I compiled this guide to serve as simple overview and introduction to the world and lore of Warhammer 40K for the uninitiated. The focus of this guide is the background of the WH40K universe and WH40K:EC, not the actual mechanics of the game. This is meant to be brief and informative while not turning into a codex itself. Throughout this guide, important terms and names are shown in bold on first reference.

Pass this on and share it with heretics and believers alike and new initiates especially! If you have any questions, comments or suggestions feel free to post. As more confirmed information about EC becomes available to include possible future updates, I will do my best to keep this guide updated with relevant lore.

The first edition of WH40K, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader was created by Rick Priestly, produced and released in 1987 by Games Workshop, as a futuristic companion to Warhammer (but set in different universes), a tabletop fantasy battle game released in 1983. Both games are played by positioning and moving miniatures across a play-field. Games are played within a specified point limit, each piece or unit being assigned a specific point value. Games are won either by defeating an opponent's army and/or completing specific objectives. The outcome of combat is determined by position/cover on the playing field, unit statistics, game rules and dice rolls. Both games feature dark and dystopian fantasy worlds.

The setting for Warhammer40k is the distant future in the 41st millennium.
Although, mankind has spread throughout the galaxy in vast numbers and united under the Imperium of Man, they are also on the brink of devastation due to civil war, corruption and war with the other races of the galaxy who are also vying for power.

The Imperium of Man is ruled by the Emperor (aka The Emperor of Mankind), an immortal human of immense psychic power who is revered as a living God. Those who oppose or deny the Emperor are known by the Imperium as heretics. His powers allow humanity to spread across the cosmos using the Warp (aka Realm of Chaos, Warpspace, Immaterium, Empyrean, the Aether or Sea of Souls), a parallel dimension wrought with psychic energy but also beset by daemons and chaos created by the four aptly named Chaos Gods (aka Dark Gods, Ruinious Powers and Powers of Chaos), which include Khorne, the God of bloodlust, war and death, Tzeentch, the God of fate, knowledge and change, Nurgle, the God of plague, disease and death and Slaanesh, the God of lust, pleasure and desire. It is this Chaos that constantly seeks to spread itself and corrupt all to its whims.

Psykers, those with innate psychic powers and abilities derive their powers through a mental connection with the Warp. The energies within the Warp can even be influenced by them but those who mettle in the Warp can often become corrupted by it, possessed by daemons or worse, consumed completely, body and soul.

The Emperor created twenty Primarchs, genetically engineered and imbued with superhuman powers and psychic ability. Those Primarchs were each used as a genetic template to create the legions of the Space Marines, also genetically modified humans created through gene-seeding, which were used during the 30th millennium to conquer and unite humans throughout the galaxy.

Horus, one of the Emperor's favorite Primarchs became corrupted by Chaos and rebelled against the Emperor in what is known as the Horus Heresy, pitting the Space Marines in a massive civil war against each other. At this time many of the legions were also spread across the galaxy and unable to aid the Emperor. It ended in a showdown between Horus and the Emperor. The Emperor destroyed Horus but not before being mortally wounded because he hesitated to kill Horus, who was like a son to him. After the Horus Heresy, the Space Marines were broken into Chapters, (each comprised of 1000 Space Marines) to prevent such a massive uprising from ever again taking place. The Chaos Space Marines (those corrupted by Chaos) are driven into the Eye of Terror, a Warp rift which co-exists with Realspace.

The Emperor is then placed on the Golden Throne, a cybernetic life support mechanism that keeps his body alive, while at the same time his mind is active within the Warp, directing the beacon of the Astronomican, that makes interstellar Warp travel possible. Human psykers, often reviled by other humans, are either selected for training to use their powers in the aid of the Imperium or if they are deemed too weak or uncontrollable, are sacrificed and their souls fed to the Emperor to continuing power the beacon.

As we stand now, the galaxy is beset with war between the Imperium of Man, the other races of the galaxy who seek their own goals; unity, power or simply destruction, and the Chaos Gods and the twisted evil inside the Warp which seeks to corrupt the entire universe. And even as the Emperor sits on his Golden Throne and continues to hold the Chaos at bay...his throne too...is failing. Who will hold back the Chaos if the Emperor falls?

Here is a really, short overview of the backstory and lore of WH40k:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MeVxKZBOfM

Here is a narrative overview of the lore of WH40K, which is a bit longer but worth a listen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoj7woIww0g

While most of the galaxy, either fights against the Chaos, fights for the Chaos or fights simply for their own interests, there truly are no "good guys." Even those who fight against the Chaos, use questionable means to achieve their ends, seeking to unite the galaxy by subjugating it. Even in the good, there is evil.

