History TableTopGame / Warhammer40000

''Warhammer 40,000'', [[FanNickname known informally]] as "Warhammer 40K," "[=WH40K=]," or just plain "40K," is a miniatures-based {{tabletop|Games}} [[WarGaming war game]] released by Creator/GamesWorkshop in 1987. In its beginning it drew heavily on GW's previous ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} Fantasy'' game, and was essentially "''Warhammer'' [[JustForFun/RecycledInSpace In Space]]," but over time [[DerivativeDifferentiation grew distinct from]] ([[MorePopularSpinoff and much more popular than]]) its counterpart. Its ninth edition was released in 2020.

* ''Literature/{{Salamanders}}'': The Tome Of Fire trilogy follows the 3rd Company as they uncover a relic from the past, fight the Dark Eldar, and defend their homeworld.

More than anything else, 40K stands out from other tabletop wargames because of its ''[[RefugeInAudacity extreme]]'' [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism darkness]]. Set roughly thirty-eight thousand years in the future, the most basic summation of the game's plot is that our galaxy has been twisted into a [[CrapsackWorld unfathomable horror]] where an [[ForeverWar eternal, impossibly vast conflict]] occurs between several absurdly powerful [[FinalSolution genocidal]], [[FantasticRacism xenocidal]], and (in at least one case) [[ApocalypseHow omnicidal]] factions, with [[{{Troperiffic}} every single weapon, ideology, and creative piece of nastiness imaginable]] cranked to an outlandish extreme... and even ''it'' [[CosmicHorrorStory has a Hell]].

In the distant past, [[HowTheMightyHaveFallen humanity held immeasurable power and glory, but no longer]]. In the waning years of the 41st millennium, the game's central faction, the [[TheEmpire Imperium of Man]], is a [[{{Dystopia}} paranoid, fascist]] [[TheTheocracy theocratic state]] which spans the galaxy but is struggling mightily to maintain its grip on its territory. Its leader, known only as the Emperor, was [[Literature/HorusHeresy betrayed and laid low by his most beloved son]], and for more than ten millennia has been [[DarkLordOnLifeSupport locked up in an arcane life support mechanism]] that [[AndIMustScream anchors his soul in his withered corpse]] and requires [[HumanResources the souls of psychic humans]] to be [[PoweredByAForsakenChild consumed in the thousands per day]] as fuel. Since then, [[MessianicArchetype he has become the godhead of the Imperium]], and the incomprehensibly vast [[ChurchMilitant Ecclesiarchy]] spreads the Imperial Cult and [[CorruptChurch commits horrible atrocities in his name (but against his philosophy)]] on an almost-daily basis. The {{Space Marine}}s (capricious, fanatical, [[BioAugmentation genetically engineered]] KnightTemplar {{Super Soldier}}s) and the [[AmazonBrigade Sisters of Battle]] (equally fanatical, [[KillItWithFire pyromaniacal]] [[ChurchMilitant battle nuns]]) serve as the Imperium's special forces, while the [[RedShirtArmy Imperial Guard]], its at least ''trillions''-strong regular army, takes [[WeHaveReserves disregard for human life]] to new and interesting extremes. A futuristic [[StateSec Inquisition]] ruthlessly hunts down anyone with even the ''slightest'' taint of {{the heretic}}, the {{mutant|s}}, or the [[AbsoluteXenophobe alien]], even going as far as [[EarthShatteringKaboom destroying entire planets]], ''[[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill just to be sure]]''. Science and technology have [[MedievalStasis scarcely progressed for ten thousand years]], partly because they are treated with [[LostTechnology fear, ignorance]] and [[CargoCult magical superstition]], and partly because the [[{{Cyborg}} Adeptus Mechanicus]], the [[CyberneticsWillEatYourSoul secretive, deranged]] [[MachineWorship machine cult]] that maintains the Imperium's technological base, [[OlderIsBetter generally sees innovation as blasphemy against the wisdom of the ancients]] and rightly fears the possibility of [[HauntedTechnology daemonic corruption of unproven equipment]]. [[{{Hyperspace}} The Warp]], a corrupted parallel dimension connected to the material universe, provides the Imperium's only means of FasterThanLightTravel, but traversing it is incredibly dangerous due to its [[RealityIsOutToLunch disregard for the laws of reality]], the prospect of [[HyperspaceIsAScaryPlace being ripped apart by Daemons should a vessel's protections fail]], and the requirement of a specific kind of mutated human to perceive both the currents of the Warp and the Astronomican, a navigation beacon controlled by the Emperor's soul; should it fail, the worlds of humanity would essentially be stranded, and the Imperium would wither and die.

