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I remember reading on the Lexicanum that the Old Ones had a hand in uplifting or creating humanity, but due to the war were unable to fully develop them.

I was wondering if there's anything out there about what their main purpose was, other than just another thing to throw at their enemies. They already had the orks, the brutes that spread like a plague, and the eldar the quick and psychic warriors. Was humanity suppose to be the in-between-er?

If there's nothing out there, I'd like to hear some theories!

Speedbump for their enemies.

Humanity has no purpose. It is like a canker on the hide of an old one.

 Guardsmen Bob wrote:
I remember reading on the Lexicanum that the Old Ones had a hand in uplifting or creating humanity, but due to the war were unable to fully develop them.

I was wondering if there's anything out there about what their main purpose was, other than just another thing to throw at their enemies. They already had the orks, the brutes that spread like a plague, and the eldar the quick and psychic warriors. Was humanity suppose to be the in-between-er?

If there's nothing out there, I'd like to hear some theories!

My theory is that the Old Ones were Humanity ( like Ancients from Stargate universe ) but the survivors were to few and all of that happened so long ago that we have forgotten all of that.

Humanity indeed has purpose: to fight and defeat Chaos. That is probably the hardest battle us to wage giving that we also must fight itself as well as Chaos Gods. The way I see it, Orks were there to oppose any incoming alien races who would exterminate us ( Tyranids ) while Eldar are there to over watch us and our development until we were ready one day to replace Old Ones and keep the galactic peace and order. Unfortunately many things happened along the way and the situation is like it is.

But it is just my theory, I could be wrong.

 Brother Captain Alexander wrote:

 Guardsmen Bob wrote:
I remember reading on the Lexicanum that the Old Ones had a hand in uplifting or creating humanity, but due to the war were unable to fully develop them.

I was wondering if there's anything out there about what their main purpose was, other than just another thing to throw at their enemies. They already had the orks, the brutes that spread like a plague, and the eldar the quick and psychic warriors. Was humanity suppose to be the in-between-er?

If there's nothing out there, I'd like to hear some theories!

My theory is that the Old Ones were Humanity ( like Ancients from Stargate universe ) but the survivors were to few and all of that happened so long ago that we have forgotten all of that.

Humanity indeed has purpose: to fight and defeat Chaos. That is probably the hardest battle us to wage giving that we also must fight itself as well as Chaos Gods. The way I see it, Orks were there to oppose any incoming alien races who would exterminate us ( Tyranids ) while Eldar are there to over watch us and our development until we were ready one day to replace Old Ones and keep the galactic peace and order. Unfortunately many things happened along the way and the situation is like it is.

But it is just my theory, I could be wrong.

Or the human race from the Halo extended universe, that's an interesting read. We were supposedly advanced enough to build new stars, but we were killed off by the flood/forerunners and were originally allies with the covenant.

I agree with you though. That's kinda our purpose, since we're the only race at the moment in 40k that has enough strength to fight them. You have Orks, but they lack a real unity or caring. We just didn't see this, and got ourselves involved in fighting everything else. I kinda wonder what would happen if the IoM stopped fighting Xenos and focused nearly all of it's military power to the Eye of Terror....

And while the Eldar don't really like us, they hate Chaos more and the old adage of "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" comes into play. They would help us fight Chaos, but we just kill them before they get the chance haha. So they tend to keep away from us, but overall if Terra was about to fall they would do whatever they possibly could to keep it from happening because they know if the IoM is defeated their race and everything else in the galaxy is screwed

 washout77 wrote:


Or the human race from the Halo extended universe, that's an interesting read. We were supposedly advanced enough to build new stars, but we were killed off by the flood/forerunners and were originally allies with the covenant.

More than that - the Precursors intended for Humanity to succeed them, and not the Forerunners, and the Librarian once said that Humanity's gene plan (our genetic development) would have surpassed the Forerunners' own within a few generation had the Forerunners not crushed the Ancient Empire, implying that while the Forerunners had a Tier One civilization, the Ancient Empire would have achieved Tier Zero in short order.

Even better is the fact that the Flood chose not to consume Humanity after the Ancient Empire began to fight back; apparently, even the Flood - implied to have been created by the Precursors to judge Humanity and the Forerunners for the right of succession - chose Humanity to succeed the Precursors, and not the Forerunners (who were deemed a failure and were meant to be consumed).