The major races of the WH40K universe include:

Humans, which includes the Imperium of Man and the Space Marines, genetically engineered super soldiers. They serve the will of the Emperor, a powerful superhuman and immortal psychic seeking to unite all humanity under the rule of the Imperium and to destroy the Chaos seeking to corrupt and devour the universe. Though he was mortally wounded, the will of their Emperor's still living mind allows the humans to use interstellar travel and keeps the Chaos at bay...but even now his throne is failing.

Chaos, which includes Chaos Space Marines, Daemons and other mutants and renegades who serve the will of Chaos. They are the twisted and evil beings that exist within the Chaos and those like the Chaos Space Marines who have allowed themselves to be corrupted by the Warp and the Chaos Gods. Their only goal is to spread their corruption to consume the universe and serve the will of the Chaos Gods.

The Eldar, are an ancient, humanoid, elf-like race, with dominant psychic traits, who once dominated the galaxy before The Fall, a cataclysmic event in the 30th millennium, in which their immense collective psychic energies resulted in the birth of the Chaos God Slaanesh, whose birth decimated the Eldar, consuming billions of their souls in the process. After The Fall, many Eldar broke off into Craftworlds, inhabiting massive spaceships which carry the remnants of the Eldar race. From The Fall, the Dark Eldar were also born. The Eldar are able to traverse the vastness of space and in between their Craftworlds using the Webway, an inter-dimensional gateway, absent of the dangers of the Warp. The Fall has damaged and destroyed much of the Webway though. The Eldar have now focused their powers to attempt to create a new God, Ynnead, in hope that when born, he will defeat Slaanesh, although Ynnead's birth could lead to another Fall, consuming their souls in the process of his creation.

Orks, (aka greenskins) are a naturally aggressive, primitive minded and warlike race of tough and adaptable humanoids (or better described as Orkoids) believed to have been genetically engineered (possibly by the Old Ones), with green skin and brutish physiques who wage war with each other as much as they do other races. To put it simply, they enjoy fighting. The Gretchin or "Grots" are a highly intelligent slave race which serve the Orks. The Orks use Ork teef as their main currency and highly value Dakka. (aka firepower and loud guns) The Orks possess latent psychic abilities which manifest in causing their equipment and weapons which often shouldn't physically function...to just work...somehow. The Orks have been at war with mankind since before the creation of the Imperium. While often at war among themselves, they may be united under a powerful Ork Warlord into a Waaagh!, although these alliances are only temporary.

Necrons, an ancient race, of skeleton-like robots, once human, they traded their bodies to the C'tan, an ancient race of beings with a voracious appetite for life (not in the good way), in exchange for their souls (unknown to the Necrons at the time) who gave them their new forms so they could wage war against The Old Ones, an ancient race who the Necrons fought for the secret of immortality. After aeons of slumber, the Necrons have reawakened and seek to reclaim the galaxy for themselves.

Tau, a technologically-oriented humanoid race with cloven hooves and grey-blue leathery skin, who often wear robotic like armor and suits giving them the appearance of such and are organized in an elemental based caste system. They seek to unite the galaxy for The Greater Good, as directed by the Ethereals, a ruling class among the Tau. They are aided by others alien races to include the Kroot and the Vespid. While they are arguably the most benevolent of the races, sometimes they are known to enforce the Greater Good by less than benevolent means. They lack Psykers and rely on lesser technological means to traverse the Warp. Because of their lack of connection to the Warp, none have been known to be corrupted by Chaos. The Chaos takes no notice of the Tau and the Tau take no notice of the Chaos.

Tyranids, a race of quick and vicious insect-like creatures who hail from another plain of existence and cannot be reasoned with. They are drawn to the galaxy by the Astronomican's psychic beacon, like moths to a flame. They communicate and operate via a synaptic Hive Mind. Their goal is to consume and devour everything in order to evolve and reproduce.

*subject to changes*

Genetically modified superhumans who worship a superhuman psychic and immortal known as the Emperor. Their primary equipment consists of the boltgun/bolt pistol and their distinctive Power Armour, specially crafted for each individual Space Marine.

