Space Marine (5e Race)
| Work In Progress |
Space Marine
They shall be my finest warriors, these men who give of themselves to me. Like clay I shall mould them, and in the furnace of war forge them. They will be of iron will and steely muscle. In great armour shall I clad them and with the mightiest guns will they be armed. They will be untouched by plague or disease, no sickness will blight them. They will have tactics, strategies and machines so that no foe can best them in battle. They are my bulwark against the Terror. They are the Defenders of Humanity. They are my Space Marines and they shall know no fear.- The God-Emperor of Mankind
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| A space marine, in and out of power armor. Source |
Space marines are, in essence, massive stocky humans. The smallest of them larger than any human, with a body of 75% muscle mass, the rest being their hardened bones. While most look the same before the gene-seed, certain changes occur from some. Some, like the gene-sires of Vulkan or Corvus Corax, skin tones or eye colors shift. Other specific chapters experience minor mutations from the gene-seed, although this is few and far between, due to mutation being seen as a sign of chaos.
History
Created to be shock troops for the imperium of man, they have served as the imperium's fist and first and strongest lines of defence, even if some of them have gone rogue. They have each sworn to uphold the race of man above all others and serve as it's most dedicated protectors and soldiers
Society
A majority of loyalist space marines are organized into “chapters”, a self governing military organization of about one thousand marines. The chapter is generally headed by a chapter master, and below him are ten captains, who each hold control over 100 marines, among their other duties. Aside from the main organization are specialist marines, like apothecaries, chaplains, librarians, and techmarines, who are lead by the chief apothecary, the master of sanctity, the chief librarian, and the master of the forge respectively.
Space marine chapters are highly religious, to a level which rivals some inquisitorial agencies. While the specifics may vary(some may praise certain weapons above others, perhaps certain detachments, or other bizarre things such as the replacement of limbs with bionics), they always revere the God-Emperor of Mankind and their primarch, and hold a dedication to the greater imperium. This faith is maintained and bolstered by the chaplains, who seek to destroy potential heresy in the chapter at the source by doing so.
Space Marine Names
Space marine names vary heavily between chapters, as each sources recruits from different planets, who tend to keep their names.
Names: Marneus, Grimaldus, Gabriel, Tyberos, Asmodai
Space Marine Traits
Superhuman warrior monks from the far, far future.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2. and your Constitution score increases by 1.
Age. The lifespan of a space marine tends to vary, heavily. While some chapters, especially those that are the gene lineage of Sanguinius, may have something akin to a lower lifespan, as far as most know they are biologically immortal. Almost none live long enough to use this time, though.
Alignment. From the start of their training, space marines are indoctrinated into complete and utter loyalty, and thus are almost always lawful. Their chaotic brethren tend to vary, though.
Size. Even the smallest space marines tower over humans, as they are all at least over 6 feet tall, the largest of them reaching 8 feet. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Martial Legacy. You have proficiency with simple and martial weapons. If you are in a setting with firearms, you are proficient in their use, too.
And They Shall Know No Fear. You are immune to the frightened condition.
Gene Lineage. Every chapter of space marines are different, whether due to their progenitor or teachings. Choose two of the traits from the table below.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.
Gene Lineages
Despised Foe. Choose one creature type, if this type has subtypes(i.e humanoid(drow) or fiend(demon)), you must choose one of those. When you make an attack against them, you can choose to grant advantage on all attacks you make against then until the start of your next turn. You can do thus once, and regain the use after a long rest.
Master Artisans. You gain proficiency in one tool of your choice.
Knowledge is Power. You have proficiency in one skill of your choice.
Furious Charge. Your movement speed increases to 35 feet.
Stealthy. You count as an extra 15 feet away when targeted by a ranged weapon. If they would have disadvantage due to range not because of this, this is ignored.
Slums Fighter. Cover confers an additional +1 to AC for you.
Ranged Expert. Add 15 feet to your short range for ranged weapons.
Expert Duelists. While you are the only hostile creature within 15 feet of a creature, you deal an additional 1d4 damage on melee attacks.
Indomitable. When you have disadvantage on a saving throw, you can instead roll without disadvantage. You can do this once, and regain the use on a short rest.
Warded. You have resistance to psychic damage, and your mind cannot be read unless you allow it to be.
Battle Fury. If you make an attack on your turn, the next time you take damage, it is reduced by 3 before resistances. This does not stack on itself.
Arcane Influence. You know one cantrip from the wizard spell list. Charisma is your casting modifier for this spell.
Drop Troop. You ignore 50 feet worth of falling damage whenever you do take it. You have advantage on the first attack you make within one round of landing from a fall.
Mechanized Force. You have proficiency with two types of vehicle of your choice, either land, air, water, or space.
Siege Expert. When making ranged weapon attacks, treat half cover as no cover, and three quarters cover as half cover.
Great Slayers. When you make an attack against a creature two size categories larger than you, you can grant yourself advantage on that attack. You can do this once, and regain the use on a short rest.
Assault Troop. When you take the dash action, you can make a melee attack as a bonus action
Terror Troop. Hostile creatures have disadvantage on saving throws against being frightened while within 15 feet of you.
Chosen Tool of War. Choose one weapon. When you make an attack with this weapon, you can make that attack with advantage. You can do this twice, and regain these uses on a long rest.
Chaotic Gene Lineages
These lineages are made to represent the heretic astartes, and should probably not be taken by a loyalist, or at least not without very good reason(Black Dragons would likely take Ferocity, for example).
Pestulent. You are immune to the effects of disease, and creatures have disadvantage on saves against procuring diseases you carry.
Warp Sorcery. You know two cantrips from the sorcerer spell list. Charisma is your spellcasting modifier for these spells. If you roll a 1 on a die when casting one of these spells, you take that die in psychic damage.
Ferocity. You have a natural weapon of some form. It deals 1d6 + your Strength modifier bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage(your choice).
Random Height and Weight
| Base Height | Height Modifier* | Base Weight | Weight Modifier** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5′ 7″ | +6d4 | 300 lb. | × (1.5) lb. |
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*Height = base height + height modifier | |||
Racial Feats
Primaris Rubicon
Prerequisites: Constitution 16, space marine race
You have passed the Primaris Rubicon, and have been graced with new power, courtesy of Guilliman's right hand man.
- Your hitpoint maximum increases by your level. Every time you gain a level, your hitpoint maximum increases by 1.
- When you would be reduced to 0 hitpoints, you can instead drop to 1 hitpoint. For the next minute, when you deal damage with a melee weapon, add +3 to the total. You can do this once, and regain the use on a long rest.
The Gene-Seed
Prerequisite: Constitution 13, any non-space marine race
Within you has been implanted the gene-seed, granting you power well above mortal men.
- Your Strength increases by 1, to a maximum of 20.
- Choose two gene lineages. You now benefit from them.
- You now count as a space marine for all intents and purposes.
Race Variant
The following is a version of the space marine race with level adjustment, to better represent the in-lore representation. The following racial traits are added.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 3, and your Constitution increases by 2, instead of the normal increase.
Level Adjustment +2. After gaining your first level, you must gain 1,200 experience before being capable of gaining experience and leveling up normally.
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