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The last Gaunts Ghosts book did the thriller thing.
A updated Xenology would be best.

Guilliman's Atheist Truth police. They are an interesting foil to the inquisition.

A full account of Horus' fall.

Thought it was given much too short a thrift in the original Heresy trilogy, and falling back on 'a Wizard did it' (or magic sword at least) was an extremely light touch on a piece of lore which actually defines not only the Heresy but also the whole 40k universe. And we've been left with something that wasn't really believable, and underwhelms the rest of the series.

Would love to have seen ADB give it a go.

Something about the Silent Kings POV would be good as a short story I think. It's probably not great knowing that most of the galaxy's problems trace their root cause to your people deciding to start a war.

More Deff Skwadron.

More Imperial Navy.

A Catachan series would be amazing. I actually bought the old IG Catachan codex hoping it would be full of lore but it only had two rubbish short storys. It was a waste of money.

Apart from that, more primaris stuff. I want it to get away from the ultamarine side and focus more on abstract chapters. Even going down the route of Deathwatch and what the veterans view would be like on these newbies turning up.

Life of a Techmarine? How the recruiting and training goes down would be interesting. Anything niche and I'm interested.

Sisters lore that depicts them with both detail AND dignity.

Eh, guess we'll get some of that with the codex... probably.

 Melissia wrote:
Sisters lore that depicts them with both detail AND dignity.

Eh, guess we'll get some of that with the codex... probably.

I recommend the sisters of battle omnibus by James Swallow. It's not perfect but the sisters come off as confident, reasonable (within the confines of their faith and setting in general) and have some legit bad ass moments. It really shows how scary they are when they muster fully as a force.

I want to see more Imperium vs Tau stories where the Imperials win through tactics and skill rather than enemy incompetence. I feel like the way Phil Kelly writes Tau is the best representation of them. Only problem is his fanboyism which always makes the tau so good at warfare that its as if they are psychic; knowing when and where the enemy will be at all times. Stories where the Imperials win against Phil Kelly type Tau is exactly what I need to see

123ply wrote:
I want to see more Imperium vs Tau stories where the Imperials win through tactics and skill rather than enemy incompetence. I feel like the way Phil Kelly writes Tau is the best representation of them. Only problem is his fanboyism which always makes the tau so good at warfare that its as if they are psychic; knowing when and where the enemy will be at all times. Stories where the Imperials win against Phil Kelly type Tau is exactly what I need to see

That would be easily fixed by including drones in the story really.

 Ginjitzu wrote:
I'm not a huge fan of anything that "explains" away the mysteries of the lore. I'd rather have more stories that are just isolated "happenings" within the universe, with very little implications for anything beyond the scope of the story. I also like stories that are told from the point of view of "Average Joe," rather than from the point of view of the "heroes and generals" of the setting, whereby Joe merely bares witness to the feats and deeds of those greater than himself. This all adds to the continuing mystery of the setting, and the characters that inhabit it. To that end, can anyone recommend such stories?

Lukas the Trickster is a great novel, yes its about a named char, and not an average Joe (But he is still a bloodclaw, never risen through the ranks), and he is banished from his great company for the winter because of shenanigans. its similar to what you describe.

HoundsofDemos wrote:

 Melissia wrote:
Sisters lore that depicts them with both detail AND dignity.

Eh, guess we'll get some of that with the codex... probably.

I recommend the sisters of battle omnibus by James Swallow. It's not perfect but the sisters come off as confident, reasonable (within the confines of their faith and setting in general) and have some legit bad ass moments. It really shows how scary they are when they muster fully as a force.

I know. But I'd like MORE of things like that.

I agree with an early poster asking for Militarum Tempestus books. I know the new Scion models and Taurox prime are a bit divisive to say the least but I'm a huge fan of their design and would love to see some proper books follow them on some high intensity drops or deep in enemy territory stuff.

Other than that I'm honestly bored of the sheer number of Space marine books out there and would love some Xenos perspective stuff. The path of the Eldar and Path of the Dark Eldar trilogies were amazing and I'd love to see more deep dives into them. I appreciate we are getting some love with the Ynnari books but sadly Ynnari to me at this time isn't fleshed out enough as a playable force to really feel like a book knows what it's supposed to represent. The Ynnari books mostly come off as "Yvraine and the Visarch do stuff while the mixed Aeldari chaff tag along for the ride... oh and sometimes the Yncarne shows up and rips a big thing apart". I find them pretty dry at the moment. CWE and DE have such depth I'd love to see what those factions are up to post 8th edition lore jump.

