Warhammer 40K.

[Johnnyallstar]

Did someone forget tell him that Blood Angels are the most blood-thirsty psychopaths outside of Khorne? They don't leave battles until they're dead or the other guy is.

And all the Ultramarine love is really dull. Sure, some people like them, that's great, but there's just way too much love averted from other space marine chapters. They should give some love to some of the lesser known chapters.

As a long-time Blood Angels player, I take offense. We are not mindless savages screaming into battle. Don't forget that Commander Dante was unanimously chosen by other Chapter commanders to oversee the defense of Armageddon during the 2nd war for the planet. Hardly a task for "rip & tear" mentalities, wouldn't you say?

The Flesh Tearers, though, that's another story...

Yeah, they all aren't Flesh Tearers, but you guys do have a reputation to maintain. I know you're not BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD psycho, but you gotta admit that Death Company is about as close as you can get to it without falling off the precipice.

I don't play 40k, but I like the blood angels fluff. If I did play 40k, I'd probably be Thousand Sons or Word Bearers because I love their fluff.... or Orkz, cuz WAAAAAGH! I just got into Mordheim with some friends, and I got my Undead warband all painted up but we need to get together and play.

 

[ntw3001]

Necromunda...well, it was abandoned many years ago, the universe has moved on alot since then. IMHO, it's moved in directions it really shouldn't have, but that's what happens to franchises.

Ain't that the truth. Necromunda isn't exactly a good display of the 40K universe as a whole anyway, what with the no-aliens, not-much-Imperium and such. There's not much that relates it to the rest of 40K. More cyberpunk than, uh, techno... goth. It might as well be a separate setting.

 

[Thaluikhain]

That can't be right, if that's the case then how did the Tyranids get here?

The fluff keeps changing about that, rarely to anything that makes more sense.

At times they've just used normal warp travel, which was possible outside the galaxy, other times they travelled the entire distance at sub-light speeds. Now they grab hold of the target's sun and pull themselves towards it, which causes earthquakes on planets nearby, or something. Don't think too much here.

The Ultramarines are the quintessential example of a perfect Codex chapter and the most important and well-respected of them all, but they're not better per se, just more famous. By definition, they're more or less the same as any other Codex chapter, discounting specific rites and rituals. They epitomise what it is to be an Astartes, but the Angels of X would be just as effective in a combat situation. At least, that's how I look at it.

Yes and no. As I understand it, they stand at the pinnacle of the codex, though less famous codex chapters might be their equal. They have advantages over more specialised chapters outside their special fields.

Also, not all chapters are equal, the UM have historically been consistently amongst the very best of marines, while many other chapters have fallen into decline for one reason or another. The gene-curse of the Blood Angels is a major potential weakness, though the BA themselves mostly overcome it, successors like the Flesh Tearers don't. The Black Templars discount the 1,000odd marine rule, and are massively overstrength...cause.

As a long-time Blood Angels player, I take offense. We are not mindless savages screaming into battle. Don't forget that Commander Dante was unanimously chosen by other Chapter commanders to oversee the defense of Armageddon during the 2nd war for the planet. Hardly a task for "rip & tear" mentalities, wouldn't you say?

They also are not traitors. They do not hold back from destroying inhuman death machines from beyond the dawn of time bent on enslaving humanity to feed to their star-gods just because they happen to like them. They are supposed to withdraw, rather than risk the lives of marines in futile battles, but they exist for the purpose of destroying such things.

 

[Midnight Llamaman]

Anything by Abnett really, which sounds sad but they're good for a casual grimdark read. The HH series is pretty good too, bit rocky in places but with that many author's that's a given. Contrary to other suggestions I'd ignore the Ultramarines novels, I really didn't think they were that well written (though they get better in the later books, I admit).

 

[Drizzitdude]

Read Helreach. It actually gives a good view on how different humans and astartes are.