As bad as the Imperium is, however, [[BlackAndGrayMorality all the other major factions are just as bad, if not far worse]]. The [[SpaceElves Aeldari]], an [[{{Precursors}} ancient, mysterious]] race [[DyingRace nearly destroyed by the fallout from their ancestors' decadence]] and now splintered into several distinct subcultures, [[FantasticRacism see all other species as inferior]] and work to stave off the [[FateWorseThanDeath hellish afterlife]] looming over them in ways that [[MoralMyopia put themselves and their kin at the centre of things]]. The [[TheChessmaster Craftworld Aeldari]] coldly manipulate other factions into conflicts and wars that will guarantee massive casualities, either to spare the lives of their own civilians or to ensure the safety of [[SoulJar the soulstones that preserve the spirits of their fallen]], because if they don't, the destroyed crystals doom their dead to [[AndIMustScream an eternity of torment in the depths of the Warp]]. Their depraved cousins, the [[EvilCounterpartRace Drukhari]], invade worlds to slaughter and enslave sentient beings in order to inflict [[ColdBloodedTorture horrific tortures]] on them, partially because [[EmotionEater they psychically feed on pain]], but mostly to [[ForTheEvulz satiate their profane and sadistic appetites]]. The [[XenomorphXerox Tyranids]], an [[OutsideContextProblem extra-galactic]] race of [[HordeOfAlienLocusts ever-hungering virus-like monstrosities]] guided by an [[ItCanThink animalistic but highly intelligent]] HiveMind, are rampaging across the galaxy [[ExtremeOmnivore consuming everything they come across]], including [[PlanetEater planets' biospheres]], to evolve and become stronger. The [[KillerRobot Necrons]], TheRemnant of an ancient alien civilization transformed into vast legions of [[ImmortalityImmorality undying warriors]] [[RobotWar made of living metal]] who possess [[ClarkesThirdLaw incredibly advanced technology]], are awakening after millions of years of slumber to reclaim a galaxy they see as rightfully theirs and scour away the taint of organic life. The [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orks]], a genetically-engineered warrior species [[AlienKudzu infesting]] every corner of the galaxy, [[AxCrazy cheerfully battle anyone that might give them a good fight]] -- including each other, if nothing better presents itself -- because [[AlwaysChaoticEvil it's literally hard-wired into their genetic code to do so]]... and because [[BloodKnight it's fun]]. The [[NaiveNewcomer T'au]], a comparatively small and young race with an insurgent [[TheAlliance cross-species empire]] on the galaxy's fringe, readily seek new allies through diplomacy, but are [[UnreliableNarrator reputed]] to absorb those who refuse through OrbitalBombardment, [[TheEvilsOfFreeWill concentration camps]] and possibly {{mass|Hypnosis}} [[HappinessInSlavery mind control]], [[WellIntentionedExtremist all to further their philosophy]] that [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans as many races in the galaxy as possible must be unified under their benevolent leadership]].

* ''VideoGame/InquisitorMartyr'': A Action-RPG game developed by Neocore Games.

''Warhammer 40,000'', [[FanNickname known informally]] as "Warhammer 40K," "[=WH40K=]," or just plain "40K," is a miniatures-based {{tabletop|Games}} [[WarGaming war game]] released by Creator/GamesWorkshop in 1987. In its beginning it drew heavily on GW's previous ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} Fantasy'' game, and was essentially "''Warhammer'' [[RecycledInSpace In Space]]," but over time [[DerivativeDifferentiation grew distinct from]] ([[MorePopularSpinoff and much more popular than]]) its counterpart. Its ninth edition was released in 2020.