 Brother Captain Alexander wrote:

 Guardsmen Bob wrote:
I remember reading on the Lexicanum that the Old Ones had a hand in uplifting or creating humanity, but due to the war were unable to fully develop them.

I was wondering if there's anything out there about what their main purpose was, other than just another thing to throw at their enemies. They already had the orks, the brutes that spread like a plague, and the eldar the quick and psychic warriors. Was humanity suppose to be the in-between-er?

If there's nothing out there, I'd like to hear some theories!

My theory is that the Old Ones were Humanity ( like Ancients from Stargate universe ) but the survivors were to few and all of that happened so long ago that we have forgotten all of that.

Humanity indeed has purpose: to fight and defeat Chaos. That is probably the hardest battle us to wage giving that we also must fight itself as well as Chaos Gods. The way I see it, Orks were there to oppose any incoming alien races who would exterminate us ( Tyranids ) while Eldar are there to over watch us and our development until we were ready one day to replace Old Ones and keep the galactic peace and order. Unfortunately many things happened along the way and the situation is like it is.

But it is just my theory, I could be wrong.

I like that theory
But, if humans were created for a purpose, I'd guess it was to play a game of "Hammer and Anvil" against the enemy, by working with orks. Orks chuck a wall of expendable things, creating the "Anvil", humans invent a feth ton of OP ways to kill things, and then hit hard at the best moment, as the "Hammer".
Eldar would have been there to keep things organised, and to make surgical strikes etc.

My theory is that the Old Ones were Humanity ( like Ancients from Stargate universe ) but the survivors were to few and all of that happened so long ago that we have forgotten all of that.

I donlt know how far back your reading of the fluff goes, but that only works if ancient Humanity were the Slann, and looked like amphibians.

 AegisGrimm wrote:

My theory is that the Old Ones were Humanity ( like Ancients from Stargate universe ) but the survivors were to few and all of that happened so long ago that we have forgotten all of that.

I donlt know how far back your reading of the fluff goes, but that only works if ancient Humanity were the Slann, and looked like amphibians.

Well, Humans have webbed feet and hands in early stages of life

 washout77 wrote:

 AegisGrimm wrote:

My theory is that the Old Ones were Humanity ( like Ancients from Stargate universe ) but the survivors were to few and all of that happened so long ago that we have forgotten all of that.

I donlt know how far back your reading of the fluff goes, but that only works if ancient Humanity were the Slann, and looked like amphibians.

Well, Humans have webbed feet and hands in early stages of life

And other amphibian features, such as willingly loosing salt through sweat, the fact that we have the remnants of a second set of eyelids (like on crocodiles), and that our skin is actually made of tiny scales.

The Old Ones died out 60 million years ago. At that time the most advanced mammals on earth were small and rodent like.

KingDeath wrote:
The Old Ones died out 60 million years ago. At that time the most advanced mammals on earth were small and rodent like.

Well, I hate to say it but:
No cannon. *Don't hit me!*

I don't think you could safely say that ALL of them were killed, due to their advanced technology (to the point of being almost magic), and the sheer scale of the universe.
We know that their empire was destroyed by the 'crons, but there could have been some left over, who went into hiding from the 'crons. Far away.
Possibly to earth (which isn't a tomb world, so this theory is at least possible).

 chromedog wrote:
Speedbump for their enemies.

Humanity has no purpose. It is like a canker on the hide of an old one.

I agree with this guy,... humanity has always acted like a fast spreading disease that kills anything it touches... We present ourselves as good and such,.. but even in the imperium they convert entire worlds to manufactorum worlds etc which pretty much destroys the entire eco systems there... We attack aliens purely because they aint human,...

Selym wrote:

KingDeath wrote:


I don't think you could safely say that ALL of them were killed, due to their advanced technology (to the point of being almost magic), and the sheer scale of the universe.
We know that their empire was destroyed by the 'crons, but there could have been some left over, who went into hiding from the 'crons. Far away.
Possibly to earth (which isn't a tomb world, so this theory is at least possible).

Some of the Old Ones could have actually survived...Necron codex p. 26 states that they the Old Ones were brought to the edge of extinction and the very few remaining ones were scattered and lost their power forever.

 Waaghboss Grobnub wrote:

 chromedog wrote:
Speedbump for their enemies.

Humanity has no purpose. It is like a canker on the hide of an old one.