 

[Warlokk]

I'll add my recommendation of Ravenor and Eisenhorn, they are both fantastic as far as the non-army stuff... actually anything from Dan Abnett is highly recommended. Also Graham McNeil.

The really awesome part is there are a whole lot of omnibuses out now that contain entire trilogies of great material, for only about $12. With so many authors and types of stories out there, these will at least let you choose one and get a good healthy chunk of it all at once. Space Wolves, Ultramarines, Gaunt's Ghosts (Imperial Guard), Ravenor (Inquisition), Eisenhorn (more Inquisition, Ravenor's mentor)... there's just so much. One warning though... once you start, you may not be able to stop... I have entire shelves dedicated just to Black Library novels.

Oh, and the Horus Heresy is fantastic if you really want to understand the backstory of the Imperium... some are better than others, but overall the whole series is great.

 

[Versuvius]

Oh. Titanicus and Mechanicum. Both gave me nerd boners.

 

[Iwata]

Alright, I'm gonna go a bit out of the norm here, but seriously, I'd recommend the 5th edition Rulebook. It has a comprehensive, well-detailed section on the universe's background and races, and it's the best place to get a first-contact for the overall feel of the setting.

A lot of people have been recommending the Horus Heresy series, and rightly so. They are the best 40k (well, 30K, technically) series of books out there, but they are not intended for a first look at the universe. In fact, it assumes you have some detailed knowledge of the background and its characters, like most retroactively-told origins stories.

 

[Midnight Llamaman]

Alright, I'm gonna go a bit out of the norm here, but seriously, I'd recommend the 5th edition Rulebook. It has a comprehensive, well-detailed section on the universe's background and races, and it's the best place to get a first-contact for the overall feel of the setting.

Yeah this is actually a pretty good bet, surprisingly. It's a good catch-all, plus if you ever decide to give the tabletop game a go you've got the exhaustive go to book already (rather than the mini-cliffsnotes in the Black Reach box).

A lot of people have been recommending the Horus Heresy series, and rightly so. They are the best 40k (well, 30K, technically) series of books out there, but they are not intended for a first look at the universe. In fact, it assumes you have some detailed knowledge of the background and its characters, like most retroactively-told origins stories.

In addition to this if you can find a copy of The Horus Heresy Collected Visions: Iconic Images of the Imperium, Betrayal and War it's worth it, once you know a little about the HH/40k Universe as a whole. Not only do you get a lot of art but you get a lot of information along with it about pretty much everything of that era.

 

[Meteor4118]

You know I heard that the reason the new codexes are so messed up is that they literally just pick the guys in the GW offices that play those armies, and have them write the books. Which is why some armies are really fluff heavy, and some armies rock out with their rules out.

 

[Nouw]

Wait..............
..................
..................
..............what?

Aren't the Necrons souless robotic zombies, why would they ally with the Space Marines?

From what I've read, they're not all loyal to C'tan and some are actually sentient.

 

[Kraj]

Lots of love for Ciaphas Cain out there...
I prefer the darker aspect, find something involving Eliphas or an Ork Warboss. >_>
kinda more my style.

 

[Midnight Llamaman]

You know I heard that the reason the new codexes are so messed up is that they literally just pick the guys in the GW offices that play those armies, and have them write the books. Which is why some armies are really fluff heavy, and some armies rock out with their rules out.

Well no, they have certain people in charge of Codexes (Graham McNeill used to write some when he was still there, for example - as a game developer/background writer) rather than picking some bloke that plays Ultrasmurfs. It's just that some of them (Matt Ward) are crazy in the head, which is why GK's will now pretty much stomp any other army (and are near immune to plasma weapons).

 

[Valkyrie101]

The Ultramarines are the quintessential example of a perfect Codex chapter and the most important and well-respected of them all, but they're not better per se, just more famous.

