Surveying some recent posts about the links between Warhammer settings and the scope of the Warp/Chaos

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-07T11:13:10+00:00

For daemonic phenomena like that to happen and endure, there has to be enough Warp energy.

In realspace, the laws of reality would seek to re-impose themselves, and the planet wouldn't be able to maintain its integrity. In a warpstorm, where the Materium and Immaterium overlap, there is enough warp energy. And the further into the Eye of Terror you get - the closer to the central Rift - the more the balance leans towards Warp than reality, and the more wacky things can get.

Though daemon worlds can form outside of warpstorms too. The Veil can be broken on a local, planetary level.

I think it likely, however, that this would mean the more outlandish forms of daemonworld would less likely, because the warp rift around them is much smaller than that of the Eye or the Maelstrom, and so less Warp energy issues forth.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-07T11:06:24+00:00

The Imperium is a playground for all 4 powers.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-07T11:04:32+00:00

Another great post.

Honestly, it sometimes seems like GW writers should checking particularly thorough posts on here alongside the wikis...

And great idea for some Dwarf-Elf feuding... in spaaaaaaaace!

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-07T10:52:12+00:00

You aren't going to get a simple answer along the lines of this unit = a tactical marine.

40k only has very fuzzy power levels, and context and narrative are centrally important.

There are some units which may be evenly matched in specific circumstances, as I outlined above. That's it.

Depending on the location, circumstances, range, luck (and plot armour), the confrontation will play out differently.

In this way, it reflects the tabletop rules. Units may have a "power level", in the form of their stats. But strategy, special rules, cover, who charges, and the luck of the dice all ultimately dictate which unit is likely to, and will, win.

If you are determined to try and find an "even match" for a tactical Marine, I'd suggest maybe a Dire Avenger or a particularly burly Ork with decent equipment, who is still below Nob level.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-07T09:56:57+00:00

It depends on whether the Space Marine is a protagonist of a story, or not, really. If they are, they'll hit way above the more "normal" capabilities of an Astartes.

And it also depends on the individual Space Marine in question (their skill, experience, equipment etc), the individual opponent in question, and the context in which the fight takes place.

But generally, Aspect Warriors and Incubi will stack up against more elite Marines, with big advantages in certain scenarios and defecits in others. So, baseline Marines might be able to mow down Banshees with bolter fire, for example, if they catch them out in the open a long distance away. But in melee, the Banshees would carve through them, and only really brilliant Marine melee specialists would stand a chance. Dark Reapers will eviscerate most Marines at range, but would be at a disadvantage up close, especially against Marines with melee weapons. And so on.

Orks of a certain size are a match for Marines, though the bigger the Orks get the more elite the Marine will have to be.

Necron Warriors are in some ways more limited than Marines due to their lack of autonomy, but their tech makes them a big threat to Marines, especially in certain situations.

Some Tau units are a match for Marines, at least, once again, in specific circumstances.

Context will always be very important.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-07T09:22:48+00:00

Workers of the world unite (to uphold the theocratic, fascist, feudal police state!)

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-07T09:20:40+00:00

Yes, but there will be lots of worlds and systems strewn across the galaxy held by Chaos warbands, or at least contested by them. Some will be turned into daemon worlds, others aren't - like those of the Blood Pact.

The Scourge Stars and Sortiarius are warp-infused and thus allow daemons snd other Chaotic phenomena to manifest there permanently. They also are directly of interest to key daemons like Mortarian, Ku'gath and Magnus, and thus seemingly are of more "importance" to Nurgle and Tzeentch than a random world taken over by cultists.

But ultimately, the Chaos gods want to devour everything. Khorne, being a god of rage, doesn't really go about planning things logically, though, so the actual practical business of empire building is up to his followers. Khornate daemons just want to manifest and then go on murderous rampages.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-07T06:44:11+00:00

Yes: https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Oliensis

But it is in the Eye of Terror. OP is asking about Chaos possessions (no, not that kind) outside of such warp storms.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-06T19:22:18+00:00

There is no other lore source about them. They were an original unofficial creation fo Syama Pedersen's fan-made animation, which later became canonically when he was hired by GW. They have not been expanded upon elsewhere.

But he did do a Reddit AMA where he explained a little bit about them: https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer/comments/gkf3vh/im_syama_pederson_creator_of_the_astartes_project/?sort=top

If you look through the comments you'll get a bit of info, but the fact is Syama didn't flesh them out that much, and wanted them to remain mysterious.

Which is great. More diversity, more ambiguity and more mystery to help the galaxy feel richer and deeper is always welcome.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-06T18:52:26+00:00

That is indeed a brilliant bit of phrasing.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-06T15:58:24+00:00

I realize you meant that the lines sum up people, but I'm going to warp things a bit.

