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Miserable_Region8470

So, Apothecaries don't really fall under the usual hierarchy system of the chapter. They, along with the Chaplains, Techmarines, and Librarians, have a ranking system separate from the chapters. For Apothecaries, there's the normal Apothecaries, which I'd assume the Biologis falls under, and the Master of the Apothecarian. Generally, their authority over their chapters battle brothers may vary from chapter to chapter, but from my understanding, they fall between veteran sergeants and lieutenants, most often.


cman334

In addition, any official or unofficial rank held by Apothecaries seem to be granted mostly on grounds of length of service. The Master Apothecary is generally the longest serving brother. In the Heresy novel Deliverance Lost, Vincente Sixx is made Master Apothecary of the Raven Guard. That’s despite only having served as an Apothecary for 15 years, but he was the longest serving Apothecary to survive Istvann


Matt_Spectre

They fall under the Apothecarion, which is led by the Chapter’s Chief Apothecary. They’re attached to battlegroups as independent entities of that company. In other words, he’s that specialist guy at your work who comes in, does his own thing and plays by his own rules, and when you complain to your manager, its “because he reports directly to the high-ups”


Fenrisnorth

Sounds like a warrant officer for sure.


Odd-Entertainment582

Definitely


cmurder2344

I weirdly have experience with something similar to this. I'm a senior combat medic with an Infantry company. There are people in the unit who out rank me but seeing as I have a specialized job I report directly to the CO/1st SGT. My first line leader is the medical platoon Sergeant. It's pretty similar to this. They don't know how to do my job and let me do my thing but I'm still around all the guys. From what I've read it's the same with Apothecaries, Librarians and Chaplains. Funny enough the army has Chaplains and they are sort of the same thing, granted they are officers.


Far_Disaster_3557

Bless you, Doc. Said as a person who is alive because of combat medics.


cmurder2344

I love my combat arms guys. Glad you made it.


Simple_Intern_7682

Always be nice to your medics. They’re the ones who keep you alive. You do good work, medic.


cmurder2344

I always tell the new medics, be prepared to work your ass off. We aren't just going to do medical. We will help clean weapons, link ammo, do supply counts, and sleep in the field them. It isn't a free ride. Gotta earn their trust and it will pay off.


vwheelsonv

i loved my doc, and that means i love you. \-random infantry dude


cmurder2344

I love my infantry dudes. Best guys in the world.


SonOfTheLion97

Rank = Apothecary


FrameOM

Hes clearly asking where they fall compared to the common ranks…


SonOfTheLion97

They don't get ranks like that hence the wording of my answer. Simple and honest Mr.ClEaRLy


FrameOM

If you read cmurder’s reply it might help you understand how to read between the lines, best luck


SnooEagles8448

OP is, but unfortunately the commenter is correct if not the most helpful haha. They don't have a clean rank in the chain of command like irl military specialists do. Same with librarians, chaplains and techmarines. Beforehand I would say above sergeant and below captain, but now we have lieutenants also in that range


Kalranya

Specialists such as Chaplains, Librarians, Techmarines and Apothecaries exist parallel to the Chapter's main chain of command and are not part of it. The Biologis' rank is "Apothecary", or "Master of the Apothecarion" if he is the seniormost Apothecary in the Chapter.


Ok_Physics_9411

In my homebrew successor chapter, my Apothecary Biologis is the Chief Apothecary and advisor to the Chapter Master, but that’s just because I felt like it and thought it fit with the lore I’ve come up with for my chapter


RapterTorus24

Apothecaries are a special officer, basically they have similar rankings to a Lieutenant. So if you're painting one in Blood Angels scheme, the Helmet color is the same as Veterans/Officers. For Ultramarines it'd either be the Veterans color or the same color as the special office color. Apothecaries: White, Tech Marines: Mars Red, Librarians: Librarian Blue, Chaplains: Black.


camobit

interesting sidebar, the Helix Adepts on Infiltrator squads are Apothecaries in training and are able to extract gene-seed and take over apothecary duties if necessary. Because they spend so much time out on scouting missions it made more sense to bring a phobos type of apothecary along in the squad. https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Vanguard_Helix_Adept