I agree with this guy,... humanity has always acted like a fast spreading disease that kills anything it touches... We present ourselves as good and such,.. but even in the imperium they convert entire worlds to manufactorum worlds etc which pretty much destroys the entire eco systems there... We attack aliens purely because they aint human,...

Nearly everyone in 40k screws around with planets to turn them into not what they used to be. Eldar do it in turning worlds into maiden worlds, Tau do it to planets that they dislike by turning it into a testing ground. Orks do what humans do in polluting planets.

Everyone attacks each other in 40k for one reason or another. Seriously, you guys play the TT and yet its like you don't read the fluff.

Everyone screws up the galaxy one way or another, humanity as presented on the TT is the heroic side of humanity defending the imperium of man. However the Imperium is a corrupt rotting husk of its former glory, it is highly xenophobic and sees its populace as a resource ( forge worlds/ deathworlds that rely on recruits for the guard for an income etc etc)

 sierra 1247 wrote:
Everyone screws up the galaxy one way or another, humanity as presented on the TT is the heroic side of humanity defending the imperium of man. However the Imperium is a corrupt rotting husk of its former glory, it is highly xenophobic and sees its populace as a resource ( forge worlds/ deathworlds that rely on recruits for the guard for an income etc etc)

Most of the xeno races are not to be trusted or liked for that matter. Humans are resources to everyone in 40k. Tau do it, Chaos do it, Dark Eldar do it, Eldar do it, Orks do it, Stryxis do it, Imperium does it and I'm sure human worlds outside of the Imperium do it too.

I nowadays don't bother with the TT. I focus on the rpg fluff. Frankly, in 40k it all comes down to what faction you prefer and whether you think they will be good for the one's you're sympathetic to or care about.

 sierra 1247 wrote:
Everyone screws up the galaxy one way or another, humanity as presented on the TT is the heroic side of humanity defending the imperium of man. However the Imperium is a corrupt rotting husk of its former glory, it is highly xenophobic and sees its populace as a resource ( forge worlds/ deathworlds that rely on recruits for the guard for an income etc etc)

Yep, my chaos army is a good example of humans being dark. I've got 40+ cultists who's job description is "meatshield" and get fielded very often, and I've never seen an opponent willing to face my chaos lord 1-on-1, and is kitted out with some pretty inhumane ways of killing things.

TT aside, proof of the IOM's darkness is easily seen, and very well portrayed in "Dead Men Walking", a BL book about the DKoK vs Necrons, and describes their inhumane training, and their dehumanization by isolation. And then a brilliantly brutal account of how little humans care about human life in warfare.

Selym wrote:

 sierra 1247 wrote:
Everyone screws up the galaxy one way or another, humanity as presented on the TT is the heroic side of humanity defending the imperium of man. However the Imperium is a corrupt rotting husk of its former glory, it is highly xenophobic and sees its populace as a resource ( forge worlds/ deathworlds that rely on recruits for the guard for an income etc etc)

Yep, my chaos army is a good example of humans being dark. I've got 40+ cultists who's job description is "meatshield" and get fielded very often, and I've never seen an opponent willing to face my chaos lord 1-on-1, and is kitted out with some pretty inhumane ways of killing things.

TT aside, proof of the IOM's darkness is easily seen, and very well portrayed in "Dead Men Walking", a BL book about the DKoK vs Necrons, and describes their inhumane training, and their dehumanization by isolation. And then a brilliantly brutal account of how little humans care about human life in warfare.

uh....the DKoK made themselves the way they are. The Imperium didn't do it.

About humans not caring about human life in warfare, just look at WW1 and WW2 and the Vietnam war to see that in RL.

The Imperium does evacuate its citizens if it can such as with Medusa and when Kryptman gave his exterminatus order or was it when the Nids were advancing I forget?

The Imperium now is essentially a shadow of its former glory, a rotting carcass clinging to life. And thats why i play HH instead. Theres something more on the line rather than the eternal stalemate of 40k

Another thing, if the Bloodtide DAoT weapon is still canon and not been retconned by Ward's nonsense they even DAoT humanity wasn't good hearted.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 sierra 1247 wrote:
The Imperium now is essentially a shadow of its former glory, a rotting carcass clinging to life. And thats why i play HH instead. Theres something more on the line rather than the eternal stalemate of 40k

And this has to do what with the thread's topic?

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

 Waaghboss Grobnub wrote:

 chromedog wrote:
Speedbump for their enemies.

