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I've collected every Horus Heresy series book up to Warhammer (waiting for the Mass market paperback to release, I'm a little OCD wanting the collection to all be the same format weird I know). I have collected nearly every 40k book/book series be it individual novel or omnibus, and am currently tracking down anything I'm missing to complete the collection. I have collected most of the Old World Fantasy Chronicles Omnibuses, currently tracking down what I'm missing to complete the collection.

It should be apparent by now that I am guilty of being a Lorehammer nerd and seemingly obsessed with the books as well as determined in irritating my wife with the amount of space this collection takes up in the closet. That being said I have a few questions for any of you Lore Masters here concerning the further educating and goal of becoming one.

Are the codexes worth collecting for the lore and all information on the faction's/race's military structure and doctrines as well as any other indepth information on their planets and cultures which can be applied to the lore?

What other written information/lore can be used to further one's knowledge of the Universe and it's inhabitants that may not be in the novels or codexes that are infact canon and used in discussion/speculation within the community?

I’d recommend the Rogue Trader era books, especially the Chaos and Orks ones. So much background in them. Some carried over untouched to this day, some dropped concepts, some stuff changing over time.

2nd Edition 40K and 2nd Edition Epic are both from when things were really being codified so well worth adding.

White Dwarf will have an awful lot of background information, but I don’t know how easy it would be to track down old issues.

White Dwarf compendiums were issued in the RT days which might be easier to get hold of.

The main rules books for each edition also have a lot of background information. And the 2nd edition boxed came came with 3 books - a rule book ( with some background info) a Wargear book ( with lots of background on the various types of weapons) and the Codex Imperialis which was all background info. I’d recommend all 3.

Good advice has been given by others already, so I'll just add that anything written by Matthew Farrer is a must if you aspire to become a lore master (especially the Enforcer omnibus and Junktion). His works are especially good for delving into aspects of civilian society in this bonkers setting. They are completely true to the regressed spirit of the setting, devoid of anachronistic Americanisms like power fantasy, wish fulfilment, hero worship and the like.

Also, 40k wiki sites have compiled huge amounts of information from disparate sources. Never be shy of expanding your knowledge by reading articles there. Many sources are niche, out of print and hard to find. Do not limit yourself to available printed material only when the Internet has graced us with virtual libraries of knowledge to partake of for free.

And Kid Kyoto's writings on civilian life in 40k here on DakkaDakka are a must read. The best of the best should always be pursued, whether it is official material or community writings.

I appreciate y'all taking the time and replying, any advice is greatly appreciated.

The most confusing thing about getting all the lore is figuring out what is and isn't currently canon, or what the community considers to be canon and not? I've read several say that 2nd edition and up is when GW began cementing canon and then the retcon of the Indomitus Crusade?

Can anyone shed some light on what happened with Guilliman's crusade after his resurrection? I've read it was GW's writers mistake?

It was intended that the Indomitus Crusade would take 100 years and that when the Siege of Konor worldwide campaign began the Crusade was over and the Plague Wars started. However, it was decided that this was dumb (it was) and now the Crusade is an ongoing narrative with both the Konor campaign and Plague Wars being events within the wider Crusade.
It was also believed that the timeline had moved into M42 but according to multiple BL authors it hasn't and they never said it was. It's a bit annoying to put together a timeline.

A rough timeline is about as follows:

 Gert wrote:
It was intended that the Indomitus Crusade would take 100 years and that when the Siege of Konor worldwide campaign began the Crusade was over and the Plague Wars started. However, it was decided that this was dumb (it was) and now the Crusade is an ongoing narrative with both the Konor campaign and Plague Wars being events within the wider Crusade.
It was also believed that the timeline had moved into M42 but according to multiple BL authors it hasn't and they never said it was. It's a bit annoying to put together a timeline.

A rough timeline is about as follows:

Spoiler:

- The Great Rift opens and Khorne sends 8 Daemonic Legions to lay siege to Terra but is beaten back. Magnus battles Guilliman on Luna. The Blood Angels defend Baal from Leviathan and a returned Ka'Bandha.

