No idea about warhammer 40k lore, what should i read?

[Marcos_DS]

Can i just start the game and everything will be explained (lore, rules), or should i read some lorebooks, novels and rulebooks first? And if so, what should i read?

[rinaldop]

Originally posted by Marcos_DS:

Can i just start the game and everything will be explained (lore, rules), or should i read some lorebooks, novels and rulebooks first? And if so, what should i read?

I have played a ton of Warhammer 40K games and I have never read anything. The games explain everything well and some of the games have built in mini encyclopedias that give extra background on lore.
Just play the game, you will be fine.

[Marcos_DS]

Thanks, will do.

[Lemming]

If you are curious about Rogue Trader itself, the old Fantasy Flight source books or core books can provide insight into some of the rules/lore. Honestly however, you don't really need it. TLDR Rogue Traders are empowered by the ruling government to explore, negotiate, and exploit new areas and resources. You play as one of those rare individuals who has this broad power and the backing of an ancient mercantile house to support your expeditions.

[shadowsfm]

id advise watching youtube explain:
imperium of man
the inquisition
space flight and the warp
chaos
xenos

[Marcos_DS]

Originally posted by shadowsfm:

id advise watching youtube explain:
imperium of man
the inquisition
space flight and the warp
chaos
xenos

Played the intro now and while hovering over the highlighted concepts and terms was a decent enough introduction, but i think watching the videos will give me some better context how it all fits together. Thanks

[Cpt Hayes]

Originally posted by Marcos_DS:

Originally posted by shadowsfm:

id advise watching youtube explain:
imperium of man
the inquisition
space flight and the warp
chaos
xenos

Played the intro now and while hovering over the highlighted concepts and terms was a decent enough introduction, but i think watching the videos will give me some better context how it all fits together. Thanks

I'd recommend watching a dedicated lore channel like Arch or Oculus Imperia. Whenever you have time to kill or are on a long drive, you can load the video and have it play in the background while you do something else. There's also "If the Emperor had a Text to Speech Device" by Bruva Alfabusa if you want comedy with a dash of lore.

[Soleone]

The Eisenhorn series is one of the most epic pieces of science fiction I have ever come across, strongly recommend it for additional immersion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenhorn

[Fizzban]

Originally posted by Soleone:

The Eisenhorn series is one of the most epic pieces of science fiction I have ever come across, strongly recommend it for additional immersion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenhorn

I just bought the Eisenhorn omnibus on Ebay based on your recommendation. Thanks

[Stirk]

Originally posted by Soleone:

The Eisenhorn series is one of the most epic pieces of science fiction I have ever come across, strongly recommend it for additional immersion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenhorn

I strongly second this recommendation (4 Eisenhorn books, can get the first 3 in single omnibus) and also its thematic and chronological continuation in the next trilogy on Ravenor (Eisenhorn's interrogator who became an Inquisitor) and the Bequin (a member of Eisenhorn's inquisitorial warband) trilogy after that (only the first two of those are out).

[Marcos_DS]

Thanks, i will also put Eisenhorn on my reader. The vids on Oculus Imperia were really good as well.

[ParatrooperGR]

Excellent question... there is so much in the lore that is simply a damn good read, even though it might not be the most... effective "primer". For example, anything by Dan Abnett is gold. I especially love the Gaunt's Ghosts series (and there are a few books there). Going way back at the beginning to the origin stories of the Horus Herecy is also good and has some great books, although there are about... 40 of them and the quality is a bit uneven. Just get into it and enjoy :)

[TheChiv]

So fun fact about 40k. It has the largest lore of any work of fiction. The fact that gw basicly borrows from other works and rebrands it makes understanding it all pretty simple.

I would say if you want a core understanding getting your hands of a rule book and the codex for each army will give you enough to form a decent picture. If you want to add more detail then oh boy are you going to be reading a metric tone of black library works.

A simple and cost effective short cut to this is You tube lore videos. Not going to lie some of it will put you to sleep. I would suggest
Luetin09 on youtube. He has a lore/history playlist with over 120 videos each being 20m-120m long. For more funny content I would reccommend majorkill and if the emperor had a text to speech device.

[Herodotus]

Originally posted by Marcos_DS:

Can i just start the game and everything will be explained (lore, rules), or should i read some lorebooks, novels and rulebooks first? And if so, what should i read?

Never played the board game, as the minis are far too expensive in Australia (and I'm not thrilled by rolling dice and moving models). Started the hobby playing the first PC games by SSI, but the Black Library novels really hook you in. Warhammer Wiki also makes for great reading, say if you want backgrounds on Rogue Traders in general or any other characters. races. factions etc., minor or even now extinct. Have over 100 W40K and Horus Heresy novels, many now out of print and unlike most books these appreciate in value as they do go out of print never to return (since 2020 strangely) or only two novels of planned three book series are finished (and I have several of them).

Get the Uriel Ventris Omnibus (I bought them all separately, my first books) and any Space Marines Battles novels you can. Op shops and book fairs are great places to find cheap copies.

[watchdog79]

Originally posted by Marcos_DS:

Can i just start the game and everything will be explained (lore, rules), or should i read some lorebooks, novels and rulebooks first? And if so, what should i read?

I would suggest delving into this. There is a lot to read there, though:

https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Main_Page

[Marcos_DS]

Thanks everyone! I didn't mark any one specific reply as THE answer, but all combined are a great resource (for now i'm watching the youtube series & reaqd Eisenhorn).