In the distant past, [[HowTheMightyHaveFallen humanity held immeasurable power and glory, but no longer]]. In the waning years of the 41st millennium, the game's central faction, the [[TheEmpire Imperium of Man]], is a [[{{Dystopia}} paranoid, fascist]] [[TheTheocracy theocratic state]] which spans the galaxy but is struggling mightily to maintain its grip on its territory. Its leader, known only as the Emperor, was [[Literature/HorusHeresy betrayed and laid low by his most beloved son]], and for more than ten millennia has been [[DarkLordOnLifeSupport locked up in an arcane life support mechanism]] that [[AndIMustScream anchors his soul in his withered corpse]] and requires [[HumanResources the souls of psychic humans]] to be [[PoweredByAForsakenChild consumed in the thousands per day]] as fuel. Since then, [[MessianicArchetype he has become the godhead of the Imperium]], and the incomprehensibly vast [[ChurchMilitant Ecclesiarchy]] spreads the Imperial Cult and [[CorruptChurch commits horrible atrocities in his name (but against his philosophy)]] on an almost-daily basis. The {{Space Marine}}s (capricious, fanatical, [[BioAugmentation genetically engineered]] KnightTemplar {{Super Soldier}}s) and the [[AmazonBrigade Sisters of Battle]] (equally fanatical, [[KillItWithFire pyromaniacal]] [[ChurchMilitant battle nuns]]) serve as the Imperium's special forces, while the [[RedShirtArmy Imperial Guard]], its at least ''trillions''-strong regular army, takes [[WeHaveReserves disregard for human life]] to new and interesting extremes. A futuristic [[StateSec Inquisition]] ruthlessly hunts down anyone with even the ''slightest'' taint of {{the heretic}}, the {{mutant|s}}, or the [[AbsoluteXenophobe alien]], even going as far as [[EarthShatteringKaboom destroying entire planets]], ''[[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill just to be sure]]''. Science and technology have [[MedievalStasis scarcely progressed for ten thousand years]], partly because they are treated with [[LostTechnology fear, ignorance]] and [[CargoCult magical superstition]], and partly because the [[{{Cyborg}} Adeptus Mechanicus]], the [[CyberneticsWillEatYourSoul secretive, deranged]] [[MachineWorship machine cult]] that maintains the Imperium's technological base, [[OlderIsBetter generally sees innovation as blasphemy against the wisdom of the ancients]] and rightly fears the possibility of [[HauntedTechnology daemonic corruption of unproven equipment]]. [[{{Hyperspace}} The Warp]], a corrupted parallel dimension connected to the material universe, provides the Imperium's only means of FasterThanLightTravel, but traversing it is incredibly dangerous due to its [[RealityIsOutToLunch disregard for the laws of reality]], the prospect of [[HyperspaceIsAScaryPlace being ripped apart by Daemons should a vessel's protections fail]], and the requirement of a specific kind of mutated human to perceive both the currents of the Warp and the Astronomican, a navigation beacon controlled by the Emperor's soul; should it fail, the worlds of humanity would essentially be stranded, and the Imperium would wither and die.\\\
As bad as the Imperium is, however, [[BlackAndGrayMorality all the other major factions are just as bad, if not far worse]]. The [[SpaceElves Aeldari]], an [[{{Precursors}} ancient, mysterious]] race [[DyingRace nearly destroyed by the fallout from their ancestors' decadence]] and now splintered into several distinct subcultures, [[FantasticRacism see all other species as inferior]] and work to stave off the [[FateWorseThanDeath hellish afterlife]] looming over them in ways that [[MoralMyopia put themselves and their kin at the centre of things]]. The [[TheChessmaster Craftworld Aeldari]] coldly manipulate other factions into conflicts and wars that will guarantee massive casualities, either to spare the lives of their own civilians or to ensure the safety of [[SoulJar the soulstones that preserve the spirits of their fallen]], because if they don't, the destroyed crystals doom their dead to [[AndIMustScream an eternity of torment in the depths of the Warp]]. Their depraved cousins, the [[EvilCounterpartRace Drukhari]], invade worlds to slaughter and enslave sentient beings in order to inflict [[ColdBloodedTorture horrific tortures]] on them, partially because [[EmotionEater they psychically feed on pain]], but mostly to [[ForTheEvulz satiate their profane and sadistic appetites]]. The [[XenomorphXerox Tyranids]], an [[OutsideContextProblem extra-galactic]] race of [[HordeOfAlienLocusts ever-hungering virus-like monstrosities]] guided by an [[ItCanThink animalistic but highly intelligent]] HiveMind, are rampaging across the galaxy [[ExtremeOmnivore consuming everything they come across]], including [[PlanetEater planets' biospheres]], to evolve and become stronger. The [[KillerRobot Necrons]], TheRemnant of an ancient alien civilization transformed into vast legions of [[ImmortalityImmorality undying warriors]] [[RobotWar made of living metal]] who possess [[ClarkesThirdLaw incredibly advanced technology]], are awakening after millions of years of slumber to reclaim a galaxy they see as rightfully theirs and scour away the taint of organic life. The [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orks]], a genetically-engineered warrior species [[AlienKudzu infesting]] every corner of the galaxy, [[AxCrazy cheerfully battle anyone that might give them a good fight]] -- including each other, if nothing better presents itself -- because [[AlwaysChaoticEvil it's literally hard-wired into their genetic code to do so]]... and because [[BloodKnight it's fun]]. The [[NaiveNewcomer T'au]], a comparatively small and young race with an insurgent [[TheAlliance cross-species empire]] on the galaxy's fringe, readily seek new allies through diplomacy, but are [[UnreliableNarrator reputed]] to absorb those who refuse through OrbitalBombardment, [[TheEvilsOfFreeWill concentration camps]] and possibly {{mass|Hypnosis}} [[HappinessInSlavery mind control]], [[WellIntentionedExtremist all to further their philosophy]] that [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans as many races in the galaxy as possible must be unified under their benevolent leadership]].\\\