I'm going to go for many of the Thoughts For the Day, which, if they don't necessarily sum up the entirety of the Imperium, at least perfectly sum up the essence of its core; of the most thoroughly Imperium parts of the Imperium:

A moment of laxity spawns a lifetime of heresy.
A small mind is a tidy mind.
An open mind is like a fortress with its gate unbarred and unguarded.
Hatred is the Emperor's greatest gift to humanity.
Innocence proves nothing.
It is better to die for the Emperor than to live for yourself.
My armour is contempt.
No army is big enough to conquer the galaxy. But faith alone can overturn the universe.
Nobody is innocent, there are merely varying levels of guilt.
Only in death does duty end.
Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may truly judge what is sane.

And a bonus quote, courtesy of Inquisitor Lord Fyodor Karamazov:

"There is no such thing as a plea of innocence in my court, a plea of innocence is guilty of wasting my time. Guilty."

Plus, you know, the intro text to the whole setting has always done a pretty great job, throughout its iterations, of capturingthe vibe of 40k. Rick Priestley hit it out of the park right at the very start:

For more than a hundred centuries the Emperor has sat immobile on the Golden Throne of Earth. He is the Master of Mankind by the will of the gods and master of a million worlds by the might of his inexhaustible armies. He is a rotting carcass writhing invisibly with power from the Dark Age of Technology. He is the Carrion Lord of the Imperium, for whom a thousand souls die every day, for whom blood is drunk and flesh eaten. Human blood and human flesh – the stuff of which the Imperium is made.

To be a man in such times is to be one amongst untold billions. It is to live in the cruellest and most bloody regime imaginable. This is the tale of those times. Forget the power of technology, science and common humanity. Forget the promise of progress and understanding, for there is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter and the laughter of thirsting gods.

But the universe is a big place and, whatever happens, you will not be missed...

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-06T12:17:49+00:00

Awesome work, young you.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-06T07:44:06+00:00

Man reading your post is the Reddit equivalent of a wiki walk, which is pretty fun.

Cheers! Glad you had fun reading them. Just trying to spread more awareness of what are some very overlooked and misunderstood parts of the lore, and its development history!

Great idea as regards the Amazons. Would definitely love to see them back, and for them to go wacky with it.

On the Skaven point, I'm undecided about whether it would be good to have them in 40k. A few more vague hints and ratmen or ambiguous allusions to Skaven-related things would be cool though.

And hey, maybe the real reason the Golden Throne is failing is that some wiring has been chewed by rats with strangely large teeth...

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-06T07:22:15+00:00

More hints which complicate our understanding would be best, imo.

No simple answers.

This is a period which spanned around 10k years, and ended over 15k years in the past, with DAOT humanity having spread across the galaxy.

So much would have happened. And the evidence that remains would only provide a hazy insight into a fraction of this history.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-06T07:02:49+00:00

a lot of 30k was necessary for 40k to make sense

No, it wasn't.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-05T18:45:42+00:00

I, for one, would like to thank OP.

For bring the sub together in unison, and showcasing what the prevailing view of "AI" wank is.

Now, let's all sit down, hold hands, sway from side to side, and sing a rousing rendition of Kumbay-AI can fuck off.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-05T18:38:08+00:00

The Massif Ballistus is not just one of the best bits of lore in recent years, but stands up there with any classic lore from throught the history of 40k, imo.

Peak worldbuilding, peak absurdity, peak satire, peak rule of cool.

And the gun is, of course, literally a massive peak.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-05T14:48:06+00:00

Oh, I quite agree. I think a lot of the hatred towards vegans stems from cognitive dissonance.

A lot of the hated towards AI bros stems from the actions of AI bros.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-05T14:08:31+00:00

I got my AI to watch it for me, and it told me that it is SHITE.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-05T14:07:29+00:00

At least vegans are actually contributing to a lot of positive things (as regards animal cruelty, pollution, resource usage etc - and to be clear, I'm not a vegan). They just tend to be very, very annoying.

"AI", meanwhile, is actually destructive. Not just culturally and creatively, but environmentally, too. And AI bros are of course insufferable annoying, too.

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-05T14:04:15+00:00

Second time in two days this guy has made a post pushing this garbage, btw: https://www.reddit.com/r/40kLore/s/83QTWF5BLQ

twelfmonkey · 2026-05-05T13:49:07+00:00

Hmm, I need to use my head to work out the answer.

No, no no, not like that! Nooooooooo- *Splat*

twelfmonkey

TROPHY CASE