Astartes XP, Tiers, and What It Means on the Table
The Astartes are gene-wrought weapons who may live for centuries—perhaps far longer. In the 30k era, no one truly knows their upper limit. Yet most burn bright and die young. They are made to fight, to be tested, to learn at speed in the crucible of danger. That’s not just a game incentive—it’s hard-coded into their biology and psycho-indoctrination. In Bellum, your warrior earns real advancement only by stepping into risk, taking initiative, and surviving what should kill lesser men.
And remember: Astartes Know No Fear. Their duty is to fight and, if need be, to die. Shying from danger is anathema—for the character and for their progression.
How XP Works
Typical session (5–6 hours): ~250–300 XP for active involvement: meaningful challenges, taking risks, creative play, strong roleplay.
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Longer sessions / more content: XP scales with what is covered, not just the hours played. A marathon session that pushes the story further will net proportionally more. The rule of thumb is 50XP/hour of actual play.
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Minimal involvement: Simply “being there” with little input nets no more than half the regular XP. Slightly more involvement will give slightly more XP. Simple.
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RP-heavy sessions: If the GM sets up a session with little or no danger, XP is awarded normally, and while there might be fewer chances of Mentions (see below), there will be more opportunities for bonus XP from actual roleplaying.
Higher tiers: Higher-tier characters earn slightly more base XP, around 25% extra per hour (as a rule of thumb). Meaning a Tier 3 Astartes will earn about 75 XP per hour on average. Milestones (see below) scale separately.
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Milestones: Extra XP for finishing operations or hitting personal/plot beats (e.g., ~100 XP for a short, low-tier op), scaling higher at higher tiers and story climaxes.
Mentions in Dispatches
Exceptional play is not about chasing numbers, but about deeds worth remembering. To capture this, we utilize the system of Mentions in Dispatches — echoes of the age of sail, when valor was recorded and read aloud to peers and superiors.
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What qualifies?
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A deed that stands out to your fellow Astartes in the moment.
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It must arise from real danger or challenge.
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Being “a good dude” won’t get you mentioned — surviving the impossible breach, dueling the xenos champion, or saving a brother under fire might.
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XP awards:
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50 XP for a typical mention (by sergeant, officer, or comrade).
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100 XP if it is extraordinary enough to reach the Primarch’s ears.
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25 XP if it is passed to another Legion — they acknowledge the deed, but not with the same pride.
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10 XP if it is passed to mortals — Administrators, auxilia, or mortal commanders. Astartes crave not the recognition of lesser men.
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Beyond XP: Mentions are logged. Over time, they form a record of your character’s most heroic deeds — a reputation that might precede you in later sessions. NPCs, allies, even rival Legions may have heard the tale. In this way, Mentions serve both as a mechanical reward and a roleplaying tool.
There is no limit to the number of mentions you can receive in a single session. It could be zero, it could be five, it all depends on your involvement and the danger.
Story Can Trump Math
Tier changes are guided by XP but triggered by story when it makes sense. Sometimes you’ll be raised earlier for decisive deeds; sometimes a story demands more trial before promotion.
The Five Tiers of the Astartes
Below, each Tier shows the approximate XP breakpoint, the Legion role in Bellum, and what “learning through fire” looks like at that stage.
Tier 1 – Newly Promoted Initiates (starting Tier)
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XP band: 0 → on-ramp to Tier 2 (~5,000 XP)
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Bellum role: Freshly blooded brothers; watched closely by sergeants and chaplains.
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Limits: Attributes capped to baseline legion norms; early talents are impactful but grounded. Skills rise to about “proficient.”
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How to grow: Be present, be loud, take point on breach teams, volunteer for the ugly jobs—earn those Mentions or die trying.
Tier 2 – Veterans (~5,000 XP)
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Bellum role: Trusted line veterans; begin receiving specialist weapons/assignments.
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Ceiling bump: Attribute limits rise by +1; broader, stronger skill play; more specialized talents.
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Play note: This is where many Astartes spend half their career—competent, deadly, and constantly tested.
Tier 3 – Sergeants & Terminator-Honoured Veterans (~15,000 XP)
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Bellum role: Squad leaders, champions, breachers in TDA; you shape other Marines.
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Ceiling bump: Attributes push again (+1 over Tier 2), skills can hit true mastery; talents become powerful and unique.
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Risk economy: Dispatches and story goals required to get out of eternal Tier 3.
Tier 4 – Veteran Lieutenants & Specialist Officers; Veteran Sergeants (~50,000 XP)
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Bellum role: Mission shapers; anchors of companies and task forces.
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Ceiling bump: Specific high-tier talents may push you beyond baseline limits; gear and methods become apex or exotic.
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Play note: Reaching Tier 4 usually takes years in-world; many campaigns climax here.
Tier 5 – Captains & Masters of War (≥100,000 XP)
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Bellum role: Company/fleet elements under your hand; your decisions echo through warzones.
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Ceiling bump: Legendary talents, bespoke wargear and strategies; the rare air where actions rewrite outcomes.
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Play note: Often the domain of epic arcs beyond the “main” campaign.
Legacy in Death
“Brothers, fear not the end. You were not wrought to cower. Each of you is a flame, brief but burning bright. When you fall, another will rise. Perhaps your own gene-seed reborn, perhaps a comrade who takes up your oath, perhaps a stranger whose deeds will honor yours by surpassing them. Know this: no death is wasted. Your legacy endures.”
— Keeper Asterion, Granite Guard, 813th Expeditionary Fleet
An Astartes may live for centuries, but most will not. To die in battle is not failure; it is the natural arc of a son of the Legions. When your warrior dies, the story does not end—your legacy continues.
Story Options
The simplest path is for your new character to carry the gene-seed of the fallen brother. Even at the accelerated pace of the Great Crusade, this takes years of growth, training, and scout service—but narratively, time in the campaign may skip forward, or flashbacks may be used.
But that is only one possibility. The galaxy is vast, and the Legions endless. Consider:
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The Heir of the Blade – An NPC who fought beside your brother takes up his sword, his bolter, or his oath, and rises to PC status.
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Kindred Blood – A replacement hails from the same tribe or world as your fallen warrior, echoing their culture and values.
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Old Comrade – A long-injured or backgrounded brother returns to the fore.
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The Stranger – A completely new hero steps in, with no link save the void left behind. Very Astartes.
The key is simple: it must make sense in the story. Player and GM decide together how the torch is passed.
Mechanical Options
Death removes your character’s connections, history, and wargear, but not your standing in the campaign. You have choices:
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Full XP Transfer
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Your new Astartes begins at the same XP total as the fallen.
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You lose the narrative weight of your old Marine, but remain at equal strength in play.
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Legacy Priority Build
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Forgo part of the XP and instead start with enhanced creation priorities:
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e.g., A–B–C–C–D–E, A–B–B–C–D–E, or even A–A–B–C–D–E depending on how much XP you sacrifice.
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This offers a different type of advantage while still feeling like a fresh character.
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Wargear Inheritance
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Rarely, you may keep one relic, weapon, or wargear piece tied to the fallen.
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This preserves continuity without negating the cost of death.
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Other options may arise, but the principle is constant: no death is wasted. The story continues, the legacy endures, and the Legion is stronger for the sacrifice.
Final Word
Advancement is not a paycheck for attendance. It is the measure of how ferociously you meet the foe. Take the initiative. Embrace danger. Lead from the front. That’s how an Astartes learns—fast, hard, and forever. Draco Vult.
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