Gruchul said:
The Imperium of man is great and everything, but what about their plucky Chaos cousins? Near total control of the warp and daemons have to count for something, right (not to mention better space marines!)?
Traitor Marines are NOT better than loyal Space Marines. They're lesser warped versions of ancient cowards, with rotting armor and outdated machinery. They can only just barely stand up to loyal Astartes because of the warp-spawned filth they rely on so heavily. Damned Heretic.
For High-tech, I would also choose the Imperium of Man, but that needs to include everything, from the countless billions of the Imperial Guard, to the Adeptus Astartes, as well as the forces of the Ecchlesiarcy ie. Adeptus Sororitas, finally concluding with the Titan Legios. I wouldnt personally include the Inquisition, because while yes they do have their own codex, every Inquisitor that finds themselves at war is usually commandeering exisiting Imperial forces as a means to accomplish their own esoteric and arcane goals. It should also be realised that every army in 40K has to present an equally menacing threat to the Imperium, that way GW can keep on selling their models, books and hobby supplies for many many years to come. No one will ever win in that universe, not as long as they keep on making money.
Mid-tech: The exisitng army of the People's Republic of China. They fulfill Teddy Roosevelt's old axiom: "Walk softly and carry a big stick." They don't get into a whole lot of shit internationally, but when it's their turn to speak up, hoo-boy, we'll all see just how big that stick of theirs is. They've also had several thousand years of uninterrupted civilisation. And a standing army of 1 million souls is bordering on Imperial Guard absurdity. Also keep in mind Afghanistan, where half of the western world's armed forces are deployed right now, is a scant few hundred kilometers from China's border.
Low-tech:The Elven armies of Middle-Earth in the Second Age. Come on, they're immortal beings descended from the god-like Valar. Or rather, the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. They kicked Sauron's ass!
