Is anyone excited about Space Marine?

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

If anything, Titus is a manifesting Untouchable, as not once does he use a psychic power of any kind. I realize that the lolflashy visuals on Fury could be construed that way, but given that Leandros is watching him like a hawk and nobody once mentions it, that can be discounted as artistic license for space marines kicking ass. Given that Untouchables are essentially the polar opposite of psykers...

Psychic powers need not manifest ostentatiously. They can work subtly, and in fact often do in a nascent psyker.

It's unlikely that any untouchable could become a Captain of an entire company of Space Marines. Untouchables are by their very nature un-charismatic and repulsive - almost all humans are low-level psykers, and since untouchables are anathema to psykers, most people naturally find them unpleasant to be around.

[Connor MacLeod]

It's even quite possible that they may not be genetically compatible with the astartes implants. I'm still half convined most of the magical shit an Astartes does is because his abilities are based on some warp-connected artificial mutation of some kind or another. I mean we know most of the shit involving the primarchs has heavy psychic overtones (blood angels, anyone?) so why the fuck not?

On the other hand, Pariahs are not the only "fuck psychic shit up bad" type of entity in there. Even psykers with the right kind of powers can fuck around with other psychic shit.

As far as the whole "Inquisition vs Librarians" thing - it comes down to availability and generally politics (like everything else does.) We'd like to think Either Astartes independence or Inquisitional authority is absolute, but the two can and do clash at times, and the results can go one way or another (EG the Celestial Lions vs Inquisition on one hand. Or Howling Griffons vs Inquisitor Thaddeus from "Chapter War." who was barely tolerated because he was an Inquisitor but would have been killed had he crossed them.)

The further thing about the "Give them to the Librarians" angle is that it also assumes that the Astartes in question trusts the Librarians. Some Space Marines' hatred of the psyker goes so far they will distrust or loathe even their own battle brothers for being psykers. Or AStropaths. Or Navigators. Especially since it treads on the "psyker" angle AND the "mutant" angle. Get one fanatical enough and not even Chapter loyalty or indoctrination may save them if they think the greater good of the Emperor and Imperium is at stake. I mean it's not like Chapters haven't engaged in civil wars with one another over ideology or politics or whatever (Soul Drinkers, Blood Angels, etc.)

[Feil]

Could an untouchable develop his untouchable quality later on in life, like nascent psykers seem to do?

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

Could an untouchable develop his untouchable quality later on in life, like nascent psykers seem to do?

I am not aware of any particular fluff stating one way or the other. It seems reasonable to assume yes, to a limited degree, much like nascent psykers. But that's bearing in mind that nascent psykers don't really become any more psychic than they already were - that psy-rating was always there (around Theta/Eta, IIRC), it had just gone unnoticed because of the relatively low and subtle level it had been active on. Like the electronic hum of a TV you don't notice until it's turned off.

Edit:

Another possibility is that Titus is simply Mu or Nu. That is, neither psychic (as most humans are), nor anti-psychic, and instead square in the middle and completely inert, much like the Tau species (not to be confused with the psy-rating of Tau).

[Connor MacLeod]

Pariahs despite having a rating system opposite that to psykers aren't anything like psykers. Exactly what Pariah's do isn't well defined and most authors have come up with their own ideas. Abnett had Eisenhorn suggesting untouchables more or less fuck with the electrical impulses in the brain to neutralize psychic connections to realspace, which is why they create the loathing and distaste. We do know Pariah's don't have "powers" the way a psykerdoes - they are just generating some anti-psyker field that disrupts their powers in some ways (sucks off warp energy, disrupts the brain, creatues a biological parallel to a Gellar field, etc.)

It's best to think of a Psyker as being someone "plugged in" to the Warp - they can draw power from it (at risk) whenever they choose, but they aren't neccesarily using that power all the time. Pariahs (untouchables, blanks, whatever.) are basically "always on" from much of the data and have little control over how their ability functions (Witness Frauka and his limiter.) The closest we get to anything like that with Pariahs is the Culexus IIRC, and they are more of an exception because they're fucking assassins.