The game is played on a table top or similar flat surface with added terrain, obstacles, and other objects; the standard play area is 6' x 4'. The essential tools for gameplay, aside from the models, are: the main rulebook; codices for the various armies; a tape measure, as everything is measured in inches; objective cards and markers which are used in some game variants; and ''lots'' of six-sided dice (D6s)[[note]]seriously... 30 is a decent number to have on hand[[/note]]. You can pick these up separately, but for each edition of the rules GW has provided a starter kit allowing new players to get started immediately. The current starter kit is ''Dark Imperium'', containing enough miniatures to field two small armies, the main rulebook and a separate list of the core rules, special rules pertaining to the armies in the kit, a 12" ruler, and some dice.\\\

The models are divided into nine distinct categories: Lords of War,[[note]]exceptionally powerful, even legendary figures[[/note]] [=HQs=],[[note]]powerful leaders[[/note]] Elites,[[note]]exceptionally strong units and war machines[[/note]] Troops,[[note]]basic infantry[[/note]] Dedicated Transports,[[note]]vehicles specifically meant to be infantry transports[[/note]] Fast Attack,[[note]]speedy units and light vehicles[[/note]] Heavy Support,[[note]]heavily armed vehicles and units[[/note]] Fortifications,[[note]]specific types of terrain that work in an army's favor[[/note]] and Flyers.[[note]]strictly airborne units[[/note]] The 8th edition rules allow players to build their armies either as Open Play (basically bring whatever you want), Narrative (recreating historical battles from the fluff or themed campaigns), or Match Play (building armies along an organized structure with specific numbers of certain model categories, determined by a Force Organization Chart). There are six default [=FOCs=], each with a set number of HQ and Troops slots as base requirements and varying numbers of slots for other model types. Match Play armies also get bonuses that the other play styles do not, and give the player certain amounts of Command Points which can be used during the game in various ways.\\\

