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Hi there, I'm running a Warhammer 40k game with a system based on FATE, all my players know nothing or very few about the universe and I would love a little help.

The main plot is that the main characters are sent to fight as a freelancer support army, to assist some of the campaigns of the Segmentum Tempestus. They play as Imperial guards from the 3rd Gantimir Dogs, an original regiment wich planet was destroyed by tyranids (cofcofcofTanithFisrtAndOnlyWithoutBagPipescofcofcof), and some space marines from several chapters, some kind of deathwatch-ish support squads. They just swich from SM to IG according to the scenario.

I made them fight for a chaos controlled fortress, and now they are going to face a genestealer cult, and maybe a full-scale tyranid invasion. I think of using some dark eldar assassins working for a rogue trader, and maybe some secessionist forces. I don't use the warhammer roleplay system because I don't have it, also the spanish version of the warhammer material kinda sucks. As implied, I am spanish, so sorry for my english level.

Any plot ideas?

Edit: I forgot that the nationality is show on the comments....

Have you started the game?

The IG side could be fairly "sheltered" in that they have never seen more of the galaxy than the inner slums of their home Hive City, and the battlefield.

This would mean their *characters* know almost nothing about the universe.

This allows you to have the exposition unfold naturally. It doesn't matter if the players don't know the difference between Craftworlder scum and Dark Citier scum, as their characters wouldn't either. There may be clues here and there, but even if they tangle with them a lot, they may still not know.

Same with the Chaos they are trying to fight. They know to be on their guard because anyone could be a traitor, but they probably don't know who Khorne or Nurgle is. That said, a guy red with blood, carrying a dozen skulls and a giant axe, doesn't need to *tell* you about Khorne - looking at him tells you everything you need to know.

Bank off the idea that their characters know little, as well. Its not like there is some insightful Imperial News at 9. Its all indoctrinated faith-based platitudes, with no investigative journalism.

@Bharring Yes, and no. I have started, but just one session and they faced chaos fanatics, and a chaos spawn, they didn't really have much contact with chaos related stuff or xenos.

Good idea, I could play with their lack of knowledge. They are IG after all, just cannon fodder without real knowledge about the war they are fighting, like in Call of Cthulhu, they face the unknown.

Then you see a green half rotten creature.

-What the Feth is that?

-Who cares? HIT IT UNTIL IT DIES!

Exactly.

"Followers of Khorne" tells them nothing. "Blood-soaked raving madmen" tells them everything.

The Blood God means something too.

Slanesh means nothing. She who Thirsts might.

Don't rely on knowledge or names, just paint the motifs. They will understand the game, and the universe, much better.

you might want to take a look at the fantasy flight books they have tons of 40k rpg adventures.

I want to get some of them, but in my location it's pretty difficult to get them in physic. But I will probably make a collect with my players to get some in pdf, after we get some other stuff first.