Warhammer 40,000, or 40k, is set in the 41st millennium. The great empire of man struggles for supremacy with the barbaric Space Orks and the enigmatic Eldar. From the warp, evil Chaos forces also pour forth. There are also the ancient Necrons, but these are no real threat to the human empire. But all this is set to change. From the deepest reaches of an unknown universe, a new immediate threat has emerged. The relentless Tyranids number some 15 trillion, and are constantly being replaced. They send forth enormous fleets to the edge of the human empire, and so far nothing has been able to stand in their way...
This is a time of tanks and guns, of bombs and spacecraft. On the battlefield troops usually fight in squads. Above is an Ork 'squad', called a mob. Orks fight in large mobs like these, relying on their numbers.
One of the most popular armies are the Space Marines. These are divided into countless chapters, like the Blood Angels (left). Other chapters are Ultramines, White Scars etc. Space Marines are extremely skilled, since they are genetically advanced humans.
The
Eldar are an enigmatic race, whose
technology is
unfathomable to humans. However, they have been all but wiped out,
and live a secretive existence. Their dark kin are called the Dark Eldar. Right is an Eldar Warlock.
Right is an enigmatic Eldar
Here is a list of all the 40k races - Space Marines (including Ultramarines, Space Wolves, Blood Angles, Dark Angels and Black Templars), Imperial Guard, Eldar, Dark Eldar, Tyranids, Orks, Necrons.
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40K is very different from WHFB in many ways. The main weapon in 40K is the gun, and battles will usually revolve mainly around shooting. The basic rules are the same though.