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So I've been reading up on diplomacy between the different races in the galaxy, and I was wondering exactly how do these things work.

Apparently, everyone hates everyone else, but will also work with each other?

For example, the Eldar helped the Imperium resurrect Gulliman. That's a HUGE thing. So then why would the two races hate each other on something of that scale?

If humans really hated all other races, why are there humans in the Tau Empire?

I'm confused. I thought it was just "RAAAH WE HATE ALL XENOS" but then there are situations where they work with each other?

Can someone explain that more in depth for me?

Like if the Imperium were to meet the Eldar on some random planet would they be like "Hey thanks for resurrecting Gulliman" or would their first instinct be "KILL XENOS FILTH" ?

Your first instinct was correct, mostly everyone hates everybody.

There are special occasions of races working together but they are very much the exceptions that prove the rule.

There are levels of hate of course, for the Imperium;
Eldar and Tau are potential allies of opportunity in bad circumstances.

Orks and Necrons can be reasoned with in extremely bad circumstances, but it is dangerous.

Tyranids and Chaos are impossible to ally with really.

 Ironbeer wrote:
For example, the Eldar helped the Imperium resurrect Gulliman. That's a HUGE thing. So then why would the two races hate each other on something of that scale?

It's best to ignore everything about that area of the fluff, primaris marines, etc. GW ed it up badly.

If humans really hated all other races, why are there humans in the Tau Empire?

Those humans are traitors, just like other traitors join chaos out of selfish desires. If the Imperium ever encountered them they would be killed for their heresy.

Like if the Imperium were to meet the Eldar on some random planet would they be like "Hey thanks for resurrecting Gulliman" or would their first instinct be "KILL XENOS FILTH" ?

KILL THE XENOS FILTH.

 Ironbeer wrote:
So I've been reading up on diplomacy between the different races in the galaxy, and I was wondering exactly how do these things work.
Apparently, everyone hates everyone else, but will also work with each other?

Yes. The enemy of my enemy is my friend... for now.

 Ironbeer wrote:

For example, the Eldar helped the Imperium resurrect Gulliman. That's a HUGE thing. So then why would the two races hate each other on something of that scale?

All the other forty thousand reasons. Eldar didn't resurrect gully out of the goodness of their hearts. Hell, even talking about 'eldar' is missing the point. 'Eldar' are not a hive mind. Different eldar craftworlds, and leaders, and hell, even different eldar have different motifvatins, goals, objectives and views? Some eldar resurrected him. Others would happily burn macragge to cinders. And every damned mon-keigh in the galaxy with them.

 Ironbeer wrote:

If humans really hated all other races, why are there humans in the Tau Empire?

Humans, likewise aren't a hive mind. People can and will defect for any number of reasons. From the tau perspective, these are enlightened foreigners, willing to share in the tau'va. from the imperial perspective, they're filthy traitors and when they burn the tau empire to ashes, they'll burn along with it.

 Ironbeer wrote:

I'm confused. I thought it was just "RAAAH WE HATE ALL XENOS" but then there are situations where they work with each other?
Can someone explain that more in depth for me?

The enemy of my enemy is my friend... for now.

And why spend my men's blood, when I can spend theirs? Is it not glorious to have two of the emperors foes shedding each other's blood to our imperial benefit?

 Ironbeer wrote:

Like if the Imperium were to meet the Eldar on some random planet would they be like "Hey thanks for resurrecting Gulliman" or would their first instinct be "KILL XENOS FILTH" ?

Depends on the individual motivations. If it's biel tan, for example, I wouldn't even expect a warning shot. As far as they are concerned, humans are vermin to be exterminated. Chances are, the humans wouldn't even know gully is even alive - the galaxy's a big place - and even if they did know, they most likely wouldn't care - filthy xenos deserve to be exterminated after all.

If on the other hand, there's orcs on the planet, or tyranids, expect considerations to be made towards a temporary alliance of convenience. With guns levelled at all times, just in case...

