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And don't just say "mining", or I may be annoyed at you

I've tried to look for this stuff online, but even lexicanicum has failed me. So really - Hive City citizens, 'standard' worlds citizens (is it still true that most the worlds in the Imperium are like modern day Earth?), even other types of prevalent worlds... What do these people do for *work*? The non-Imperial Guard? Tons and tons of men + women from each planet join the Guard, I know, but there are still planets to run. Consider that the Adeptus Arbites takes up a minuscule fraction of many of these worlds, yet they still retain *relative* order - meaning that not every planet is filled with hive gangsters, looters, mutants etc to the point of never being able to function, ever. The thing 40k doesn't emphasize enough, I believe, is that even though there is only war and destruction...we never see or hear of WHAT is being destroyed, and I think because 40k is so, SO rich in lore and background that this area is just a GOLD MINE of story and lore to make the rest of the universe just THAT much more great. Can you imagine what it must be like to really live in the Warhammer 40,000 universe? I guarantee you the differences would be extremely profound and interesting in so many infinitely varied ways it's...just wonderful.

Back on topic, someone has to run the factories - someone has to work the wages. Some people have to be the middle man, monitor communications, deal with the incredible amounts of variety in actual currency (not Imperium Currency of manpower + recources) as in cash, and so on and so on.

One would imagine they might be relatively like our planet between WW2 up until the 60's I'd imagine, for standard-ish planets, but of course with a great deal of 40k flavor injected into their lives and culture (this is where the true incredible potential lies with this lore, of course). But are their economies fairly like that time here on Earth? Is the job distribution about the same? Do the same sorts of concerns about having to walk the streets at night do they have? Do these working citizens have investments, and musical interests, and hobbies, and lives *exactly* like ours (doubt it!), or how are they different?

Discuss!

(PS-FYI, I am thinking about making a very citizenry-centric army consisting largely of militia-like Conscripts for my IG army. I first need to think of these kinds of things before persuing it however (I intend to try my hand at a lot of green stuff to make it happen). This thread is meant to serve as inspiration, and also to satisfy my very, very longstanding interest in knowing about this stuff! If anyone has any suggestions along these lines as well, despite how this is a background forum, they are certainly welcome in this thread Just please answer the question at hand as far as you can guess, as well, first!)

Depends on the planet, I would say.

Agriculture worlds the vast majority of the people would be farm hands. Working to grow crops, harvest crops, process them into edible food stuffs. Or perhaps herding animals to be slaughtered and made into meat based food stuffs. A common livestock animal is a Grox, which is basically a huge and really stupid cow.

A lot, and I mean a lot of Imperial Citizens work in manufactorums for 16 hour days for years and years on end on Forge Worlds. Their Ad Mech overseers run the show and control the output of materials.

Most worlds it seems produce a little of everything. Part of their tithe is man power, another part is war materials, another part is raw materials such as ore's and wood. All of these things require Imperial Citizens to peform a wide array of jobs. Miners, factory workers, recruiters.

Of course, where ever you have a population, you have to have your essentials. Such as police(Arbites), government officials and people who work for those officials(The Administratum) people like scribes, messengers etc.

Some people on any world may go to work for the Eclessiarchy(the religious body of the Imperium). They would become a priest maybe, or a missionary.

As for what jobs are available, once again, depends on the world. Some worlds assign you a job, you don't have a choice. Some worlds you may have a limited selection. Personally, I think all those jobs would suck, I would join the IG just to get away from the hell of every day life.

Everything we have today really, depending on the planet of course.

Lmfao - brilliant response sir, ty for the fast and awesome one!

But I have a question: Take your 'most worlds' example with the 'miners, factory workers, recruiters' and then later implied Ecclesiarchy and Administratum parts. What about things like what we have today? Like communications places, telemarketers, video game/movie makers, artists/painters, jewlers, etc.?

I'm sure a greater proportion do what we would consider 'lower class' labor, but does that mean the middle class in most 40k worlds is completely nonexistent???

Depends on the planet.

Hive and Civilized worlds of proper tech level will have entertainment of all types. Including movies and electronic games. News stations will also be around.

naturally everything will be heavily censored. Xenos, mutants, and heretics will be portrayed as the epitome of evil.