DontEatRawHagis wrote:Guilliman's Atheist Truth police. They are an interesting foil to the inquisition.

Wait! Does Guilliman still subscribe to the Imperial Truth? Despite it being shown to be demonstrably untrue?

Pacific wrote:A full account of Horus' fall.

Thought it was given much too short a thrift in the original Heresy trilogy, and falling back on 'a Wizard did it' (or magic sword at least) was an extremely light touch on a piece of lore which actually defines not only the Heresy but also the whole 40k universe...

What's all this about 'a Wizard did it?' I just finished False Gods, and I don't remember that.

Beersarius Drawl wrote:Lukas the Trickster is a great novel, yes its about a named char, and not an average Joe (But he is still a bloodclaw, never risen through the ranks), and he is banished from his great company for the winter because of shenanigans. its similar to what you describe.

Interesting. I'm not really into Space Wolf lore, but I might look into that.

123ply wrote:
I want to see more Imperium vs Tau stories where the Imperials win through tactics and skill rather than enemy incompetence. I feel like the way Phil Kelly writes Tau is the best representation of them. Only problem is his fanboyism which always makes the tau so good at warfare that its as if they are psychic; knowing when and where the enemy will be at all times. Stories where the Imperials win against Phil Kelly type Tau is exactly what I need to see

The Imperium can win through numbers. The sheer size of the Imperium is a key thing that often doesn't get emphasized enough in books, I guess because it detracts from the individual heroics if one is winning through attrition.

People like to imagine themselves as the skilled heroes fending off hordes of mooks. However in 40K, the Imperium are the mooks. The Tau commanders might be true in their claims of being more tactically skilled than the average IG regimental commander. The Eldar may be correct in their claims of individual superiority in terms of skill and reflexes. Whole regiments can fall back in disarray after hideous exchange ratios, dazzled by Tau tactics or Eldar precognition. But in the end, the Imperium can shrug, soak those losses, and keep on rolling.

Being able to win through numbers is why there is no big selection pressure within the Imperium for competence. One can still win while being mediocre or within a given margin of incompetence.

Oh. This one is easy.

Moar Warhammer Horror!

Seriously. It's the grimmest of the grim, and darkest of the dark.

With the scope of a self declared Horror imprint, the authors have more of a free hand to delve into how incomprehensibly nasty the Galaxy is.

It also gives carte blanche to include bit players and nobodies, rather than Peculiarly Resilient Regiment #2847, and Random Marine Chapter #483.

It's stripped back, it's more personal. And it's very, very good!

Iracundus wrote:

123ply wrote:
I want to see more Imperium vs Tau stories where the Imperials win through tactics and skill rather than enemy incompetence. I feel like the way Phil Kelly writes Tau is the best representation of them. Only problem is his fanboyism which always makes the tau so good at warfare that its as if they are psychic; knowing when and where the enemy will be at all times. Stories where the Imperials win against Phil Kelly type Tau is exactly what I need to see

The Imperium can win through numbers. The sheer size of the Imperium is a key thing that often doesn't get emphasized enough in books, I guess because it detracts from the individual heroics if one is winning through attrition.

People like to imagine themselves as the skilled heroes fending off hordes of mooks. However in 40K, the Imperium are the mooks. The Tau commanders might be true in their claims of being more tactically skilled than the average IG regimental commander. The Eldar may be correct in their claims of individual superiority in terms of skill and reflexes. Whole regiments can fall back in disarray after hideous exchange ratios, dazzled by Tau tactics or Eldar precognition. But in the end, the Imperium can shrug, soak those losses, and keep on rolling.

Being able to win through numbers is why there is no big selection pressure within the Imperium for competence. One can still win while being mediocre or within a given margin of incompetence.

that'd be an intreasting story in and of itself. a story where a Tau Commander realizes the sheer scope of the adversary. a story where a Tau commander does everything right, outsmarts the opponent and every turn, but is still being ground into dust on account of the sheer SIZE of the Imperial military machine.

123ply wrote:
I want to see more Imperium vs Tau stories where the Imperials win through tactics and skill rather than enemy incompetence. I feel like the way Phil Kelly writes Tau is the best representation of them. Only problem is his fanboyism which always makes the tau so good at warfare that its as if they are psychic; knowing when and where the enemy will be at all times. Stories where the Imperials win against Phil Kelly type Tau is exactly what I need to see

You know, this could be done.

