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The problems the Primarchs have don't have much of anything to do with genetic code. It's almost always a case of "nurture" as opposed to "nature" with them, sometimes with a healthy dose of the Warp, to boot. The type of nurture and upbringing they received developed their characters and behavioral patterns. Note that while all Primarchs retained much of the culture they grew up with, it did not prevent them (well, almost all of them) from becoming viable parts of the Imperium.
Specifically -
1. The Lion:
He is a recluse (see his behavior and personal dwellings in 'Fallen Angels' and 'Savage Weapons'), but that is to be expected given his initial upbringing in Caliban, during which he was completely alone. Mike Lee's description perhaps alludes to him not being able to "read" people, but that is hardly evidence of paranoia or schizophrenia. A paranoid schizophrenic would not be able to command a Legion effectively to begin with, something that the Lion has shown he is able to do (to say the least).
3. Fulgrim:
Fulgrim has a perfectionist complex when we are first introduced to him, but that is hardly surprising for anyone in a position of such power and authority. Furthermore, it is qualified for us that his early behavior is quite different for the narcissistic, egocentric complex that he develops after his contact with the Laer. His friendship with Ferrus Manus is further evidence of that.
4. Perturabo:
'Angel Exterminatus' hints (in my humble opinion) that Perturabo may have initially been tainted by the Warp - note his ability to see the Eye of Terror when no one else can. Beyond that, what you have is an individual whose moral compass is gradually, brutally whittled down as his gifts for building and creation are "perverted" (if you will) toward destruction and warfare of the cruelest and most unrewarded kind.
5. The Khan:
Classic nurture vs. nature. He was found by a nomadic, tribal, violent warrior culture and became just like the people who adopted him.
6. Russ:
Although 'Deliverance Lost' revealed that all Primarchs had been designed at the genetic level for certain tasks, Russ is perhaps the only one whose genetic makeup might have trumped whatever "nurture" he received, regardless of where he landed.
7. Dorn:
Adopted by a stable, civilized stellar empire, Rogal Dorn lives his life much the same way. He builds, he fortifies, he leads, he organizes.
8. Night Haunter:
He lands on a planet full of killers, rapists, and other assorted criminals. Not surprisingly, he develops into a merciless, predatory creature with an absolutely broken code of ethics.
9. Sanguinius:
He is adopted by one of the tribes on Baal Secundus that aren't vicious, mutated killers. He is venerated as a savior and as a divine creature. He repays them by protecting them and fighting off their monstrous enemies. His behavior pattern largely continues that way.
10. Ferrus Manus:
He grows up on a planet defined by a Darwinian complex - the strong survive, the weak die. Not surprisingly, he values strength over all other things, trusts his own artifices and power over those of others, and has a hard time "letting people in" and making friends.
12. Angron:
Need we go into this? Within days of arrival, is almost murdered, and is then captured by slavers who beat machines into his brain meant to make him into a berserker. Decades of horrific abuse ensue. Only moral motivation has to do with killing human beings.
13. Guilliman:
Call it, "Dorn Part 2."
14. Mortarion:
Lands on a planet whose human population is oppressed by sadistic, murderous xenos. Is forced to slave away under said xenos until he escapes and and leads humans to rebellion. Only way to fight the war is a grueling, brutal slog against conditions guaranteed to kill people. Not surprisingly, develops a penchant for poisons, toxins, and a macabre look.
15. Magnus:
Lands on a planet of psykers, swiftly discovers he is more powerful than anyone there. Absent any real authority figure, embarks on an exploration of not just his own powers, but of the defining forces of the universe. Chaos, probably as part of its own game, hides its worst face from him, which only gives Magnus a greater sense of comfort. When the Emperor warns him of "horrific dangers", what exactly has Magnus seen to lead him to believe his father?
16. Horus:
Far from a narcissistic egomaniac, the Horus we initially see is a rather balanced, genial, and benevolent individual - as warlords given command over superhuman warriors, fleets of starships, armies of humans, and a mandate to conquer the galaxy go. His worst behavior prior to his fall is his frustration with brothers he thinks can't stand to see him as "primus inter pares". It's not until after Erebus puts his plan in motion - and specifically after he is poisoned and tempted in a Warp trance - that Horus starts going downhill.
17. Lorgar:
Complete nurture over nature. Lands on planet of religious zealots, becomes a religious zealot searching for the meaning of it all.
18. Vulkan:
Lands on planet of hardy survivors whose society is based around smithing, fire, anvils, hammers, flames, magma, etc. I give you one chance to guess what he and his Legion develop into.
19. Corax:
A life hiding from vicious oppressors and tyrants leads to a penchant for stealth and hit-and-run tactics. Huge surprise!
20. Alpharius and Omegon:
I reserve the right to withhold comment until we know more about them. I think it goes without saying, though, that 'Legion' heavily implies there never was a "little brother" complex. The Alpharius and Omegon we see in that novel would never have given a damn about Guilliman pointing at his banners... and the Guilliman we see in 'The First Heretic, 'Rules of Engagement', 'Know No Fear', and 'Betrayer' does not seem like the kind of guy who would point at his trophy case to mock another Primarch.
