necrons/Imperial Guard/ Space marines
Bolt Action: Germany/ USA
Project Z.

"The Dakka Dive Bar is the only place you'll hear what's really going on in the underhive. Sure you might not find a good amasec but they grill a mean groxburger. Just watch for ratlings being thrown through windows and you'll be alright." Ciaphas Cain, probably.  
   
Made in gb
Frenzied Berserker Terminator






If they stop at a space station for repairs or supplies I guess I could see it happening. They could drop the letters off there and have a storage ship take them back, but it would be an extreme coincidence if they could find a storage ship going to the destination of their home world. Hundreds of thousands, a million maybe a billion guardsmen all sending their letters to different world. I'd say no, the logistics involved would be insane. Completely impractical. Even if they stayed on a space station to wait for the right storage ships to take them back, a station won't have the resources to waste processing a million letters, they are too busy and crucial for repairing ships etc.

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2018/06/24 13:21:37


 
   
Made in be
Courageous Beastmaster





The idea of leaving home never to return has existed in the past. Mostly not due to a 100% lethality rate.

Roman legionaires often settled down where they were stationed after retiring.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/06/24 15:12:31





 
   
 
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