- Guilliman takes command of the Imperium and launches the Indomitus Crusade. Guilliman meets with Logan Grimnar and High Marshal Helbrecht during this time. The first phase ends with the capture of Raukos and the disbanding of the Unnumbered Sons who are then spread across the Imperium. (At some point Guilliman goes to Baal but it's not clear exactly when this fits in currently)

- The Plague Wars erupt in Ultramar and Guilliman leads the counter-attack against Mortarions forces. The War of Beasts on Vigilus begins and slowly evolves over the next 20 years into the War of Nightmares.

*The events of the various Psychic Awakening books take place from the moment the Great Rift opens and continue onwards.*

Ok I see, so these three "new" Dark Crusade (I think that's the name of the series) books are the official retcon of the previous out of print Dark Crusade books? I happened to find all three of the original books that are no longer being printed and difficult/expensive to come by now, but noticed BL has just released book one and the other two are up for preorder. I plan to grab all three regardless but am curious what was changed in them from the originals?

Should I buy the Indomitus Crusade novel as well, or is that no longer canon and BL going to reprint the new retconned canon version at some point? Or am I missunderstanding and the retcon is post Indomitus not the entirety of Indomitus? It's kind of confusing lol.

So the two Dark Imperium books released at the start of 8th (Dark Imperium and Plague War) are out of date. They were reprinted to fit the new timeline and Godblight was written with the new timeline in mind so it's fine.

Indomitus sets the stage for the Pariah Nexus campaign and is absolutely rubbish IMO. It has interesting insights into the Necrons but everything else is just bleh.

The Dawn of Fire series is the new status quo series and is filling in the gaps left since 8th. Things like "How did the Wolves get Primaris?" or actual new stories.

 Gert wrote:
So the two Dark Imperium books released at the start of 8th (Dark Imperium and Plague War) are out of date. They were reprinted to fit the new timeline and Godblight was written with the new timeline in mind so it's fine.

Indomitus sets the stage for the Pariah Nexus campaign and is absolutely rubbish IMO. It has interesting insights into the Necrons but everything else is just bleh.

Spoiler:

The Dawn of Fire series is the new status quo series and is filling in the gaps left since 8th. Things like "How did the Wolves get Primaris?" or actual new stories.

Oh ok that makes sense, any insight on what exactly happened with GW and the writers on this? Seems like quite the bumble having to retcon and entire "story arc" like that resulting in three books being completely invalid lol.

I've read a few reviews on the Indomitus Crusade book and none of them were good lol. So the Dawn of Fire series is actually good and moves the story forward or rather explains what was unknown until now?

I apologize for the barrage of questions, I've become maybe just a little too interested in the lore lol.

Just a change of ideas and TBH the only real difference between the old and new copies of the first two Dark Imperium books is the dates and apparently, there are some easter eggs in the newer versions. The old ones are still perfectly fine books.

What are your thoughts on the new Horus Heresy 2.0 rulebook and two codexes from a lore perspective? Would they be worth picking up?

They have nice pictures but they are very much rulebooks in the same vein as HH 1's red books. But it's HH and the story is only up to the Thramas Crusade so far (mainline story anyway there are little tidbits of Scouring lore in Book 6) which means about half the Heresy to go if GW wants to drag this out.

The core part of the lore is decoding the spirit of the setting, namely what the background draws inspiration from (such as the most depraved aspects of human history). Once you have that solidly under your belt, you are ready to level up from lore master to lore creator, should you so desire.

Sifting canon or not is far less important than understanding what makes the setting tick. Quality endures. And headcanon will rule supreme at the end of the day.

I showed a picture of an Imperial battleship artwork painted by John Blanche to my stepbrother a few years ago, aged 11 or 12 at the time. He took a look on it, and said that it looked like a mix of Star Wars and Mad Max. Which is the most succinct summary of 40k I've ever heard. My advice is always have a bird's eye view of the setting as a whole, no matter the fine detail you drill down into. And always be ready to view it with a stranger's eyes, as something weird and exotic and outlandish. What stands out? What is memorable? What is core to the setting?

 Karak Norn Clansman wrote:
The core part of the lore is decoding the spirit of the setting, namely what the background draws inspiration from (such as the most depraved aspects of human history). Once you have that solidly under your belt, you are ready to level up from lore master to lore creator, should you so desire.

Sifting canon or not is far less important than understanding what makes the setting tick. Quality endures. And headcanon will rule supreme at the end of the day.