The news will just be of planetary events. If a ship arrives in orbit it will likely be recorded as a major event unless the planet is a shipping hub or the ship is operating in secret.

Obviously, no disrespect will be tolerated of any Imperial authority.

Well, when it comes to jobs, theres not gonna be any shortage of available ones. If you really do become useless enough to not get a job, you either end up as a criminal, or a servitor, which being a criminal leads you to anyway. But when it comes to jobs, there will always be priorities. Some jobs need to be able to pick through the available fuel before the others get to.

Biggest employers would be the Imperium. No doubt they would get first pick when it comes to talent and usefulness. First would the the executive organizations. If it's a Adeptus Astartes recruiting ground, they get first pick before anyone else. Then comes psyker related jobs, which include the Astra Telepathica, and failing that, the Astronomica, and even failing that, they are still required for "duty on Terra which requires immediate shipment". After that comes the Assassinorum, the Adeptus Mechanicus, certain duties in the Inquisition, and the Schola Progenium. Then comes the military jobs, which include jobs in fleets, the Guard, the Navy, Mechanicus, Collegia Titanica, the Sororitas, and any jobs that are needed to maintain the organizations listed above. After that comes the Imperiums biggest recruiters which include the Munitorum, Ministorum, and Administratum, which can recruit thousands yearly.

After the Imperium has its pick, the planetary organizations take their pick, which can include jobs for graduates of the Schola Progenium, PDF, and any jobs required to maintain law, government, and a heirarchy on the planet.
And I imagine after that, fathers pass their jobs down to their sons or daughters, which include farming, the harvesting of natural resources, stores, factory jobs, repair and maintenance, and sanitation. If you fail or refuse to find any of these jobs, then you'd have to steal or raid for a living.

There is no relatively standard job for the Imperium, but perhaps there are extremely common jobs on individual planets, which would would depend on what that planet has to offer the Imperium. Most of the time, it is the blood and sweat required for the jobs listed above. But there are still countless gazillions (no, that is not a definite number, don't use it in essays or reports) of Imperial citizens out there in factories and farms, or working on machines, most of the time working alongside servitors.

Also, take note that the higher you are in rank, the more rules, regulations, and propaganda you have to follow. And to a certain extent, the more dangerous your job, the more freedom you have. Not to imply that your freedom isn't heavily monitored.

Even in my little town (15,000 people) it's impossible to say what the 'standard' citizen is, and what options they have available to them.

Then compare that to my entire country.

Then compare that to the world.

Then consider that this is just a single planet.

Now that we've established the gigantic variety of jobs available on this one little planet, let's consider that there is a million worlds in the Imperium, and they're all different.

So to answer your question, there's no such thing as an 'average' Imperial world, or an 'average' Imperial Citizen. This lack of constraints is one of the drawcards of the 40K universe. It lets you pick anything you want, and fit it into your narrative. There could be a world where entire generations are cleaners, who do nothing other than sweep and scrub and polish continent spanning cathedrals and reliquaries. There could be worlds where the time or date of your birth determines your profession, or worlds with rigid caste systems, or paradise worlds where nobles go to hunt and relax and vacation, where the native population are nothing more than park rangers/gardeners.

We also have to understand that the Imperium does not run off of a monetary economy that we are familiar with today. The "jobs" are actually duties required of the Imperium. Military service is an almost "Starship Trooper" escape from the teeming billions toiling around them, as they can at least aspire to lift themselves from the mundane.

What exactly they have as an economical system - to my knowledge- has never been truly explained. I imagine it to be a sort of a quasi socialist-feudal state where a citizen is either born into a class that will dictate what duty he or she may perform, as mandated by imperial decree.

I suggest reading the Ravenor series of novels... very detailed descriptio.s of multiple job types. Mostly either industrial (factory workers), service jobs, or administratum jobs (transcribing data, sorting mail, etc)

Basically on a hive world, any current blue collar job is available, as are a few mind numbingly boring office jobs.

It will mostly be stuff to support the wars and to keep the heart of the Imperium alive. Make lasguns, bolters, uniforms, food, etc.

In the Grim Dakness of the 41st Millennium there is only Grox Farming.