Humanity has no purpose. It is like a canker on the hide of an old one.

I agree with this guy,... humanity has always acted like a fast spreading disease that kills anything it touches... We present ourselves as good and such,.. but even in the imperium they convert entire worlds to manufactorum worlds etc which pretty much destroys the entire eco systems there... We attack aliens purely because they aint human,...

Nearly everyone in 40k screws around with planets to turn them into not what they used to be. Eldar do it in turning worlds into maiden worlds, Tau do it to planets that they dislike by turning it into a testing ground. Orks do what humans do in polluting planets.

Everyone attacks each other in 40k for one reason or another. Seriously, you guys play the TT and yet its like you don't read the fluff.

Oh i read tons of fluff, i have about 30 novels and every codex in pdf just decided to focus on humans on this one since the topic was about 'umies

Here's a funny fluff for you guys:

PLANETARY CULTURE

When colonists first arrived upon Skrynne, they attempted
to establish a democratic system that remained consistent
with the teachings of the Ecclesiarchy and acceptable to the
Imperium. However, the combination of constant attacks
by indigenous creatures, occasional Ork assaults, and their
limited resources kept them from long-term success. Several
alternatives were attempted before the political structure
devolved into a merit-based oligarchy.

From the time of the first landing, the Ecclesiarchy has always
been a strong influence upon Skrynne’s culture. The citizens have
always been guided by priests whose teachings remain consistent
with those of the Calixis Sector at large. There are no Inquisitorial
reports of religious heresy on Skrynne, though there is no record
of substantial Inquisitorial investigation on the planet.

Bot quotes are from Only War core rulebook pg 378-379

Corporal_Reznov wrote:
Another thing, if the Bloodtide DAoT weapon is still canon and not been retconned by Ward's nonsense they even DAoT humanity wasn't good hearted.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 sierra 1247 wrote:
The Imperium now is essentially a shadow of its former glory, a rotting carcass clinging to life. And thats why i play HH instead. Theres something more on the line rather than the eternal stalemate of 40k

And this has to do what with the thread's topic?

well fair enough about the HH bit, but i was referring to my earlier comments about humanity basically destroying itself ands screwing itself over...

 sierra 1247 wrote:

Corporal_Reznov wrote:
Another thing, if the Bloodtide DAoT weapon is still canon and not been retconned by Ward's nonsense they even DAoT humanity wasn't good hearted.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 sierra 1247 wrote:
The Imperium now is essentially a shadow of its former glory, a rotting carcass clinging to life. And thats why i play HH instead. Theres something more on the line rather than the eternal stalemate of 40k

And this has to do what with the thread's topic?

well fair enough about the HH bit, but i was referring to my earlier comments about humanity basically destroying itself ands screwing itself over...

Humanity was screwed over by the galatic circumstances, alien races, itself and because of traitors.

I feel maybe the Humans were created by the old ones as a mid-ground between Eldar and the Orks.

So, stronger physically, more warlike, and with greater numbers than the Eldar, but smarter, more psychically-active, and with better technology (arguably) than the Orks.

That was always my interpretation, anyway - we're the "compromise" race

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

 sierra 1247 wrote:

Corporal_Reznov wrote:
Another thing, if the Bloodtide DAoT weapon is still canon and not been retconned by Ward's nonsense they even DAoT humanity wasn't good hearted.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 sierra 1247 wrote:
The Imperium now is essentially a shadow of its former glory, a rotting carcass clinging to life. And thats why i play HH instead. Theres something more on the line rather than the eternal stalemate of 40k

And this has to do what with the thread's topic?

well fair enough about the HH bit, but i was referring to my earlier comments about humanity basically destroying itself ands screwing itself over...

Humanity was screwed over by the galatic circumstances, alien races, itself and because of traitors.

No, humanity was screwed over by GW's fluff On a more serious note humanity are basically there to be the flawed good guys who are either never going to win or just slowly die out attempting to end chaos but end up fueling it with traitors and cultists from its own ranks.

 sierra 1247 wrote:

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

 sierra 1247 wrote:

Corporal_Reznov wrote:
Another thing, if the Bloodtide DAoT weapon is still canon and not been retconned by Ward's nonsense they even DAoT humanity wasn't good hearted.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 sierra 1247 wrote:
The Imperium now is essentially a shadow of its former glory, a rotting carcass clinging to life. And thats why i play HH instead. Theres something more on the line rather than the eternal stalemate of 40k

And this has to do what with the thread's topic?

well fair enough about the HH bit, but i was referring to my earlier comments about humanity basically destroying itself ands screwing itself over...

