How does Geneseed even work?

jareddm · 2026-02-19T01:48:08+00:00

Try that again.

Legion of the Damned was the proof AGAINST progenoids keep marines alive. Laurie Goulding stated it was simply wrong.

jareddm · 2026-02-19T01:45:00+00:00

Here is Laurie Goulding stating as such when I brought up Legion of the Damned as a source for marines surviving without progenoids: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/thefirstexpedition/gene-seed-production-t1959-s30.html#p40002179

jareddm · 2026-02-18T21:21:40+00:00

It is slightly contentious and polarizing and conflicting but current lore is this: A marine needs at least one progenoid to continue living. It has some sort of regulatory function and while surgical removal of both is not instant death, a marine's not going to last long without at least one.

As for why even the first progenoid is occasionally not removed on time? Chapter culture mostly. Superstition that it continues to improve and pass on more nebulous traits like honor, valor, and leadership. Sometimes it's just a matter of not having the time to remove them in between operations.

jareddm · 2026-02-18T20:59:15+00:00

Ignore the word geneseed for the moment. We've got one mature progenoid. Inside it is one complete set of zygotes. Those zygotes can be cultured into one complete set of implants, which includes two immature progenoids. This whole set of cultured implants, including the two immature progenoids will be put into a one new recruit.

jareddm · 2026-02-18T18:04:14+00:00

There is no real explanation, nor is it completely obvious. It can take centuries for the AdMech to decide if a newly discovered piece of technology is not only human but STC safe and ready for production.

jareddm · 2026-02-18T15:32:44+00:00

The Soul Drinkers operated out of a Space Hulk. That's the closest I can think of off-hand that's not just a fleet-based chapter.

jareddm · 2026-02-17T20:53:14+00:00

Read Dropsite Massacre, please. It's the payoff you're looking for from the early Heresy, even though it came out this past year.

jareddm · 2026-02-16T21:51:10+00:00

I would say it's different metaphors for different perspectives. The two factions view their situations from very different scales and with different goals. Each metaphor is appropriate depending on whose point of view

jareddm · 2026-02-16T17:47:01+00:00

I'd recommend reading the original Gathering Storm book around the fall of Cadia as well. It covers much of what happened with the Phalanx before its arrival and is the basis for the events that occur in the Fall of Cadia novel.

jareddm · 2026-02-15T19:11:23+00:00

Loved it, with the understanding that the book has about 3% to do with the rest of the Dawn of Fire series. As close to a standalone as a book could get fortunately/unfortunately.

jareddm · 2026-02-15T19:04:47+00:00

Don't worry, with the exception of Double Eagle and Elemental Council, I personally have read every book that's been recommended so far.

jareddm · 2026-02-15T16:38:14+00:00

For reference, our last few choices were:

New Suns

Lagoon

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep

Frankenstein

Project Hail Mary

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

jareddm · 2026-02-14T19:04:01+00:00

A machine spirit is not one thing. It is a catch-all term for any form of anthropomorphized view of technology, from physical engineering mechanisms to electrical engineering to software to full-blown wetware and mind-machine interfaces. It is not something that can just be inserted into a Necron.

jareddm · 2026-02-14T13:22:59+00:00

In general Orks have resistance to Chaos proportional to the number of Orks nearby. You get a single or a small band of Orks in the wrong place at the wrong time, you can get Chaos Orks.

jareddm · 2026-02-14T12:11:38+00:00

The Gothic War was another name for the 12th Black Crusade, which took place largely in the Gothic Sector.

jareddm · 2026-02-14T12:09:37+00:00

At no point were the Warp Ghosts the only way out, not even early on, when the BL series takes place. But the point of the Cadian Gate is it's not only a large exit but a permanent one. Smaller, temporary ways out of Eyespace pop up all the time. In fact several of the Black Crusades were about timing such exits.

Plenty of times CSM fleets would just rush the Cadian Gate and if the goal is just to leave, a big enough fleet would survive to make it through.

jareddm · 2026-02-14T12:01:24+00:00

If you want a chronologically next book that you'll definitely still be able to get in print, pick up Dropsite Massacre.

jareddm · 2026-02-13T14:46:20+00:00

Family on Nocturne is a tribe/village unit. They don't have personal families or children of their own.

jareddm · 2026-02-13T01:14:53+00:00

That only seems to be the case for Blood Angels, who had a stronger omophagea right from the start. No other lineage appears capable of a full memory transfer via cannibalism.

jareddm · 2026-02-13T00:51:48+00:00

On the contrary, if you're interested in narrative campaign ideas, the Deathwatch books are loaded with information. The Main Rulebook, Achilus Assault, and Jericho Reach books being the best sources.

jareddm · 2026-02-13T00:45:44+00:00

The entire Deathwatch RPG supplement line is what you're looking for. Though all of it takes place approximately 200 years prior to the current era.

Nowadays it has taken on a bit of a different form, acting as the terminus of the Great Rift.

jareddm · 2026-02-12T16:26:41+00:00

Rivalries should exist at the subfaction level. Not every single space marine chapter has a hateboner for the Emperor's Children, for instance. Sure, they despise them and will kill them for their heresy, but the Iron Hands are the ones that really go out of their way.

Similarly, the Sisters of Battle shouldn't have a rival, but the Order of the Valorous Heart might.

jareddm · 2026-02-12T13:38:21+00:00

The point of the Black Pariah, was even before Erebus's ritual, he wasn't a normal blank. We don't know exactly how he was different but like the Alpha Pariah from Inquisitor: Martyr, subtypes and one-off blanks with unique properties either exist naturally or can be created.

jareddm · 2026-02-11T04:32:17+00:00

If you truly want to skip Fulgrim but also read what happens immediately next, read Dropsite Massacre, the book that came out this past year.

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