Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Which unit or GW creation embodies what 40k is about the best and why. I would say a space marine tactical marine with a bolter. Or an ork boy with chopper and slugga. The space marine because it represents a life dedicated to war deliberately created to protect and destroy and sort of embodies 40k. An ork boy because it best represents the original concept that 40k was about, unrealistic, massively over muscled monsters to play with for fun!

Eldar Guardians.

"40k basically started when we glued guns to our elves."

A single imperial guardsman, i believe they show the absolute futility of a fight yet the desire to fight it to the death

Ordo Heretic Inquisitor Lord. It is obviously scifi and any place with Inquisitors running around is not somewhere you ever want to be.

Wish there was an actual model that looked this good.

I'd say Khorne Berzerkers. A: Because their slogan is something fans actually use. B: Because they are unrealistic. C: Because they embody the 40k love of running towards something and hitting it with your blade. D: Because they have a lot of skulls. E: Because they fight for fighting's sake, which is the purest motivation to have when you're a tiny plastic man in a wargame. Finally, they wear iconic 40k power armour.
And kuz they're grimdark.

Orks.

Any unit.

Seriously.


Especially stuff like the SAG




Failing that, probably an IG Commisar.

To me? A Space Marine tactical squad.

 Furyou Miko wrote:
Eldar Guardians.

"40k basically started when we glued guns to our elves."

That quote is fantastic, is it actually from the studio? If it is who said it?

A Kriegsman.

Grimdark!

Terminator Space Marine.

An Ultramarines tactical squad.

They're on all the posters...

 Amaya wrote:
Ordo Heretic Inquisitor Lord. It is obviously scifi and any place with Inquisitors running around is not somewhere you ever want to be.

Wish there was an actual model that looked this good.

Spoiler:

Check out the Witch hound. This is what I use for my Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor. With a few addons, it could be close to that picture.

http://www.avatars-of-war.com/eng/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=119

Space marine chaplain. You get all the iconic stuff you do with a tactical marine, but with the frothing zealotry and melee bashing of the game.

I'd have to agree with the Khorne Berzerker. And if you like, a Tactical Marine.

They're probably some of the most iconic looking entities to someone that doesn't play. For the long time before I finally took the plunge, whenever someone said "Warhammer", I automatically thought of an eight foot tall Ultramarine and an equally tall Berzerker duking it out.

Space Marine Dreadnough. A tactical marine is easily the most iconic entity in 40k, but a dreadnough embodies what 40k is all about. Rediculously ancient killing machine using questionable technology powered by the corpse of a fallen hero, with guns on.

the Fortress of Redemption sums up the IOM pretty well too.

Huge, somewhat clunky and riveted looking, a mix of medieval and futuristic, with feth-you-with-a-greatsword overtones..

The Basilica Administratum. It's a ruined building that is 50% building, 50% skulls.

Although even for 40k, I think there's too much building and not enough skulls.

Tactical Marine Squad

The Ork Boy. Nothing embodies 40k like several hundred pounds of alien muscle guided by a fearless, brutal mind.

IMO not really Orks, because they are in all things fantasy: LoTR, Warcraft, Fantasy etc.

SM versus CSM.

It shows us that the 40th Millenium isn't exactly impossible. History tells us of betrayal all the time. Basically it's just futuristic battle of good mankind versus Evil mankind

http://khornesherald.tumblr.com/post/30598169801

 rednecroncryptek wrote:
SM versus CSM.

A boring and repetitive conflict, which is in no way indicative of the creative potential of the hobby.

If you want a "X vs Y" comparison instead of picking a single unit or entity, Imperial Guard vs Orks or Imperial Guard vs Tyranids defines 40k. Without these conflicts, 40k doesn't exist. You can remove Marines vs Marines from 40k and let it still be 40k. You can't remove these conflicts and still have it be 40k.

True, but what i was trying to truly recognize was that there is no one squad that fully embodies the 40K universe, but entire armies, matchups, and ultimately the background. I think that one unit that may embody the 40K universe is a Venerable Dreadnought or Dark Eldar warriors on a Raider. Nothing says futuristic war than a super human that was built for war, and was pretty much killed than slapped into a walking, armoured life support machine with guns on it. And Dark Eldar warriors on a raider because Grim Dark = super fast spiky people who leap of zooming transports to kill and drag back slaves of whoms life source they will consume.

Plus, an 'X vs Y' conflict of 40K IMO would be actually Tyranids vs Necrons because Necrons want nothing more than to be flesh once again (flayed ones embody this), and tyranids are ALL flesh and they still want more. That is a grudge match vs

Well yes, it's an interesting grudge match, but I would still say that Guard vs Orks and Guard vs Tyranids is more iconic. Preferably the former-- lots more interaction between characters that way.

If your response was not "Tactical Marine/Chainsword sergeant", "Ork Boy", or "Eldar Guardian", you're wrong.

In terms of a unit: Ork boyz.

In terms of an entity: Khorne. "There is only war," after all...

Squats. They perfectly embody where GW is trying to go.

It has got to be the commisar. Shooting your own soldiers in the face is soooooo grimdark.

And they also get sweet trenchcoats.

A Space Marine.