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[Deified Data]

Coming from a complete know-nothing, I really dig the Inquisition. Especially Tyrus and the Ordo Hereticus:

 

[Meteorain]

Yeah they never really leave Fenris behind, their weird tribal culture just moves up with them when they become Marines. I suppose it's why they never bothered giving Roboute Guilliman's Codex Astartes a second glance and have just done their own thing for thousands of years.

The Black Templars ignore the shit out of the numbers part of the Codex Astartes as well.

They have like approximately 6000 SM.

 

[Showaddy]

Coming from a complete know-nothing, I really dig the Inquisition. Especially Tyrus and the Ordo Hereticus:

You should read the Eisenhorn/Ravenor Inquisition novels. They give you a brilliant look at the Imperium's culture as well, not just the big battles you get with the regular fluff.

 

[Showaddy]

The Black Templars ignore the shit out of the numbers part of the Codex Astartes as well.

They have like approximately 6000 SM.

Templars are a bit weird though because they never come together and are just out crusading across the galaxy in separate companies 24/7. If they ever took a day off and all sat down together in one place the Imperium would throw a fit lol

 

[Meteorain]

Templars are a bit weird though because they never come together and are just out crusading across the galaxy in separate companies 24/7. If they ever took a day off and all sat down together in one place the Imperium would throw a fit lol

There's a whole bunch of different chapters each with their own insane problems.

Hell, people are calling the BA heretical. Even though they couldn't be further from it considering their history.

The Imperium is too busy being hypocritical and dumb as fuck to even bother keeping Astartes numbers correct.

 

[LaserBuddha]

Perturabo is in reference to "perdurabo", which means "I will endure" in Latin.

Angron is just really angry. Like, really fucking angry.

Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka = Margaret Thatcher


I also want to point out that Space Wolves are god-tier bros, and they call out the Inquisition on their bullshit. Also an enemy of Dark Angels is a friend of mine.

 

[Deified Data]

You should read the Eisenhorn/Ravenor Inquisition novels. They give you a brilliant look at the Imperium's culture as well, not just the big battles you get with the regular fluff.

Thanks, I've been looking for a good place to start. I'll have to pick those up.

 

[Karakand]

Yeah they never really leave Fenris behind, their weird tribal culture just moves up with them when they become Marines. I suppose it's why they never bothered giving Roboute Guilliman's Codex Astartes a second glance and have just done their own thing for thousands of years.

Well Rogal Dork resisted it too before caving, I guess that cultivated persona of wild animals paid off for them when it came to being exempt from the rules.

The Black Templars ignore the shit out of the numbers part of the Codex Astartes as well.

They have like approximately 6000 SM.

How embarrassing must it be for the Imperial Fists to be the only first founding legion that's objectively uncool in comparison to its second founding successors? A Crimson Fist Land Raider is cooler than their entire chapter.

 

[Meteorain]

How embarrassing must it be for the Imperial Fists to be the only first founding legion that's objectively uncool in comparison to its second founding successors? A Crimson Fist Land Raider is cooler than their entire chapter.

I quite like the Imperial Fists, very under-represented really in terms of random fluff I've read. Also a well painted swath of yellow SM looks surprisingly great as well.

The BT take themselves far too seriously for my liking. Also I have a friend who collects BT. He's beaten more times than I've beaten him. God those fucking 3rd edition vows pissed me off. FALL FORWARDS? YEA OK THEN! Bullshit

Those fucking 15-20 squad sizes as well, jesus.

 

[BigDes]

I still like the Raven Guard

I just find the concept of ten foot tall dudes in two ton power armor being successful ninjas hilarious

 

[Meteorain]

10ft?

I thought SM were around 7-8? Still fucking massive but still....

 

[BigDes]

10ft?

I thought SM were around 7-8? Still fucking massive but still....

Even their Dreadnoughts are ninjas

Maybe even especially the Dreadnoughts

 

[WanderingWind]

I don't think I'm going to make it through Horus Heresy, bros. The third book's writer is really, really, really bad. Loved the first book, by Dan Abnett. Second book was meh. Think I'm going to wiki the rest of the history and move into more of Dan's books. Like him a bit.

