Homebrew Adeptus Astartes Species Details

“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 I shall forge them. They shall be of iron will and steely sinew. In great armour I shall clad them and with the mightiest weapons shall they be armed. They will be untouched by plague or disease; no sickness shall blight them. They shall have such tactics, strategies and machines that no foe will 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 Emperor of Mankind

 

The Space Marines or Adeptus Astartes are foremost amongst the defenders of Humanity, the greatest of the Emperor of Mankind's warriors. They are barely Human at all, but superhuman; having been made superior in all respects to a normal man by a harsh regime of genetic modification, psycho-conditioning and rigorous training.

Space Marines are untouched by plague or any natural disease and can suffer wounds that would kill a lesser being several times over, and live to fight again. Clad in ancient power armour and wielding the most potent weapons known to man, the Space Marines are terrifying foes and their devotion to the Emperor and the Imperium of Man is unyielding. They are the God-Emperor's Angels of Death, and they know no fear.

Living Stalwarts

The Astartes are physically stronger, far more resilient and often mentally far removed from the lot of most normal Human beings. In the presence of the Astartes, most people feel a combination of awe and fear, and many cultures on the more primitive worlds simply worship them outright as demigods or angels of the God-Emperor made flesh.

Although they were modified, Adeptus Astartes are humanoids. Resting, healing magic, and the Medicine skill all provide the same benefits to Adeptus Astartes that they do to other humanoids.

Adeptus Astartes Personality

 

Many Space Marines feel little compassion for those they have sometimes termed "mortals" in comparison to themselves, seeing the very people they were created to protect as little more than obstacles to a more efficient eradication of the Imperium's enemies.

This is an attitude sometimes taken by whole Chapters. They see normal Humans as frail, weak creatures given to the follies of temptation, avarice, greed, lust and cowardice -- all emotions they rarely feel, if ever.

Yet there are some Astartes who remember why they were created by the Emperor, who avoid the trap of hubris which the Space Marines are so prone to and which has seduced so many of their number to serve the Ruinous Powers of Chaos. They are the final guardians of Mankind, the saviours of last resort.

Adeptus Astartes Traits

The Adeptus Astartes have been modified to be the perfect warriors, giving them traits perfected for battle.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2, and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.

Age

Adeptus Astartes typically start at the age of 20 and can reach up to centuries in life. Though most do not live to see three digit age, it is possible Adeptus Astartes to be the oldest living beings around.

Alignment

Adeptus Astartes range from a variety of alignment stances. Some may fight for good, but seen as evil to others. It is based on the origin and character of each Space Marine to decide what path they choose in life.

Size

Your size is Large. To set your height and weight randomly, start with rolling a size modifier:

Size modifier = 2d6

Height = 7 feet + your size modifier in inches

Weight in pounds = 600 + (4 × your size modifier)

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Additionally, you have a base climbing speed of 30 feet.

Augmented Biology

You were created to have remarkable fortitude, represented by the following benefits:

• You have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned, and you have resistance to poison damage.
• You are immune to disease.
• You don’t need to sleep, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Astartes Rest

When you take a long rest, you must spend at least six hours in a mostly inactive state, rather than sleeping. In this state, you are slower, but it doesn’t render you unconscious, and you can see and hear as normal.

Integrated Protection

Your body has built-in defensive layers, which can be enhanced with armor:

• You gain a +1 bonus to Armor Class.
• You can don only armor with which you have proficiency. To don armor other than a shield, you must incorporate it into your body over the course of 10 minutes, during which you remain in contact with the armor. To doff armor, you must spend 10 minutes removing it. You can rest while donning or doffing armor in this way.
• While you live, the armor incorporated into your body can’t be removed against your will.

Specialized Design

You gain one skill proficiency and one tool proficiency of your choice.

Combat Prowess

An Adeptus Astartes was made to wage war. As such, even without a weapon, their body provides. Adeptus Astartes can attack with a special unarmed strike, acting as an attack and can be done as a bonus action, counting as a weapon attack.

• You are proficient in this attack and it counts as a Finesse weapon, using either Strength or Dexterity. It deals 1d10 magical bludgeoning damage with your modifier.

• This attack can be done freely as a bonus action and counts as an Attack.

• In place of an attack, the Space Marine can use this to make a grapple check with advantage. All grapple stipulations apply.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.