Thus, with the exception of a couple of Primarchs, we can see that it was events during the Heresy or external factors during their upbringing that led to any Primarch having what could be termed deviant behavior. Absent the Warp, botched cyber-surgery, and being stuck in hell-worlds, it's a fair assumption that every Primarch (or at least almost every one of them) would have arrived stable and well-adjusted... as far as conquerors of a galaxy go, anyways. :wink:
Specifically -
1. The Lion:
He is a recluse (see his behavior and personal dwellings in 'Fallen Angels' and 'Savage Weapons'), but that is to be expected given his initial upbringing in Caliban, during which he was completely alone. Mike Lee's description perhaps alludes to him not being able to "read" people, but that is hardly evidence of paranoia or schizophrenia. A paranoid schizophrenic would not be able to command a Legion effectively to begin with, something that the Lion has shown he is able to do (to say the least).
3. Fulgrim:
Fulgrim has a perfectionist complex when we are first introduced to him, but that is hardly surprising for anyone in a position of such power and authority. Furthermore, it is qualified for us that his early behavior is quite different for the narcissistic, egocentric complex that he develops after his contact with the Laer. His friendship with Ferrus Manus is further evidence of that.
4. Perturabo:
'Angel Exterminatus' hints (in my humble opinion) that Perturabo may have initially been tainted by the Warp - note his ability to see the Eye of Terror when no one else can. Beyond that, what you have is an individual whose moral compass is gradually, brutally whittled down as his gifts for building and creation are "perverted" (if you will) toward destruction and warfare of the cruelest and most unrewarded kind.
5. The Khan:
Classic nurture vs. nature. He was found by a nomadic, tribal, violent warrior culture and became just like the people who adopted him.
6. Russ:
Although 'Deliverance Lost' revealed that all Primarchs had been designed at the genetic level for certain tasks, Russ is perhaps the only one whose genetic makeup might have trumped whatever "nurture" he received, regardless of where he landed.
7. Dorn:
Adopted by a stable, civilized stellar empire, Rogal Dorn lives his life much the same way. He builds, he fortifies, he leads, he organizes.
8. Night Haunter:
He lands on a planet full of killers, rapists, and other assorted criminals. Not surprisingly, he develops into a merciless, predatory creature with an absolutely broken code of ethics.
9. Sanguinius:
He is adopted by one of the tribes on Baal Secundus that aren't vicious, mutated killers. He is venerated as a savior and as a divine creature. He repays them by protecting them and fighting off their monstrous enemies. His behavior pattern largely continues that way.
10. Ferrus Manus:
He grows up on a planet defined by a Darwinian complex - the strong survive, the weak die. Not surprisingly, he values strength over all other things, trusts his own artifices and power over those of others, and has a hard time "letting people in" and making friends.
12. Angron:
Need we go into this? Within days of arrival, is almost murdered, and is then captured by slavers who beat machines into his brain meant to make him into a berserker. Decades of horrific abuse ensue. Only moral motivation has to do with killing human beings.
13. Guilliman:
Call it, "Dorn Part 2."
14. Mortarion:
Lands on a planet whose human population is oppressed by sadistic, murderous xenos. Is forced to slave away under said xenos until he escapes and and leads humans to rebellion. Only way to fight the war is a grueling, brutal slog against conditions guaranteed to kill people. Not surprisingly, develops a penchant for poisons, toxins, and a macabre look.
15. Magnus:
Lands on a planet of psykers, swiftly discovers he is more powerful than anyone there. Absent any real authority figure, embarks on an exploration of not just his own powers, but of the defining forces of the universe. Chaos, probably as part of its own game, hides its worst face from him, which only gives Magnus a greater sense of comfort. When the Emperor warns him of "horrific dangers", what exactly has Magnus seen to lead him to believe his father?
16. Horus:
Far from a narcissistic egomaniac, the Horus we initially see is a rather balanced, genial, and benevolent individual - as warlords given command over superhuman warriors, fleets of starships, armies of humans, and a mandate to conquer the galaxy go. His worst behavior prior to his fall is his frustration with brothers he thinks can't stand to see him as "primus inter pares". It's not until after Erebus puts his plan in motion - and specifically after he is poisoned and tempted in a Warp trance - that Horus starts going downhill.
17. Lorgar:
Complete nurture over nature. Lands on planet of religious zealots, becomes a religious zealot searching for the meaning of it all.
18. Vulkan:
Lands on planet of hardy survivors whose society is based around smithing, fire, anvils, hammers, flames, magma, etc. I give you one chance to guess what he and his Legion develop into.
19. Corax:
A life hiding from vicious oppressors and tyrants leads to a penchant for stealth and hit-and-run tactics. Huge surprise!
20. Alpharius and Omegon:
I reserve the right to withhold comment until we know more about them. I think it goes without saying, though, that 'Legion' heavily implies there never was a "little brother" complex. The Alpharius and Omegon we see in that novel would never have given a damn about Guilliman pointing at his banners... and the Guilliman we see in 'The First Heretic, 'Rules of Engagement', 'Know No Fear', and 'Betrayer' does not seem like the kind of guy who would point at his trophy case to mock another Primarch.
Thus, with the exception of a couple of Primarchs, we can see that it was events during the Heresy or external factors during their upbringing that led to any Primarch having what could be termed deviant behavior. Absent the Warp, botched cyber-surgery, and being stuck in hell-worlds, it's a fair assumption that every Primarch (or at least almost every one of them) would have arrived stable and well-adjusted... as far as conquerors of a galaxy go, anyways. :wink: