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Made in us
Stalwart Space Marine




Core of Terra

DO you think that the average citizen of the Imperium is aware of just how bad things are? Of course the government keeps some of it hidden like stuff about chaos and all that but I'm asking more about whether or not they know they are in constant warfare on thousands of worlds? I imagine they are aware of it through pro-war propaganda and stuff like that but I'm not sure because the fluff describes it as everything is secret.
   
Made in gb
Fixture of Dakka




Of course not. Don't be silly. The Emperor of Mankind gave us all this technology and faith to make us superior to all the filthy Xenos. We couldn't even begin to lose if we tried!

Of course if you say things about "losing" and "extinction" get ready for a vistit by Inqusitors.

tremere47-fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate, leads to triple riptide spam  
   
Made in us
Stalwart Space Marine




Core of Terra

Well I kind of meant if you thought they were aware there is no peace. Do they have demonstrations of military might or anything like that?
   
Made in us
Leaping Khawarij






 M138 wrote:
Well I kind of meant if you thought they were aware there is no peace. Do they have demonstrations of military might or anything like that?


No, they don't. The planets that aren't visited by the constant battles occurring all over the Imperium is mostly masked to regular citizens. The mythical Space Marines keep them safe from any threat that might encroach on their world and the Astra Militarum are there to help should things come to them. In the book Maledictus it even talks about how veterans from the Astra Militarum that have retired are put on specific retirement planets "to give them the peace they deserve" which is also can be translated to so that they don't spread it to other planets about how much war actually goes on in the galaxy.

 
   
Made in gb
Fixture of Dakka




 M138 wrote:
Well I kind of meant if you thought they were aware there is no peace. Do they have demonstrations of military might or anything like that?

The smarter people will probably work out there's a battle somewhere due to the size of the galaxy making it virtually impossible to not have war but nobody probably knows the extent of the situation.

tremere47-fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate, leads to triple riptide spam  
   
Made in us
Stalwart Space Marine




Core of Terra

Thanks for the answers. So pretty much the average citizen has no idea what's really happening. I bet it must be a real shock when they are attacked. It's strange though you would think they would have some indication there is something bad going on with all of the planets being covered in fortresses and the factories constantly pumping out war materials.
   
Made in gb
Fixture of Dakka




I think of this way: If you have time to think you aren't working hard enough.

tremere47-fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate, leads to triple riptide spam  
   
Made in us
Leaping Khawarij






 M138 wrote:
Thanks for the answers. So pretty much the average citizen has no idea what's really happening. I bet it must be a real shock when they are attacked. It's strange though you would think they would have some indication there is something bad going on with all of the planets being covered in fortresses and the factories constantly pumping out war materials.


Those planets are so filled with pollution and the population devoted to churning them out that most don't have a chance to contemplate where it is going, they are just trying to survive. Life spans on Forge Worlds tend to be pretty short for those who are not an Ad Mech Priest. Agriworlds just think that they are growing food for the vastness of the Imperium. And on rich planets, they are living lives in bliss to even stop to think about the rest of the Imperium, they are living in luxury, who else cares about what is happening on other planets in the great vastness that is the Imperium. Remember that only Orks rival the Imperium in terms of population and planets. With all the planets that there is constant war there are just as many if not more that aren't at war. Nothing is threatening the human population to the point of extinction at this point, just the fracturing and cutting off of the Imperium.

 
   
Made in us
Shas'ui with Bonding Knife




The Internet- where men are men, women are men, and kids are undercover cops

 M138 wrote:
DO you think that the average citizen of the Imperium is aware of just how bad things are? Of course the government keeps some of it hidden like stuff about chaos and all that but I'm asking more about whether or not they know they are in constant warfare on thousands of worlds? I imagine they are aware of it through pro-war propaganda and stuff like that but I'm not sure because the fluff describes it as everything is secret.


It depends on the world. The countless feudal and feral worlds have no idea what is going on at all.

The citizens of Krieg, on the other hand, don't know how *well* things are going... because, let's face it, there's not a whole lot that sucks less than being born on Krieg.

 Jon Garrett wrote:
Perhaps not technically a Marine Chapter anymore, but the Flame Falcons would be pretty creepy to fight.

"Boss, we waz out lookin' for grub when some of them Spice Marines showed up and shot all the lads."

"Right. Well, did you at least use the burnas?"

"We tried, but the gits was already on fire."

"...Kunnin'."
 