Doesn't have quite the same ring to it does it ...

Despite of what Games Workshop would have you believe there are vast amounts planets that are just left alone to get on with themselves where the Emperor is a Lightning wielding Lord that will smite the unbeliever and the populace are left widely to their own devices, well, under the direction of the Imperial Governor at least. As long as the tithes are met the Governor can lead as he sees fit.

The jobs will vary from level of Industry to the type of Planet. The more useful the planet to the Imperium the more Imperial Influence and normality you will find.

It's a good question and oddly enough I recently did a whole article on that subject.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Civilian_Life_in_Warhammer_40%2C000_AD

the short answer is the economy is a blend of ancient, medieval and communist systems. Expect big collective factories and farms, with most commoners born into their jobs and living their whole lives in a mine/farm/factory/data center with no hope of advancement or changing jobs.

Above them is a small and fragile middle class and then a hereditary nobility. Below them are outcasts subsiding in ruins, sewers and other dark places.

I would guess manual labour. I guess stuff we'd consider blue collar.

 DemetriDominov wrote:
We also have to understand that the Imperium does not run off of a monetary economy that we are familiar with today. The "jobs" are actually duties required of the Imperium. Military service is an almost "Starship Trooper" escape from the teeming billions toiling around them, as they can at least aspire to lift themselves from the mundane.

What exactly they have as an economical system - to my knowledge- has never been truly explained. I imagine it to be a sort of a quasi socialist-feudal state where a citizen is either born into a class that will dictate what duty he or she may perform, as mandated by imperial decree.

They do have a monetary system. People get paid for working. The Imperium doesn't own all the businesses. Its not a socialist system.

All the Imperium does is demand a tithe from its planets appropriate for the planet in question's production capabilities, the veneration of the God Emperor, and adherence to the Imperial Creed.

There are still small family businesses, skilled labor, etc... Depending on the planet.


Some planets will indeed resemble Soviet Russia taken up to 11. Others will resemble our modern planet in many ways.

The catch to this is that the Imperium has total authority. They may demand anything of anyone at anytime. Of course the Imperium could care less if you are running a flower shop on 178th street.

It all depends where you're born.

Generally speaking, it's either the economy of the planet (farming on Agri-World, factory work on Hive World, mining on Mining World, religious duties on Shrine World, etc.). Or you can go into the Administratum bueracracy. Neither option is very appealing....

Well yeah, nobody said it was nice. You just have varying options of grimdark.

Small nitpick - positions within some organisations such as the Adeptus Arbites or the Adepta Sororitas do not take "standard citizens". You don't apply for a job there, you are basically born into it, by sole virtue of being some Imperial official's kid who is shipped into one of the schola compounds. Where you eventually end up depends entirely on your mental and physical aptitude, but you won't have a say in it, and your entire pre-determined life will be nothing like that of a "standard citizen". The Arbites aren't the normal police either (a small but important distinction I missed out on during my first contact with the franchise), but many developed world's enforcers are organised in their image and they do take average people as recruits.

Aside from that, I agree with most other posters here. It varies from planet to planet, but generally you'll find all sorts of "blue collar" proficiencies that existed throughout mankind's history, with stuff like farming, mining and factory work (all where applicable and depending on the planet's environment and tech level) arguably being the most common jobs. Anybody can also find himself drafted into the Imperial Guard or the Imperial Navy - I know the latter's ships occasionally send press gangs through places they are anchored to basically kidnap new crew, just like it was done during the Age of Sail. Virtually any "standard citizen" can find himself being clubbed down and dragged into the waiting lander, only to awake on the plasteel deck plating of one of the Emperor's warships.

This perception is entirely based on GW's own writings, however. I know some licensed publications portray a different interpretation of the 'verse.

I'm adding some fluff to flesh out my ideas on civilian life.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Civilian%20Life%20in%2040k%20Part%202

Menial.

Servitor parts.

That is all.

 Grey Templar wrote:

 DemetriDominov wrote:
We also have to understand that the Imperium does not run off of a monetary economy that we are familiar with today. The "jobs" are actually duties required of the Imperium. Military service is an almost "Starship Trooper" escape from the teeming billions toiling around them, as they can at least aspire to lift themselves from the mundane.