[Feil]

Apparently the horde mode doesn't include executions, and you regain health exactly like in multiplayer.

I guess Space Marines only belong in he heart of combat when nobody's looking, huh, Relic. Meh. I am about fifty times less excited for this, now.

[Mr. Coffee]

On the bright side I'm rapidly closing in on the True Son of the Emperor achievement (kill 40k assholes), so there's a small chance I could be the first asshole on Steam to get that achievement.

[Feil]

On the bright side I'm rapidly closing in on the True Son of the Emperor achievement (kill 40k assholes), so there's a small chance I could be the first asshole on Steam to get that achievement.

Seriously? I played through the whole campaign with only 3000 or something. How many times have you played this thing?

[Connor MacLeod]

On the bright side I'm rapidly closing in on the True Son of the Emperor achievement (kill 40k assholes), so there's a small chance I could be the first asshole on Steam to get that achievement.

Does this mean your balls will be shaved in the shape of an aquila in celebration?

[Mr. Coffee]

On the bright side I'm rapidly closing in on the True Son of the Emperor achievement (kill 40k assholes), so there's a small chance I could be the first asshole on Steam to get that achievement.

Seriously? I played through the whole campaign with only 3000 or something. How many times have you played this thing?

I average about 2500-3000 kills a run through and I'm currently saved about midway through getting Drogan to the Psychic Scourge on my 7th run through at a hair over 17k kills. I've beaten it on hard the second go around for the Emperor Protects and the None Can Stand Before You acheivments, and I've got all the servo skulls. I am running mods, but just reskin stuff to make the Chainsword and Power ax look like a powersword, and a reskin of Titus and the boys as Deathwatch. I played the first playthrough with the voice acting and watching the cut scenes, but now I turn off the vioces and the game music, jack up the sound effects and play some metal while I'm running around slaughtering orks and heretics.

Does this mean your balls will be shaved in the shape of an aquila in celebration?

[PainRack]

OMG... I haven't fed anyone so badly since I first started playing counter strike many years ago...

Its embarassing....... Just how vulnerable is the normal marine to bolter rounds anyway?!?!?!?!

[Feil]

The bolter rounds you're encountering in multi are doubtless kraken bolts, which in Space Marine multiplayer make bolters considerably better (I never see anyone using a bolter who /doesn't/ have kraken bolts, unless they're a brand new level 1 player). The other bolter upgrade, the targeter, isn't that useful. If you just fire the bolter in two-round bursts instead of blazing away on full automatic, it's as accurate as the targeter, anyway.

It shouldn't take that long to get the kraken bolts, if you play bolter tac frequently.

[xthetenth]

The bolter rounds you're encountering in multi are doubtless kraken bolts, which in Space Marine multiplayer make bolters considerably better (I never see anyone using a bolter who /doesn't/ have kraken bolts, unless they're a brand new level 1 player). The other bolter upgrade, the targeter, isn't that useful. If you just fire the bolter in two-round bursts instead of blazing away on full automatic, it's as accurate as the targeter, anyway.

It shouldn't take that long to get the kraken bolts, if you play bolter tac frequently.

Targeter is quite useful. If you fail to see the utility of a piece of kit that means you can cork out headshots at full auto and generally give the stalker a run for its money, I have to wonder about your playing style.

[Mr. Coffee]

Tactical Marine Bolter+Kraken+Targeter=Utility Ranged/Point Cap-Decap From Hell. The plasma rifle is nice, good damage and all, but the slow RoF, overheating (yeah, just tape reload and it'll dump heat whenever), and reletively slow projectile speed make it pretty crap for medium and long range. Melta is god at close range, but it's useless further then 5m out. The bolter is just all around good. Sure there's stuff that's better in certain situations, but the bolter is just plain good at pretty much anything you need.

[PainRack]

All I know is I'm barely scoring hits and I'm definitely not taking any other marine down because I die under three seconds of fire while I'm flailing around to hit them.