For each army, the models available in each category have both a Power rating and a base point value relative to their worth in gameplay, which covers the # of models and their default weapons and armor. The Power rating is generally geared toward Open and Narrative games while the points values are geared toward Match Play. The rules give the player specific options to change the weapons, armor, and other bonuses depending on the category and model or unit in question, and to add models to certain units. Power ratings will generally only increase if models are added to units while points values will often increase with both additional models and weapon changes. Players assemble their armies to meet an agreed-upon total Power rating or number of points per army prior to play, with the upper limits usually determined by the type of game being played.\\\

Before the game begins, dice are rolled to determine the Mission for the game,[[note]]killing everyone, capturing objectives, etc.[[/note]] how the battlefield will be divided between the armies,[[note]]where the armies can be deployed, how many terrain pieces are to be used, etc.[[/note]] various challenges and model abilities[[note]]Warlord Traits and Psychic Powers, for example[[/note]] that influence gameplay, and who gets to begin deploying their army first. There are twelve Missions in the core rulebook, six "Eternal War" Missions that are carryovers from older editions and six "Maelstrom of War" missions introduced in 7th edition. These have a general theme like the Eternal War missions but also use Tactical Objectives which give specific tasks that the player can attempt to accomplish during each turn. The first player to finish deploying his army gets to choose whether or not to start the first turn; if he does, the second player has a chance to roll to go first, or "seize the initiative."\\\

Games have a maximum of 7 battle rounds; whether or not rounds 6 or 7 happen is determined by die rolls starting at the end of round 5. Each round has two player turns, each having six phases: Movement, Psychic, Shooting, Charging, Assault, and Morale. In the movement phase, the models' stats govern how far they can move and how movement affects what they can do in the subsequent phases. The moving player can also elect to Advance a model or unit, passing up the chance to shoot to move it further. Anything being held in reserve can also be potentially brought in during the movement phase, so long as all such models are deployed by the start of round 4. In the psychic phase, the attacking player attempts to use psychic powers by rolling 2D6 to meet or beat each power's casting cost, with failed rolls, "Perils of the Warp," and/or the defending player attempting to negate successful rolls factored in. During the shooting phase, dice are rolled for each weapon being fired to determine whether it hits and then whether it actually causes wounds. In the charging phase, die rolls determine whether or not a unit can move into range of a target unit to enter melee combat. In the Assault phase, units pile into each other and engage in melee combat, with the player that charged in the previous phase getting first strike and then alternating between players. As in the shooting phase, die rolls determine hits and wounds. In the morale phase, the players determine the number of models lost from each unit and, if needed, roll a D6; if the combined result is greater than the unit's max Leadership value, the unit loses a number of additional models equal to the difference. In the psychic, shooting, and assault phases, if possible, the defending player can roll for armor or invulnerable saves to attempt to negate wounds, and can potentially counterattack in the assault phase. Characteristic tests, special abilities and features unique to each faction, weapon-specific rules, terrain effects, and other such actions also influence the progress of each phase. A battle round is complete at the end of the second player's Morale phase; the process then starts over again with the next round. \\\


Players acquire victory points as they eliminate sections of the opponent's army from the game, when Mission-specific objectives are achieved, and when Tactical Objectives are achieved during a turn. All Missions are won by majority of victory points; draws are possible. "Tabling" the opponent[[note]]completely eliminating his models that are present on the tabletop, regardless of what he may have in reserve[[/note]] is an automatic win regardless of the score.

