New to Warhammer 40k, what should I look into before I play this game?

[Squidmaan]

I am a big fan of turn based strategy games and have been wanting to get into Warhammer 40k for awhile now so this game seemed like the perfect fit! But first, I got a few questions

Would this game be a good starting point for someone new to the series?

What should I look into, in terms of lore, to get a better understanding of what is going on in this game?

[Lamp]

As far as books I would recommend Forges of Mars, Mechanicum, and Deus Ex Mechanicus. If you want a quick fix on lore, there is an hour long video on YouTube about the history of the Mechanicus as well as two or maybe three “40 facts about warhammer 40k” videos about the mechanicus. Well worth checking out.

[Brother Severus]

In my opinion if you are interested in the world of 40k the best option to start is reading The Eisenhorn Trilogy,which comes with Xenos,Malleus and Hereticus.
I know that at the beginning 40k might be intimidating for a newcomer due to a over 30 years lore.
But I can tell you that if you have the patience to read these nice books you might get a perfect understanding about what is going on in the galaxy.
If you are not into reading these books a shorter but not complete way is to get the Warhammer 40k guide book 8th edition,the first 100 pages of so summarize the events and factions,the rest is dedicated to the tabletop aspect of the hobby,rules and painting.
Anyway there is no rule,you try to get into what you like.
For example if you're into the Deathwatch or the Orks start to get some information through the net,and then from there you might expand your research.
This is the nice thing of 40k,you do as you feel.

[Morsum]

Wrath of Omnissiah is also good book on Adeptus Mechanicus. If you dont want to read, you can instead listen the books, because they are published in audiobooks also.

I listen WH40k audio books when im working.

[Brother Severus]

Originally posted by Morsum:

Wrath of Omnissiah is also good book on Adeptus Mechanicus. If you dont want to read, you can instead listen the books, because they are published in audiobooks also.

I listen WH40k audio books when im working.

Very good advice,a few months back I bought Horus Rising and False Gods in audiobook.
I agree that this is a very relaxing way to immerge yourself in the 40k world.

[MrAltF4]

Originally posted by Squidmaan™:

I am a big fan of turn based strategy games and have been wanting to get into Warhammer 40k for awhile now so this game seemed like the perfect fit! But first, I got a few questions

Would this game be a good starting point for someone new to the series?

What should I look into, in terms of lore, to get a better understanding of what is going on in this game?

Welcome to the fold!
Always a pleasure to see a new fan of the 40K universe. Now I'm not an employee of Games Workshop (the guys that create Warhammer 40K), I'm just a humble developer that's a huge fan of the 40K universe.

Right now, no one other than press have had a go on Mechanicus, and maybe the few lucky enough to play at events and stores we've visited. So until release this question can only be answered by them (and me, but i'm biased as hell, so don't listen to me).

What would be handy is what medium to you enjoy learning from?

Video?
> I'd recommend this video from Luetin09 (he also does some good 40k overview videos) https://youtu.be/F0GObe51--c

- Audio?
> there's a ton of produced novels by Games Workshop's book publishing division, however i've only heard the Ad-Mech (Adeptus Mechanicus) versions. Alternativly you could just listen to the YouTube videos out there.

- Written?
> for me the Horus Heresy series of books were what really opened my eyes to the depth of the 40K universe, and if you take that route, then at the very least read books 1,2 & 3. But what got my foot in the door was the 40K rule book. at the time it was 3rd edition (2004 i think). Good news is the 8th rulebook is crammed with lore and it's a great gate way, as "Brother Severus" mentioned already above.

- Kenetic?(hands-on learning)
> a good game to ease you into the IP woul be Dawn of War 1 or Dawn of War 2. I have no affiliation to them and love both titles. Go with DoW 1 if you're an RTS fan or DoW 2 if you prefer micro managing a small number of squads. I'm a fan of both styles of game so i'm odd in the fact i like both titles.
> I'd be awful if i didn't mentioned that Mechanicus is good if you want to know about the Adeptus Mechanicus and Necron factions in 40K. it's not going to give you an understanding of anything else other than these two factions, but that was the goal anyways :)

[particlewaves]

There's a Humble Bundle featuring a bunch of audiobooks at the moment:

https://www.humblebundle.com/books/voices-from-the-worlds-of-warhammer-audio

[shadowsfm]

other good turn based strategy games in the warhammer 40,000 universe include:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/317620/Space_Hulk_Ascension/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/492230/Space_Hulk_Tactics/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/394450/Warhammer_40000_Deathwatch__Enhanced_Edition/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/489630/Warhammer_40000_Gladius__Relics_of_War/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/502370/Warhammer_40000_Sanctus_Reach/

as for real time strategy:
there is the dawn of war series
and keep an eye on the upcoming
https://store.steampowered.com/app/573100/Battlefleet_Gothic_Armada_2/

and there is that action RPG
https://store.steampowered.com/app/527430/Warhammer_40000_Inquisitor__Martyr/

shooters
https://store.steampowered.com/app/55150/Warhammer_40000_Space_Marine/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/816090/Space_Hulk_Deathwing__Enhanced_Edition/

i can't wait for necromunda to get a steam page

[Meistr755]

Archwarhammer series in youtube for lore.

[shadowsfm]

youtube movies:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUplioG2DC4&t=4520s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bgi5STRe8E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZc6cr6G2E4&t=236s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhULhHCk_D8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-MteECxZUY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfGPMJ8A0QY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkj8KmxYpkQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4k4T4lRfNQ

[FearlessJDK]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MeVxKZBOfM

[MrAltF4]

Originally posted by FearlessJDK:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MeVxKZBOfM

Damn, wish i'd thought of this :)

[shadowsfm]

watching the video, i realize 40k shares the same universe as starfox (jk)

[Craven]

If you want to be learn about specifical Warhammer lore you can go on the website 1d4chan, wich is like a warhammer (and other tabletop) wikipedia that's not taking itself seriously. The articles are great at summarizing the lore of specific faction in a broad but extremely funny manner. You can learn a lot from there but should not immediatly start there because it also incorporates a lot of memes, build up over the years that could confuse you. The mechanicus IS innofficially known for their complicated relationship with Toasters for example ;)

[Din511]

if you want to go into lore look for 40k theories and oculus imperia on youtube
dont go for archwarhammer he gets off topic alot and the guy never bought another mic in his life

and if you want to see tabletop miniature plays i would recommend to start with strikingscorpion82
on youtube

also death of hope is coming out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhULhHCk_D8

[MrAltF4]

Originally posted by DrakoRebel:

Internet aside best place to learn more in-depth is your local Warhammer shop, learn something new there everyday and staff are friendly an very helpful. Heck tabletop is fun to :Wheeljack:

I have to agree!
If you've got good staff, which in my expereince seems to be every store i ever enter, they're very helpful and informative.