So, I’m trying to wrap my head around how the Astartes work in the broader galaxy. How often do they actually consult with humans to get a more relatable perspective on their challenges? Specifically, I’m interested in the era of the Great Crusade or 30k, when they seemed a bit more personable. I’ve noticed a lot of the lore feels bland post-Heresy because the Astartes seem more like duty-driven machines. Do they ever reach out for human insight, or is that pretty rare?
3 Answers
You’ll find that it does happen occasionally, but it’s uncommon. Most Astartes are so focused on their chapters and combat that they don’t engage much with human perspectives. Ultramarines are one of the exceptions; some of them even become senators, which means they have human advisors to help understand their worlds. But outside of these few cases, they don’t really seek advice.
In general, Astartes don’t really consult with humans that much. Their main focus is the Great Crusade, and they operate mainly as soldiers rather than diplomats. Sure, some may form friendships with humans, but they struggle with empathy due to their experiences. That’s why they usually don’t seek human input unless it’s necessary for their mission.
The Astartes primarily have human retinues for stuff like tech maintenance or logistics, but they aren’t typically looking for advice on warfare from regular humans. They might converse with their servitors or tech-priests for practical matters, but it’s not an advisory role like we think of it. It’s more about getting things done efficiently, you know?
That makes sense! I guess they just don’t see the need to balance their strategies with human insights.
What do you mean by ‘they don’t engage much?’ Does that mean they don’t care? That seems harsh.