A book about a single Militarum Tempestus regiment having to storm in alone and clear a planet or two from Tau occupation. Daring raids, secret operations, and a big suicidal ending battle that forces the Tau to leave the area. Then the regiment packs up and leaves a note for the regular guard forces to come—“Yeah, we took care of it.”

 Apple Peel wrote:

123ply wrote:
I want to see more Imperium vs Tau stories where the Imperials win through tactics and skill rather than enemy incompetence. I feel like the way Phil Kelly writes Tau is the best representation of them. Only problem is his fanboyism which always makes the tau so good at warfare that its as if they are psychic; knowing when and where the enemy will be at all times. Stories where the Imperials win against Phil Kelly type Tau is exactly what I need to see

You know, this could be done.

A book about a single Militarum Tempestus regiment having to storm in alone and clear a planet or two from Tau occupation. Daring raids, secret operations, and a big suicidal ending battle that forces the Tau to leave the area. Then the regiment packs up and leaves a note for the regular guard forces to come—“Yeah, we took care of it.”

1-2 Tempestus regiments?
Yeah sure no, that would be just be the reverse scenario.

Not Online!!! wrote:

 Apple Peel wrote:

123ply wrote:
I want to see more Imperium vs Tau stories where the Imperials win through tactics and skill rather than enemy incompetence. I feel like the way Phil Kelly writes Tau is the best representation of them. Only problem is his fanboyism which always makes the tau so good at warfare that its as if they are psychic; knowing when and where the enemy will be at all times. Stories where the Imperials win against Phil Kelly type Tau is exactly what I need to see

You know, this could be done.

A book about a single Militarum Tempestus regiment having to storm in alone and clear a planet or two from Tau occupation. Daring raids, secret operations, and a big suicidal ending battle that forces the Tau to leave the area. Then the regiment packs up and leaves a note for the regular guard forces to come—“Yeah, we took care of it.”

1-2 Tempestus regiments?
Yeah sure no, that would be just be the reverse scenario.

We don’t have any official average sizes for Militarum Tempestus regiments, but based on the old codex for when the 54th Psian Jackals were defending against Eldar, they had a rough number around 90 Scions, and by the end of the conflict, they had lost around 46% of the regiment.
The story only prefaces that the whole regiment was notified of the scenario. It never specified how many or if all the Scions were sent to engage. There were at least sixteen Scions squads, we know. The engagement was a success. But, another spanner in the gears, this regiment’s home world was recently wrecked by a Hive Fleet, so the regiment as a whole could be under strength.

My best estimates are between around 100 Scions for a small or understengrh regiment and 250-300 for a regular regiment. Though I don’t have much to back this up, I would guess famous Scion regiments like the 55th Kappic Eagles (These are the guys that have the paint light blue paint scheme that’s prominent on all Scion art) would have perhaps 500-700 Scions available at any time.

How many are in your average Tau force, again? I feel like it’s a way bigger number than those I’ve presented. So it wouldn’t be a reversal. It would be a smaller force versus a bigger force, both with similar grade equipment. Perhaps two regiments, depending on the Tau’s numbers, so it’s a bit more believable.

It’s odd. Most every time I bring up a Militarum Tempestus regiment, people just assume these high-tech Stormtroopers would be in the same number as their guardsmen counterparts.

 Andersp90 wrote:
More lore about the different tyranid "species" alla devastation of baal. Learning how trygons build tunnels, and a look at the lictors different senses etc was very interesting.
But no more "stronghold vs nids". Its getting old.

I really hated those sections in devastation of baal. Every time it was an incoherent ramble about how much the tyranid organism couldn't understand or perceive, for pages and pages

All the while magically zooming into the precise weak point (which even the hive mind wouldn't know anything about, unless its reviewing a 5th edition copy of Architecture of the Ancient Baalites, and the plans of rehab projects generations of Space Marines have done, presumably filed on Sirius minor) that blew up everything for no reason.



Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Ginjitzu wrote:

DontEatRawHagis wrote:Guilliman's Atheist Truth police. They are an interesting foil to the inquisition.

Wait! Does Guilliman still subscribe to the Imperial Truth? Despite it being shown to be demonstrably untrue?

Pacific wrote:A full account of Horus' fall.

Thought it was given much too short a thrift in the original Heresy trilogy, and falling back on 'a Wizard did it' (or magic sword at least) was an extremely light touch on a piece of lore which actually defines not only the Heresy but also the whole 40k universe...

What's all this about 'a Wizard did it?' I just finished False Gods, and I don't remember that.

