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Space Marines, food, and cooking


omo667

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I do not remember too much about Space Marines and their relationship with food.

I remember the following parts:

  • alcohol does not work on them (that's present in the first books of Horus Heresy)
  • some (Ultramarines?) chapters hold a feast/proper dinner after daily excersises (I think that was in Index Astartes)
Does anyone know anything more?

Do Space Marines have any kind of "preferred food", or personal tastes? Or was that all removed during psychoindoctrination? Is there a concept of "cooking" even there, given that SM can eat almost anything due to their organs (I forgot the name, but the one for absorbing poisons).

 

PS.

This question was caused by me (unfortunately) stumbling across video of Space Marines eating soup...

Edited by Brother Tyler
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I do not remember too much about Space Marines and their relationship with food.

I remember the following parts:

  • alcohol does not work on them (that's present in the first books of Horus Heresy)
  • some (Ultramarines?) chapters hold a feast/proper dinner after daily excersises (I think that was in Index Astartes)

Does anyone know anything more?

Do Space Marines have any kind of "preferred food", or personal tastes? Or was that all removed during psychoindoctrination? Is there a concept of "cooking" even there, given that SM can eat almost anything due to their organs (I forgot the name, but the one for absorbing poisons).

 

PS.

This question was caused by me (unfortunately) stumbling across video of Space Marines eating soup...

 

Alcohol works on them but it needs to be a hell of a lot stronger than what you could let regular humans drink. Blood Angels for example drink some special blood wine and Space Wolves are known for getting actually drunk as you'd expect of vikings.

 

About regular food ... there are conflicting informations about whether regular food can sustain their needs but most commonly Marines can and do eat regular food if they can find the time for it but they can also last for a very long time without any food if they need to. While deployed they obviously only eat some special stuff that gives them the energy they need in a compact form if at all.

What kind of food a Marine prefers obviously entirely depends on the Marine in question. As much as they are brainwashed super soldiers they are also individuals with their own interests and preferences.

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They've been known to eat the brains of their enemies to gain knowledge and some chapters such as the Flesh Eaters have other practices so I doubt they are fussy eaters.

 

According to the original daily routine of a space marine laid out in the 3rd ed codex there were two main meals of the day, a midday meal and an evening meal.

 

"1300: Normally local wildlife killed during the morning activities

 

2100: A feast (by normal human standards) is provided by the Chapter serfs, and some Chapter Masters may allow alcohol to be consumed."

 

Now like most things 40k take this as you will but it's never really officially been retconed.

 

The Preomnor implant is described as the following:

"Phase 7: This is essentially a pre-stomach that can neutralise otherwise poisonous or indigestible foods. No actual digestion takes place in the preomnor, as it acts as a decontamination chamber placed before the natural stomach in the body's system and can be isolated from the rest of the digestive tract in order to contain particularly troublesome intake."

Which to me says most things are on the menu. I expect most of their meals are laced with chemicals to maintain their indoctrination and their implants as well.

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Space wolf novels have many examples of food and drink. Feast halls are a major part of fenrisian (i.e., space viking) culture. This includes mjod capable of getting marines drunk.

 

The potency would kill a non marine. Chapter bondsman and other normal humans have separate batches available to them. This is canon and a recent regimental standard made a joke advising guardsmen to decline offers.

 

https://regimental-standard.com/2020/03/04/dont-drink-the-mjod/

 

 

 

In the ragnar blackmane novels he is sent to terra as a wolf blade (personal bodyguards to navigator house) and the story includes his reaction to local foods/drink and different customs. Torin is a wolf blade who prefers high society to his native fenris and the reader learns he likes wine and other foods.

 

Haeger, another long time wolf blade, prefers the standard meats and alcohol

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I think it was Ian Watsons 'Space Marine' what had marines feasting on an animals foetus poached in milk and other odd stuff like that, was either that or one of his Inquisitor trilogy anyway... 

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I think it was Ian Watsons 'Space Marine' what had marines feasting on an animals foetus poached in milk and other odd stuff like that, was either that or one of his Inquisitor trilogy anyway...

It was in Space Marine.

 

Space Marines can eat whatever their Chapter and planetary cultures allow and provide. If their planet has burgers and/or pizza, they probably eat it. If their planet thrives on tofu ... never mind, that wouldn't be a planet sufficient for supporting a Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. :wink:

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Brother Tyler, praised be your name, this is the most fortunate coincidence!

This message from GW made me laugh loudly during these grim times, thank you :smile.:

 

Edit: after watching that video I was envious of people eating such pretty food like toast and orange juice.

While I need to survive on boiled beans and potatoes, just like during the wars in the Yugoslavia.

Edited by omo667
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Space wolf novels have many examples of food and drink. Feast halls are a major part of fenrisian (i.e., space viking) culture. This includes mjod capable of getting marines drunk.

 

The potency would kill a non marine. Chapter bondsman and other normal humans have separate batches available to them. This is canon and a recent regimental standard made a joke advising guardsmen to decline offers.

 

https://regimental-standard.com/2020/03/04/dont-drink-the-mjod/

 

 

 

In the ragnar blackmane novels he is sent to terra as a wolf blade (personal bodyguards to navigator house) and the story includes his reaction to local foods/drink and different customs. Torin is a wolf blade who prefers high society to his native fenris and the reader learns he likes wine and other foods.

 

Haeger, another long time wolf blade, prefers the standard meats and alcohol

White Dwarf 205 included a short story which described a Space Wolves drinking contest; because of Astartes ability to process toxins, the winner is actually the first to pass out, as they demonstrate a capacity to drink so much so fast that they can overwhelm their own physiology.

Edited by Mr Smith
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