I showed a picture of an Imperial battleship artwork painted by John Blanche to my stepbrother a few years ago, aged 11 or 12 at the time. He took a look on it, and said that it looked like a mix of Star Wars and Mad Max. Which is the most succinct summary of 40k I've ever heard. My advice is always have a bird's eye view of the setting as a whole, no matter the fine detail you drill down into. And always be ready to view it with a stranger's eyes, as something weird and exotic and outlandish. What stands out? What is memorable? What is core to the setting?

What he said!

My advice would also echo mad doks. Old books = more back ground. But most of all don’t get set in the idea that what’s is said in any source is gospel truth. Stuff changes, stuff is is misrepresented. It’s all always open to interpretation. If you have a literal take on what is said you will it’s out on so much good nuanced stuff that all paints the bigger picture of a dysfunctional and dystopian setting. 40k is dark and funny and gritty but best of all no one in the setting really knows everything that’s going on, most know nothing about most of it. Enjoy the unknown and fill in the blanks yourself. Even the blacklibrary stuff has to be taken with a pinch of salt.

 Karak Norn Clansman wrote:
The core part of the lore is decoding the spirit of the setting, namely what the background draws inspiration from (such as the most depraved aspects of human history). Once you have that solidly under your belt, you are ready to level up from lore master to lore creator, should you so desire.

Sifting canon or not is far less important than understanding what makes the setting tick. Quality endures. And headcanon will rule supreme at the end of the day.

I showed a picture of an Imperial battleship artwork painted by John Blanche to my stepbrother a few years ago, aged 11 or 12 at the time. He took a look on it, and said that it looked like a mix of Star Wars and Mad Max. Which is the most succinct summary of 40k I've ever heard. My advice is always have a bird's eye view of the setting as a whole, no matter the fine detail you drill down into. And always be ready to view it with a stranger's eyes, as something weird and exotic and outlandish. What stands out? What is memorable? What is core to the setting?

Wow I never thought of it like that, makes a lot of sense though. I really appreciate that fr.

As others have said, don’t get too hung up canon.

Stuff changes, sure. But relatively little is invalidated.

Let’s consider a fairly modern example, The Necrons. Their original background, as presented in their original Codex is quite different from the current background. But….the differences could simply be A Point Of View.

We know the C’Tan didn’t play fair with biotransference. And where The Silent King had a species override engram to ensure not just loyalty but more importantly unity? Who’s to say The Deceiver didn’t build a safety catch into that. When the Necrons sought to destroy the C’Tan, it’s entirely feasible they were made to think they’d got all of them. And so, with a certain point of view, both backgrounds are canon. The early stuff is what really happened, the normal stuff is what The Necrons believe happened.

I strongly, strongly recommend getting a reprint copy of Rogue Trader. That book is a serious melting pot, Chuck it all in and see what sticks, source of background and imagination. The bestiary alone, covering all sorts of random flora, fauna and warp entities is a real eye opener, and might help you think outside the modern 40K box as to what’s out there.

And never, ever forget the Galaxy is a staggeringly huge place, and the Imperium is incredibly scattered. So provide your own background doesn’t involve killing off Big Names? Literally anything goes. Anything at all.

The best example of that for me in recent years is one of the Warhammer Horror Short Stories. When you start reading it, you think it’s an AoS story. But as it develops, it becomes clears its 40K, and involves The Black Ships coming for a nascent Psyker.

That goes right back to the earliest days of 40K, when the Warhammer Siege expansion for WHFB included 40K rules, because castles absolutely exist on Feudal Worlds.

Nevermind a lot of 40k’s early stuff was there to allow new players to fairly freely port over Fantasy models (Feral Orks, Ogryns etc), it created a very expansive yet still evocative setting. A colossal sandpit for us all to play in.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
As others have said, don’t get too hung up canon.

Stuff changes, sure. But relatively little is invalidated.

Let’s consider a fairly modern example, The Necrons. Their original background, as presented in their original Codex is quite different from the current background. But….the differences could simply be A Point Of View.

