Space Marine

by A. Mark Ratner

FGU edition Cover by Jeff Dee, interior art by David Sutherland

Introduction

We know where the image of star-travelling troops aboard naval vessels, clad in armour comes from, the Valerian Marines in the “Lensman” Series and the CAP Drop Troopers of “Starship Troopers”. The Lensman troopers are strong enough not to need power assist, but the series does have examples of powered armour.

Then, in 1978, Games Workshop let gamers in the UK know about a new ser of SF war games rules, called “Space Marine”!. That’s right, for the low, low price of £2.95 including postage,  they were selling A. Mark Ratner’s rules as published by Fantac (later also in 1980 by Fantasy Games Unlimited)!  That is about £16 in Sept 2023 money.

You can tell these are early rules, as well as normal six-sided dice, there are occasions to use a d20 or d20s as percentile dice, but accepts that getting these might be hard, and gives the advice on picking numbered chits from a cup, as we did in those primitive days.

Intended as a game of Squad/Section combat. It offers two ground scales of combat, depending on how much table space you have, but also a skirmish scale, only back them skirmish meant two or three figures a side, the full Squad based battle is envisaged as only being between ten and twenty figures a side.

Fantac edition

There is a background for the universe. In the future of interstellar travel, the warring nations have developed a field that prevents nuclear detonations, rendering nuclear bombardment impossible, so interstellar war once again needs boots on the ground to achieve political objectives.

The Fantac edition was, to my knowledge, was self-published by A. Mark Ratner, who I did briefly communicate with back around 2000, however I only have the FGU edition, not the original Fantac edition, and one big difference that I understand the original has that the later does not is that it has rules for linking the wargame with D&D and Metamorphosis Alpha.

What are the rules like?

The game covers attacks on a planet from Orbital Bombardment, Air combat  to Ground actions, but only really ground combat has extensive rules. Fire from Orbit is treated as indirect fire to the ground, but anti-ship fire from the ground is left up to a referee.

Aircraft can be used for troop transport, recon of ground troops, air superiority or ground attack, but the author realises that the scale of action is too small for proper air to air combat, so air superiority is abstracted.

On the ground, it is assumed that troops will be using the benefit of train cover and stealth technology to not be seen, so recon aircraft, and troops trying to find their opponents, is part of the game.

The game can use simultaneous movement, with written orders, but the basic turn sequence is

1. Roll for first/second move
2. First side move
3. Second side move
4. Both sides cab perform covering fire, that is over watch fire on moving units. Non moving units can attempt to spot enemies.
5. Units can try to spot units and conduct normal fire
6. Indirect fire occurs
7. Melee combat
8. Back to 1

I have seen “Space Marine” referred to as the “Chainmail” of “Space Opera”, referring to Howe the original D&D was both developed from the “Chainmail” war games rules and still needed the original war games rules to make sense of the combat in the RPG. If you played Space Opera, the combat rules do look like a more constrained version of the Space Opera combat rules.

Hit chances are made using percentile dice (and the intro explains how that is done) with situational modifiers. Once you hit,you consult another tangle to cross-reference weapon vs armour to determine the chance of the hit penetrating defences. This is probably survivable when you have a max of two squads each on the table, but would be atrocious for Company sized actions, and you equate a hit with putting a figure out of action.

There are more detailed wound rules, but these look more designed for the skirmish game, as it would mean a lot of book keeping for the regular game.

There are a lot more to the rules,movement, unit cohesion (the faster you can move, the further apart you are allowed to be), electronic warfare, pinning and suppression, different types of weapons, robots vehicles for the various Star Nations and armour. If you have Space Opera and the Ground and Air Equipment book, a lot of this is going to be very familiar.

Build me an army worthy of the Terran Federation

The points system for armies is a little strange as it is not intended for buying your units in a single battle. In fact the text says that the only reason their is one is because Scott Bizar insisted on one.