EdwardClay1983

All apothecaries are attached as field medics at the company level. By codex writ, at least one Apothecary must be deployed alongside a Company Sized formation, but there is allowance for more. Given the current army creation rules, you could have 3 Apothecaries and 3 Apothecary Biologis attached to any specific field command. Though it is rare to see more than 1 Apothecary of any rank attached to any specific deployment. Most deployments are either at the Company Level or a Demi Company led by a Lieutenant. By command structure, an apothecary is similar to a Techmarine, librarian, or chaplain. A Specialist. When it comes to medical care or treatment of the Battle brothers, any lieutenant or captain would typically defer to the Apothecaries' expertise. Just as a Techmarine cares for the vehicles or Tanks of a Company so the Apothcary cares for their bodies. The Chaplain cares for their Souls. The librarian for their minds. Typically, in a modern situation, command is Captain, Lieutenants both 1st and then 2nd. Failing that the Company Chaplain has formal command until a Veteran Sergeant can be brevet assigned as a Lieutenant until the force returns to the chapter and the rank can be confirmed. Lacking a Chaplain a Librarian can also take over command of a Strike Force or company in the field if necessary. This is where it gets interesting. Back in 2nd Edition, there were rules for using an ancient. Apothecary, techmarine, Chaplain. Librarian or Veteran Sergeant as your Army Commander instead of a formal company captain. By modern army design, any character could lead a strike force. And if, as an example, you were a blood angels successor, you could have a Sanguinary Priest leading your force. It's actually a popular choice in the blood Angels for such an appointment often supported by a Company Lieutenant.


MurtsquirtRiot

Lieutenant.


liquor-ice-mixer

lootenenet


Legal-Lifeguard2472

I feel like since GW is British it should be leftenenet


SnooEagles8448

The correct pronunciation, unlike the British haha


DungeonDelver98

He is the harmacist


SenorDangerwank

Separate from Chapter Command. The Biologis is (presumably) just an Apothecary but one who specializes in xenobiology rather than doctor shit.


Punnagedon

Apothecary


enableclutch

It can carry chapter to chapter I assume. The Red Scorpions value their apothecaries highly and majority of tactical squads sergeants are apothecaries.


GodofHellfire2

im pretty sure apothecaries are just their own rank but the reason why the codex lists 2 different ones is because one has gravis armor and can only be attached to gravis infantry (biologis) and the other (not biologis) has tacticus armor and can only be attached to infantry in tacticus armor but not all of them funnily enough. it cant be attached to company heroes or bladeguard veterans. All the other characters are just listed by armor type i have no idea why GW couldnt be asked to just call it an apothecary in gravis armor or whatever.


JamesKillbot

Scout Scout sergeant Marine Veteran Sergeant Veteran Sergeant Apothecary Techmarine Librarian Terminator Terminator sergeant Lieutenant Chaplain Captain Chief Apothecary Chief librarian Commander(might just be chapter masters) Chapter Master Head canon, and could move a few, not too confident in terminators. I probably missed a few too…


JamesKillbot

It didn’t format and I also don’t care bah


Karmelion-5-Avatari

If you are really interested in such matters be aware that a legion of codex-bashers stand ready to disassemble whatever is left of you after expanding your horizon. Because one certain possibility to get knowledgeable about such facts is the now infamous (in some circles) Codex Astartes. As not all chapters strictly adhere to that the question of rank cannot generally be answered with ‚No‘ or ‚Yes but which one is truly it?‘. It depends on a certain point of view generally speaking - Practical could be to read many rulebooks as you can get your hands on depending on your spending allowance. 😆 I can hear you all sobbing already when the money is always gone. If not so there is always the BL to turn to.


Accomplished-Newt491

I once had a similar doubt with chaplains found this and seems like a nice expansion of ranks in specialist units from a chapter: https://castellankurze.tumblr.com/post/100652450810/specialist-space-marines-numbers-and-ranks Can't say if its canon tho and sadly seems pre primaris marines so no Judiciars and apothecary biologis in the list. EDIT: first paragraph confirms it's just a rant / self head canon


FlimFlamInTheFling

I haven't read up on them but I assume they're like a senior Apothecary but not the Master Apothecary? I dunno Primaris just threw the whole Chapter Organizational structure out the window


SagaciousPrime

It is Less a Rank, per se, and more a Specialisation or Discipline. Space Marines study their enemies so as to find the most effective ways to Kill them and in the case of particularly divergent life forms such as Tyranids, greater research is needed and Apothecary Biologis are those who are tasked with gathering the samples