 

[Meteorain]

You'll want to read them, just to see how shit goes down. I'm on the 3rd one right now (I've read it before) and well.....some real shit goes down.

You won't want to miss Fulgrim (5th) by the guy who did the 2nd, because it's fantastic. Flight of the Eisentein was also pretty cool.

Basically you have to forgive the prose to get to read the "cool" bits.

Well. I dunno, you might dislike it so intensely, but I personally think that reading all the information just feels better. Knowing how stuff went down.

 

[Fou-Lu]

So what is everyone's favorite army/faction? I'm partial to Eldar (of all kinds) and Tau personally. I've always been a bit of an elf fanboy so Eldar are right up my ally and Tau just play off my childhood love of gunpla. I do really like Chaos as well but every codex they get disappoints me...

My first army was actually Tyranids though, I got a ridiculously good deal on a ton of them.

 

[Vilix]

You'll want to read them, just to see how shit goes down. I'm on the 3rd one right now (I've read it before) and well.....some real shit goes down.

You won't want to miss Fulgrim (5th) by the guy who did the 2nd, because it's fantastic. Flight of the Eisentein was also pretty cool.

Basically you have to forgive the prose to get to read the "cool" bits.

Well. I dunno, you might dislike it so intensely, but I personally think that reading all the information just feels better. Knowing how stuff went down.

It also preps you for threads like these.

 

[John Rabbit]

I don't think I'm going to make it through Horus Heresy, bros. The third book's writer is really, really, really bad. Loved the first book, by Dan Abnett. Second book was meh. Think I'm going to wiki the rest of the history and move into more of Dan's books. Like him a bit.

the first half of that book drags like a son of a bitch. once the shit really starts hitting the fan on Isstvan i remember it picking up.

 

[ThroneZwei]

I don't think I'm going to make it through Horus Heresy, bros. The third book's writer is really, really, really bad. Loved the first book, by Dan Abnett. Second book was meh. Think I'm going to wiki the rest of the history and move into more of Dan's books. Like him a bit.

Dan Abnetts stuff is amazing. Sure you've heard this before, but read the Gaunts Ghosts novels. Deals with a group of soldiers in the Imperial Guard. Really, really well written. I loved those books as a kid.

 

[Showaddy]

I don't think I'm going to make it through Horus Heresy, bros. The third book's writer is really, really, really bad. Loved the first book, by Dan Abnett. Second book was meh. Think I'm going to wiki the rest of the history and move into more of Dan's books. Like him a bit.

They really do vary in quality but they're not all linked together, just pick and choose the legions you want to read about.

After Battle for the Abyss & one of the Dark Angels novels I just gave up reading them all.

 

[Karakand]

I quite like the Imperial Fists, very under-represented really in terms of random fluff I've read. Also a well painted swath of yellow SM looks surprisingly great as well.

You've probably consumed more HH stuff than me, but they seem to show up frequently in that series. Lysander (I think that was his name) FELIX CASSANDER is a subplot in Angel Exterminatus, Rogal Dork

Spoiler

saves

Garo at the end of

Spoiler

Flight of the Eisenstein

, Crimson Fist is all about Polux and Sigismund, The Dark King is I guess a Curze story but Rogal Dork sure is visible in it, etc.

 

[Meteorain]

I don't think I'm going to make it through Horus Heresy, bros. The third book's writer is really, really, really bad. Loved the first book, by Dan Abnett. Second book was meh. Think I'm going to wiki the rest of the history and move into more of Dan's books. Like him a bit.

ALSO you have to forgive the second book a bit because it's a transitional book in terms of what is happening to Horus and how everything is being set up.

Don't treat the books like a high-brow piece of work as though it were written by Gene Wolfe or Kafka. They have a very "fuck yea!" feeling to them that helps you ride out the work and enjoy yourself.

 

[WanderingWind]

ALSO you have to forgive the second book a bit because it's a transitional book in terms of what is happening to Horus and how everything is being set up.

Don't treat the books like a high-brow piece of work as though it were written by Gene Wolfe or Kafka. They have a very "fuck yea!" feeling to them that helps you ride out the work and enjoy yourself.