Despite the fact that this is set up for small unit action, you buy army regiments and wings of aircraft and all equipment. You need to use the description of the army organisation of what a regiment looks like to see what that buys you, and you will send your troops out in their squads for actual games.

There is no balancing for troop experience and, despite the claims of the purchasing of regiments being for campaigns, there are no campaign rules. The impression I get is that the author wanted rules for more free form, possibly asymmetrical actions, in games created by art and judgement, not mechanically defined ideas of fairness.

E.g. You want to  field a force of a couple of Ranan infantry squads, twenty Ranai, with a Supporting Flame Crawler, trying to use the points cost for all that. Breaking down the over 1000 troops and 100 AFV

Presentation

The book is a very simple, two column format, the text is a little small for me now, but was fine at the time. The only differentiation in typeface are use of bold for item heads, and headings in a large font that I suspect might be intended to be neon tubes.

The tables are that FGU way of just headings with values in the columns. No lines, banding or aids to help you cross reference column as row.

The art is sparse, but exists only to break up text. There are absolutely no illustrative diagram to help explain the rules.

The rules need editing, reorganising and indexing. There are also areas that could use expanding. Even if there were not firm rules on army composition then at least there should be more info in running campaigns

Background and theme

The nations of this background formed the basis of the background in Ed Simbalist’s Space Opera SF RPG, I believe at the insistence of FGU’s owner Scott Bizar.  I do not believe that this was by the choice of either author.

This background is where the fascist Azuriachs, ursine Blarads and communist Galactic Peoples Republic of Space Opera come from, with varying levels of detail. As memory serves, only the Terran Union, Azuriachs and the Mercantile League get any extensive Star Atlas coverage, with minor mentions for the Raan, Blarads and Mekpurrs. The Korellians who feature in a Star Atlas are not in Space Marine,

Space Opera alluded to the various Star Nations, but did not give much detail. In Space Marine, the basics of each are given, making it handy for any Space Opera GM.

The background details are more concerned with uniform details, symbology tactical organisation and equipment used by the various Star Nations, but gives the basic notion of their governmental character.

Would I play these rules now?

At the time, I can see why people would have liked these. Judging by the standards of the time they were written, compared to other rules of the time I have read, they compare well.

Since then, expectations have changed. In some ways that is worse, popular rules tend to be more rigid and less free-form. I did consider breaking out some SF minis and pit a few squaddies against each other, but after reading decided not to. Too much table cross referencing and page flipping, though i guess I could have made unit cards with just the details for simplicity’s sake.

If I was still running Space Opera, I might splice these rules into it if there was a need for the characters to get involved in small unit combat, much as Traveller could do with Striker.

That is not to say that there are not fun ideas in here. Once you accept that the view of combat is dated. Aircraft fly nap of earth with no fear of RADAR that can reach the crowns, MANPADS or vehicles flinging vapourising volumes of lead into the air. It is an old view of the future, no drones. IEDs or mobile phones with cameras and geo-location, though there are some things that could be charitably considered to be IFVs.

Why the Terran Union has a Continental Siege Unit listed, basically a Bolo or Ogre in a small squad game, i dunno, but it is a sign of a game that could have used a bit more work developing it.

All that being said, if you wanted to use that 60s and 70s view of future warfare, but want to use your own simpler and more consistent system, the ideas here are worth stealing for a universe with a feel of the one of the Dorsai or the poor infantry not cool enough to support Hammers Slammers.

You can still buy the FGU edition rules in PDF form from DriveThruRPG

The night was sandwiched by video-conferencing, neither of our usual options were working for us all, so we ended back at Google Meet

This ended with us playing with filters. In between, we died a little roleplaying.

The messenger handed the packet to Smersh, who opened it. There was some information about a prophecy that he would be here, at this time, on this day, in sold script, perhaps a century old. The main thing was much older, a tablet of bronze, inscribed with an early form of the older Ebbarisi script.