What exactly they have as an economical system - to my knowledge- has never been truly explained. I imagine it to be a sort of a quasi socialist-feudal state where a citizen is either born into a class that will dictate what duty he or she may perform, as mandated by imperial decree.

They do have a monetary system. People get paid for working. The Imperium doesn't own all the businesses. Its not a socialist system.

All the Imperium does is demand a tithe from its planets appropriate for the planet in question's production capabilities, the veneration of the God Emperor, and adherence to the Imperial Creed.

There are still small family businesses, skilled labor, etc... Depending on the planet.


Some planets will indeed resemble Soviet Russia taken up to 11. Others will resemble our modern planet in many ways.

The catch to this is that the Imperium has total authority. They may demand anything of anyone at anytime. Of course the Imperium could care less if you are running a flower shop on 178th street.

Yes but the point was that the Imperium's economical standard is that there isn't one. Every planet has its own currency, if it has one at all, there isn't a standard currency for the Imperium itself and therefore the economy's of each planet are unique and can be autonomous so long as it continues to pay the tithe owed to the state if it wishes to remain part of the the Imperium. (Making it feudal) That tithe is the currency of the Imperium: People in the form of soldiers. Those people are then redistributed across the galaxy to where they are needed most, and in times of need, a planet may call upon the state to help fund its needs. (Socialism) So then, the meta-economy is quasi socialist-feudal.

We should also note that the Imperium is a crushing oligarchical, nationalistic, blindingly religious, and heavily militarized imperial realm with virtually nothing culturally in common but the God-Emperor and the Inquisition. Whatever economies are on any given planet would likely reflect part of that nature in some way.

There are instances of sector-wide currency systems. But yeah, no galactic wide currency. No official Imperial money(although there are Tithe Credits that they issue on occasion that function like money) but it isn't the same as a moneyless society.


Given that the Imperium deals on such a huge scale, they mostly deal in materials. Stuff they can actually use.

if the Imperium needs to purchase something, they issue Tithe credits that the planet in question can use to pay for the Tithe when it rolls around.

 Grey Templar wrote:
There are instances of sector-wide currency systems. But yeah, no galactic wide currency. No official Imperial money(although there are Tithe Credits that they issue on occasion that function like money) but it isn't the same as a moneyless society.


Given that the Imperium deals on such a huge scale, they mostly deal in materials. Stuff they can actually use.

if the Imperium needs to purchase something, they issue Tithe credits that the planet in question can use to pay for the Tithe when it rolls around.

Two things:

1. Show me where you have found Tithe Credits - it seems like a made up term, because either a governor pays the Tithe or he dies. It's pretty explicit when it says "No exceptions"

2. The Imperium is effectively a money-less society because there is no need for money - Imperial Governors are despots that enforce the law of a planet so long as they can maintain the status quo that in turn allows them to rule. This would effect the professions enormously, because there would less money orientated jobs: like banking - they would instead be in charge of keeping strict records of the all important tithe.

Munitorium Manuel, Part 3, Section 3, Aquisition of Supplies.

"On worlds where an Imperial presence is less then complete, supplies may be requisitioned by the regiment by the transfer of Imperial Credit Units to the planet's Imperial Commander..."

Interesting. Seems that yet again there is another conflict of 40k lore. I must read this book for it sounds as though the IoM is still adverse to "money" but likes credit...

The entry does say "Though the use of this practice is distasteful, such things must be endured for the greater glory of the Imperium..."

Haha, that sounds like some patching to the lore. Like GW wrote that after they realized they never really had any money in the IoM before. I think that's funny.

DemetriDominov wrote:Haha, that sounds like some patching to the lore. Like GW wrote that after they realized they never really had any money in the IoM before. I think that's funny.

Keep in mind that the Munitorum Manual is a Black Library product, and just like with various novels as well as its "sister release" (the Uplifting Primer) may very well conflict with GW fluff, be it because the author didn't do sufficient research or just because he liked his own idea more. Examples from the Primer being the Mars-pattern lasgun supposedly having a power slider (when it hasn't), or the idea that it's considered standard for all Imperial Guardsmen to be issued with 20 kilograms of modern-day-style equipment up to replacement socks...

