Do you know the fluff?

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**kingbobbito**

Not long ago, a poll went up asking how well people knew the rules, and it was largely stated that people know the rules, with limited exceptions they double check. So here's what I want to know then, how well do you know the fluff? Do you care more about the game or the story behind 40k?

If you have some alternate form of knowledge that you feel needs bragging about, feel free to say so and I might add it.

**Alex Kolodotschko**

I retain very little of the history and timelines as it doesn't really interest me and I'm happiest forging my own narrative.
My knowledge of the rest of the stuff is pretty good although I pick and choose which bits I prefer from RT era onwards.

**Slaanesh-Devotee**

I love reading the limited stuff in the codices etc, because it adds lots of flavour and helps me guide my own stories.

I find most of the novels are not very interesting to read, and present a view of the 40k universe that generally conflicts with the parts I like.

**vipoid**

I've read most of the fluff in the 3rd edition Necron book, the 4th edition nid book, the 5th edition Dark Eldar book and the 6th edition IG book. Make of that what you will.

In all honesty though, I just don't find most 40k fluff particularly gripping. Nothing I've read has made me the slightest bit interested in picking up a 40k novel or reading the fluff for armies I don't own (I haven't even read a lot of the fluff for the armies I do own).

**BlaxicanX**

I've read the fluff of all the 5th, 6th and 7th edition codices. I've read the first ~ten Horus Heresy novels, all of the Gaunt's Ghosts novels, the Eisenhorn and Ravenor series, all of ADB's books, Index Astartes, a few of the Imperial Army books, all of the Forgeworld Horus Heresy books, the first two Ciaphus Cain omnibuses, the Eldar trilogy and a few scattered Space Marine Battles books and Imperial Guard stand-alone books.

The last book I finished was Gunheads- currently working on the first Shia Capurnia novel. My interest in the fluff has waned greatly over time- about 3/4ths of the books mentioned above were read in about a year, circa 2011. Since then the rate at which I can tolerate Black Library writing has declined, due in no small part to the utter stagnation of their Horus Heresy series.

**koooaei**

When i don't know the fluff, i make it up and act as if i knew it all along.

**Poly Ranger**

Going on adventures through links in lexicanum is a hobby of mine. You never know where you'll end up, whether the route you choose takes you to the progress of forgotten hive fleets, the formations of the mechanicum or the history of the pre-unification wars, it's all interesting IMO.

**melkorthetonedeaf**

Same for me! It's great fun. I still can't remember what "rending" does though.

**Furyou Miko**

I know my armies' fluff - Sisters and Necrons - intimately, have a strong knowledge about Tzeentch, the Thousand Sons and the Inquisition, a decent knowledge of Space Marine and general Imperial fluff, and a smattering of other bits and pieces.

's why I get so aggravated when people talk gak about my armies, 'cause I know I'm right, but tend to be more easygoing with stuff like Tau or Eldar.

**Theolla**

There are so many characters, planets, and so much history it's impossible to know it all. I mostly know snippets here and there, but I don't think I have complete knowledge of any one area or topic. I have had more fun learning about the fluff from conversations with other players than reading it myself. Even though there's not much Sisters' fluff (my main army), I still can't keep their Orders and founding saints straight. However, I do enjoy the occasional Black Library novel. They aren't groundbreaking or anything, but as long as I go in knowing that, I usually enjoy them for what they are.

**reiner**

I'm one of those codex purchasers who enjoys having the rules and general background to flip through randomly during the day.

**Wyzilla**

I've got something like around seventy 40K books, counting PDF's and physical hard copies.

**ClockworkZion**

I had to say a + "a few" novels because there are just a large number of books and even after reading as many as I have I know I've only scratched the surface.

I do try to keep up on the fluff, but college keeps trying to replace that knowledge with accounting and finance.

**vipoid**

Wyzilla wrote:
I've got something like around seventy 40K books, counting PDF's and physical hard copies.

But have you read any of them?

**DanielBeaver**

I've read my codexes, and skimmed a few others. I've read a couple of the HH and Eisenhron novels...

...but most of what I know comes from surfing Lexicanum, 40kwiki, Dakka, 1d4chan. Which is to say, various levels of accuracy.