The narrative cuts away just at the moment Horus is making a decision, after specifically telling Erebus he know's Erebus is lying to him, and that its all a trap. Well, ghost Erebus, who has somehow ritual magicked himself into Horus' brain.
And ~~~~woooo~~~~ makes the decision to fall anyway, but...off screen for some reason.

It's really bizarre storytelling, and helps set up Horus as a weird caricature. The text goes out of its way to set up actual reasons for Horus to fall (resentment, anger, hubris) and has him knock them all down yet do it anyway, but for secret reasons.

Voss wrote:

 Andersp90 wrote:
More lore about the different tyranid "species" alla devastation of baal. Learning how trygons build tunnels, and a look at the lictors different senses etc was very interesting.
But no more "stronghold vs nids". Its getting old.

I really hated those sections in devastation of baal. Every time it was an incoherent ramble about how much the tyranid organism couldn't understand or perceive, for pages and pages

All the while magically zooming into the precise weak point (which even the hive mind wouldn't know anything about, unless its reviewing a 5th edition copy of Architecture of the Ancient Baalites, and the plans of rehab projects generations of Space Marines have done, presumably filed on Sirius minor) that blew up everything for no reason.

The human immune system attacks bacteria and viruses, selects and adapts to defeat them more quickly and efficiently. It does all this without our consciousness being directly aware of the details of what is happening or having to direct it.

So think of the Hive Mind consciousness as being so vast or at a higher level and beyond having to directly and consciously direct the nitty gritty details of how its organisms problem solve or fight. The independent organisms like Lictors and Hive Tyrants have individual intelligence and can adapt to circumstances. They just don't have individual egos and identities the way we do. Again similar to how our individual cells can react to their local micro-environment, yet still have no identity independent of the larger organism that is us.

That analogy doesn't make any sense to me. Our immune system has limited role against foreign cells within our own bodies against things that specifically detect as foreign. By virtue of the immune cells physical bumping into them, for the most part.


That is entirely different from a thing which is described as not really having a consciousness having multiple pages long monologues about not having consciousness and identifying complex objects in multiple environments while traveling from space, across a desert planet to underneath a fortress. While performing complex atmospheric reentry and evasion procedures and scanning multiple complex frequencies of perception and detection.


It'd be one thing if the hive mind was pulling off some complex tactic (like sneaking spore mines up to the wall through some engineered carnifexes shenanigans or something), but this is just default behavior, that were constantly *told, not shown* is mindless. Constantly. Multiple times, every time the novel switches tracks.

I would like to see more stuff about the Marines Malevolent. I know that might seem like a poor choice, but I am geniunely interested in how they became the civilian shelling and hate-filled figures they were when the Salamanders met them on Armageddon. I doubt any book can provide ample validation for their actions, but I nevertheless want to know what made them believe their ways are right.

Not Online!!! wrote:

 Apple Peel wrote:

123ply wrote:
I want to see more Imperium vs Tau stories where the Imperials win through tactics and skill rather than enemy incompetence. I feel like the way Phil Kelly writes Tau is the best representation of them. Only problem is his fanboyism which always makes the tau so good at warfare that its as if they are psychic; knowing when and where the enemy will be at all times. Stories where the Imperials win against Phil Kelly type Tau is exactly what I need to see

You know, this could be done.

A book about a single Militarum Tempestus regiment having to storm in alone and clear a planet or two from Tau occupation. Daring raids, secret operations, and a big suicidal ending battle that forces the Tau to leave the area. Then the regiment packs up and leaves a note for the regular guard forces to come—“Yeah, we took care of it.”

1-2 Tempestus regiments?
Yeah sure no, that would be just be the reverse scenario.

keep in mind the Tau do have some sturctural weaknesses that can be used. send an assasination squad to take out an etheral and a Tau command cadre and the tau could collapse.

Voss wrote:
That analogy doesn't make any sense to me. Our immune system has limited role against foreign cells within our own bodies against things that specifically detect as foreign. By virtue of the immune cells physical bumping into them, for the most part.


That is entirely different from a thing which is described as not really having a consciousness having multiple pages long monologues about not having consciousness and identifying complex objects in multiple environments while traveling from space, across a desert planet to underneath a fortress. While performing complex atmospheric reentry and evasion procedures and scanning multiple complex frequencies of perception and detection.


It'd be one thing if the hive mind was pulling off some complex tactic (like sneaking spore mines up to the wall through some engineered carnifexes shenanigans or something), but this is just default behavior, that were constantly *told, not shown* is mindless. Constantly. Multiple times, every time the novel switches tracks.