Just because you hate someone doesn't mean they can't be a useful ally against a potential foe. case in point, the USSR during WW2

The Tau is the ONLY faction in the game that pro-actively recruits aliens (humans being aliens to Tau). Even Chaos (marines) hate filthy xenos scum just as much as the Imperium does. Other alien races might band together, but they're generally minor races that don't have game representation.

Keep in mind everything is Regional in space. Many a Planetary Governor will defect, knowing it may be 3 lifetimes before the Imperium can send a force to reclaim the world. More than enough time for the people to rule and live as they please.

So in many areas...Eldar, Squats and Humans may depend on each other or have beneficial trade arrangements.The Imperium by and large are of minimal consequence.

Then again There may be hot spots like the Knight Worlds where the Exodites and the Knight Worlds have long mutual animosity.

The Imperial Creed may dictate to destroy the Xenos. Keep in mind in the 8th ed book BEASTMEN can be tolerated as an acceptable abhuman race (albiet restricted to a limited area or one planet)
I think that you could find tolerance on all levels from Inquisitors to Rogue Traders to Imperial Commanders and Naval Fleet officers. Some will hate, some will know when its best to save their asses from more pressing concerns.

https://youtu.be/O1CQ7Vwz8Eo

This sums it up i think. Well the overall position oft the 40 k universe.

A simple explanation is the standard policy is to kill them on sight with the following exceptions.
1. You lack the strength to realistically fight them so you retreat.
2. There's a bigger threat to deal with so the "less evil" aliens live. For example joining with Tau to help against Tyranids.
3. They're not on your side but they are fighting the same person for example you're fighting Orks on David IV but Eldar are too so you just kind of ignore the Eldar.

Humans living outside the Imperium have much more choice in things because they can't be turned into a meat computer for talking to an alien.

I think, if you follow enough novels (including bother 40K and 30K) you'll see the Imperium is like any country or government we have existing now. There are official positions, military positions...and then the reality of what is really happening. Numerous books discuss how the normal humans of the Imperium of Man get along in day-to-day encounters with Xenos (mainly Eldar) without resorting to gunning them down at first sight, etc.

In the HH books you see plenty of Space Marines willing to deal with 'Xenos' races they encounter, often only destroying them as a last resort, a misunderstanding, etc. But the "party line" is definitely anti-Xenos and lots of hard and angry rhetoric.

Everyone dislikes and is suspicious of everyone else and often much of their own race, they will put aside this to acheive a goal or more often strike at an even more dangerous or hated enemy (or for kicks - Orks and Dark Eldar). Often alliances end in a bloodbath or a double cross or both

On humans with the Tau:

Cain is notably a relatively easy going Imperial Citizen (and Commissar) and even he has difficulty restraining his instinctive hatred of them (even the pretty ones) -much more than the actual Tau who he does work with.
Amberely is a nice friendly Inquisitor who was happy to work with Tau and Eldar - she also arranged for the same Tau "allies" to retrieve genestealer infected Tau and take them back to the Empire to draw the Hive fleets.

On the other hand - the Tau offer your average citizen a much better life than most enjoy - at the possible cost of your soul.
Rogue Traders stated mission is to trade with, learn about and exploit aliens.

There have in the past been Ambassadors from Craftworlds to the Imperium.

The Ordo Xenos does tend to work with them - until one side or the other or both decide not to - bloodbath/doublecross etc

The Eldar will help the Monkeigh if its suits them - have done for millenia - in fact I do like the communicaiton of a Eldar Titan pilot to a Imperial Titan Princeps during the Heresy that confirmed that "they were fighting against Horus Not fighting with the Imperium."

Humans can and are conquered by the Necrons, Orks and others with varying degrees of horrific slavery - although some Dynasties will allow them to remain as subject mini Empires.

Its important not to mistake an official policy of a group as vast as the many factions within the 40k universe vs what that group will do in a practical situation.

Everyone in the setting, despite what you might think, are generally somewhat rational.

