WH40000 - what's your opinion?

[TheGlyphstone]

Not really, because if you are taking it seriously you're missing the point. Grimdark is black comedy taken to the extreme; it's so bleak it becomes funny from an out-of-universe perspective.

From the in-universe perspective...remember that the typical Imperial citizen only sees a tiny fraction of what we do. For most Imperial planets, 'only war' is a thing that happens far away, and as far as they are concerned/allowed to know, the heroic warriors of the Imperial Guard are winning in their never-ending grind to destroy the aliens. For the people actually under the knife, it sucks, but they're actually a tiny fraction of the Imperium's total population.

As was said to Beorning way, way upthread, there is no 'average' for a polity as large as the Imperium. Between Hive World, Agri-Worlds, Civilized Worlds, Death Worlds, Shrine Worlds, Forge Worlds, Feudal Worlds, and probably a few other categories I've missed, you're going to see an unimaginable variation in what a 'typical' human will experience.

[Inkidu]

That's why I prefaced with the aforementioned death-metal green soccer hooligans. I also think though that it's only natural from time to time for people (especially people like myself) to think about what a universe as nihilistic as the 40K universe would be like. And while yes a uniform expectation is impossible. There are countless worlds that have probably been wiped out without even Earth knowing. It's arguable that the agri-worlds probably have it better than most because at least they get to live away from constant violence, squalor on an unimaginable level, or twenty-four-hour work cycles like human robots. Yet that still might not save them from being wiped out by their own side, and not because of Chaos but because some mid-level bureaucrat misfiled the standard form that says this planet doesn't get blown up.

There's the age old question about who would ultimately win in the 40K universe, and by cold physical logic it's Grampy Nurgle. He'll be there when humanity goes, he'll be their when the last Eldar craftworld dies, and he'll outlive every other Chaos god that exists. That's why I think Nurgle is by and large so chill. He knows that everyone else--own kind included--is basically renting existence from him, and he's going to be there when the universe expends its last iota of energy to collect all the outstanding loans.

It just strikes me that the universe has all of the downfall ours does, but none of the things that fill it with anything good.   

[TheGlyphstone]

It does, though, on the small scale that most of the regular people are familiar with. The writers don't pay a lot of attention to it because it's not the focus on the setting, but the entire category of a Civilized World is for 'generic' planets that aren't much different than modern-day Earth, allowing for the theocratic nature of society and advanced technology. There are festivals and feast days, people work for wages and have regular jobs in different facets of the economy. Arbites exist to keep criminals in check, and the Guard exists to keep the violence on the frontiers and away from the inner worlds.

If you ignore all that and deliberately focus on the worst bits, of course it looks hopeless and bleak. But there's happiness, and honor, and love, and life, and everything that makes life worth living in small amounts. If nothing else, the fact that Humanity has survived this long in the face of everything that's done its very best to kill it is worthy of inspiration. There's points of light amidst the uberdark if you take the time and effort to look for them, and with good reason, because you need that light to make the darkness have any relevance.

[Inkidu]

The funny thing is that the Milky Way is so large that I do take some consolation that there may be a human empire out their from the days of the Golden Age that has never been touched by Chaos, Xenos, or even the Imperium itself. You know a lost colony situation.

[TheGlyphstone]

There's plenty of them, to the point where the Ecclesiarchy has an entire sub-arm dedicated to 'first-contact specialist' priests - the Missionaria Galaxia, who set up missions on newly rediscovered human worlds to re-integrate them into the Imperial Cult as peaceably and problem-free as possible, while simultaneously evaluating the populace for any hidden taint or corruption. They're also the branch of the Ministorium that sets up schools and hospitals on Feral or Feudal worlds that lack modern medicinal techniques.

[Doomsday]

Who in the Imperium would make the most thematically fun/interesting battle brothers for the Space Wolves? Thinking that once I've built up my SW army to a point, I'd like to buy more Imperium armies and run allied detachments. If Games Workshop ever rebooted the Nuns with Guns, I'd hop on that in a heartbeat, but that's probably an impractical route at this time.

[TheGlyphstone]

White Scars?