The human immune system is an incredibly complicated system, and which can constitute a whole separate medical specialty in itself. Immune cells signal each other with cytokines, activating, deactivating, or recruiting reinforcements depending on the situation and what cytokines are detected. Specialized cells present fragments of the enemy and those cells that bind most efficiently to those fragments get selected for clonal expansion. Basically a hell of a lot stuff is happening and the cells are reacting to the local micro-environment (effectively making "decisions") and communicating with each other, yet all of this is done without any consciousness as we understand it. Our brains (i.e. Hive Mind) do not directly control them, yet they act autonomously for the benefit of the organism as a whole.

A Lictor, like other specialized organisms, is created with the intelligence and necessary behaviors to suit its role. A cat instinctively knows how to stalk, as does a Lictor. The Lictors just get released towards the enemy, and they know their role is to probe and find weaknesses or pick off enemy leaders. The Hive Mind doesn't need to direct its specific actions beyond that, just as we don't need to tell or think about how our immune cells go about fighting the enemy.

Books directly from the point of view of daemons, from famous characters to otherwise obscure beings like a particular Changecaster or Bloodmaster.

Kharn/Skulltaker team-up books, preferably a trilogy.

Beastmen and other mutant/abhuman perspective stories (other than Half-Horn, though learning about his origins could be cool). I'd love to see a reformed Beastmen IG unit, as well as some Chaos characters. Also, other abhumans, particularly ratmen, as it might be interesting to see how they measure up to Skaven in terms of beliefs, temperament, and behavior.

A focus on more obscure chapters and warbands. Do a story about the Mentors and the ostensibly hyper-advanced weaponry they have at their disposable. Bring back the Rainbow Warriors. Do some novels about the Brazen Beasts, the lava-fueled Magma Hounds, the theology of the Invocators (in particular, how it might be similar to/different from that of the Word Bearers), the nihilistic Purge and their fearsome biological weapons, the mysterious Cleaved, and all the other awesome new Chaos warbands. There's a whole segment of Space Marine lore that is almost completely undocumented.

Stories about less-known IG units like the Pyran Dragoons, Ork Hunters and the anti-Tyranid battalion (forgot its name).

Tyranid/Chaos battles.

Books from the perspective of Chaos cultists, the various reasons that people join and support them, with no to few CSM characters.

More works about stuff that happened between the Horus Heresy and 40K periods.

Orks or tyranids winning, and even better, winning as the underdog without overwhelming hordes of bodies. Let there be a three way fight involving the Imperium, chaos and nids/orks, with the xenos neglected and sweeping up as a last minute twist after building their strength. Orks might be better for a novel because ork perspectives are easier to write than tyranids

BrianDavion wrote:

that'd be an intreasting story in and of itself. a story where a Tau Commander realizes the sheer scope of the adversary. a story where a Tau commander does everything right, outsmarts the opponent and every turn, but is still being ground into dust on account of the sheer SIZE of the Imperial military machine.

Respectfully No.

The worst stories are where Brother Captain Clarkent stumbles into an enemy ambush, gets shot to bits but stumbles through because his power armour holds (though the warning runes are flashing). Similarly where the Imperial Guard ship in more men to throw at an objective until they get it. 'Fighting harder' or having insurmountable armour/numbers is not a good story. It doesn't tell you anything about the men in the struggle, just numbers and ultraviolence and mounds of corpses. There's a reason the most popular guard novels are the Ghost series- where among the backdrop of two innumerable armies, a small force of men do commando raids to turn the tide and uncover the nature of their foes.

Usually the Tyranids fill the faceless, insurmountable numbers role, and only to show the lengths the Imperium will go to(depths it will sink to) to win.

I'll grant you that your scenario would be interesting given Imperial hostages to give exposition/context to the tau or attempts for the Tau to negotiate quarter, only to discover the zeal and resolve of the Imperial men. Tau are the 'reasonable man' in the story and cannot understand why the humans hate them (for the sin of being xenos)

Who said they had to be Guard novels?

The small team that fights to turn the tide can be the Tau. The Tau fight bravely, intelligently, to achieve their objectives and succeed....only for it to not matter because the Imperium has so many forces that even a seemingly decisive tactical defeat on the local level is no more than the equivalent of a minor train delay. In 40K, humanity are the faceless numberless horde for the vast majority of other races.

And before anyone tries to say only human POV novels are allowed, the recent explosion in the number of Eldar novels and short stories says otherwise.