Humanity was screwed over by the galatic circumstances, alien races, itself and because of traitors.

No, humanity was screwed over by GW's fluff

This is the actual true answer. But lets just stick with in-universe reasons which are the ones I posted .

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

 sierra 1247 wrote:

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

 sierra 1247 wrote:

Corporal_Reznov wrote:
Another thing, if the Bloodtide DAoT weapon is still canon and not been retconned by Ward's nonsense they even DAoT humanity wasn't good hearted.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 sierra 1247 wrote:
The Imperium now is essentially a shadow of its former glory, a rotting carcass clinging to life. And thats why i play HH instead. Theres something more on the line rather than the eternal stalemate of 40k

And this has to do what with the thread's topic?

well fair enough about the HH bit, but i was referring to my earlier comments about humanity basically destroying itself ands screwing itself over...

Humanity was screwed over by the galatic circumstances, alien races, itself and because of traitors.

No, humanity was screwed over by GW's fluff

This is the actual true answer. But lets just stick with in-universe reasons which are the ones I posted .

Couldnt resist that truth be told Humanity is well and truly fethed unless they can actually make an alliance with the Eldar and/or Tau to unite against chaos and nids. So essentially they are fethed....

 sierra 1247 wrote:

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

 sierra 1247 wrote:

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

 sierra 1247 wrote:

Corporal_Reznov wrote:
Another thing, if the Bloodtide DAoT weapon is still canon and not been retconned by Ward's nonsense they even DAoT humanity wasn't good hearted.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 sierra 1247 wrote:
The Imperium now is essentially a shadow of its former glory, a rotting carcass clinging to life. And thats why i play HH instead. Theres something more on the line rather than the eternal stalemate of 40k

And this has to do what with the thread's topic?

well fair enough about the HH bit, but i was referring to my earlier comments about humanity basically destroying itself ands screwing itself over...

Humanity was screwed over by the galatic circumstances, alien races, itself and because of traitors.

No, humanity was screwed over by GW's fluff

This is the actual true answer. But lets just stick with in-universe reasons which are the ones I posted .

Couldnt resist that truth be told Humanity is well and truly fethed unless they can actually make an alliance with the Eldar and/or Tau to unite against chaos and nids. So essentially they are fethed....

There have been temporary alliances between these 3 races. Tau and Imperium can't be at peace with each other, ignoring the xenophobia here, cause the Tau believe that they should be the rulers of the galaxy which is something the Imperium contests cause they(Imperium) believe that they should rule the galaxy. The Imperium doesn't need the Tau to fight off the Nids or Chaos.

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

 sierra 1247 wrote:

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

 sierra 1247 wrote:

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

 sierra 1247 wrote:

Corporal_Reznov wrote:
Another thing, if the Bloodtide DAoT weapon is still canon and not been retconned by Ward's nonsense they even DAoT humanity wasn't good hearted.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 sierra 1247 wrote:
The Imperium now is essentially a shadow of its former glory, a rotting carcass clinging to life. And thats why i play HH instead. Theres something more on the line rather than the eternal stalemate of 40k

And this has to do what with the thread's topic?

well fair enough about the HH bit, but i was referring to my earlier comments about humanity basically destroying itself ands screwing itself over...

Humanity was screwed over by the galatic circumstances, alien races, itself and because of traitors.

No, humanity was screwed over by GW's fluff

This is the actual true answer. But lets just stick with in-universe reasons which are the ones I posted .

True, but it wouldnt hurt having a few mantas or hammerheads backing you up right? Though it is Tau so theyll probably miss everything they shoot at anyways and "accidentally" wipe out a load of SM or IG
Couldnt resist that truth be told Humanity is well and truly fethed unless they can actually make an alliance with the Eldar and/or Tau to unite against chaos and nids. So essentially they are fethed....

There have been temporary alliances between these 3 races. Tau and Imperium can't be at peace with each other, ignoring the xenophobia here, cause the Tau believe that they should be the rulers of the galaxy which is something the Imperium contests cause they(Imperium) believe that they should rule the galaxy. The Imperium doesn't need the Tau to fight off the Nids or Chaos.