[Warlock]

Dark Angels, continual one-upmanship, seething hatred and distrust.

If going for a more mobile force, then we have the Ravenwing and Wolf riders. White Scars are of course also a good candiate for a Kult of Speed.

[HairyHeretic]

Wolves really wouldn't get on with SoBs. The whole God-Emperor bit, I can't see the Wolves buying much into that, particularly when the likes of Bjorn the Fell Handed has actually met the Emperor (or at least was around at the time he was as well).

The Wolves also have a serious dislike for any Inquisitorial forces after the First Armagedden War, and the Grey Knights aren't exactly popular either.

They'd probably find a certain degree of kindred spirits in the White Scars or their successor chapters

[Doomsday]

After doing a lot of thought I'm quibbling between Guard, Dark Angels or Skitarii/AdMech. How easily available are the White Scars?

[HairyHeretic]

In terms of models? Standard marines with a white paint scheme is all you really need to say they're White Scars. Lots of bikes is their thing. Forgeworld or GW probably do an upgrade kit to characterise them a bit.

Dark Angels I would rule out. There's too much history between the two to work that well together under anything less than desperate straights.

AdMech .. maybe. They're very different to the Wolves. Not much in common, but no real reason to dislike them either.

IG might actually be your best choice. If a mortal can show the traits the Wolves value, they could earn their respect and even friendship.

[HairyHeretic]

On a separate note, would anyone be interested in kicking around some idea for a forum based 40k campaign? I'm thinking board game levels of complexity.

[Lustful Bride]

On a separate note, would anyone be interested in kicking around some idea for a forum based 40k campaign?

*Gets excited*

I'm thinking board game levels of complexity.

*D'awws*

But then again I am not a good choice as I play fast and loose with the canon like you wouldn't believe...I actually have an MLP crossover in one of my threads. And yes I laugh at myself everytime I think of it X3

[TheGlyphstone]

Friendship is Heresy. *BLAM*

[Lustful Bride]

Friendship is Heresy. *BLAM*

You haven't even given it a try! *throws my heretical tome on the floor and stomps off, only for a Guardsman to walk up*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEGo41443iI

[Warlock]

Should be mentioned that white is an absolute pain in the butt to get right when painting. Especially if trying for a brighter white rather than something toward the greyer side of the spectrum.

If the Emperor Had A Text To Speech Device is my personal headcanon for 40k.
Edit: For the Manly Manperor of Mankind!

[Oniya]

Caught in the Shoutbox, saved for the lols.

(14:46:14) TheGlyphstone: and its pretty telling that there is no warhammer australia. grimdark australians would be too badass for anyone else in the world to withstand

[HairyHeretic]

*Gets excited*

*D'awws*

But then again I am not a good choice as I play fast and loose with the canon like you wouldn't believe...I actually have an MLP crossover in one of my threads. And yes I laugh at myself everytime I think of it X3

So what were you thinking off? Another 40k rpg?

[TheGlyphstone]

So what were you thinking off? Another 40k rpg? inevitable exercise in depressing failure.

Fixed that for you. :-(

[Lustful Bride]

*Worlds smallest violin plays for me*

....yeah...im a glutton for punishment and disapointment :(

[Beorning]

So, HH, were you thinking of a 40K RPG? Or a 40K battle simulated on the forum in some way?

[CountessJess]

Oooh, once more unto the breach for a 40k rpg? Consider me too, senpai.

[TheGlyphstone]

Vassal would be the only way to realistically play tabletop 40K online without spending money, I think.

[HairyHeretic]

What I was thinking about was a strategic level map based campaign. Planets to be found and conquered and all that sort of thing. Battles would be handled by a single dice roll (or small number of them), hence my aiming for board game levels of complexity. The usual sort of gather resources, move around, fight kinda thing.

[Beorning]

Hm. Do you have some rules ready for that?

BTW. Have you guys seen a movie called Battle: Los Angeles? It's a modern, very gritty take on an alien invasion scenario. I'd say it can serve as a WH40K inspiration - in the movie the human militaries of the world have to fight a surprise defense war against a completely unknown enemy who comes out of nowhere. Just like during a Chaos or Xenos attack...