Could a Space Marine(40k) use a Lightsaber

[IvanTih]

I know that only Force individuals can use Lightsaber due the fact that it requires great strength and dexterity,but Marines also have that so can they use it.
Also 40k has it's own Lightsaber(read the Dark Heresy books).

[DPDarkPrimus]

The difficulty in wielding a lightsaber is that the blade itself has no mass, so it's incredibly difficult to wield it effectively, ie, without cutting your own limbs off.

[IvanTih]

I know that,but why Marines couldn't since they have great strength and reflexes(they can also move faster than human eye can see).

[Serafina]

The IoM HAS light sabers. That is, immaterial energy blades that can cut trough stuff with ease (like other power weapons). More similar to older SW-lightsabers since their energy capacity is quite limited (unlike power weapons).

Frankly, that whole "no mass=difficult to wield" is bullshit. Unless you are a blithering idiot, you are not goint to be that careless. It requires a little bit of extra training to wield it as an effecive combat weapon, but your limbs and joints are liming the motion of the blade regardless of how light it is.

[NecronLord]

Not only force sensatives can use lightsabers. I don't know where they're getting this idea that it requires extraordinary strength on Wookiepedia. It's just considered a dangerous weapon to those who aren't by a lot of Jedi. Grievous for example could use one or more with great proficiency. Baron Orman Tagge was also able to use one (though he eventually picked a rather unwise fight with it.).

And yes, the answer is that they obviously could. Space Marines have all kinds of experience with swords, and while the lack of weight to give an intuitive sense of where the point is may be disconcerting, as you point out, similar weapons are not that rare in the 40K galaxy, just not preffered by Space Marines.

[IvanTih]

Not only force sensatives can use lightsabers. I don't know where they're getting this idea that it requires extraordinary strength on Wookiepedia. It's just considered a dangerous weapon to those who aren't by a lot of Jedi. Grievous for example could use one or more with great proficiency. Baron Orman Tagge was also able to use one (though he eventually picked a rather unwise fight with it.).

And yes, the answer is that they obviously could. Space Marines have all kinds of experience with swords, and while the lack of weight to give an intuitive sense of where the point is may be disconcerting, as you point out, similar weapons are not that rare in the 40K galaxy, just not preffered by Space Marines.

Actually it says that those are one of the rarest types of weapon in the Imperium,but since Marines get the best gear already I think that they don't use due the fact that NecronLord said.

[Serafina]

The main reason why Space Marines are not using Energy blades is that those are
-extremely rare artifacts that are reserved to the Adeptus Mechanicus
-offer no real advantage over power weapons and are crafted as technological showcases anyway
-require plasma flask fuel to operate and are thus not useful for longer combat operations.

[Star Wars 888]

I know that only Force individuals can use Lightsaber due the fact that it requires great strength and dexterity,but Marines also have that so can they use it.
Also 40k has it's own Lightsaber(read the Dark Heresy books).

On the contrary, in Star Wars holding a lightsaber, if you can turn it on and have common sense, isn't that difficult since lightsabers are almost mass less. Wielding them would be difficult, but wouldn't require the Force.

[Srelex]

Isn't it more a problem of the Space Marine possibly crushing the lightsaber in his fist? Looking at how big their arms are and how small a lightsaber can be...

[Serafina]

In the end, the question also is "why do they have to use it in the first place"?
As for cutting trough stuff and fighting, power swords are just as good.
As for reflecting blaster bolts, you need precognition to do that.
Hence, Space Marines really have no reason to use lightsabers in the first place.

[IvanTih]

In the end, the question also is "why do they have to use it in the first place"?
As for cutting trough stuff and fighting, power swords are just as good.
As for reflecting blaster bolts, you need precognition to do that.
Hence, Space Marines really have no reason to use lightsabers in the first place.

They do that with power weapons in the Inquisitor game,but in Eisenhorn their response is switch to full auto to blast sucker who did this.

[Juubi Karakuchi]

In the end, the question also is "why do they have to use it in the first place"?
As for cutting trough stuff and fighting, power swords are just as good.
As for reflecting blaster bolts, you need precognition to do that.
Hence, Space Marines really have no reason to use lightsabers in the first place.

Actually, in some respects power swords are better. One of them is that a power sword actually has mass, meaning that some of its cutting power comes from its own potential energy. Lightsaber blades are massless, meaning that all the cutting power comes from the hand and arm that wields it.
As a minor point, physical strength is also an issue when reflecting blaster fire, since at least some of the bolt's force would transfer into the blade. In the 'Return of the Jedi' novelization, Luke is only able to block the speeder bike's shots because of his artificial hand.