Arpaesis and the scribes puzzled out this ancient form

Deed to the domain of Galye-agam

I am Kar-push-tarim, I am the monarch of the lands of Vaykattara, this will be the realm of my house for ever and anon.

Be it known that the bearer of this tablet is my well loved servant.

Be it known that the original recipient Spionem is trusted by me and receives this reward for their service and that this reward is for perpetuity, for Spionem and their heirs, till the world goes cold and the stars die.

By my word, know that the domain of Galye-agam is to be understood as the lands between the village of Speyah to the west, the highest point of Galye-agam ridge to the East, to the north the point of the hill of Min, to the south a line drawn precicely between the peaks of the hills of Sur-el and Eshur.

I am Kar-push-tarim, I am the monarch of the lands of Vaykattara, this is my word, that for this domain Spionem and their heirs owe to me and my heirs the following service. When I call for war, the domain of Galye-agam will provide twenty-four fit and able people in arms, whether of the people of Galye-agam or paid by its ruler. Those twenty-four will be armed with spear, bow and either mace or axe. They will have a shield appropriate to their function and bring provisions for one week of service when they arrive at the muster named in the call.

This service shall be for no greater than two moons, less longer is arranged by payment from the monarch.

I am Kar-push-tarim. I have commanded this.

It would be safe to say that Smersh was shocked, to be named as the heir of an estate, though the possibilities of riches and status, though at the lowest rung of nobility. He started eyeing Utana to see how he conducted himself.

Of Spionem, Smersh was only vaguely aware though the bounds of the realm of Vaykattara And the name of Kar-push-tarim, who was a monarch before Smersh and Fetnah were imprisoned.

A few days passed as the trial of Rumekebu was arranged, and the group composed themselves. They cleaned their gear, Smersh practiced his command of the modern written script of Shamek, Fetnah communed with the spirits, Juan José rested, Utana studied.

The day of the trial came, a preened and primped Utana was announced and escorted to the Steward’s chair. The Magistrate Niralha watched from behind a screen, officially, she was not there, and only Utana could see her.

The court filled up and Rumekebu was brought in, still attired as an Ambassador if not one in fact. The charge of conspiracy to murder Ambassador Mirnusz of Ishtir was made, in league with the missing culprit Simut and unknown others. Rumekebu denied it.

Witnesses were brought, the guard and servant who attested that Rumekebu’s story of the murderer Simut being forced on the Ambassadorial party, that it was Rumekebu who brought him. The entertainer who saw Rumekebu help someone onto the roof, the night of the murder, the route of the murder. Fetnah and Smersh, who testified to the finding of the drug Gadanish and a similar weapon as the murder weapon in the Ambassador’s quarters, and the same in the quarters of Simut.

Juan José brought up the cloth, a red cloth found in Merem, scraps of which were found on the murder scene.

Despite the attempts by Utana to break Rumekebu by force of will, an increasingly nervous ambassador tried bravado, denigrating the court, accusing the Haraxans of bad faith and illegal acts, demanding tat he himself was beyond judgement in this place, intended to be neutral. Utana cast that back at Rumekebu, pointing out that he violated that by murdering Mirnusz. Rumekebu, by that point, was not bothering to deny the charge, but his nerves were only truly broken when firstly Moch-Hada, his assistant and the currently accepted ambassador, denied him any status or support, and the suggestion was made that he be handed to the Ishtiri.

Utana thought about this, the idea tickled him, He looked to Niralha, and she mouthed the word “Ishtir” to him.

Utana raised himself up and pronounced judgement, that Rumekebu be handed to Ishtir for trial. At that pint the former ambassador fainted. Moch-hada stripped him of the badges of office before Rumekebu was hauled away to the Ishtiri ship, to be held pending trial.

The Ishtiri Prince arranged with all there to take statements and descriptions of all the evidence before departure.