It is the official beliefs of the Imperium that aliens are universally evil, and should be exterminated. For the average Joe on the street that is a zero tolerance never work with an alien ever policy. For the people in power in the Imperium however, it needs to be done differently. You can't just kill all aliens on sight often simply because you are not strong enough. The Imperium has to pick and choose their battles. No sense in attacking a group of Eldar if you're also fighting some Orks right now, the Eldar probably won't immediately attack you and they hate Orks as much as you do. So you hold off on killing the Eldar till the Orks are dealt with, and if an Eldar offers to help you kill the Orks you agree to it, while never ever trusting him of course because the Eldar will have plans of his own for your ruin. So look out for treachery.

A good analogy is WW2 and how the US and Britain worked together with the USSR to defeat the Nazis. Communism didn't become an enemy only after WW2 was over, it was an enemy before that as well. Just not as much of one as the Third Reich was at that moment. Allies of convenience, nothing more. And once it was over, the Cold War began and could have at any moment led to WW3.

Looking at the major races:
- The Emperor decreed that humanity was set to rule the galaxy and that trusting xenos wouldn't help with that. From there, "abhor the alien" has become dogma in the imperial cult.
- Eldars once ruled the galaxy and saw all other races as insignificant animals. They lost their empire, but not that attitude, so human lives are worthless compared to eldar lives. And Dark Eldars are just twisted murderers.
- Necrons believe that the galaxy already belongs to them so everything that isn't Necron is basically an infestation. Like cockroaches running all around your place...
- The Tau are friendlier than most, but only in the sense that they actually accept outsiders. The end goal is still to have all the galaxy united into the greater good and those that won't join must be eliminated eventually.
- Orks want to fight!
- Tyranids have the munchies.

So none of those races can really trust the others, because they all have their own agenda which they think is the right one and are mutually incompatible. You can always have short-term alliances, or people going against the "official stance", but that's the exception more than the rule.

 John Prins wrote:
The Tau is the ONLY faction in the game that pro-actively recruits aliens (humans being aliens to Tau). Even Chaos (marines) hate filthy xenos scum just as much as the Imperium does. Other alien races might band together, but they're generally minor races that don't have game representation.

Not quite. Dark Eldar have alien mercs, as do Chaos with the Loxatl.

Orks can trick Ogryns into fighting for them. Eldar and Orks have also been known to work for Humans as mercenaries

Plenty of exceptions of races fighting together are present in the lore, but the takeaway is that it is unusual.

 Kroem wrote:
Orks can trick Ogryns into fighting for them. Eldar and Orks have also been known to work for Humans as mercenaries

Plenty of exceptions of races fighting together are present in the lore, but the takeaway is that it is unusual.

Have Ork mercenaries been in anything recent? I thought they were all from the time of half Eldar ulramarines.

pm713 wrote:

 Kroem wrote:
Orks can trick Ogryns into fighting for them. Eldar and Orks have also been known to work for Humans as mercenaries

Plenty of exceptions of races fighting together are present in the lore, but the takeaway is that it is unusual.

Have Ork mercenaries been in anything recent? I thought they were all from the time of half Eldar ulramarines.

Hmm well they were in the 'Massacre at Big Toof River' gamesday event and mentioned in Codex: Eye of Terror which is 'recent' Ork stuff (i.e. post Waaaghh da Orks).

In the 8th Ed. Codex it mentions that the Blood Axes trade openly with isolated human worlds and occasionally operate as mercenaries for humans, but doesn't go into any specific examples.

pm713 wrote:

 Kroem wrote:
Orks can trick Ogryns into fighting for them. Eldar and Orks have also been known to work for Humans as mercenaries

Plenty of exceptions of races fighting together are present in the lore, but the takeaway is that it is unusual.

Have Ork mercenaries been in anything recent? I thought they were all from the time of half Eldar ulramarines.

Yes, in the 3rd ed. (maybe 4th too) Tau codex, noting how Farsight's forces have been seen fighting alongside "Kroot, Tarellians, Human Renegades, Eldar, The Accursed Traitor Legions and even Orks".

You have to think about the size of the Imperium and the laughably primitive communication systems, add in xenophobia and racism, a "healthy" dose of religious fervour and a desire for survival.

People in the Imperium hear stories of Dark Eldar and blame all Eldar, even all Xenos for their actions.

The creed of the Imperium is the Emperor gave them a rights to rule.

