do you have any advice of where to start reading wh40k? I played rogue trader and really enjoyed it, but there are so many books and tbh i don't trust the taste of reddit dudes
In my opinion, there is a very clean selection of starting/beginner choices for people wanting to get into 40k.
First, very simply, stay away from the Horus Heresy series unless you specifically want to know about the Horus Heresy. It's over 50 books long and prone to being disjointed. Moving on! (Recs under the cut)
The best two starter series are, with almost universal agreement, the Gaunt's Ghosts series by Dan Abnett, and the Ciaphas Cain series by Sandy Mitchell. Both follow the exploits of Commissars (disciplinary officers) embedded in the Imperial Guard. The former is fairly gritty, very ground-level, and delves strongly into what it's like being regular people in a wider war and the way people in those situations behave and live their lives. The latter is lighter in tone and more episodic, with the titular Cain running into most other factions within the setting whilst really wishing he wasn't there. There's still plenty of awful shit happening, of course, but it's dressed up in a more camp/humourous perspective. I would recommend both series, with priority going to whichever sounds more inviting for you personally (tonally heavy, or something more relaxed).
If you're interested in the sort of party/group dynamics in Rogue Trader, I would also suggest the Eisenhorn and Ravenor series by Dan Abnett. Eisenhorn follows the investigations and adventures of an Inquisitor (Gregor Eisenhorn) and his retinue, and Ravenor actually ties into it, being about a former acolyte of Gregor's (Gideon Ravenor) who is a powerful psyker and inquisitor in his own right, with his own retinue. The only caveat I will give is that the first Eisenhorn book is quite old, and so can feel a bit dated/off kilter with its portrayal of setting elements.
If aliens are your thing, I recommend the Infinite and the Divine by Robert Rath. Extremely fun, extremely well-written book featuring the millennia-long feuds and hijinks of a pair of Necrons (undying alien robots). If your interest in Necrons is kicked off by this book, I suggest reading the Twice Dead King duology by Nate Crowley to really dig in to Necrons as a faction.
Perhaps you want to read about Space Marines! The best starter book for them is Spear of the Emperor by Aaron Dembski-Bowden. Great for looking at how different astartes behave, how similar they can be despite their differences, and how they view/interact with humans.
If Chaos Space Marines have you interested, Night Lords: The Omnibus (Also by Aaron Dembski-Bowden) is the best intro book to them. It follows the lives and exploits of a group of heretic astartes (and their humans) and show off why they're terrible people, but still not devoid of complexity, humour and sympathetic elements.
There are, of course, other books I could recommend, depending on the specifics of what you want. BUT, if you are just starting out and want to familiarise yourself with things, comfortably expand your understanding of the setting, feel out what you do and don't like, I think this list should have you pretty well covered.
hi!! I'm starting a new playthrough of owlcat's rogue trader and I was thinking of doing something different by playing a noble who is also an unsanctioned psyker (through the power of mods lol). I was thinking of giving them sanctic daemonology and RP it as them having such fervent faith in the emperor that they don't realize they are a psyker (it's a dogmatic run). do you think that would make sense lorewise? I thought maybe their noble status and then their RT status could protect them from retaliation. I know I don't HAVE to play it lorefriendly but I think that it makes it more fun :) ty!!!
I don't see why not! Between the Imperium's often narrow-minded culture, the limited understanding of psykers, and the ego of many a noble, an RT who thinks they're protected by faith and miracles rather than being a psyker themselves is entirely plausible.
Next letās have a transfer overtyrant. Grolma the King Eater (so named for metaphorically eating her former self and literally eating actual monarchs)
Can a Zoanthrope or Neurothrope be possessed by a daemon, since they are psykers?
They aren't conventional psykers, they're psychic conduits for the Hive Mind. To possess a Tyranid, the daemon would have to overpower its link to the Hive Mind, and the Hive Mind itself. Best of luck to that daemon.
Tyranid bioforms can become physically corrupted by chaos, especially if separated out from the Hive Mind, but possessing them and/or converting them to chaos isn't terribly possible. We have seen bioforms corrupted by the obliterator virus, by random warp growths, by prolonged warp exposure, but still ultimately behaving like Tyranids. Even the enslaved, obliterator-infected bio-ship was just that; enslaved to perform a function. There are exceptions to every rule in 40k, of course, but y'know. Generally speaking.
Other than big Es kinda-death, was there anything during the horus heresy more devastating to the imperium than the martian civil war?
I'd say the Emperor's death, the Martian civil war, the legions turning traitor and the increased spread of chaos were the most prominently damaging elements of the Heresy for the Imperium.
I've been chatting with this guy online and turns out he's an angel of the emperor... now I really like him but I'm a little scared of getting into a relationship with a space marine! he says he's not sure if we'll ever be intimate but he'd like to hold my hand and carry me on his back. should I give him a chance? he wants me to meet his battle brothers but I'm insecure about what they'll think...
If youāre comfortable with an asexual relationship (itās fine not to be, but be respectful and upfront about it) then thereās no harm in giving it a go. Just remember that astartes place a lot of importance on the opinions of their brothers, so be polite to them, but donāt be afraid of being yourself. Itās better earlier on to feel out various boundaries and dynamics and generally get a sense of where your compatibilities do and donāt align. Also, if youāre bringing a gift, I would recommend a couple of fancy bolter rounds (Kraken and Hellfire variants are well-liked) or a jar of armour polish. One of the easiest and most effective ways to have a good time with a person and leave a good impression is to take an interest in and listen to them about their hobbies and interests. Itās natural to be insecure, but keep in mind that he probably doesnāt know what heās doing either. Just communicate politely and honestly, heāll likely appreciate it. Itās genuinely that simple.
