The Universe of Warhammer 40K

[Solariabsg25]

This universe has been going for decades now, and I think almost everyone, although perhaps not familiar with the tabletop game, are at least aware of the IP.

I have thought that with the vast canvas available, there is certainly the option to try to tell many tales in this universe. Yet every attempt to do so has either fallen at the first hurdle or just not been that successful, and I've wondered why this is.

My thoughts are that the universe is just too niche. The grandiose language of the Space Marines, and their talk of duty and honour, and stoicness for The Emperor just won't resonate for today's audiences. You alter the premise to pander to the audience and the nuances are lost.

I think this is a shame that the 40K universe will forever be consigned to the world of direct-to-DVD/Bluray, as battles involving thousands of troops, hundreds of tanks and building-sized fighting machines is made for the big-screen. Is there a way it could work?

I think the closest we got was Lynch's DUNE which ended up being a box-office disaster.

 

[Reverend]

I don't think it's too niche so much as it's too broad and at the same time too shallow. The world itself is so grandiose and yet bleak that it smothers any chance of telling a real character based story. The only thing that works in even a limited fashion is the usual grab-bag of archetypes and tropes. And that's fine, it's a franchise that was designed with tabletop gaming in mind, not character based story-telling.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The only W40K story I'd really be interested in seeing, is what happens after the Emperor dies.

 

[Reverend]

^Which is probably never going to happen since the nature of the universe is that it's fundamentally rigid and static.
Want to do a story that involves a Chapter that breaks from the stagnation of millennia old machine patterns and try to innovate, progress and try something new? Two bad because they just got declared heretics and all of their homeworlds condemned to Exterminatus.
Want to tell a story about the Imperium finally trying to via for peace with the Eldar or the Tau so they can deal with the greater threats of the Tyranids and the never ending waves of Ork invaders? Tough. The servants of the Emperor to not suffer xeno scum to live!

You get the idea.

 

[Solariabsg25]

I think that's hit the nail on the head - the universe of 40k is a vast broad sweeping canvas with such endless possibilities. But these possibilities will all just feed into the stereotype of the various races.

As to how the universe would cope after the death of the Emperor, apart from **looks around for Inquisitor agents** rumours that the Emperor was dead before he was even hooked up to the Golden Throne, if he does what the Imperium thinks he does, then the Imperium's pretty much screwed. Plus of course all the gamers will go ballistic if they're thinking that 40K's going all Age of Sigmar!!

 

[matthunter]

Yep, this is why the only 40K based RPG that works for me is Rogue Trader (basically Iron Men and Wooden Ships IN SPAAAAAACCCCEEEE!!!!). Out from the Imperium's control (mostly) and with a huge amount of Emperor-granted leeway to ignore the rules and deal with all sorts of heretical stuff, as long as you're conquering new worlds or opening trade routes for the Imperium.

 

[Starbreaker]

I've tried to look into the books, but it's completely daunting.

 

[John Clark]

I enjoy some of the books (Mostly the Gaunt and Cain series but also the Heresy series and the James Swallow ones I've read).

I think they could do some films though it might be easier to stick to the Guard or possibly a Rogue Trader and Retinue (Sort of like the Inquisitor Draco novels where he was pretending to be just that).
Space Hulk might also be one of the easier options. I wouldn't mind a Band of Brothers style series around a IG unit.

How well they'd actually sell to the general public might be an issue though.

It's been a long time since I've played any of the Tabletop games, though I've played some of the video games in the last five or so years.