The court adjourned, and the group rested. The next day, Niralha, her husband and advisor Kharrish and Harvan,  the master of agents, thanked the group, for all they had done. Rewards are deserved, but Niralha had to consider what would be appropriate. She did offer Utana the chance to remain as Steward of Nashua, as they had decided to renew the Palace, given the discovery of the undead and the Faithful Keteaorum,but Utana declined.

The conference continues, but after it concludes, the group have a new goal, to find the valley of Galye-agam, and Smersh’s inheritance.

And there we left it…

I had hopes for the sessions around this conference, the difficulties and the murder, I don’t think they came off. These things happen, people have different wishes, desires and plans for a game. Often it works, sometimes not so much. I think I will return to simpler situations for a while.

—

The morning for murdered Ambassador Mirnusz proceeds, pointless as it seems to some of the mourners, who know his spirit is banished, cursed to wander the world as a hungry ghost.

The evidence points to Ambassador Rumekebu of Merem as the one who orchestrated it, though his motivations seem opaque to the group, even the more experienced Agents in their number.

It looks like the investigation has come to the stage where an accusation must soon be made, and Magistrate Niralha wants no part of it, as someone in her position making such an accusation has severe political implications, instead she refuses to relieve Utana of his position as Steward of Nashwa, the responsibility of administration of the palace, and justice for crimes committed here, remains with Utana Uxarra.

Fetnah wonders if the curses can be broken, if Mirnusz’s spirit can be recalled, but first Smersh seeks to expel the spirit of disease that has been weakening him. To bring him back from the dead, if at all possible, would only be possible with a quest worthy of several epic poems, tales of advice from wise hermits, wrestling with demons, asking favours of the gods and journeys to the heart of the Underworld. Possible, but a bit tricky.

It cannot be said that Smersh is an observant and devoted priest of the Cold Ones, but he is a priest nonetheless, and used to exorcising spirits, though usually on Fetnah if she encounters a spirit too strong for her. This time his patient was himself, and luckily he was able to expel it.

Next came Fetnah’s endeavours. With the greatest preparations she could make she sought the shadow world of spirits for one with the knowledge of how she might banish the curse so that Mirnush would find his way back to the vicinity of his body.

The ritual proved successful, an answer came. Strike the inscription from the blade that embodied the curse, banish the sprit that inhabits the blade, and the curse is lifted, but the tool that does this must be blessed.

The group headed to the area of artisans, and were met by a craftsman who welcomed them with open arms, Karzahdar, the chief artificer, at a banquet had offered to create a new body for the crow spirit that Farshad imaginatively calls Aaribu, as well as an earring for Utana. The news was that the body was ready and, his design for this marvellously articulated body even incorporated some of the naive, as he called them, designs of Fetnah. Wish a sigh and a heavy heart, Fetnah helped Aaribu transfer bodies, and the bird flew around and settled back on Farshad.

Karzahdar was also able to provide chisels for the group for their task, and the smiths from the work area sharpened them. Also a hammer, an old hammer that had served him well and lasted many decades of service, only needing the head replaced twice and the haft three times. It was time to get them blessed. At the temple, the most senior priest was receptive, although Mirnusz was a follower of the Three, as a person in position of power, she knew the truth of the curse.

She led them to an area of the temple with two of the other priests, but insisted that, as one close to Fetnah and the dread weapon, that Smersh was the right person to , conduct the blessing, aided by the other three priests. With their help, Smersh succeeded, and the way was clear to perform the deed.

However, the senior priest did not want this done in the Temple, given the profane nature of the weapon, Instead she recommended a shrine built into the wall of the southern watchtower as a suitable place and, with sacrifices ready, Fetnah, marshalling all her experience as a bone carver, and hoping it transferred, struck the first blow, and itt wa true, striking all the script in one fluid movement. The evil spirit within was so surprised that it did not get a chance to attack Fetnah, and it fled the vicinity, howling in frustration.