I'm not sure whether its tactics or just rawness though. Is the game supposed to be fast paced like Unreal/CS was? Twitch shooter like the sniper contest in CS?

I aiming to be point capper/defender, but its sorta moot when I can barely score hits on that tac marine with melta or assault marine with thunder hammer.

[Nephtys]

So for the story, why didn't anyone just go 'Oh Captain Titus! Thank Terra that the Emperor's divine will protected you from the foulness of chaos. Now, let's get on the thunderhawk and be on our way to another crusade, shall we? Also, let's giggle and read the Codex during the ride.'

[Mr. Coffee]

All I know is I'm barely scoring hits and I'm definitely not taking any other marine down because I die under three seconds of fire while I'm flailing around to hit them.

I'm not sure whether its tactics or just rawness though. Is the game supposed to be fast paced like Unreal/CS was? Twitch shooter like the sniper contest in CS?

I aiming to be point capper/defender, but its sorta moot when I can barely score hits on that tac marine with melta or assault marine with thunder hammer.

Then PM me with your Skype ID and we'll work on it.

[PainRack]

Wow. Brute Force unleashed was surprisingly fun to get.

I wonder how Burn them all is going to be accomplished though... Plasma pistol for the blast effect and Plasma Gun for headshots?

Also, I'm not sure why, but I JUST can't get the Emperor marksmen. Perhaps a melta and ranged fury?

[Feil]

Meltagun anywhere there's a lot of enemies will do the trick. Right after you get it for the first time is where I got that achievement.

Burn Them All wasn't too hard, but you pretty much have to do it on Easy. Normal and Hard without melee attacks is pretty close to impossible.

[Feil]

So for the story, why didn't anyone just go 'Oh Captain Titus! Thank Terra that the Emperor's divine will protected you from the foulness of chaos. Now, let's get on the thunderhawk and be on our way to another crusade, shall we? Also, let's giggle and read the Codex during the ride.'

Are you turning into Stark? Chaos is Serious Bad News. Leandros' mistake wasn't worrying about Titus' purity; it was bringing in the Inquisition, thus betraying Titus and risking the honor of the chapter instead of letting the Ultramarines handle their own affairs.

Thrax himself is lucky that Titus wanted to find out what happened to himself, and cared more about doing the right thing than about protecting his own life. Inquisitors who poke their noses into Space Marine chapters' business tend to Die Tragically in Unfortunate Accidents (TM), and a chapter captain in a war zone could have easily spooled out enough red tape to buy enough time to arrange one for Thrax.

[Jaevric]

Tried to get a friend of mine into the multiplayer. Unfortunately we got 3 games in a row where the top 4 scorers were all on the other team and were cheesing it up -- plasma cannons, meltagun and thunder hammer -- and our team was getting absolutely destroyed. Since those 3 games were his first time playing multiplayer it's really turned him off of the game, especially with the awkward matchmaking system.

Mr. Coffee, if you don't mind I'd like to get in on any Space Marine 101 discussions you decide to have on Skype if I'm around. I've gotten decent at the "take and hold territory" games but I still feel like a detriment to my team on Annihilation games.

[Tasoth]

I actually like the SM multiplayer. Mainly because it feels like a third person variant of CoD.

As for the Bolter, even without the kraken bolts that thing will shred people. I think I went 13 and 4 on a siege map just holding a point and working the assault marines and tac marines that rushed in. As long as an assault marine doesn't drop out of the sky on you or someone shows up with a melta, aiming for the upper torso and unloading will work at close range.

[Mr. Coffee]

Mr. Coffee, if you don't mind I'd like to get in on any Space Marine 101 discussions you decide to have on Skype if I'm around. I've gotten decent at the "take and hold territory" games but I still feel like a detriment to my team on Annihilation games.

I really wouldn't call Space Marine 101. For multi a lot of it has to do with how good/bad the Randos on your team are vs the other team's Randos, so if other people I know are playing we can remove a lot of the Rando Factor by stacking the team. Chances are we'll die in a fire coated in bees, but it's more fun playing multi with people ya know then a bunch Randos.