I know a decent bit of space marine lore. Not all of it though. One thing I want to know is when the Emperor began being worshipped as a god, and why. It was some time after the Heresy of course, because when he was still up and running he didn't want anyone to believe in gods. Another question, but this one is more of those "what if" questions that have no definite, or canon answer. Space marines, in the fluff, are equal to 100 men on the battlefield, correct? There are also millions of space marines, also correct? If there are millions of men, who are worth 100 men each, why hasn't the Imperium already won yet? Sure, they're fighting enemies from all sides, even struggling against Chaos from within their ranks, but their weapons, armor, strength, and numbers makes it seem like they could win if they wanted to, but just aren't trying hard enough. This is really what keeps me from liking marines. Yeah, they're awesome zealots who would kill you if you so much as fart in the Emperor's general direction (from the other end of the galaxy), but the fact that they're so numerous kinda detracts from the epicness of a single marine. In my opinion, it would add to the feel of desperation humanity is going through to survive if space marines weren't so many. What do you guys think?
I like your question,I feel its not so much they want to win the galaxy but rather keep the mentality that there is a stuggle to win it and with only war brings unity and glory
Well this the funny thing about Warhammer, the Emperor began to be worshiped like a God through his son Lorgar. Lorgar conquered worlds and built the very foundations of the Imperial cult that saw the Emperor as a god, the Emperor seeing this wasn't best pleased and gave Lorgar a damn good telling off (and wiping the Empires Lorgar created from existence). Lorgar then found Chaos and hence forth the whole Horus Heresy happened, skip to 40k and the Imperium as a hold (Only a small number of Chapters Worship the Emperor as a God) now worships the Emperor as a God. Its quite Ironic that Lorgar basically founded the Imperial religion to the Emperor and was the core of the Horus Heresy
Ah, see I knew Lorgar wanted to worship the Emperor, and that's one reason why they turned to Chaos. Judging by your answer it appears that they have never fully explained then why some still worship him. Thanks!
Answer to question 1. http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_Cult It is devoted to the worship of the God-Emperor of Mankind as the ascended divinity and saviour of humanity. Those who believe in the Cult's teachings hold that the Emperor is a living spiritual entity and the only true divinity of humanity. ---- All of these precepts have their origins in what the Emperor himself preached during the Great Crusade of the 31st Millennium, though they ignore the Emperor's most fundamental teaching that he was not divine and that human beings should give up superstition and the trappings of organised religion in favour of scientific rationalism. Yet, because of the existence of Chaos and the true, psychic nature of the Immaterium, the Imperial Cult has ironically proven to be a powerful source of protection for humanity from the dangers presented by the Ruinous Powers. ------- The official Imperial doctrine, known as the Imperial Truth, was that the Emperor was an extremely powerful being, the rightful ruler of all Mankind, and the perfect physical, mental and spiritual embodiment of humanity, but no matter how supreme, he was still only a human being. During the Great Crusade, however, many ordinary Imperial citizens found that the light of reason and truth brought by the Emperor was not enough to fulfill their basic human psychological desires or provide protection from the real supernatural threats that existed in the universe, and so they took to worshiping him as a deity to fulfill their spiritual needs. -------- Question 2. Loads of planet, loads of people, loads of stuff and shit to protect, very few can become space marines, resources most be allocated where it is most prudent and dire of need. The imperial guard are currently around 4 billion + soldiers, with extreme difficulty in order to count further how many there really are, yet they most be spread out to attack and defend the imperium worlds, if they gather together all their force as a big stone rolling down hill, they can plow through anything as an unstoppable force, as they claim a few worlds, the entire galaxy would crumble as the worlds they took in victory would leave 5 times more worlds or so for example being taken by orks, pillaged by dark eldar, ruined by chaos. In the end if the marines came together and fought and won, there would be very little left for them to go back to, if they focused they would lose recruiting worlds, their supplies would be diminished, Orks are everywhere and will be free too pillage countless undefended worlds. In reality it is said, a Tank is worth 50 men when compared, yet it only takes 1 guy with enough explosives to direct enough of that firepower to take a tank out.
They have from different viewpoints, to quote Lorgar: 'If a man gathers ten thousand suns in his hands...If a man seeds a hundred thousand worlds with his sons and daughters, granting them custody of the galaxy itself...If a man guides a million vessels between the infinite stars with a mere thought...Then I pray you tell me, if you are able, how such a man is anything less than a god.' In the short story, 'The Wolf of Ash and Fire' the Emperor releases his full physic energy on a horde of Orks, Horus drops down to his knees in the aura of this power thinking that no man has this power. If you were in that universe and the Emperor was in his peak form, would you deny him to be a god with the power he has? This is why the Imperial cults began to form, he is a being of true unlimited power which bares any resemblance to a God.
The Imperium consists of at least a million known inhabitated worlds, there are more human inhabitated worlds but they remain outside of the imperium currently, lost through the fall and as yet unrecovered, If Valraks estimate of around 4 billion IG is accurate then we can see that it works out like this, if in the extremely unlikely event that such forces were spread evenly across the universe: .... Theres about 1 million Space Marines, So theres about 1 space marine or less for every human world in the universe, Theres around 4 billion IG, So thats about 4000 IG for every human world in the universe, Considering that such forces would never be spread so evenly its very easy to see how worlds are constantly being lost/regained.
also must consider that every planet have his own defence force pdf. the imperial guard rappresent the best of the pdf payed like a tac. forge world have theyr skitarii and titan legion. knight world have knight. the imperial navy have immaginabile fire power etc etc., so space marine are a really little fraction of the entire imperium power, before the horus heresy all was under the command and control of the space marine legion but in the 41k they have lost all the real power yes they can still do the impossible but they are too few and have too little power. yes the space marine legion can cinque e the entire galaxy but the space marine legion are no more
Fixed it...seems i am being ignored...even thought the post is directly lore accurate and 4 billion and more is accurate lore wise.
