House Marine 2 is off to an incredible begin. Not solely has it reviewed nicely, however it shattered Warhammer’s franchise file for concurrent gamers on launch day and have become Focus Leisure’s fastest-selling sport. Lengthy-time Warhammer-heads will really feel proper at residence donning the blue armor of the Ultramarines chapter, however given its present reputation, loads of newcomers are leaping into the collection for the primary time with House Marine 2. And should you wind up loving the world of Warhammer, there’s excellent news: Warhammer 40K has an enormous library of video video games, books, and tabletop miniatures to discover.
Alternatively, all that content material will be intimidating to newcomers–there are lots of of novels, dozens of video games, and practically 4 a long time of tabletop lore to compensate for. Fortunately, there are some clear entry factors into the Warhammer 40,000 universe. One of many latest is Warhammer 40,000: The Final Information. Releasing October 29, the 336-page hardcover tome is the primary official Warhammer 40,000 encyclopedia.
$40 (was $45)
Warhammer 40,000: The Final Information is filled with lore for every of 40K’s many factions, plus illustrations and high-quality images of the newest version tabletop miniatures. In case you’re curious to know extra in regards to the Imperium of Man, its super-powered House Marine troopers, and its many enemies (and victims), otherwise you’re a veteran trying to admire some well-painted minis, this ebook has each. Preorders can be found at Amazon, and you may seize it proper now for a slight low cost at $40 (usually $45).
Warhammer 40,000 Core Rulebook (free obtain)
Warhammer 40,000: The Final Information seems to be to be a stable entry level for brand new followers who desire a holistic overview of the grimdark universe and its many warring factions, however there’s loads extra 40K content material on the market for individuals who need to go deeper. One of many best locations to start out is the Warhammer 40K tenth Version tabletop core rulebook, which is obtainable as a free digital obtain. The core rulebook might be one of the best ways to get into the setting, even should you do not plan on taking part in the tabletop sport. Whereas the tabletop wargame’s guidelines take up a substantial chunk of the ebook, the remainder is chock-full of explanations of the assorted factions, weapons, and planets discovered within the 40K setting. You may as well obtain the person indexes and datasheets for every of the playable factions. These digital books comprise army-specific guidelines for the various factions and sub-factions playable within the tabletop sport. There are additionally bodily Codex books for every playable military that provide much more lore, guidelines, and different particulars.
With the Warhammer 40K tenth Version core rulebook and armed forces data in hand, you are poised to dive into different elements of the franchise–namely, the tabletop sport and its expansive line of mini-figures and the large library of Warhammer 40K novels.
The place to Begin with Warhammer 40K Tabletop and Minis
In case you’re trying to play the Warhammer 40K tabletop game–or merely accumulate, construct, and paint your individual armies–Video games Workshop has a number of starter kits which might be price trying out.
The Warhammer 40,000: Introductory Set is a two-player starter equipment that has every thing you’ll want to play, together with squads of House Marines and Tyranids, paints, a guidelines handbook, playmat, cube, and extra, for simply $55. It is a stable approach to begin taking part in and gives a superb baseline to construct a House Marine or Tyranid military.
For an excellent easier intro to the tabletop gameplay, the official House Marine board sport makes use of a streamlined model of the principles the place one participant controls a lone House Marine in opposition to a second participant commanding a big floor of Tyranids. All miniatures within the House Marine board sport come unassembled and unpainted, identical to different Warhammer minis, and are suitable with the total tabletop sport should you resolve to develop your assortment. You possibly can seize it for $40 at Goal.
In case you’re searching for an excellent lower-stakes entry level and simply need to strive your hand and constructing and portray the fashions, the Getting Began with Warhammer 40K pack is simply $17 and contains two models–one Primaris House Marine and one Tyranid Termagant–to construct and paint. Most of those kits include paints, however you may additionally need to seize the Warhammer 40K: Paints & Instruments Set, which options all of the paints and brushes you may want to color House Marines and Tyranids, or the House Marines Assault Intercessors paint set that features a number of colours not included within the different starter bundles.
The place to Begin with Warhammer 40K Books
Whilst you can study the overall lore of Warhammer 40K by way of the tenth Version rulebook, military indexes, and the upcoming Final Information encyclopedia, if you wish to learn precise tales set within the Warhammer universe, the large assortment of 40K novels has you coated. As talked about earlier, there are lots of of Warhammer 40K books in Video games Workshop’s official Black Library publishing label, all of that are set at totally different factors within the franchise’s historical past and observe totally different factions, characters, and battles. Which will sound overwhelming, however now we have a couple of suggestions to get you began. Observe that a few of these books will be exhausting to search out bodily copies of however are available in Kindle or audiobook codecs.
Warhammer 40,000: Eisenhorn novels and Warhammer 40,000: Ciaphas Cain collection
The overwhelming majority of Warhammer 40K material–books or otherwise–focuses on the House Marines, and a lot of the well-liked House Marine chapters have been featured because the protagonists in lots of novels, such because the Ultramarines, House Wolves, Salamanders, and extra. Nonetheless, there are a handful of novels that observe different factions of the Imperium, together with The Eisenhorn collection by Dan Abnett. The collection follows Gregor Eisenhorn, a member of the Imperial Inquisition investigating demonic forces threatening the Empire. Many followers take into account the collection to be top-of-the-line within the franchise. It is also simply 4 books, making it one of many shortest sub-series within the 40K canon, and a very good place to begin.
One other well-regarded collection is the Ciaphas Cain saga. These books are barely extra humorous in tone, centering on the Imperial Guard commander Ciaphas Cain and the 597th Valhallans unit as they tackle lethal missions throughout the galaxy. It is a longer collection than Eisenhorn, however every novel options the Imperial Guard locked in epic battles in opposition to varied different Warhammer 40K factions, making them a superb approach to familiarize your self with the setting’s countless warfare.
