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.

Factoring in the strength, motivation and the ability to reach Terra.

Chaos. It's existence is a threat to every living thing in the galaxy, and the CSMs have been waiting ten thousand years for their grudge match.

I voted Tyranids, but it was a tough choice between them and chaos. I said Tyranids simply because they are from beyond their galaxies and their numbers are very questionable... for all we know , they are all that exists outside the galaxy and are just circling in the for the kill.

Or... think of tyranid "hive fleets" this way - our nervous system as humans are made up of millions of cells - what if the tyranid monsters are are fighting are merely just cells of a larger being and there is literally a COLOSSAL GIANT SPACE BUG and those hive fleet "tendrils" are literally just the tendrils of this giant monster.

Mind = exploded.

I'd say the Imperium itself is the biggest threat to it. After that Chaos short term, Nids long term.

CoI wrote:I'd say the Imperium itself is the biggest threat to it. After that Chaos short term, Nids long term.

^agree

Cryage wrote:I voted Tyranids, but it was a tough choice between them and chaos. I said Tyranids simply because they are from beyond their galaxies and their numbers are very questionable... for all we know , they are all that exists outside the galaxy and are just circling in the for the kill.

Or... think of tyranid "hive fleets" this way - our nervous system as humans are made up of millions of cells - what if the tyranid monsters are are fighting are merely just cells of a larger being and there is literally a COLOSSAL GIANT SPACE BUG and those hive fleet "tendrils" are literally just the tendrils of this giant monster.

Mind = exploded.

Now you sir, clearly know how to play trumps!

I voted Tyranids. Chaos spends as much time fighting itself as it does fighting the Imperium.

The Tyranids don't have such problems.

Nids, Chaos is a constant threat that has never been able to win out and been more or less contained.

Nids have always been pushing forward in their fluff, coming back stronger and with more numbers each time. In one ultramarines novel two tendrils of Leviathan nearly smothered Terra and the astronomicon itself in the Shadow of the Warp. At which point the Imperium would have ceased to exist. Abaddon and the Traitor Legions are still loitering around the Cadian Gate or cackling like maniacs like they have been doing for 10,000 years. Nids for the win.

Seriously, who put Tau on that list?

I voted Chaos for being the biggest, but I think that Nids are also not naive at all.
In the end, how will IoM deal wit hthem is very hard question with "how will IoM survive those two at all" question also in mind.
But Nids must also combat Necrons who are slowly rising and with Silent King with plans to stop them.
Chaos is also being opposed by Eldar, so that will be no easy win to.
In some way, IoM will have easy time with other factions combating them as well ( Orks primarily ).

As of 5th Ed Necron Codex:

Tyranids > Chaos > Orks > Necrons > Dark Eldar > Eldar > Tau > Lesser races (Dracolith, Ulumeathic, Hrud, etc.)

Previously 'crons would have been tied for first.

Harriticus wrote:As of 5th Ed Necron Codex:

Tyranids > Chaos > Orks > Necrons > Dark Eldar > Eldar > Tau > Lesser races (Dracolith, Ulumeathic, Hrud, etc.)

Previously 'crons would have been tied for first.

With Millions of slumbering tomb worlds, I'd wager Necrons have humans already beaten. They're dex has them taking out hive worlds and besting Marines with ease. Considering they have access to the webway with dolmen gates, they also have faster travel than the IoM.

Brother Coa wrote:Seriously, who put Tau on that list?

These things always need a joke option.

I'd say Chaos, Tyranids and the IoM itself are the most likely.

Apparently Chaos has been going by some plan for the past 10k years, each crusade being a fragment of it rather than a full invasion on its own.
The Nids have their unknown numbers behind them.
The IoM has it's over redundancy and inefficient bureaucratic mess, not to mention the failing throne and their reliance on the astronomicon. The Emperor dies and they'd all go back to the dark ages before the unification if they don't figure out an alternate method of navigation.

Thing about chaos espeacially tzeentch has proven very patient and good using long term plans that take years to come to light.

The Imperium itself will be its own downfall.

Failing that, Tyranids or Chaos. I would've said Necrons but... y'know.

Its a toss up between the tyranids and Chaos. They really are the most important threat, since they essentially threaten not just the IoM but every other race.

Tyranids. If the lore i'm reading on them is correct, all the hive fleets encountered so far being just scouts, the IoM is in for quite a fight for survival once the their main army comes along.

