Techmarine
Techmarines are Space Marines who have been trained by the Adeptus Mechanicus in the ways of the Machine God. The senior Techmarine in a Chapter is generally known as the Master of the Forge.
Overview
Techmarines often start as Marines with an aptitude for machinery; if they attract the notice of their Chapter leadership, they may be sent to Mars for a number of years to train with the tech-priests. After their training is complete, their armour is modified to fit their new servo-arms and backpack and is usually painted red to show allegiance to the Mechanicus - leaving only the pauldrons to display the Chapter colors and badge. This sets them apart from their battle-brothers and means they are not often completely trusted, though to technophilic Chapters like the Iron Hands it is a badge of honour.
When they return to their Chapter, Techmarines join their Chapter's Armoury and maintain the Chapter's vehicles and weapons. In some Chapters like the Salamanders all Marines know the basic maintenance procedures for their equipment, leaving the Techmarines free to work on more exotic weapons and war machines.
Other Chapters trust them less. The Dark Angels and their successors, the Unforgiven, tend not to allow them to learn the horrible truth about Luther and Cypher, or the secrets that their Primarch was entrusted with at the start of the Crusade simply because they have split allegiance with Mars.
Among the Space Wolves, Techmarines are called Iron Priests, and will noticeably not paint their armour red, leaving it grey. The Iron Hands have two types of Techmarines. The first are Iron Fathers, who oversee the more "spiritual" aspect of the machine, like a Mechanicum version of Chaplains. The second rank is Ironwrought, who are full Techmarines.
A Techmarine's Artificer Armour is also modified to help work with his cybernetic enhancements. His armour bears the rust-red colours of the Adeptus Mechanicus, but his Chapter badge is kept and displayed on one of the shoulder guards, so as not to piss off the armour's machine spirit, like the Death Watch. Techmarines are also able to wear full servo-harnesses as aforementioned. These are basically huge harnesses armed with robo-arms, plasma cutters, and flamers. If they are from the Deathwatch they can be equipped with the unique breaching augurs. Their usual weapon is a Power Axe with the Adeptus Mechanicus symbol on the head, as both a symbol of rank and as a weapon.
Techmarines can also be accompanied by a retinue of Servitors; Gun Servitors, Combat Servitors, and Tech Servitors. But in particular, techmarines have a fondness for CATs. Many a techmarine will spend their spare time building small hordes of Cyber-Altered Task Units, looking forward to the day when they can test them on the battlefield.
For more non-military matters, each Techmarine is known to own a Pleician Tome to record down and memorise every single part of the Machine Spirit.
Warpsmiths are their evil counterparts among the Chaos Space Marines as well as Death Guard's variations, Biologus Putrifiers and Foul Blightspawns. Primaris Marines also get their own version of Techmarines which come equipped with the special Forge Bolter and the equally rare Grav-Pistol.
According to Amberley Vail, in terms of personality, there is a strong tendency for them to be "somewhat eccentric at best" and as a result, chapters tolerate techmarines deviating from norms a bit. (Example of such deviance: Becoming friends with a human and eventually having sparring sessions with said human).
Dawn of War II
Relic Entertainment decided to use the Techmarine in Dawn of War II as one of the three commanders for the Space Marines. The techmarine is the least aggressive of the marine commanders; he's built as a ranged unit (while the Force Commander and Apothecary are intended to lead assaults, he's expected to stand back and shoot things, and does inflict more damage shooting than they do), and focuses on improving ranged damage of friendly units, has abilities that support vehicles, and can bring emplacements that reinforce squads without needing to go back the base, along with bringing in sentry turrets. His style generally focuses on getting to a position and holding. He's trickier to use than the Force Commander and Apothecary, but his abilities can be quite deadly on certain maps, especially ones where he can place his turrets in strategically important locations that maximize what their firing arcs can hit while minimizing the directions the enemy can come at them.
Gallery
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Techmarine -
Techmarine with Helmet -
Mark III -
Mark IV -
Primaris Techmarine -
A Black Templars Techmarine serving in the deathwatch.
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A Techmarine Repairing a METAL BOX. In full Power Armour. Practical...
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Even Grey Knights need Techmarines.
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Although red, they generally don't go very fast.
| Forces of the Primaris Marines | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Command: | Apothecary Biologis - Helix Adept - Judiciar - Primaris Ancient Primaris Apothecary - Primaris Captain - Primaris Chaplain Primaris Librarian - Primaris Lieutenant - Primaris Techmarine Vanguard Librarian - Vanguard Lieutenant | ||
| Troops: | Aggressor - Bladeguard Veteran - Desolation Squad Eliminator - Eradicator - Hellblaster - Inceptor - Incursor Infernus - Infiltrator - Intercessor - Reiver - Suppressor | ||
| Structures: | Firestrike Servo-Turret - Hammerfall Bunker | ||
| Walkers: | Ballistus Dreadnought - Brutalis Dreadnought Invictor Tactical Warsuit - Redemptor Dreadnought | ||
| Transports: | Impulsor - Repulsor Tank | ||
| Vehicles: | Gladiator Tank - Invader ATV - Primaris Outriders - Storm Speeder | ||
| Super Heavies: | Astraeus Super-Heavy Tank | ||
| Flyers: | Overlord Gunship | ||
| Spacecraft: | Space Marine Landing Craft | ||
| Allies: | Space Marines | ||