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Is Warhammer 40,000 the same as Warhammer Fantasy, except in the future? I was just wondering because I was reading a forum post about the 40k MMO coming out and one of the posters mentioned how all of the chaos faction worshiped Tzeentch. At first I thought that Fantasy and 40k were two different universes but just with the same brand name, but now that I heard that in fantasy they also worship Tzeentch... I know this is a probably a pretty dumb question, but can anyone answer this for me? Thanks.

40k isn't Fantasy in the Future. Technically GW doesn't like them being thought of as the same Universe (despite being linked by numerous things such as the Realm of Chaos, several playable races, the Old Ones, etc), but previously has intimated, and sometimes sneaks in references (e.g magic items that behave like 40k weapons such as powerfists, etc), to the Warhammer Fantasy world being a world isolated by the Warp within the 40k universe.

Both 40k and Fantasy have Chaos and the Warp, with practically no differences between the two, in fact one can take Daemons from Fantasy and play them as Daemons in 40k, both have Orcs (or Orks in 40k) though they are a little different in 40k (goblins are Grots, but still pretty similar), both have Human realms heavily based on medival central europe, etc. Most of the other races are there in various forms and to varying degrees of similarity. Elves and Eldar are practically identical for example, while other armies don't have an exact counterpart but are similar in some respects to several factions.

40k did start out as "Fantasy in Space" but that link has dimished over time. There are still many similarities (mostly in the IoM, Chaos, Eldar and gameplay styles) between the two. The Chaos Gods themselves, though, are considered to exist in both universes, and the models for both their armies are literally the same ones (that's why the boxes never sport either game system's logo as their primary one, only the unique Chaos Daemons Logo). They also handwave it somewhat by saying Chaos Exists in the Warp, which defies all known logic, so it's very possible they're trans-dimensional too. Plus, it's just easier on their IP if they have one set of evil gods for both systems.

Well, basically, yes. 40k is very similar to Fantasy, just in the future. However, there are some new races in 40k (i.e. 'Nids, Necrons, Tau) and a lot of races from Fantasy that aren't featured in the game (i.e. Dwarves, Lizardmen, Vampires, Ogres). So it has some differences but races like the Empire, Chaos, Orks, and arguably Elves (though in 40k they're called Eldar) are still included in the game.

I hope that answered your question. P.S. Sorry about all the parentheses I had lots of lists in there.

Certain elements of the un-featured armies did make it into 40k, although their appearances range from subtle to "We will break your legs if you bring them up again" (coughsquatscough).

Ogres do make it in as Ogryns and Lizardmen and Dwarves were in the game in the form of Slann and Squats (Slann, in this case, apparently meant the whole race instead of the floating brain-frogs). Dunno what happened with the Slann, but the Squats were written out, then retconned as Demigures, then nomnom'd by the nids, in that order.

Necrons are also expys of Tomb Kings, although the same can be said for Thousand Sons too (to a degree). Nightlords are also distantly similar to Vampire Counts, although only vaguely visually. Blood Angels too, although again, only vaguely, and this time more thematically than visually.

Vaktathi wrote:40k isn't Fantasy in the Future. Technically GW doesn't like them being thought of as the same Universe (despite being linked by numerous things such as the Realm of Chaos, several playable races, the Old Ones, etc), but previously has intimated, and sometimes sneaks in references (e.g magic items that behave like 40k weapons such as powerfists, etc), to the Warhammer Fantasy world being a world isolated by the Warp within the 40k universe.

Take a look at Mordheim Amazons http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat490048a&prodId=prod1120013 Especialy the top left and bottom right. They had power swords. Literaly power swords. If you look at the model you can see the electrodes that every power sword and axe in 40k have. Amazans also had lasguns (that they called "Sun Staves"). The origin of these mysterious weapons is explained to have "fallen from the sky" in ancient times.

Also don't forget Imperial guard used to have beastmen! In 40k they where considered abhumans. Also, in Rogue Trader Ogryns and Ratlings actualy where called Ogres and Halflings.

There was a lot of overlap early on, and at one point the Warhammer world was implied to be a planet outside the Imperium's domain, in the Eye of Terror I think. That fluff has since been abandoned and they only share some similarities.