[Shroom Man 777]

Yes, Space Marines can use lightsabers. Fucking Han Solo used it in Empire Strikes Back to slice the gut of that taun-taun open so he could turn it into an organic sleeping bag for Luke Skywalker. The only thing you should be asking is what kind of creature could a Space Marine slice open to use as an organic sleeping bag for their battle brothers. Imagine a Space Marine gutting a Rancor and sleeping inside it to avoid the cold blizzard.

[NecronLord]

Actually it says that those are one of the rarest types of weapon in the Imperium,but since Marines get the best gear already I think that they don't use due the fact that NecronLord said.

Sollex energy blades are available in the Calixis Sector and are in production. Pretty much by default that means there are more of them than there are space marines. There are only a million marines remember.

[Shroom Man 777]

Are these relatively new inventions, or some kind of archeotech recovered by STC or AdMech paleotechnology archeology?

[Eleas]

Isn't it more a problem of the Space Marine possibly crushing the lightsaber in his fist? Looking at how big their arms are and how small a lightsaber can be...

I'd say not. Given the common 30 cm long hilt, they'd be able to wield it in one hand with plenty to spare. It probably wouldn't be ideal, but I'd wager it'd do them far better as a weapon than an improvised instrument would.

[NecronLord]

Are these relatively new inventions, or some kind of archeotech recovered by STC or AdMech paleotechnology archeology?

The Sollex model has been in production since the mid 39th Millennium based on knowledge recovered early M39. However there's no indication it's the only pattern, merely the one made locally. We have also seen others. They are known to have been found as working archeotech examples too.

[Sarevok]

A spacemarine would not benefit from a lightsaber. The key aspect of a lightsaber is its deflection ability. A space marine without Jedi precog would not be able parry incoming weapon fire. Furthermore space marines are armored to take fire. They dont need to do the deflection thingy. So to a space marine a lightsaber would be just another cutting tool. He would be better served with the myriads of melee weapons IoM already has.

[IvanTih]

Are these relatively new inventions, or some kind of archeotech recovered by STC or AdMech paleotechnology archeology?

The Sollex model has been in production since the mid 39th Millennium based on knowledge recovered early M39. However there's no indication it's the only pattern, merely the one made locally. We have also seen others. They are known to have been found as working archeotech examples too.

Remember that power blade from Eisenhorn which had no physical blade just power field.

[Serafina]

Remember that power blade from Eisenhorn which had no physical blade just power field.

Um...yes, that's what we were talking about. Or rather, a different model, but still basically the same thing

[IvanTih]

Remember that power blade from Eisenhorn which had no physical blade just power field.

Um...yes, that's what we were talking about. Or rather, a different model, but still basically the same thing

Yeah,if power field and plasma are same thing which they are not.

[NecronLord]

A spacemarine would not benefit from a lightsaber. The key aspect of a lightsaber is its deflection ability. A space marine without Jedi precog would not be able parry incoming weapon fire. Furthermore space marines are armored to take fire. They dont need to do the deflection thingy. So to a space marine a lightsaber would be just another cutting tool. He would be better served with the myriads of melee weapons IoM already has.

Just for the record, power swords already function fine as this. We've seen Howling Banshees deflect automatic fire with their blades.

[white_rabbit]

Remember that power blade from Eisenhorn which had no physical blade just power field.

Um...yes, that's what we were talking about. Or rather, a different model, but still basically the same thing

Yeah,if power field and plasma are same thing which they are not.

Like it matters in this context. Besides, Eisenhorn's weapon isn't explicitly a powerfield, its described as a blade of coherent light.

" power weapon " has been bastardised a touch by the game rules I think, and many weapons are described as such when they aren't actually the traditional power field type, but some other device with similar effect. Theres a piece of space wolf gear thats basically a throwing knife with a plasma field around it, thats described as a power weapon IIRC.

So yes, its still basically the same thing, a pretty sword that zorches through matter.

The Sollex version is just the roaring, flaming doom version.

[IvanTih]

So yes, its still basically the same thing, a pretty sword that zorches through matter.

The Sollex version is just the roaring, flaming doom version.

Thanks for correcting me,but the Lexicanum said that it was a power weapon,I guess that Lexicanum is 95% reliable.

[white_rabbit]

um, I think you missed my point, since he calls it a powersword right up until he describes it as laser sword.

Power weapon equals slicy doom sword, doesn't necessarily follow its using the same sort of disintigration field as the classic power weapon.