Codex (plural codices) is the name of a source book for Warhammer 40000 armies and factions containing background information, pictures, and rules.

General Info

Since its creation in the 80's Warhammer 40,000 has had 4 distinct versions or editions. With each edition the Codex of each army has changed to reflect the new rules and units.

First Edition

While the term Codex was not yet used a number of books were comparable. Like the more modern editions they included units and rules which were compiled from the White Dwarf magazine.

Overview
File:Chapter.jpg Book of the Astronomican	File:WH40KCompilation.jpg Compilation	File:WH40KCompendium.jpg Compendium	File:Realm Of Chaos - Slaves to Darksness - Cover.jpg Slaves to Darkness	File:Realm Of Chaos - The Lost And The Damned - Cover.jpg The Lost and the Damned
	File:Waaargh Orks Cover.jpg Waaargh The Orks!	File:Ere we go.jpg 'Ere we go	File:Freebooterz Cover.jpg Freebooterz

Second Edition

The second edition of Warhammer 40,000 was substantially more colorful and the new Codex books reflected this. Larger amount of background information, such as background information and organization, were included adding more depth to the Warhammer 40,0000 universe.

Besides the regular army books there were others that carried the title codex. A codex for the basic style of play, various army lists, and rules were published.

Third Edition

The third edition of Codices were much the second, with the exception of the Ork Codex, (now spelled Kodex) they were naturally the same as there predecessors

Revision

Within the third edition another group of codices were published. Apart from more pictures and background information, new types of codices were introduced. Rather then providing information on a specific force, these included new rules and background for environments or planetary campaigns.