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

To an extent, I agree with this - one of my non-40k friends saw me playing Space Marine and, after a discussion on the depth and awesome that is 40k lore still came away with one thought: "Chainsaw swords are the most awesome thing ever."

A bald Ultramarines sergeant with chainsword & bolt pistol and without helmet.

Edit: I forgot about yelling.

Pedro Kantor standing on a hill in last stand format.

 Melissia wrote:
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.

I wouldn't say Orks, because as others have said Orks or Ork types can be found in just about any sort of fantasy/sci-fi game.

The most iconic battle to me is either Guard/Space Marines versus Tyranids. SM and 'Nids are two of the oldest armies in the game. I was personally always inspired by the old Space Hulk games, where a small Deathwing group is pitted against impossible odds, so I see that as a pretty good embodiment of 40k. The theme of "A few strong willed beings against impossible odds" tends to pop up quite often....

EDIT: Of course, anything wielding a Chainsword is pretty damn awesome too

Matt Ward, because ''in the grim darkness of the far future there is only Ward. ''

Or it might have been war, not really sure...

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

I disagree, the terminator is by far the most iconic and recognizable unit of the 40k Universe. It was used in the Space Hulk board game, the Space Hulk video game, and is the hardest hitting ass kicker in the game. At least before they became ridculous with hammers and shields, in stead of the more recognizable and unique lightning claws.

An Ultramarine.

 EnormousName wrote:
Matt Ward, because ''in the grim darkness of the far future there is only Ward. ''

Or it might have been war, not really sure...

If we're going there, we're going C.S Goto.

I'd say its a space marine dreadnought. I have NO idea why. It just is.

Just realized, its because a walking metal coffin designed to keep dead warriors... not dead so they can continue to KILL STUFF with flamethrowers, gatling guns, humongous arms, missiles and high power lasers is quite the grimdark that 40k is...

A single lone ripper.

Because lets face it, in the end you're all just food...

A single lone ork spore.... because in the end you're all sport

 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:

There is, sorta, though it's a male Inquisitor, from FineCast. I use it as a character model for one of the NPCs in my Dark Heresy game.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1630024a

 stargasm wrote:
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.

Hmmm...some good responses here but this one makes the most sense to me! A fallen hero continuing to serve in a war machine that sustains him as well as carrying death to the enemy! Back to war!

none. might sound odd to some but none of them really embody the spirit of 40k, they certainly add to the spirit and add variety, but sadly most of the units/races are from some other thing or universe. the orks bring humor or atleast did, the eldar bring anti grav tanks, space marines for terminator armour, tyranids because one of the devs like alien the movie. IG because they remind us all of great action movies. the other races are there to attract niche fans ie daemons for evil or misrepresented read as goth or metal heads, chaos marines same reasoning, Necron fulfill a similar role as that of Tyranids, someone wanted an army of tourney legal terminators (the movie).....just some thoughts to bounce around Orkimedes1000

Ultramarine tac squad with flamer and missile launcher. They were in every box set up until now, also space marines are the most easily recognizable army, and ultras even more so. Flamer and missile launcher was always the most common unit upgrade too

Chainsword, bolter pistol, a skull face-mask, baby skulls on a chain, normal skulls, brass skulls built into armor, hydraulic tubing and chains everywhere, and bigass shoulders.

Nice choice, bezerkers seem very popular.

one of the following:

I see this poster all the time
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hN6cJCYfd8A/UI25Xagkv9I/AAAAAAAAA4U/rpXPbHGv7Cs/s1600/warhammer-space-marine.jpg

Your chain sword guy
http://screenshots.en.sftcdn.net/en/scrn/328000/328412/warhammer-40-000-space-marine-04-700x393.jpg

Another iconic image I always think of
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JpBQYRnUdjY/TZ-g9Yyj4sI/AAAAAAAAAB0/0OVOZ6YSNTM/s1600/God-Emperor2.jpg

I agree about the first 2 but not so sure about the emperor's corpse (let's be honest it is a corpse).

this still embodies 40k to me.

As far as I've seen it, the Space Marines, for better or for worse, are the posterboys of the 40k universe, which I'm inclined to agree with. But when I think 40k, I think bloodshed on an infinite scale, and that'd be Chaos. You can't fight back; even if you win, Khorne doesn't care where the blood flows from. You can't endure, because when you sit solid, you stagnate, and Nurgle takes you. You can't outwit; even if you plan for good, you're only part of Tzeentch's game in the end. And love only leads to Slaneesh. To me, that eternal circle of conflict is the essence of 40k.

 ShatteredBlade wrote:
this still embodies 40k to me.

beat you too it I'm afraid, although you did find a better quality image. That image is in all the core rule books I have, I'm pretty sure. In some for or another.

You win this round pwntallica!

 ShatteredBlade wrote:
You win this round pwntallica!

It was a team effort

Tactical marines on a hill shooting, been on several codex and rulebook covers, really seems to sum up 40k on many levels. Also, guardsmen.

EDIT: Should have specified that those marines are surrounded in a last stand situation

Grey Knights surrounded by daemons. Bad :cuss: ery and future tech rolled into one.