That said, I believe it is also of note to consider that something like the Munitorum Manual author's idea may fit in well with the Imperium, if you keep in mind that it does not actually have to mean money as we know it. A "credit unit" may simply be a means by the Adeptus Terra to allow Imperial organisations to readily acquire products and services for a later reduction in planetary tithe equal to whatever they have already provided. "Give me this now and later you'll have to pay less."

This would be like the idea of "Imperial scrip" that James Swallow has introduced in his Faith & Fire novel, where Imperial servants would be handed a similar means of tradeable credit to pay any locals for various amenities they may require. A concept that has existed in our real world as well, and which I have adopted for my personal version of 40k as I have deemed it very fitting, and compatible with the non-existence of a proper currency that is valid throughout the Imperium as propagated by GW's own books.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrip

As you can see, it's always a matter of interpretation.

I imagine a cross between modern China and Medieval Europe.

So, a large plentiful secondary economies, with a fair bit of primary economies on planets that have resources to dig.

I don't think they'll be much work like what we have in modern day America's and Europe. Financial sector jobs would be the domain by merchant guilds and noble houses.

Entertainment is spare and likely to be pious (ie go to church) or illegal (drugs, whores, seedy cults) for the average person. Of course nobles can do what they want and probably have lots of fun just playing those games of high society like nobles do. Trying to one-up each other and so on.

So I guess, if you're lucky, you family may be indentured to a noble family or a guild and then you may not have to work the factories and mines.

 Lynata wrote:

DemetriDominov wrote:Haha, that sounds like some patching to the lore. Like GW wrote that after they realized they never really had any money in the IoM before. I think that's funny.

Keep in mind that the Munitorum Manual is a Black Library product, and just like with various novels as well as its "sister release" (the Uplifting Primer) may very well conflict with GW fluff, be it because the author didn't do sufficient research or just because he liked his own idea more. Examples from the Primer being the Mars-pattern lasgun supposedly having a power slider (when it hasn't), or the idea that it's considered standard for all Imperial Guardsmen to be issued with 20 kilograms of modern-day-style equipment up to replacement socks...

That said, I believe it is also of note to consider that something like the Munitorum Manual author's idea may fit in well with the Imperium, if you keep in mind that it does not actually have to mean money as we know it. A "credit unit" may simply be a means by the Adeptus Terra to allow Imperial organisations to readily acquire products and services for a later reduction in planetary tithe equal to whatever they have already provided. "Give me this now and later you'll have to pay less."

This would be like the idea of "Imperial scrip" that James Swallow has introduced in his Faith & Fire novel, where Imperial servants would be handed a similar means of tradeable credit to pay any locals for various amenities they may require. A concept that has existed in our real world as well, and which I have adopted for my personal version of 40k as I have deemed it very fitting, and compatible with the non-existence of a proper currency that is valid throughout the Imperium as propagated by GW's own books.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrip

As you can see, it's always a matter of interpretation.

Indeed. Going from the "Scratch the quill, toll the bell" approach of the lore I've read, I'd say that the credit approach really is completely imaginary even the 40k universe -much like the credit system now. All it would likely be is a complicated system of documentation that involves the massive Munitorum filling out forests of paperwork saying who owes what based on ritual steeped in traditions we can't even begin to envision. The more complicated it is, the harder it is for someone to question the entire gambit the concept of "money" is based upon. Leave no doubt, variation exists, but the Munitorum still dictates what is needed by the Imperium - and the planet is forever in debt to them. Like what has been said before, the Munitorum cares not how an individual contributes to the Imperium, so long as they do. However, planetary governors and other local officials likely have more say in the everyday lives of Imperial citizens -especially when their lives are at stake.

 PrometheusZero wrote:


Entertainment is spare and likely to be pious (ie go to church) or illegal (drugs, whores, seedy cults) for the average person.

Well, if one accepts BL stuff, there IS other entertainment for average person - world-dependent of coure - poor agriworld surely will be more in church+saloon+brothel mode, while civilized world will most probably provide you with cableTV (censored, but is it different from current channels?), military/religious/civil events, some analogues to theme parks/cinemas/circusses/arcades. How available it could be for average men - it's surely varies, but is it also different to RW?