When push comes to shove people will put aside weapons and make deals.

 Grimtuff wrote:

pm713 wrote:

 Kroem wrote:
Orks can trick Ogryns into fighting for them. Eldar and Orks have also been known to work for Humans as mercenaries

Plenty of exceptions of races fighting together are present in the lore, but the takeaway is that it is unusual.

Have Ork mercenaries been in anything recent? I thought they were all from the time of half Eldar ulramarines.

Yes, in the 3rd ed. (maybe 4th too) Tau codex, noting how Farsight's forces have been seen fighting alongside "Kroot, Tarellians, Human Renegades, Eldar, The Accursed Traitor Legions and even Orks".

Also there were Ork mercenaries in Kill Team by Gav Thorpe, which is from 2001 so not that new but not that old either.

It seems like in more recent examples we more often see humans going over to the Orks. Sometimes as slaves, sometimes as mercenaries and sometimes having some sort of crazy stockholm syndrome/going native reaction (possibly the influence of the Waaaagh! on psychically sensitive humans?). Baneblade, Sanctus Reach and The Beast Arises had examples of such.

Then of course there was Herman von Strab, Ghazzy's right-hand (hu)man.

 Dakka Wolf wrote:
You have to think about the size of the Imperium and the laughably primitive communication systems, add in xenophobia and racism, a "healthy" dose of religious fervour and a desire for survival.

People in the Imperium hear stories of Dark Eldar and blame all Eldar, even all Xenos for their actions.

The creed of the Imperium is the Emperor gave them a rights to rule.

When push comes to shove people will put aside weapons and make deals.

In fairness it doesn't help that only the experts know there even are different Eldar. Then most Eldar are at least a little piratical so it's easy to confuse them.

Need maybe? a greater or shared enemy, certain annihilation with out co-operation. excess resources able to be traded for things we value and are in limited supply. I kinda think these things in the short term can over ride innate hatred or bigotry for a period of time. Then once secured, there is of course nothing to stop both parties giving each other a good krumping.

Yeah, the relationship is relentlessly antagonistic until whatever asinine plot-point BL is lurching moribundly towards requires them to be super-besties.

You need to remember that the Imperium is, above all else, hypocritical. Humans are the master race and all other species are inferior abominations that should be annihilated on sight... unless the species is useful in some way. It's very rare that a species is useful enough for the Imperium to treat them as equal partners (just the Eldar really) but even in such a situation they will tell themselves that they are using the elves as a tool to achieve their own ends.

Which is fine, because the Eldar are just as hypocritical and telling themselves the same thing.

Going back to the WW2 argument don't forget that come the end of the war Allies forces from the USA and Britain were starting to draw up alliance packages with German units in order to protect against a possible Soviet push. In a victory moment one allied partner became a serious threat and the former darkest enemy a very valuable ally.



Eldar might well be a valuable ally in taking out a chaos stronghold, but once defeated those same Eldar might push to take that world for their own purposes; or destroy ancient human technology or something the Imperium wants. Therefore alliances are fickle things that can be broken just as fast as they are formed.

I would also say that the religious mantra has to be tempered with reality. Many an Imperial person might never see a Xenos in their life so its very easy to hate and say "yeah I'd kill any xenos" because its not part of their life; just their creed. Even a military figure might well have limited actual experience which makes it easier to hate the enemy. It's often only actual interaction that can break down that barrier and actual real world situations where you don't have enough forces to fight; or when there is a mutual enemy or threat or reason to require xenos help.


That said most of the factions, barring Tau basically, have major reasons to want to war with each other. Most are heavily engrained into their social structure, which serves well for the setting being a wargame. The Imperium has its religious dogma and vast size and power; whilst many xenos have no reason to want allies (Necrons want to kill all life; Tyranids want to eat you; Orks don't actually hate you they just want to fight you all the time). Only Eldar and Tau really have reason to want allies; even then both factions would rather be in control of you rather than take you as a pure ally; though mostly we only see their reactions toward humans There is a wealth of minor races dotted around that have survived, but many are background factions so we don't hear as much about them.