We know the C’Tan didn’t play fair with biotransference. And where The Silent King had a species override engram to ensure not just loyalty but more importantly unity? Who’s to say The Deceiver didn’t build a safety catch into that. When the Necrons sought to destroy the C’Tan, it’s entirely feasible they were made to think they’d got all of them. And so, with a certain point of view, both backgrounds are canon. The early stuff is what really happened, the normal stuff is what The Necrons believe happened.

I strongly, strongly recommend getting a reprint copy of Rogue Trader. That book is a serious melting pot, Chuck it all in and see what sticks, source of background and imagination. The bestiary alone, covering all sorts of random flora, fauna and warp entities is a real eye opener, and might help you think outside the modern 40K box as to what’s out there.

And never, ever forget the Galaxy is a staggeringly huge place, and the Imperium is incredibly scattered. So provide your own background doesn’t involve killing off Big Names? Literally anything goes. Anything at all.

The best example of that for me in recent years is one of the Warhammer Horror Short Stories. When you start reading it, you think it’s an AoS story. But as it develops, it becomes clears its 40K, and involves The Black Ships coming for a nascent Psyker.

That goes right back to the earliest days of 40K, when the Warhammer Siege expansion for WHFB included 40K rules, because castles absolutely exist on Feudal Worlds.

Nevermind a lot of 40k’s early stuff was there to allow new players to fairly freely port over Fantasy models (Feral Orks, Ogryns etc), it created a very expansive yet still evocative setting. A colossal sandpit for us all to play in.

You mean the Rogue Trader novel series or the codex? I was able to get a hold of a brand new copy of the Rogue Trader omnibus a yr or so ago but haven't gotten to the 40th millennium yet I'm still working through the 30k books.

The original rulebook

It’s prettt crazy in terms of content!

Rogue trader, the realm of chaos books, ere we go, waaargh ORKS, freebooterz. In that order. 1st edition nirvana.

I really do wish that WHW had the RoC books when I was last down.

 Gert wrote:
I really do wish that WHW had the RoC books when I was last down.

I’ve still got my copies of all of the above except lost and the damned. Gutted about that.

Just to answer the OP's original question.

I do think the Codices have worthwhile lore. For me, particularly the 3.5ed ones, they are written in a style that particularly appeals to me in 40k- this sort of pseudo-historical vibe. The 3.5th Guard codex was my very first 40k publication, so I'm definitely biased. It dovoted an entire page to various Guard slang words. Codex Armageddon and similar campaign books are also good.

For the same reason, I also recommend Imperial Armour and the Forge World Horus Heresy numbered black books. Lots of great lore information in those, especially the profiles of random combatants in the HH books.

 Haighus wrote:
Just to answer the OP's original question.

I do think the Codices have worthwhile lore. For me, particularly the 3.5ed ones, they are written in a style that particularly appeals to me in 40k- this sort of pseudo-historical vibe. The 3.5th Guard codex was my very first 40k publication, so I'm definitely biased. It dovoted an entire page to various Guard slang words. Codex Armageddon and similar campaign books are also good.

For the same reason, I also recommend Imperial Armour and the Forge World Horus Heresy numbered black books. Lots of great lore information in those, especially the profiles of random combatants in the HH books.

Forgeworld book were very lore heavy, really good, but very much a specific take on the stuff it covered.the heresey ones were the best version of the heresy I’ve read. I HATE the novels.

Andykp wrote:

 Haighus wrote:
Just to answer the OP's original question.

I do think the Codices have worthwhile lore. For me, particularly the 3.5ed ones, they are written in a style that particularly appeals to me in 40k- this sort of pseudo-historical vibe. The 3.5th Guard codex was my very first 40k publication, so I'm definitely biased. It dovoted an entire page to various Guard slang words. Codex Armageddon and similar campaign books are also good.

For the same reason, I also recommend Imperial Armour and the Forge World Horus Heresy numbered black books. Lots of great lore information in those, especially the profiles of random combatants in the HH books.

Forgeworld book were very lore heavy, really good, but very much a specific take on the stuff it covered.the heresey ones were the best version of the heresy I’ve read. I HATE the novels.

Maaaaan those FW Black Books are a touchy subject with me now. FW recently decided to take them out of print "for good" supposedly.....The day before that is when I started looking into collecting them after being told they are one of the best sources of in-depth 30k lore. I think I will forever be pissed off at FW for doing that, and at GW for not printing their own version of those seriously missing out on expanding/fleshing out their universe from that time period.