   
Made in us
Stalwart Space Marine




Core of Terra

So no time to think about it and it's not like many of them would care anyways. It must be rough to be a normal citizen in the imperium on any planet. Work 'til you die and if you don't die from exhaustion then tyranids,chaos, or many other horrors will gladly help you.
   
Made in us
Leaping Khawarij






 M138 wrote:
So no time to think about it and it's not like many of them would care anyways. It must be rough to be a normal citizen in the imperium on any planet. Work 'til you die and if you don't die from exhaustion then tyranids,chaos, or many other horrors will gladly help you.


Not every planet is like this and there are plenty of planets that are nice to live on. Paradise Worlds are probably the best since these are recreational worlds for Imperial citizens. Instead of going to different countries for vacation, you go to a whole other world but only the rich and dignitaries can go. Knight Worlds and Civilized are able to be self-sustaining and more of what we would be most familiar with in this age but with more advanced technology. Hive Worlds can be interesting since usually it is a planet-city basically but it would have the same problems as any city would. So really it varies and is highly dependent if the planet is getting attacked. Only Fortress Worlds like Cadia see constant conflict and only Agri Worlds and Forge Worlds are you absolutely just there to work and that is the sole devotion of the population where you work until you die and life is absolutely miserable. Cardinal Worlds wouldn't be that bad especially if you really into the Imperial Cult and worshiping the Empire.

So really, most citizens of the Imperium live normal, quiet lives on their planets oblivious to all the enemies knocking on their doors and the Inquisition goes to great length to keep it that way. The only citizens that have an inkling that something is going on are Fortress Worlds, Knight Worlds, Astartes Worlds and worlds currently under attack from some threat. We as players of the game see really only the conflict because who wants to read about an Imperial citizen just living his life on a Civilized World going about his daily business unless it is a crime story about the Adeptus Arbites, that could be interesting.

 
   
Made in au
Perfect Shot Dark Angels Predator Pilot





oz

Put it this, look how much warfare and damage goes on our single planet and most of the people have literally no clue.

then put that into the persective of untold millions of planets that make up the imperium.

Most citizens are mostly just concerned about their own lives and hardships they endure rather than worry or think about the bigger picture

The imperium is hierachal as well, so maybe your upper classes may have access to a bit more knoweldge but thats about it
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





No. The average citizen of the Imperium isn't aware of things outside his own world. There's no inter-stellars news/media. For one, Astropaths are the only way to send messages or communicate across solar systems. Secondly, the Inquisition wouldn't put up with that.

Chaos, a huge part of fluff, is a state secret that few in the Imperium know of.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/10/06 02:05:26


My Armies:
5,500pts
2,700pts
2,000pts


 
   
Made in ca
Commander of the Mysterious 2nd Legion





I imagine what little they do know is HEAVY on propaganda. "there are no americans in bagdad" level propaganda

Opinions are not facts please don't confuse the two 
   
Made in us
Angry Chaos Agitator




Considering how many of them are drafted into the guard or make weapons for the guard yea they know a wars going on. I also imagine xenophobic fear helps keep the prolls in line. They certainly do censor the embarrassing stuff like the Horus Heresy and that the Emperor is dying and new eye of terror will burst into existence when that happens.

If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever 
   
Made in sg
Gavin Thorpe





They probably feel that life sucks in general, work is hard, food is scarce, conscription is always there, war and xenos are always nearby, bribery and embezzlement are rife, freedom of speech is curtailed etc etc.

but they still go on with life as usual
   
Made in us
Leaping Khawarij






Ironclad Warlord wrote:
Considering how many of them are drafted into the guard or make weapons for the guard yea they know a wars going on. I also imagine xenophobic fear helps keep the prolls in line. They certainly do censor the embarrassing stuff like the Horus Heresy and that the Emperor is dying and new eye of terror will burst into existence when that happens.


Once recruited into the Guard, except for Fortress Worlds, veteran Guard who survived long enough to retire are put on basically retirement worlds to keep their experiences bottled up. The Imperium makes it to be a reward they earned while keeping it a control measure unless you have seen Chaos...if you have seen Chaos, you are done for. Remember that next time you are playing AM against any kind of Chaos.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Maximus Bitch wrote:
They probably feel that life sucks in general, work is hard, food is scarce, conscription is always there, war and xenos are always nearby, bribery and embezzlement are rife, freedom of speech is curtailed etc etc.