Too many responses to quote on phone, but trust me, my problem isn't the low-brow nature. I love the essence of 40k for the grimdark, sci-fi, metal song come to life thing. It's tempered with a healthy dose of some pretty awesome sci-fi. The ancient technology, the fairly unique warp tech, the religious trappings...gold.

I'll take two pieces of advice and try to press on to the second half of the book. If it still sucks, I'll take the other piece of advice and just jump to Xenos.

 

[John Rabbit]

Too many responses to quote on phone, but trust me, my problem isn't the low-brow nature. I love the essence of 40k for the grimdark, sci-fi, metal song come to life thing. It's tempered with a healthy dose of some pretty awesome sci-fi. The ancient technology, the fairly unique warp tech, the religious trappings...gold.

I'll take two pieces of advice and try to press on to the second half of the book. If it still sucks, I'll take the other piece of advice and just jump to Xenos.

to expand on my advice a bit: if you've really enjoyed the story/characters of the Mournival and Loken's buddies (Tarvitz especially), you should finish the 3rd book. everything sort of comes to a head at the end and some cool shit goes down.

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

I don't think I'm going to make it through Horus Heresy, bros. The third book's writer is really, really, really bad. Loved the first book, by Dan Abnett. Second book was meh. Think I'm going to wiki the rest of the history and move into more of Dan's books. Like him a bit.

Showdaddy said this already, but after the first three you can sort of pick and choose. Just stick with the good authors and you will be fine. And by that I mean read Abnett and Dembski-Bowden. Maybe Graham McNeill depending on the book.

 

[AbsolutBro]

Well Rogal Dork resisted it too before caving, I guess that cultivated persona of wild animals paid off for them when it came to being exempt from the rules.

Rules of whom? It's not like the Emperor wrote the Codex Astartes, Robote Dickface did. It'd be like your co-worker rewriting the rules of the office after the manager gets fired and expecting you to follow them. He has no real authority over you.

 

[Deified Data]

Just ordered the Ravenor Omnibus. Good place to start?

 

[Karakand]

Rules of whom? It's not like the Emperor wrote the Codex Astartes, Robote Dickface did. It'd be like your co-worker rewriting the rules of the office after the manager gets fired and expecting you to follow them. He has no real authority over you.

lmao, didn't the Ultramarines conveniently miss the Battle of Terra and comprise like half the loyalist Astartes at the end of the Heresy? What a perfect time to assume control of the Imperium and implement your own rules!

Spoiler

YOUR SPIRITUAL LIEGE

Just ordered the Ravenor Omnibus. Good place to start?

Well it's the quasi-sequel to the Eisenhorn stories, so Thorn Wishes Talon and the beginning of Ravenor Rogue will be a little awkward for you but I think you can wing it without having read Eisenhorn first.

 

[Deified Data]

Well it's the quasi-sequel to the Eisenhorn stories, so Thorn Wishes Talon and the beginning of Ravenor Rogue will be a little awkward for you but I think you can wing it without having read Eisenhorn first.

Ahh gotcha, I'll hold off on it until after I've read Eisenhorn then.

 

[Paltros]

If GW is giving out the 40k license out on a case by case basis, I wish they would make an open world RPG with Obsidian. Now, I know everyone would be saying "INQUISITOR RPG!" (which I agree would be pretty awesome btw) but I think the Deathwatch Kill-marine could give newcomers a better introduction to the 40k world.

I mean, just look at these guys' job description, it's like Kill-marines were designed to be the main character in an RPG:

Space Marines ordinarily live a cloistered existence in their Fortress-Monasteries. Their contact with the outside world is normally limited to fighting wars in it and their interactions with humans only come in chance encounters on the battlefield. By contrast a Kill-marine has to interact frequently with the existing authorities and power structures of the Imperium, often acting as a direct representative of the Deathwatch before Planetary Governors, war councils and ruling bodies of Adepts.

Kill-marines spend time living alongside those they must ultimately defend, sharing their trials and seeing the world through their eyes. In their missions a Kill-marine will make allies and enemies of many that they meet, and hear tales that would never reach a Watch Fortress. He might become involved in events that ultimately have little to do with the Deathwatch directly but rebound to the greater security of the Imperium. In this way the remote Deathwatch maintains a limited connection to the great masses it is charged to protect even as it stands vigil in the darkest gulfs surrounding mankind.