Viersche wrote:Tyranids. If the lore i'm reading on them is correct, all the hive fleets encountered so far being just scouts, the IoM is in for quite a fight for survival once the their main army comes along.

Funny thing dough, that same lore say that "Leviathan is the last and latest Hive fleet."

There was some statement in the codex that even if every man woman and child in the Imperium were conscripted into the guard they'd only just be able to fight the tyranids if they kept up the exponential increase in numbers.

Chaos. Chaos does not need to cross the universe. Chaos is everywhere all the time, and can corrupt anyone -- even inquisitors.

IoM:

It;s own policies are fragmenting it, creating more and more forces for Chaos.

It turns potential allies (Eldar and Tau) into enemies.


Were the IoM to adopt a more enlightened approach they'd starve Chaos from it's primary food supply, not have to waste forces smashing rebellions, and could work with the Eldar and Tau to stop the Tyranids near the Galaxy's edge.

After that it would be just minor threats.

I can't believe 2 people voted for tau.

Personally I think the Imperium is its own worst enemy and is more likely to cause its own collapse than any of those external influences. Chaos once had a stranglehold on Terra, but hasn't gotten even remotely close to having that kind of impact again in 10,000 years or so. No other opponent has ever gotten that close to crushing Terra and toppling the Imperium. If the threats out there just wait, the Imperium will collapse on its own and then they can fight over the pieces that are left behind...

The Imperium is its own biggest enemy.

If run properly, it is capable of decisive victory, not only against any one of those forces, but all of them simultaneously. Unfortunately for them, running the Imperium is quite difficult and quite a bit managed by the greedy and idiotic.

Brother Coa wrote:Seriously, who put Tau on that list?

I voted Chaos for being the biggest, but I think that Nids are also not naive at all.
In the end, how will IoM deal wit hthem is very hard question with "how will IoM survive those two at all" question also in mind.
But Nids must also combat Necrons who are slowly rising and with Silent King with plans to stop them.
Chaos is also being opposed by Eldar, so that will be no easy win to.
In some way, IoM will have easy time with other factions combating them as well ( Orks primarily ).

Seriously, why are you so hell-bent on making every thread into a Tau hate thread? I'm considering reporting you for trolling.

I voted Nids, though before I would have also voted Necrons, but not with the new fluff.

Also: This thread again?

Rocky1 wrote:I can't believe 2 people voted for tau.

We have 3 highly deluded people.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Marzillius wrote:
Seriously, why are you so hell-bent on making every thread into a Tau hate thread? I'm considering reporting you for trolling.

1) This is not a Tau thread - it's the Imperial thread so
2) You would seriously put Tau above Chaos and Tyranids?
3) Be my guest and report me.

Marzillius wrote:

Brother Coa wrote:Seriously, who put Tau on that list?

I voted Chaos for being the biggest, but I think that Nids are also not naive at all.
In the end, how will IoM deal wit hthem is very hard question with "how will IoM survive those two at all" question also in mind.
But Nids must also combat Necrons who are slowly rising and with Silent King with plans to stop them.
Chaos is also being opposed by Eldar, so that will be no easy win to.
In some way, IoM will have easy time with other factions combating them as well ( Orks primarily ).

Seriously, why are you so hell-bent on making every thread into a Tau hate thread? I'm considering reporting you for trolling.

Don't take it personally. I dont think anybody actually has anything against the Tau, it's just they , as a race, aren't as imposing or threatening as others are. It doesn't mean they aren't formidable or powerful, so relax

I cant see the Tau starting up a galactic war against the IoM any time soon, that's all this thread is arguing.

Brother Coa wrote:

Rocky1 wrote:I can't believe 2 people voted for tau.

We have 3 highly deluded people.

That, or they were just voting Tau to see you bust out a brain hemorrhage.

Brother Coa used to like tau, then he took an arrow to the knee.
But seriously tau are probably the smallest threat in the galaxy. Every day the imperium loses and gains 3 million times their number

The Son Of Russ wrote:Brother Coa used to like tau, then he took an arrow to the knee.
But seriously tau are probably the smallest threat in the galaxy. Every day the imperium loses and gains 3 million times their number

Smaller than Dark Eldar? Even if they're brutally efficient at it, all the DE do is enslave and pillage randomly. They're just a race of pirates.
At the least, the Tau Empire represents an ideological threat to the Imperial worlds it borders.