**Wyzilla**

vipoid wrote:
Wyzilla wrote:
I've got something like around seventy 40K books, counting PDF's and physical hard copies.

But have you read any of them?

I've read all of them. The problem is remembering all that information. Plus reading some Black Library books cause me to flee to Lovecraft or Homer for some literature that does not offend my eyes.

**Darth Bob**

The lore is what makes 40k so great, in my opinion. The game is secondary to the hobby and the fluff, for me.

**Veteran Sergeant**

Sadly, I know more about this game's fluff than is probably healthy. But, then again, I started playing it in like 1992.

**AnomanderRake**

I knew a lot once but I stopped trying to keep up when they started letting Matt Ward retcon stuff.

**Wyzilla**

Darth Bob wrote:
The lore is what makes 40k so great, in my opinion. The game is secondary to the hobby and the fluff, for me.

Same here. Were it not for the lore and models, I'd be building a different army in a different game, probably Infinity or X-Wing.

**kronk**

Darth Bob wrote:
The lore is what makes 40k so great, in my opinion. The game is secondary to the hobby and the fluff, for me.

I agree with Darth.

**1hadhq**

Sometimes I can remember what I reads....

Jumped in at 3rd Edition and bought almost everything. Every Codex, IA, CA, CoD, whatever. FW too if it was available. Then 7th edition happended. Did a full stop.
Was even buying some warhammer books without any interest in playing it. Softbacks, so must be a while.
Filled my shelves with BL products. When they got infected with the GW-plc virus and all their stuff turned out to be small snippets and mini here and mini there, left them too.

Basically I am keeping the "good old fluff" and let someone else throw money at severly overpriced products.
HH books at 7-8€ , a few hours of entertainment is worth this IMHO.

As stated above, I'll know some fluff or look it up if I am not sure.
Buying localized codices makes citing them at dakka a bit complicated.

So sorry , if I don't supply more than a title and page number in a post.

**ChazSexington**

I go through D4Chan's wiki, Lexicanum and the other 40k wiki regularly. I've read the current IG and CSM codices, and the 3rd edition SM codex. However, I know roughly the entire timeline, so the BL books I read are just about the factions that interest me.

**Squidmanlolz**

I've read all of the IG novels, a handful of the novels from other factions and every codex from 5th edition on.
1d4chan is the best source of fluff

**I am the liquor**

The universe is easily one of the biggest draws to 40k. Was introduced to 40k by Dawn of war. I enjoy reading the codicies and listen to audiobooks while working. Is the Emperor still a fusion of powerful psykers from ancient times or did they retcon that when that added the bs about him making deals with the chaos gods?

**Zingraff**

I actually prefer not knowing too much about my opposing armies, while I know everything there is to know about the Imperium, Imperial Guard and Death Korps of Krieg.

I've read the Imperial Guard codices, most of the novels and the relevant FW books, as well as the roleplaying game books

I portray Krieg and so I believe I shouldn't really know anything about the hidden, ancient secrets of the Necrons, only where to point my guns. I believe the game gets more immersive that way

**ZergSmasher**

I have the codices for Dark Angels, Tau Empire, and Chaos Space Marines and have read each one cover to cover. I love the backstory for them! The only reason I don't buy the others is because I do not have any models for the other armies at this time. I wish I had the time and money to not only have every codex but actually model and play every army in 40k. I've never read any of the novels though, so maybe I should give one of those a try.

**EngulfedObject**

Darth Bob wrote:
The lore is what makes 40k so great, in my opinion. The game is secondary to the hobby and the fluff, for me.

Same here, I'm mostly interested in the setting. While there's a lot of awful fluff, there's also a lot of unique stuff here you can't really find anywhere else. Plus the scale of the setting basically gives it limitless potential.

**Talys**

Darth Bob wrote:
The lore is what makes 40k so great, in my opinion. The game is secondary to the hobby and the fluff, for me.

Ditto. I love the setting, the factions, the conflict, the art and the aesthetic. Of all the comprehensive sci-fi worlds that have been created, 40k is my favorite -- despite it being unlikely in the extreme, and that it's a space-ified version of fantasy races (or perhaps because of it)

The hobby is such a great one. Nothing has really piqued my interest in the same, enduring way.

**Martel732**

I care not for the fluff. Actually, I think GWs prose is pretty awful and their back story extremely silly.