In practical terms the greatest step a Kill-marine must take is to secure travel between the stars as Deathwatch vessels can rarely be spared for their direct deployment. Interstellar ships are such rare and precious things that even the word of a Space Marine will not turn one from its course. More militant Battle-Brothers have sometimes opted for the expedient of capturing a pirate vessel and forcing its crew to do their will, exterminating their unwilling hosts once they reach journey’s end. However many less drastic opportunities exist for a Kill-marine that is prepared to think more broadly. He might travel aboard Imperial Navy warships and Rogue Trader vessels for example, or join the retinue of an Inquisitor for a time if it will serve his purposes. To do this the Kill-marine may have to use his natural humility to ask, and not demand, his passage by offering his assistance in trade for reaching his destination.

Imperial authorities will usually welcome the opportunity to gain access the knowledge and experience of a Space Marine for their own purposes in some vexing matter. The singular skills a Kill-marine can bring to bear are liable to open whole realms of possibility that were previously out of reach to a Rogue Trader Captain or an Inquisitor. A previously unknown and potent player entering the great game of Imperial politics can be invaluable for their schemes. The guarantees of transportation to an undisclosed location that a Kill-marine may ask for are a small price to pay to secure his help.

 

[Karakand]

Why is

Spoiler

Enuncia

in Prospero Burns, lol. ABNETT!!!!

 

[LaserBuddha]

I mean, just look at these guys' job description, it's like Kill-marines were designed to be the main character in an RPG:

Fantasy Flight fluff?

 

[Showaddy]

Why is

Spoiler

Enuncia

in Prospero Burns, lol. ABNETT!!!!

Lol I knew you post about that

 

[Ohnonono]

What makes Abbnett better than all the other hacks that write this stuff? Also is Gaunt's Ghosts more of a special forces type of thing or does it cover the absolute insanity of life in the Imperial Guard? I read Fifteen Hours at one point and that was pretty hilarious. The title refers to the average lifespan of a conscripted IG soldier.

 

[Nikodemos]

Are there any good balance/remaster/fix/etc. mods out there for Soulstorm? I'm jonesing for another playthrough, but haven't paid attention to the DoW (1) modding scene for nearly four years.

 

[Ohnonono]

Are there any good balance/remaster/fix/etc. mods out there for Soulstorm? I'm jonesing for another playthrough, but haven't paid attention to the DoW (1) modding scene for nearly four years.

Did you like DOW1 more than 2? I have both and haven't played 1 for a long time, but I remember it being more fun than 2. You could build up more of an army if I remember correctly.

 

[Mindwipe]

What makes Abbnett better than all the other hacks that write this stuff? Also is Gaunt's Ghosts more of a special forces type of thing or does it cover the absolute insanity of life in the Imperial Guard? I read Fifteen Hours at one point and that was pretty hilarious. The title refers to the average lifespan of a conscripted IG soldier.

Given he's also one of Marvel's better writers, I think he's actually just quite good in general. But for some reason doesn't get the respect he deserves to move up to TV/Film work or his own IP. Maybe he just doesn't want to.

 

[Nikodemos]

Did you like DOW1 more than 2? I have both and haven't played 1 for a long time, but I remember it being more fun than 2. You could build up more of an army if I remember correctly.

A monstrous backlog and a relatively weak PC precluded me from playing 2. The first one is a relatively 'by the numbers' RTS, but the Risk-style campaign of its two latter expansions is nice (though they were pretty much phoning it in in Soulstorm, and it shows).

 

[Sinatar]

A monstrous backlog and a relatively weak PC precluded me from playing 2. The first one is a relatively 'by the numbers' RTS, but the Risk-style campaign of its two latter expansions is nice (though they were pretty much phoning it in in Soulstorm, and it shows).

Development of Soulstorm shifted from Relic to Iron Lore and had a very truncated development time & budget.

 

[WanderingWind]

DoW 1 was the better game, but had far less of a polished look. The campaign was actually interesting, rather than a semi-connected string of similar battles. Building an army and slowly decimating the forces of evil, while managing resources and making unit choices was far more interesting that picking 4 of 6 units and walking forward, stopping to only shoot some dudes before moving forward.