One of the major aspects of 40K, aside from the gameplay, is the actual work that goes into the miniatures. Just like a typical model kit, 40K minis come unassembled and unpainted, and it's up to the player to put in the legwork to literally build their army. The model kits come in a variety of ways, such as single blister packs or boxes that contain one model, a boxed unit, or as larger box sets that contain many models and allow the player to obtain a chunk of his army at once. Models are generally glued together piecemeal using plastic or super glue (for plastic and resin/metal, respectively), but some of the starter kits' minis are designed to be snapped together with little to no gluing needed, speeding up the building process. The kits feature a large number of ways that models can be customized, and kit-bashing models is a good way to spruce them up and to make use of spare bits lying around.\\\

Possibly even more important than assembling the models is painting them. It's generally seen as bad form to field an unpainted army, especially for factions like the Space Marines that have many different chapters and where a lot of the models look exactly alike, making painting them the accepted way to determine which particular chapter you're playing. Painting models to a "tabletop" quality level[[note]]painted well enough so that the models don't look sloppy at an at-the-table perspective and particular factions are easily distinguished[[/note]] is considered the norm, and tournaments will often require a certain level of completion of painting, but players can put as much or as little effort into it as they wish, although they're often encouraged to go beyond tabletop quality. GW produces painting guides and free online tutorials, but other tutorials are readily available through Website/YouTube and dedicated painting sites. GW uses Citadel products for its models, paints, glues, and tools, and all of its painting methods and tutorials are built around using them, but equivalents from other companies are readily available, and tutorials will vary wildly between paints, glues, and other materials. There are ''many'' different ways to go about painting models, and settling on one is up to the player's tastes and budget and the availability of supplies... the general rule is "find what works for you and run with it."\\\

Thus, 40K is just as much a hobby as it is a game. It's perfectly fine to ignore the game aspect altogether and devote yourself to building and painting the miniatures, whether it's for simple recreation, for display and competition, or even as a business. There are many artists and sites who do commission work for others, doing anything from simply painting minis to the entire process of assembly and painting, and from quality levels ranging from tabletop-quality to work similar to what you see on show cars. GW recognizes the best of the best through an annual competition called the Golden Demon Awards, where painters show off models that have been painted and based to standards ''far'' beyond tabletop-ready, to the point that they have become works of art.\\\

[[hardline]]

* ''Literature/DarkHeresy'': A series of novels written by Creator/SandyMitchell based on the [[TabletopGame/DarkHeresy tabletop rpg of the same name]]

* A ''Warhammer 40,000'' live-action series is in the making at Creator/{{Amazon}}, produced by and starring none other than [[PromotedFanboy franchise superfan]] Creator/HenryCavill.

One of the major aspects of 40K, aside from the gameplay, is the actual work that goes into the miniatures. Just like a typical model kit, 40K minis come unassembled and unpainted, and it's up to the player to put in the legwork to literally build their army. The model kits come in a variety of ways, such as single blister packs or boxes that contain one model, a boxed unit, or as larger box sets that contain many models and allow the player to obtain a chunk of his army at once. Models are generally glued together piecemeal using plastic or super glue (for plastic and resin/metal, respectively), but some of the starter kits' minis are designed to be snapped together with little to no gluing needed, speeding up the building process. The kits feature a large number of ways that models can be customized, and kit-bashing models is a good way to spruce them up and to make use of [[BitzBox spare bits lying around]].\\\

* ''Warhammer 40000: Glory in Death'': An obscure title for the ill-fated Nokia N-Gage handheld/cellphone combo released in 2006. Either nobody bought it or it had a hilariously limited release because it's got a stub on Wiki/TheOtherWiki and is mentioned on the N-Gage page, and not a lot else.

* ''VideoGame/Warhammer40000ShootasBloodAndTeef'': A 2D Run & Gun from the developers of ''VideoGame/GunsGoreAndCannoli''.

* ''Literature/ThePathOfTheEldar'': A set of two trilogies. The first is a RashomonStyle story revolving around three Eldar of craftworld Alaitoc. The second follows the path of three Dark Eldar warriors.

* ''Machinima/ADayInTheLifeOfACommissar'': A machinima series detailing the horrible day Commissar Steeve is having, and how he MustHaveCaffeine but he can't because Nathan Johnson bought (and drank) all the coffee on the planet.