Ultramarines
Loyalists, strict followers of the Codex Astartes
Primarch: Roboute Guilliman.
Colors: Blue with white and gold trim
Specialty: Tactics, Governance, Jack of all Trades

Blood Angels
Particulary known for their bloodthirsty nature
Primarch: Sanguinius
Colors: Blood red with Black
Specialty: Assault, Deep strikes

Dark Angels
The first Space Marine legion created by the Emperor
Primarch: Lion El'Jonson
Colors: Dark Green, with white robes
Specialty: Plasma weapons, Terminator Armor (Deathwing chapter), Bikes/Land Speeders (Ravenwing chapter)

Space Wolves
Fierceness in battle, defiance of authority and doctrine
Primarch: Leman Russ
Colors: Grey, some with rainments of wolf pelts and claws both decorative and as weapons
Specialty: Assault

Imperial Fists
Crusaders & loyalists, known as the "Defenders of Terra"
Primarch: Rogal Dorn
Colors: Yellow, with red trim
Specialty: Urban & Void Warfare, Governance

Genetically modified superhumans who once worshiped the Emperor but have become corrupted by Chaos who dwell within the Eye of Terror and are constantly mutated and twisted by its force. Their primary equipment is the same as the Space Marines although it has been twisted by the Chaos and fused with biological and inorganic parts. They are powerful servants of Chaos who willing allow themselves to be possessed by daemons of Chaos.

Black Legion
Originally known as the Luna Wolves, now known as the Sons of Horus
Primarch: Horus Lupercal
Colors: Black, with gold and silver trim
Specialty: Flexibility, eliminating enemy command

Word Bearers
Originally known as the Imperial Heralds, extremely fanatical and religious
Primarch: Lorgar Aurelian
Colors: Dark Crimson/Red with gunmetal/silver trim
Specialty: The ability to summon daemons and Dark Apostles who can convert enemy forces to serve Chaos

Iron Warriors
Fierce fighters akin to the Blood Angels
Primarch: Perturabo
Colors: Silver armor with gold trim and black shoulder guards
Specialty: Siege warfare and destroying enemy fortifications

Night Lords
Ironically skeptics who scorn faith and despise those they deem to be corrupted by Chaos
Primarch: Konrad Curze
Colors: Blue, with symbols of death
Specialty: Stealth tactics, terrorizing their enemies

Alpha Legion
Highly secretive, rumored to be loyalists who joined Chaos in order to destroy it
Primarch: Alpharius & Omegon
Colors: Silver, blue & green trim
Specialty: Covert operations, Infiltratrion

A genetically engineered race of brutish, aggressive and primitive humanoids who simply enjoy bashing things, clobbering things and basically fighting in general. They make use of primitive seeming weapons and equipment which logically shouldn't work but just do somehow.

Goffs
One of the toughest and most brutal clans, always looking for a fight
View all other Ork clans as inferior
Prefer close combat

Evil Sunz
Prefer bikes, trukkz and other vehicles for transportation and combat
Prefer speed over function and durability
Known to have the best Warbikers

Bad Moons
The wealthiest of the Ork clans
Often act as merchants within Ork society
Known for their Kustom weapons and Shootas

Deathskulls
Known as thieves, looters and scavengers, generally despised by other clans
Their weapons and equipment are often haphazardly created from any junk they can find
Adept at constructing Kombi-Weapons (multi-functional weapons) from their scavenged loot


An ancient, humanoid, elf-like race, with dominant psychic traits, known to be highly agile but lacking in defense. Their weapons and armor are psycho-technic and constructed of Wraithbone, summoned forth from the Warp and crafted by Eldar Bonesingers.

Ulthwe'
One of the largest Eldar Craftworlds
Known for mounting perfectly coordinated shock attacks
Colors: Black, Bone
Specialty: Farseers (powerful psykers), shock attacks

Biel-Tan
Honorable warriors who seek to rebuild the Eldar empire
Extremely xenophobic, hate the Orks especially
Colors: White, Green
Specialty: Eradicating non-Eldar colonists from Eldar Maiden Worlds

Saim-Hann
Known as dangerous and wild warriors among the Eldar
Prefer the wild ways of the old Eldar Path which led to The Fall
Colors: Predominantly Red with black and white trim
Specialty: Speed and swift attacks, Wild Riders (Jetbikes and Vypers)

Iyanden
Once one of the largest Craftworlds, now decimated by The Fall and the Tyranids
Reliant on Wraith-constructs, beings formed of Wraithbone armor and inhabited by the spirits of their dead, due to their dwindling numbers
Colors: Yellow, with blue trim
Specialty: Summoning Wraith-constructs

Eternal Crusade:
https://www.eternalcrusade.com/faq
http://eternalcrusade.wikia.com

Warhammer 40K:
http://www.wh40k.lexicanum.com
http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/
http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Warhammer_40,000_Universe

Warhammer 40K Tabletop:
*If you're interested in learning more about the tabletop game, you can find more information below. Be forewarned though, that both the game manuals, miniatures can be costly along with costs associated to assembly, painting and constructing playfields. The models are expensive. The books are expensive. The paints are expensive. The EVERYTHING is really...really...REALLY expensive. Really.

http://www.games-workshop.com/
http://www.blacklibrary.com/
http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/
http://www.dakkadakka.com/
http://forum.eternalcrusade.com/forums/table-top.42/