That's not to say DoW2 was bad. It's also important to note that DoW1 fell into a shitty Risk style game with one of the expansions. It turned a very exciting game into a dull, plodding and entirely frustrating experience. The only thing saving the expansions was that one let you play as the various factions, including the Sisters of Battle.

DoW2's expansions added more unit choices and some semblance of what they stripped out of the first game.

DoW1 vanilla > DoW2 expansions >DoW 2 vanilla > DoW1 expansions.

 

[ultron87]

What makes Abbnett better than all the other hacks that write this stuff? Also is Gaunt's Ghosts more of a special forces type of thing or does it cover the absolute insanity of life in the Imperial Guard? I read Fifteen Hours at one point and that was pretty hilarious. The title refers to the average lifespan of a conscripted IG soldier.

The main unit that the Ghosts book follow is specialized for stealth and recon ops so you don't quite get the "toss em in the grinder" approach that often. But there are still plenty of battles where they're on the front lines and you get to see how bad things can go for IG troops.

I also really liked Abnett's book Double Eagle that was about Imperial Guard/Navy pilots.

 

[Meteorain]

The main unit that the Ghosts book follow is specialized for stealth and recon ops so you don't quite get the "toss em in the grinder" approach that often. But there are still plenty of battles where they're on the front lines and you get to see how bad things can go for IG troops.

I also really liked Abnett's book Double Eagle that was about Imperial Guard/Navy pilots.

Also like to add on that their home world was destroyed and so they cannot really afford to lose members, and thus why they specialise in stealth warfare

 

[Ruuppa]

DoW 1 was the better game, but had far less of a polished look. The campaign was actually interesting, rather than a semi-connected string of similar battles. Building an army and slowly decimating the forces of evil, while managing resources and making unit choices was far more interesting that picking 4 of 6 units and walking forward, stopping to only shoot some dudes before moving forward.

That's not to say DoW2 was bad. It's also important to note that DoW1 fell into a shitty Risk style game with one of the expansions. It turned a very exciting game into a dull, plodding and entirely frustrating experience. The only thing saving the expansions was that one let you play as the various factions, including the Sisters of Battle.

DoW2's expansions added more unit choices and some semblance of what they stripped out of the first game.

DoW1 vanilla > DoW2 expansions >DoW 2 vanilla > DoW1 expansions.

I.. I really liked the Risk -style gameplay on DoW1 expansions. It gave the game a feel of persistent warfare, when bases you'd previously built on maps were still there when an enemy invaded that map, instead of vanishing to thin air.

Also like to add on that their home world was destroyed and so they cannot really afford to lose members, and thus why they specialise in stealth warfare

Spoiler

Changed a bit in the later books, when they get an influx of recruits from Vervunhive, Belladon and a company band. The mixed composition makes for a lot more interesting reading as well.

 

[SargerusBR]

Are there any 40k games that aren't RTS? I only played Space Marine and it was average.

 

[Meteorain]

Spoiler

Changed a bit in the later books, when they get an influx of recruits from Vervunhive, Belladon and a company band. The mixed composition makes for a lot more interesting reading as well.

Yea I know about that. I have read till the Armour of Contempt. Just wanted to point out why it was unique.

 

[WanderingWind]

Are there any 40k games that aren't RTS? I only played Space Marine and it was average.

Dawn of War 2 is a top down/isometric shooter with light strategy elements. Think it has a demo on the Steams and whatnot.

 

[Tacitus_]

I.. I really liked the Risk -style gameplay on DoW1 expansions. It gave the game a feel of persistent warfare, when bases you'd previously built on maps were still there when an enemy invaded that map, instead of vanishing to thin air.

So did I. But it started to grow stale after winning it a few times.

 

[DUFFMCWALIN]

I.. I really liked the Risk -style gameplay on DoW1 expansions. It gave the game a feel of persistent warfare, when bases you'd previously built on maps were still there when an enemy invaded that map, instead of vanishing to thin air.

It was really really fun with friends. Sitting there for hours on end on one map playing siege warfare was awesome.

 

[GarthVaderUK]

Man, GW's plastics are so good these days:

 

[Fou-Lu]

Too bad they cost an arm and a leg.

 

[Mr. Poolman]

There have been any kind of WH40K action figures ever?