More than anything else, 40K stands out from other tabletop wargames because of its ''[[RefugeInAudacity extreme]]'' [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism darkness]]. Set roughly thirty-eight thousand years in the future, the most basic summation of the game's plot is that our galaxy has been twisted into a [[CrapsackWorld unfathomable horror]] where an [[ForeverWar eternal, impossibly vast conflict]] occurs between several absurdly powerful [[FinalSolution genocidal]], [[FantasticRacism xenocidal]], and (in at least one case) [[ApocalypseHow omnicidal]] factions, with [[{{Troperiffic}} every single weapon, ideology, and creative piece of nastiness imaginable]] turned up to eleven... and even ''it'' [[CosmicHorrorStory has a Hell]].

More than anything else, 40K stands out from other tabletop wargames because of its ''[[RefugeInAudacity extreme]]'' [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism darkness]]. Set roughly thirty-eight thousand years in the future, the most basic summation of the game's plot is that our galaxy has been twisted into a [[CrapsackWorld unfathomable horror]] where an [[ForeverWar eternal, impossibly vast conflict]] occurs between several absurdly powerful [[FinalSolution genocidal]], [[FantasticRacism xenocidal]], and (in at least one case) [[ApocalypseHow omnicidal]] factions, with [[{{Troperiffic}} every single weapon, ideology, and creative piece of nastiness imaginable]] turned UpToEleven... and even ''it'' [[CosmicHorrorStory has a Hell]].

The game is played on a table top or similar flat surface with added terrain, obstacles, and other objects; the standard play area is 6' x 4'. The essential tools for gameplay, aside from the models, are: the main rulebook; codices for the various armies[[note]]with rules for all armies that as of yet don't have their own codices summed up in indexes as of the release of the eighth edition rules[[/note]]; a tape measure, as everything is measured in inches; objective cards and markers which are used in some game variants; and ''lots'' of six-sided dice (D6s)[[note]]seriously... 30 is a decent number to have on hand[[/note]]. You can pick these up separately, but for each edition of the rules GW has provided a starter kit allowing new players to get started immediately. The current starter kit is ''Dark Imperium'', containing enough miniatures to field two small armies, the main rulebook and a separate list of the core rules, special rules pertaining to the armies in the kit, a 12" ruler, and some dice.\\\

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Interrogator}}'':

As bad as the Imperium is, however, [[BlackAndGrayMorality all the other major factions are just as bad, if not far worse]]. The [[SpaceElves Aeldari]], an [[{{Precursors}} ancient, mysterious]] race [[DyingRace nearly destroyed by the fallout from their ancestors' decadence]] and now splintered into several distinct subcultures, [[FantasticRacism see all other species as inferior]] and work to stave off the [[FateWorseThanDeath hellish afterlife]] looming over them in ways that [[MoralMyopia put themselves and their kin at the centre of things]]. The [[TheChessmaster Craftworld Aeldari]] coldly manipulate other factions into conflicts and wars that will guarantee massive casualities, either to spare the lives of their own civilians or to ensure the safety of [[SoulJar the soulstones that preserve the spirits of their fallen]], because if they don't, the destroyed crystals doom their dead to [[AndIMustScream an eternity of torment in the depths of the Warp]]. Their depraved cousins, the [[EvilCounterpartRace the Drukhari]], invade worlds to slaughter and enslave sentient beings in order to inflict [[ColdBloodedTorture horrific tortures]] on them, partially because [[EmotionEater they psychically feed on pain]], but mostly to [[ForTheEvulz satiate their profane and sadistic appetites]]. The [[XenomorphXerox Tyranids]], an [[OutsideContextProblem extra-galactic]] race of [[HordeOfAlienLocusts ever-hungering virus-like monstrosities]] guided by an [[ItCanThink animalistic but highly intelligent]] HiveMind, are rampaging across the galaxy [[ExtremeOmnivore consuming everything they come across]], including [[PlanetEater planets' biospheres]], to evolve and become stronger. The [[KillerRobot Necrons]], TheRemnant of an ancient alien civilization transformed into vast legions of [[ImmortalityImmorality undying warriors]] [[RobotWar made of living metal]] who possess [[ClarkesThirdLaw incredibly advanced technology]], are awakening after millions of years of slumber to reclaim a galaxy they see as rightfully theirs and scour away the taint of organic life. The [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orks]], a genetically-engineered warrior species [[AlienKudzu infesting]] every corner of the galaxy, [[AxCrazy cheerfully battle anyone that might give them a good fight]] -- including each other, if nothing better presents itself -- because [[AlwaysChaoticEvil it's literally hard-wired into their genetic code to do so]]... and because [[BloodKnight it's fun]]. The [[NaiveNewcomer T'au]], a comparatively small and young race with an insurgent [[TheAlliance cross-species empire]] on the galaxy's fringe, readily seek new allies through diplomacy, but are [[UnreliableNarrator reputed]] to absorb those who refuse through OrbitalBombardment, [[TheEvilsOfFreeWill concentration camps]] and possibly {{mass|Hypnosis}} [[HappinessInSlavery mind control]], [[WellIntentionedExtremist all to further their philosophy]] that [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans as many races in the galaxy as possible must be unified under their benevolent leadership]].\\\