Fetnah was able to reach out to Mirnusz, briefly, before that spirit attended his own funeral. Mirnusz, killed in a drugged stupor, knew little of the actual murder. When asked about the possible motive for his killing, he did offer a hypothesis. With Ishtir, Kutin and Idym in turmoil, with suspicions and accusations flying, the rebellion in western Idym that Merem is supporting would grow stronger, and Merem could take the territory.

In the discussion, Fetnah and Smersh recalled the area, how once it was part of a growing power, apparently it was once part of a greater empire, till it fell and was supplanted. It appears that some in Merem dreamed of achieving that power again. With Ishtir over-stretched militarily, they might see possibilities.

Pausing only to inform Mirnusz’s cousin Ctesiphon that the soul was free and that the rituals of mourning now had meaning, it was back to achieving justice!

However, the evidence so far was circumstantial. A lie about a sick aide and having the murderer foisted on him could be explained away as embarrassment, or distancing himself. Helping someone to the roof, could the witness be sure it was Rumekebu? More proof was needed.

And so a banquets was organised, a small, intimate one, only the Ambassadors, their aides and the Agents of Haraxa. Whilst all were there, then Farshad could sneak into the Meremite ambassador’s quarters. I was surprised that it  wasn’t Smersh doing this, I out that down to Scott having left the room and still catching up.

In the banquets, to one side of Ambassador Rumekebu, Fetnah was being engaging and charming, and Juan José was being silent and imposing, as fully armoured as diplomacy would allow, the guards on station were those he trusted.

Elsewhere, Farshad wandered over to the Ishtiri ambassadorial building, where he was known, and proceeded to the roof. There he found a pole and deftly vaulted to the Metemite embassy. Clambering down to the balcony of the ambassador’s quarters, he found the door and curtain shielded the inside. He slipped in to find a rather simply furnished room, frame bed, two chests, third chest upended like a portmanteau or dresser, a small, plain table and stool, and a smaller table with a drawer by the bed. Luckily lit by lamps, so he need not find his own light

Searching revealed mostly the expected. Clothes, makeup, some jewellery and accessories, writing materials, some personal items. More interestingly in the bedside table was a small fancy flask with a curious smell, but, more importantly, in a secret compartment in one chest, was a rack with three phials of liquid, and space for two more.

This was Gadanishz, the same sleeping poison used to drug Ambassador Mirnusz. This was evidence. Farshad left that as he found it, but he pocketed the flask. After a cursory check that outside the room was as he expected it, Farshad left the way he came, and to the banquet.

Entering the banquet, Farshad caught the eye of Juan José and Fetnah, and nodded. Wish every fibre of his being, Farshad resisted a Belgian accent and twirling his waxed moustache. Rumekebu maintained his composure as he was accused of orchestrating the murder of Mirnusz. The other ambassadors quickly regained themselves after the initial shock and, as Rumekebu poured scorn on the notion, the other Ambassadors heard the story and agreed to be witnesses to the proof, and Rumekebu was persuaded to go along by the prescience of Juan José and two of his less sympathetic guards.

Rumekebu’s room was crowded as Farshad revealed the poison. Inspired, Farshad checked the same spot on the other chest, and found another dagger, this one with Haraxan design motifs. The case seemed made.

Rumekebu had been sidling over to his bedside table, he pulled it open as a triumphant grin stole to his lips, but that soon fell to despair as the flask he expected to be there was gone. Desperate, he made a break for the balcony.  But Smersh blocked his way and the vice-like grip of Juan José landed on his shoulder.

The only thing missing was Juan José saying “You are blooming nicked, my old beauty!”

Ambassador Rumekebu was put under guarded arrest. Tomorrow there would be a trial.

The group prepared to rest the night when a messenger, dressed in plain brown tunic, kilt and with an brown, close fitting skull cap appeared, shouting for Smersh. Reluctantly Smersh identified himself, somewhat surprised as to who would be wanting him, as he and Fetnah had been gone for 1500 years.