I won't ever get over that, and now those books will be going for insane prices.

 Sevetar_VIII wrote:

Andykp wrote:

 Haighus wrote:
Just to answer the OP's original question.

I do think the Codices have worthwhile lore. For me, particularly the 3.5ed ones, they are written in a style that particularly appeals to me in 40k- this sort of pseudo-historical vibe. The 3.5th Guard codex was my very first 40k publication, so I'm definitely biased. It dovoted an entire page to various Guard slang words. Codex Armageddon and similar campaign books are also good.

For the same reason, I also recommend Imperial Armour and the Forge World Horus Heresy numbered black books. Lots of great lore information in those, especially the profiles of random combatants in the HH books.

Forgeworld book were very lore heavy, really good, but very much a specific take on the stuff it covered.the heresey ones were the best version of the heresy I’ve read. I HATE the novels.

Maaaaan those FW Black Books are a touchy subject with me now. FW recently decided to take them out of print "for good" supposedly.....The day before that is when I started looking into collecting them after being told they are one of the best sources of in-depth 30k lore. I think I will forever be pissed off at FW for doing that, and at GW for not printing their own version of those seriously missing out on expanding/fleshing out their universe from that time period.

I won't ever get over that, and now those books will be going for insane prices.

I'm with you on that. The only one I personally own is book 3, which is beautiful but lonely. I've had to borrow the others I've read.

I’m a huge fan of leaving that era as myth and mystery, but that cat is well and truly out of the bag, and those FW books were for the most part better than those god awful novels. Didn’t know they were out of print, maybe they will come back with updated rules in them for the new edition.

I think it’s also worth pointing out some of the most interesting lore comes from now obscure sources.

For instance, Inferno! and Warhammer Monthly. Both contained some pretty interesting short stories etc. Inferno is rather helpfully being reprinted by Black Library, so I recommend looking into them.

White Dwarf also has some cool stuff. Not consistently, and I’ve no chance of ever being able to name an issue.

Example? Expanded rules for Daemons included new and interesting background. In essence, Lesser Daemons are by no means actively malevolent, as they lack the full human experience. Rather, they embody a given passion or purpose utterly. So when it comes to dancing, spreading plagues etc, they know only the joy of its purpose, and the hollowness when they can’t indulge. They don’t have the frame of reference to realise others may not want to take part or be a victim etc. And because they perceive souls over reality, they were given Enhanced Senses as a rule.

This is hobby is filled with too many grognards tbh.

So i dunno if you wanna be 1 of them. Started reading WD at Issue 32. So ive read alot.

Left the hobby for a while, came back, left again, came back. The more i came back the less i cared about the game and models.

Now im just waiting to see how they finish the heresy, I probably wont like how they write it.
But thems the breaks.

Then it all goes to the salvos again.
Maybe help some po kid find something that was interesting.

I disagree.

The background is the very best thing about 40K, precisely because so very little is properly set in stone - and there’s more than enough Galaxy for something really and truly bizarre if that’s what tickles your pickle.

Want less noble but still loyalist Marines, who’ve effectively placed a sub-sector under Martial Law, and from the outside looking in are pretty much Renegade if not outright Heretic? You can do it. A plot hook I’d suggest would be the sub-sector was cut off due to Warp Storms, and take it from there. Cuts away outside interference, gives you a chance to show Marines as horrifically as you want as they exert their power and authority to maintain their equipment, potentially including forcible abduction of children.

40k lore basically divides into two piles. Theres the pseudo historical, "this army went to this planet and fought that army and it was awesome" type lore, which admittedly 40k does pretty well. I can't really stand the stuff, but YMMV.

the other pile is the more atmospheric, "vibes" type of fluff that doesn't try to give high points of history, but rather shows what the cultures and societies are like. And GW does that better than damn near anybody. You can pick up anything about 40k and you quickly learn that life is short, hope is fleeting, and the odds are godo that you won't be long for this world.

I'd really focus on the latter stuff. Once you know the four biggest battles that Captain Whatever fought in, learning about the fifth is unlikely to bring a lot. But learning how these societies actually operate, what motivates them... thats' good stuff.