I've understood that the reason for the Ultramarines having such a high profile was more to do with the luck of the draw, really. I think it was the Alpha Legion (or one of the traitor legions, I forget exactly which one) was tasked with running a delaying action against the Ultra's in the Galactic south, which was largely successful. By the time they really got into the fight the siege of Terra was over and it was more mopping up than anything else. So while the other chapters where hurting for supplies and recruits, the Ultramarines were relatively well equipped and manned, leaving Guileman in prime position to take over the task of reorganising the legions.

Or something like that. I don't recall much of the post-siege stuff.

Yes, that's one of the major reasons why the Ultramarines were able to introduce the concept of standardised Codex chapters. Though I think they were very organised and efficient anyway, and no other Primarch would have written the Codex and demanded the others to follow its teachings - or if they had, it would have been very different. But if the Ultramarines had gone to Isstvaan V and been mauled, Guilliman wouldn't have had the time, or the ability to enforce compliance.

 

[Sir Shockwave]

Just avoid anything Matthew Ward has ever written and you'll be fine.

 

[SckizoBoy]

Just avoid anything Matthew Ward has ever written and you'll be fine.

Thankfully he's only ever written codex fluff... so no worries about having his grubby mitts on any novels.

Yes, that's one of the major reasons why the Ultramarines were able to introduce the concept of standardised Codex chapters. Though I think they were very organised and efficient anyway, and no other Primarch would have written the Codex and demanded the others to follow its teachings - or if they had, it would have been very different. But if the Ultramarines had gone to Isstvaan V and been mauled, Guilliman wouldn't have had the time, or the ability to enforce compliance.

That's quite a difficult one to call, in all honesty, because the dropsite massacre was what five traitor legions vs three loyalist legions. And bear in mind that the only two twenty-thousand plus legions were the Word Bearers and Ultramarines, and the latter were much larger, so they would've only committed part of their strength. Still, what would've happened after is subject to debate, but if they had been there, then the fight would've been much more even.

 

[Sir Shockwave]

Just avoid anything Matthew Ward has ever written and you'll be fine.

Thankfully he's only ever written codex fluff... so no worries about having his grubby mitts on any novels.

So far...but I still have nightmares every night about the horrors and Stilton flavored cheese inflicted on the Grey Knights. And now the Black Templars. And possibly the Necrons. And as someone in the store was telling me today, and now the Tau.

Still, I suppose we should be thankful he hasn't touched Novels...yet (or has he? How do we know he and C.S. Goto aren't the same guy? - ED).

For good Novel authors with a decent understanding, I'd point you in the direction of Graham McNeil. For good Codex's, possibly Phil Kelly or (if he can lay off the Assualt 20 weapons for five minutes) Robin Cruddance. And for good games, depends. I'd say either the Dawn of War franchise or possibly SPHESS MAREEN (if it's any good - so far it just resembles a 40K skinned God of War clone. At least they got the weapons right for once).

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Snip

People don't hate the Ultramarines. I love Marneus Calgar with his double power fists. People hate what Matt Ward did to them. The books by Graham McNeil are great supplements that give them character, but Ward is totally useless and destructive to canon.

 

[warrcry13]

Horus Heresy Gaunt's Ghosts or Caiaphus Caine would all be good starting points. Eisenhorn and Ravenor were good too.

I personally started out with Dawn of War 1 that's what got me into it. Now I'm a fanatic. I'd go with DoW2 though.




My captcha is skid row...... That sounds uncomfortable.

 

[Testosticore]

While I dont think the first Dawn of War would be an ACCURATE starting point, being that the Space Marines are hardly better than Gaurdsmen squads, it certainly is a very fun starting point. 2 beefed out gaurdsmen squads versus a beefed out space marine squad and the gaurdsmen win. Space marines are supposed to be worth a hundred gaurdsmen, not 2. Anyways, if youre looking for the most authentic experience, I'd go for Dawn of War 2. You really get a feel for how everything works, how they view certain enemies, how they stand against the other races. But it certainly is smaller, as in smaller armies, maps, unit choice, etc.

As for books, I'd definitely say Gaunts Ghosts or Ciaphas Cain.