Different faction novels: Chaos, Eldar, T’au, and extra
There are additionally a handful of novels that target non-Imperium factions. Among the finest is the Night time Lords trilogy by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, which is among the few tales written from the attitude of the House Marine’s most reviled enemies, the Chaos House Marines.
If you wish to study extra in regards to the mysterious Eldar–basically the 40K model of area elves–the Path of the Eldar collection and Rise of the Ynnari duology are nice beginning factors.
There are additionally a number of collection that observe the T’au empire–which, for these unfamiliar with the setting, are technologically superior humanoid aliens with cool laser weapons and big, Gundam-like mechs. Do not let anybody mislead you; the T’au are rad and are the middle of some superior books like Shadowsun: The Affected person Hunter.
The Horus Heresy
There are lots of of different Warhammer 40K books on the market, however for individuals who need to perceive the historical past of the Imperium of Man and the way the Emperor went from a crusading galactic warlord to an timeless corpse hooked as much as a large mechanical throne that requires 1000’s of each day human sacrifices to energy and whom people worship as a residing god, there’s the large Horus Heresy collection. The Horus Heresy collection accommodates a whopping 64 books in complete that happen 10,000 years earlier than the present period of the Warhammer 40K universe, so it is a huge endeavor. It is not essential to learn all of the books to grasp the setting, however those that tackle the duty are in for an epic area opera chronicling the civil battle that result in the creation of the Chaos House Marines and the “ascension” of the human Emperor to the Golden Throne.
The place to Begin with Warhammer 40K Video Video games
Unsurprisingly for a franchise as big–and violent–as Warhammer 40K, there are dozens of video video games set within the gothic science-fantasy universe. To be honest, not all are of the best high quality, however there are many gems price trying out. The video video games solely supply a restricted look into the 40K world–and, like most 40K materials, focus totally on the House Marines–but since they’re typically self-contained tales, you possibly can soar in without having to learn by way of supplemental supplies.
The most recent – House Marine 2 and Boltgun
The most recent Warhammer 40K sport, House Marine 2, presents a centered narrative and killer third-person fight the place you play as a member of one of the vital iconic House Marine chapters, the Ultramarines. It is the follow-up to 2011’s House Marine, which is obtainable in a particular Anniversary Version for reasonable at Fanatical. The Anniversary Version comes with all of House Marine’s DLC and a bunch of bonus content material, together with a digital artwork ebook, technique information, soundtrack, and extra.
The Ultramarines are additionally the playable chapter in one other current launch, Warhammer 40K Boltgun. Boltgun is a stable alternative for individuals who need to proceed their pious campaign in opposition to the forces of Chaos in a fast-paced boomer shooter–though do not anticipate an excessive amount of story right here. The sport additionally acquired a DLC growth chapter, Forges of Corruption, earlier this yr.
One of the best – Warhammer 40,000: Daybreak of Conflict
Talking of the tabletop sport, there are additionally quite a few Warhammer 40K technique titles on the market for individuals who need an expertise nearer to the tabletop wargame, and there is none higher than Warhammer 40,000: Daybreak of Conflict. Warhammer 40K: Daybreak of Conflict is extensively thought of to be the very best Warhammer 40K sport total, with extremely replayable RTS gameplay. And due to its quite a few expansions, you possibly can play as virtually each 40K faction. The Grasp Assortment version with all expansions routinely goes on sale at Steam and GameSpot’s sibling website Fanatical, although if you wish to choose up a extra reasonably priced model, we advise the standalone Daybreak of Conflict: Darkish Campaign.
The sequels, Daybreak of Conflict 2 and three, are first rate, too, although are thought of to be steps down in high quality from the primary sport. Daybreak of Conflict 2 strips out base constructing and focuses extra on tactical maneuvers whereas controlling squads of customizable hero models. Daybreak of Conflict 3 is a hybrid that introduced again base-building however has a a lot smaller scope with fewer playable factions and a extra slim technique focus in comparison with the primary sport.
Flip-based techniques – Battlesector, Machanicus, and Chaos Gate: Daemonhunters
Daybreak of Conflict is nice, however its real-time technique gameplay is a departure from the turn-based design of the unique tabletop sport. So, should you’re searching for probably the most tabletop-accurate Warhammer 40K online game, you may need to take a look at Warhammer 40K: Battlesector. This turn-based techniques sport is probably the most devoted adaptation of the tabletop sport’s guidelines and gameplay movement. Sadly, that additionally extends to the way in which the sport presents its content material. The bottom sport solely contains the Blood Angels House Marine faction and the Tyranids as the one playable factions. Different factions and even further playable models should be bought through DLC. Fortunately, the sport and its DLC packs typically go on sale.
For various turn-based picks, Chaos Gate: Daemonhunters and Mechanicus each supply X-Com-like tactical gameplay the place you play as distinctive subfactions of the Imperium–specifically the Inquisition’s Gray Knights in Chaos Gate: Daemonhunters and the techpriests of the Adeptus Mechanicus in Mechanicus.
For RPG lovers – Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Dealer
For many who desire a extra narrative-driven sport, there’s Warhammer 40K: Rogue Dealer, which additionally dropped in 2023. This RPG presents turn-based fight, branching narratives, a number of get together members to recruit, and even your individual ship to customise. The title “Rogue Dealer” comes from the subtitle for the Warhammer 40K tabletop sport’s first version, which featured far more conventional roleplaying in comparison with the wargame focus of later variations.
These suggestions are only a small number of the various Warhammer 40,000 video video games, books, and tabletop kits on the market, however they’re greater than sufficient to get you acquainted with one of many largest, most over-the-top fictional universes ever concocted.
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