The Situation

The city of Bardij, with the aid of the group, and troops they summoned, defected from the nation of Idym to Haraxa. Bardij is situated where Haraxa, Idym and Ishtir meet. It is important for trade from the Lands of Spices, as it is on the route from the sea to eastern Ishtir, western Haraxa and the lands of the Sakah, and for Sakah goods heading south.

Ishtir and Idym are not happy with Haraxa, but Ishtir is thinly stretched and Idym is wrestling with rebellion in the west, so their ability to bring force to bear is low, and this conference is here to debate the matter.

The Ambassadors

Bahareh – Sister to the ruler of Haraxa, well regarded as a diplomat

Mirnusz – Ruler of Babilim in Ishtir, known as a hunter and wrestler, brother to the Saraniya of Ishtir. Deputy is Ctesiphon of Immura.

Ba-nereru – A priest of the Cold Ones, as all the rulers of the Theocracy of Idym are. Seemingly nervous and looking for allies.

The group gathered around the room where Mirnusz, the ambassador from Ishtir, was lying, pinned to his bed by a sword identified by Utana as being of Kutin design, and it occurred to everyone that that seemed to obvious.

Smersh had determined that Mirnusz was drugged with a sleeping potion, a drug called Gadanishz, made from a infused era whose origin is from Idym, though Idym did not exist when Smersh learned of it. Again, the group thought this too neat.

Juan José joined the group, and, in about of black humour to bring levity to this diplomatic incident, the group noticed that, as a far travelled man, who is in charge if security for the event and is also a herbalist, Juan José must surely be a suspect.

The room was locked, the only exit a balcony with a ladder to the roof, In the doorframe they found some loose wool threads, red threads.

Up on the roof, a search found a short piece of cut rope, a hook on one end, that looked to have been attached to something here Nearby, the wall on the roof was scuffed, where a tense rope was, obviously strung across the roof to the next embassy.

From the first house below the line of trees, on the left these house the parties of Kutin, Merem, Idym, Ishtir and below, Haraxa.

The ambassadors from further powers like the Faliscans, Sardes, Ta-Khamet and others are housed elsewhere.

Although Haraxa is host, the ambassadorial party is separate from the Magistrate and representatives of the state running the event, such as Utana and the other agents.

Interviewing the Ishtiri guards on duty, they had views around the corridors, but no-one was in or even in fromt of Mirnusz’s room, not until a morning drink was brought to him and the death was discovered.

When quizzed about the rope, and red thread and anything unusual, there was mention made of two loincloth clad workmen outside, one of whom was wearing a red loincloth. Fetnah took a description and made a sketch as well as she could, and the message went out to look for them.

Further investigations with the Idymite embassy found evidence of the other of the rope on their side of the roof. Questioning guards revealed that the Idymites had not been so tight with their security and workmen had been working in the building, including two that had been been bringing in materials in boxes, of note was a long box hauled in upstairs by two workmen, one of whose was wearing a red loincloth. The box was later removed.

The supposition was that they carried in a confederate, whom they left, as the box seemed lighter, but they had delivered and left other things, food, linens, eating utensils etc, so they did not think much of it.

Searching of the artisan’s area turned up the suspected box, also with red threads, so there were at least two men in red loincloths. The description was refined and eventually a guard said they had seen them, but not as a workman but as a party guest, at one of the tables reserved for junior members of ambassadorial parties. They were not certain which but, as organisers, they were able to narrow down which of the ambassadorial staff were at the tables that the guard remembered.

And so they found out that one of the party from Merem, called Simut, was missing. His quarters had been vacated quickly, leaving behind two phials, one empty, one still full, which Smersh pocketed. There are other bits and pieces left behind, but they were not investigated further.

Taling to Rumekebu the ambassador, they learned that one of their ambassadorial party had fallen ill suddenly, and Simut substituted, but they were unable to find the orders, though the ambassador put that down to the exigencies of travel.

There is more to investigate, but the night was getting late, and there we left it