ADEPTUS ASTARTES

The Adeptus Astartes, otherwise known as the Space Marines, are the finest fighting force humanity has to offer. They are superhuman warriors that have the best guns, equipment and armour the Imperium can afford. You are probably thinking "the PCs can be Space Marines!?" Well, it's up to the DM and the scenario he is doing. But as far as Space Marine PCs are concerned they should only be allowed if there is a campaign specially tailored for them. This is because, as they are the finest human warriors and probably the best in the entire universe, they are quickly dispatched against the deadliest of enemies, not against some gang from a scummy hive world (unless there's a catch in it, of course). The bottom line is that when there is a Tyranid invasion or a renegade Imperial Commander or a troublesome Ork warlord to get rid off, the Space Marines will be dispatched to deal with them with ruthless speed and efficiency. This section will describe some background details about Space Marines and then it will go over Space Marine NPCs.

THE CHAPTERS

Every Space Marine belongs to a Chapter, which is effectively the army he belongs to, and to which he devotes his entire life. There are a thousand of these Chapters scattered throughout the galaxy. Each Chapter consists of a thousand Space Marines which also consists of ten Companies each numbering a hundred Space Marines.

The Master of each Space Marine Chapter is its leader and spiritual head. A Space Marine Master not only leads his troops into battle, but he also has to act as the figurehead for the entire Chapter. As some Chapters rule entire planets, a Space Marine Master may act as the head of a government as well - effectively as the Imperial Commander of a whole planet.

A Space Marine Chapter includes a substantial organisation designed to provide everything needed by the Space Marine squads. This includes armouries and weapon shops, space fleet, vehicle construction and maintenance sites, research laboratories, information repositories, communication offices and cult chapels. These organisations employ many more people than squads, but only a small proportion are actually Space Marines. The majority are hereditary slaves of the Chapter. These slaves are born to serve the Chapter. They are well treated, receive a fine education, and fulfil a vital role within the Chapter. Slaves regard themselves as part of the Chapter, and their loyalty is beyond doubt.

The most famous of the Chapters of the Imperium are: Dark Angels, Space Wolves, Imperial Fists, Ultramarines, Blood Angels, White Scars, Iron Hands, Raven Guard and Salamanders. These were amongst the original Chapters of the First Founding that weren't seduced by Horus to fight for the forces of Chaos in the Primarch's doomed heresy. More details can be found in Warhammer 40,000, the Space Marine Codex and White Dwarf. 

SPACE MARINE SQUADS & COMPANIES

A company is led by a Space Marine Captain and each squad, typically consisting of ten Space Marines, is led by a Space Marine Sergeant or veteran. There are Devastator, Tactical and Assault squads that make up most of the Companies. The Devastator pack heavy weapons, the Tactical squads are used in a general combat role and the Assault squads use close combat weaponry. Although all Space Marines are trained in the use of these weapons it is necessary to have different squads for different combat roles.

The First Company is made up of the finest warriors of the Chapter. These will be the oldest and the most battle-hardened of all the Space Marines of the Chapter. It is the senior and most respected of Companies and its members are allowed to use (and are honoured to use) the Terminator Tactical Dreadnought Suits or Terminator armour, as well as other Space Marine equipment.

The Tenth Company forms a training company. Its sergeants are older veterans but its fighting Space Marines are the Chapter's least experienced warriors. These will commonly be Space Marine Scouts. After a period in the training company, Space Marines are allotted to other companies to replace battle casualties.

THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE SPACE MARINE

A Space Marine begins his training when he is little more than a boy, or a girl if she is training for the Adepta Sororitas. Although battle-sisters have less implants than the Space Marines who are entirely male. When the boy is so young the implants can continue to grow as part of his body's natural growth process. The boy also undergoes hypnotherapy and physical training to harness the implants. It has to be said that these implants will not fully work in a fully grown adult.

With organ implantation comes a routine of physical and spiritual training. This is achieved by means of hypnotic suggestion, prolonged meditation, vigorous spiritual tests and gradual initiation into the cult rites of the Chapter. All of this serves to increase a Marine's mental powers and sharpen his senses.

In the Feats section I have listed all nineteen of the implants together with any bonuses they give a Space Marine. There are so many circumstances in which they can be used so you'll have to improvise in some cases, like when should the Sus-an Membrane be put into action?

You can check the prestige class for Librarian here.

You can check out their daily rituals here.

VETERAN SPACE MARINE

Once a Space Marine has fought and survived many campaigns his reputation steadily grows within the Chapter. When a Space Marine gets his first service stud, often implanted above the temple, it is evidence of 20 years experience and so automatic acceptance into the Chapter's coveted First Company. But, as all Space Marines are brilliant fighters, there are always a handful of Marines that continue to distinguish themselves in missions and battles and, regardless of their age, they join the First Company of their Chapter. It is a great honour for a Space Marine to be accepted into the First Company for its members are allowed to wear the ancient suits of Terminator armour and carry the deadly Storm bolter. However, it is the squads of the First Company that undergo the most difficult of campaigns, even for a Space Marine. They are often teleported into the heart of battle taking the enemy by surprise or they teleport onto great space hulks to deal with Genestealer infestation.

Veteran Space Marines are also chosen to lead squads of other Marines into the combat zone and they often have the rank of Sergeant to complement this. Some of the much older veterans, those over three centuries old, lead small squads of Space Marine Scouts into battle.

APOTHECARY

Apothecaries are extremely important to a Space Marine Chapter as they rescue the gene-seeds from fallen Brothers. Without these highly trained Marine medics all the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes would surely die. Space Marines rarely go into battle without an Apothecary not least for their combat skills and bravery. They will storm a position to rescue a seriously injured Brother or if that is not possible the Apothecary will administer a quick death for him, but even a dead Brother can live on through his gene-seed.

TECHMARINE

Every Chapter sends a proportion of its young recruits to Mars where they are trained by the Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus.  They essentially become warrior-mechanics for the Chapter.  Building and maintaining the Chapters Wargear.

CHAPLAIN                                                                                                                                       "to kill the traitor, to burn the mutant, to absolve the heretic"

Chaplains form the priesthood of the Space Marine Chapters. There are many religious practises in each Chapter and each one is more or less unique and it is a Chaplain that will preside them. They administer the rites of their Chapter, performing the ancient ceremonies of Initiation and Vindication, as well as leading their brethren through the prayers of faith and sacred psalms of the Emperor. They are inspirational Space Marines as they lead their brothers into battle.

 

LIBRARIAN

The Librarian is a gifted psionic marine.  Any marine found to have psi talent is inducted into the librarian arm of the Chapter and given extensive training.  You can check the prestige class for Librarian here.