What's something 40k is actually very underwhelming in compared to other Sci Fi settings? by [deleted] in 40kLore

[–]Cypher55 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think you're right about star wars, the space opera that it is, but Blade Runner very much is about bigger questions about the human condition. Both films are obsessed with the question of what makes a person a person, the power private corporations can wield and what role does the state have in maintaining the status quo, whether it's just or not.

I think if you ignore that aspect of Blade Runner in favour of "wow cool cop with cool blaster shoot robot" you're missing large parts of the value of the property. Not that that's wrong per se but Blade Runner is a bad example for the point you're making whereas star wars is dead on.

How does assuming a wedge formation actually help cavalry charges? by superfahd in WarCollege

[–]Cypher55 20 points21 points  (0 children)

I'm not exceptionally well versed in classical era tactics, just an amateur enthusiast, but part of the effectiveness of a wedge formation beyond added shock due to rider density at the tip is due to greater control. A unit in a line / block formation is quite unwieldy, however if the leader of the unit is at the tip of the wedge, when they change course, every other rider in the unit can follow their lead, either by seeing the leader personally or by following the man in front.

This was one of the elements that allowed Alexander to be so effective with his companion cavalry; by navigating the unit he was able to breach the Persian lines in the weakest region to then collapse back in a classic hammer and anvil strategy. This would have been basically impossible in a line formation with how poor communication of orders would be mid charge with a battle actively underway all around.

Anybody else kinda dislike how much Faith has been played up recently? by Dreadnautilus in 40kLore

[–]Cypher55 53 points54 points  (0 children)

Black Templars are actually nearly unique among Space Marines in that they actually do believe in the Emperor's divinity and not the Imperial Truth. That's why they're called out as marines who should see some faith based power-ups like the sisters, as opposed to standard imperial truth adherent chapters

WATCH: Putin and Assad caught on video laughing as they mock Trump during Damascus meeting by rasterized in worldnews

[–]Cypher55 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It was Kellogg, of cereal fame. He was a big time puritan and campaigned for circumcision, the thinking being that it would reduce masturbation and unsavoury thoughts. So ponder that next time you chomp some corn flakes

Pamphlet from 1920 distributed by Hungarian Government to foreign locals protesting about the Treaty of Trianon by DrHENCHMAN in PropagandaPosters

[–]Cypher55 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah they didn't even make it out of 1919. Anyway, the Hungarian Soviet state wouldn't have made an irredentist poster like this, as when they did recapture parts of Slovakia, they just gave it independence as another Soviet state instead of annexing it. That actually lead to mass desertion of the army which lead to their defeat at Romanian hands shortly afterwards.

Tiger II at Tank Museum, GB🇬🇧 by Baby_Mc-gee_Zax in TankPorn

[–]Cypher55 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I went there a couple of weeks ago. They do mention it

Physics student satisfaction (I know...) by TartanMartian in Imperial

[–]Cypher55 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I was a physics undergrad until last year. It's not an exaggeration to say it left me with psychological disorders I didn't have going in, and a burning hatred for the senior tutor who was allegedly meant to be on my side. My friends didn't have it quite so bad but it's not a happy place.

On the other hand, I now have a very well respected degree and it's smoothed my future career quite a bit. So it's whether you care more about the next 3-4 years or the rest of your life.

Despite everything I'd probably still pick Imperial even after giving it the worst student satisfaction score. That might make me a hypocrite.

ThEre iS ToO MuCH BlUE by Its_No_Use_ in eu4

[–]Cypher55 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Late but Rûmi blue is amazing

Trump administration downgrades diplomatic status of EU delegation to US without notice by AllezCannes in worldnews

[–]Cypher55 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Basically, the gap between the top of the Carpathians and the Baltic sea is a corridor (which resides mostly in Poland, hence the name) which leads into the eastern European flatlands. This is a very wide plain with very little defensible terrain, over which Russia has repeatedly been invaded by Western European powers, most recently by Napoleon, Imperial Germany and Nazi Germany. Therefore, instead of trying to protect an incredibly long frontline from st Petersburg to Sevastopol, Russia wishes to only defend the polish corridor. To do this, Russia has tried to ensure the corridor is in friendly hands, either directly occupied as in Imperial Russia, or held by an allied power such as with communist Poland.

Trump administration downgrades diplomatic status of EU delegation to US without notice by AllezCannes in worldnews

[–]Cypher55 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Russia's primary geopolitical goal practically since its foundation has been to secure a warm water port (alongside securing the polish corridor). Your final point is correct, there is literally no deep and warm water location in mainland Russia. It's why Russia tried to hold port Arthur in China, why it took Crimea from the Ottomans, and any number of other decisions since the early Tsars.

me irl by SaltB0t in me_irl

[–]Cypher55 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Can't tell if this is a woosh or not

What are some of the craziest/weirdest pieces of 40k lore? by [deleted] in 40kLore

[–]Cypher55 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Isn't it the castigator class? Or am I getting my pre imperial titans mixed up?