As bad as the Imperium is, however, [[BlackAndGrayMorality all the other major factions are just as bad, if not far worse]]. The [[SpaceElves Eldar]], an [[{{Precursors}} ancient, mysterious]] race [[DyingRace nearly destroyed by the fallout from their ancestors' decadence]], work to stave off the [[FateWorseThanDeath hellish afterlife]] looming over them in ways that [[MoralMyopia put themselves and their kin at the centre of things]]. The [[TheChessmaster Craftworld Eldar]] coldly manipulate other factions into conflicts and wars that will guarantee massive casualities to spare the lives of their own civilians and/or protect or allow them to retrieve the [[SoulJar Soul Crystals]] of their fallen because if they don't, the destroyed crystals doom their fallen to [[AndIMustScream an eternity of suffering and horror in the depths of the Warp]]. Their depraved [[EvilCounterpartRace Dark Eldar]] cousins take the more proactive approach of invading worlds to slaughter and enslave sentient beings in ways that violate them [[ColdBloodedTorture physically]], [[MindRape mentally]] and [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil sexually]] -- partially to prolong their own lives, but mostly to [[ForTheEvulz satiate their profane and sadistic appetites]]. The [[XenomorphXerox Tyranids]], an [[OutsideContextProblem extra-galactic]] race of [[HordeOfAlienLocusts ever-hungering virus-like monstrosities]] guided by an [[ItCanThink animalistic but highly intelligent]] HiveMind, are rampaging across the galaxy [[ExtremeOmnivore consuming everything they come across]], including [[PlanetEater planets' biospheres]], to evolve and become stronger. The [[KillerRobot Necrons]], TheRemnant of an ancient alien civilization transformed into vast legions of [[ImmortalityImmorality undying warriors]] [[RobotWar made of living metal]] who possess [[ClarkesThirdLaw incredibly advanced technology]], are awakening after millions of years of slumber to reclaim a galaxy they see as rightfully theirs and scour away the taint of organic life. The [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orks]], a genetically-engineered warrior species [[AlienKudzu infesting]] every corner of the galaxy, [[AxCrazy cheerfully battle anyone that might give them a good fight]] -- including each other, if nothing better presents itself -- because [[AlwaysChaoticEvil it's literally hard-wired into their genetic code to do so]]... and because [[BloodKnight it's fun]]. The [[NaiveNewcomer T'au]], a comparatively small and young race with an insurgent [[TheAlliance cross-species empire]] on the galaxy's fringe, readily seek new allies through diplomacy, but are [[UnreliableNarrator reputed]] to absorb those who refuse through OrbitalBombardment, [[TheEvilsOfFreeWill concentration camps]] and possibly {{mass|Hypnosis}} [[HappinessInSlavery mind control]], [[WellIntentionedExtremist all to further their philosophy]] that [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans as many races in the galaxy as possible must be unified under their benevolent leadership]].\\\

[[caption-width-right:350:''In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only [[WarIsGlorious war]].\\
[[WelcomeToHell Welcome to]] [[CrapsackWorld Hell]].'']]