but they still go on with life as usual


Unless on Forge World, or an Agri World, life as an average Imperial citizen on a regular Civilized World actually isn't that bad. For the amount of conflict there is in the galaxy, there are tons of worlds that aren't besieged and those people continue on with their daily lives completely oblivious to what is happening in the greater galaxy. The Imperium has never had food shortages either. Civilized Worlds and Knight Worlds are self-sustaining along with Paradise Worlds and then on Forge Worlds there is always an Agri World near by to feed the Forge World. Same with Hive Worlds, there is always an Agri World nearby. The Imperium is a bureaucratic mess but it used to know what it was doing.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/10/06 10:55:15


 
   
Made in au
Longtime Dakkanaut




The Imperium is not like a modern unified centralized nation state despite some overarching institutions or names that sound like there might be centralized control. The Imperium is more a federation of disparate cultures and planets bound together by feudal obligations, and overlaid by the veneer of a common "Imperial" culture and identity which is really only shared by the elite. There is no regular interstellar media. Astropaths are all in the service of Imperial institutions, the governor, or wealthy merchants, so there is little if any news from offworld for the average person.

For some of these planets that are not directly at war, the Imperium may be an abstract concept, even more so if it is a lower tech world with poor understanding of the galaxy and technology. For these worlds, the Imperium may have little meaning or presence in the everyday lives of the planetary population except as an almost religious ideal to pay lip service to, and as the occasional recipient of tithes. For worlds that are prosperous or under heavy tithe obligations, a feeling of resentment may build if it seems all their hard work is just being appropriated by arrogant people from the sky that show up every so often.

Think about how you might feel for example if your world was humming along, and the people show up to take their tithe of resources and manpower. Suddenly your world is plunged into economic depression and hardship, and a large segment of a generation might be effectively wiped out as they are taken, never to return. Large numbers of families will never see their loved ones again and the material goods of life may be in short supply after these people whom you've never seen before, who don't understand your culture, who may look very different and speak very strangely, just take the fruits of your labor. And for what? For some distant war at a place you've never heard of nor care about, or just simply as the claimed due of a distant institution that has certainly never intervened personally at your level.

Think further about what if the tithing was less frequent. The tithing might just be a legend and not something ever experienced in your generation, in any living, or perhaps even recorded memory. Imagine how you would feel if someone you don't know about suddenly shows up claiming they are your absentee landlord and want their payment. Perhaps some cultures preserve their memories of the tithing time as a legendary period of sorrow, disaster, or famine as they deal with the results afterwards.

If for whatever reason the world and the general population prospered and got (too) comfortable, then the Imperium is likely to take the view "Obviously they're not being taxed enough", and raise tithe demands accordingly.
   
Made in us
Gore-Soaked Lunatic Witchhunter




Seattle

 M138 wrote:
DO you think that the average citizen of the Imperium is aware of just how bad things are? Of course the government keeps some of it hidden like stuff about chaos and all that but I'm asking more about whether or not they know they are in constant warfare on thousands of worlds? I imagine they are aware of it through pro-war propaganda and stuff like that but I'm not sure because the fluff describes it as everything is secret.


Most Imperial citizens have only a vague knowledge that the planet they are on is part of a star-spanning empire. 99% of Imperial citizens will never, ever leave the world onto which they are born. Despite the "Only War" tag-line, the truth is that most Imperial Worlds are not in conflict, and haven't been for hundreds if not thousands of years. Life on most Imperial Worlds is not much different than life in Europe or the US is today.

It is best to be a pessimist. You are usually right and, when you're wrong, you're pleasantly surprised. 
   
Made in us
Angry Chaos Agitator




Most Imperial citizens have only a vague knowledge that the planet they are on is part of a star-spanning empire. 99% of Imperial citizens will never, ever leave the world onto which they are born. Despite the "Only War" tag-line, the truth is that most Imperial Worlds are not in conflict, and haven't been for hundreds if not thousands of years. Life on most Imperial Worlds is not much different than life in Europe or the US is today.

What about all the fluff about toiling to produce weapon's to the Guard?

If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever 
   
Made in us
Gore-Soaked Lunatic Witchhunter




Seattle

Ironclad Warlord wrote:
Most Imperial citizens have only a vague knowledge that the planet they are on is part of a star-spanning empire. 99% of Imperial citizens will never, ever leave the world onto which they are born. Despite the "Only War" tag-line, the truth is that most Imperial Worlds are not in conflict, and haven't been for hundreds if not thousands of years. Life on most Imperial Worlds is not much different than life in Europe or the US is today.

What about all the fluff about toiling to produce weapon's to the Guard?


That's if you live on a Forge World.

Hint: Forge Worlds are a relatively small number of worlds out of the totality of the Imperium.

It is best to be a pessimist. You are usually right and, when you're wrong, you're pleasantly surprised. 
   
 
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