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==Warhammer 40,000==
'''Warhammer 40,000''' (informally known as '''Warhammer 40K''' or just '''40K''') is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_fiction science fiction] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_wargaming tabletop miniature wargame], produced by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom British] gaming company [[Games Workshop]]. Play centers around 28mm scale (approximately 1:65) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_figure miniature figurines] produced by [[Citadel Miniatures]], which represent soldiers, creatures and vehicles of war. The game requires a combination of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactics tactics] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luck luck].
Warhammer 40K is the science fiction companion to [[Warhammer Fantasy]]. Warhammer 40K allows for less regimental, formation-based movement, and deals with more advanced weaponry.
==History==
The first edition of the game ([[Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader]]) was published in the year 1987. The man responsible for creating the original rules set and the Warhammer 40,000 gameworld was game designer [[Rick Priestley]]. This original version came as a very detailed rulebook, making it most suitable for fighting small [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skirmish skirmish]esskirmishes. Much of the composition of units was determined randomly, by rolling [[dice]].
A few elements of the setting (bolters, Dreadnought armour) can be seen in a set of wargaming rules called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wwiki/index.php?title=Laserburn&action=edit ''Laserburn''] written by [[Bryan Ansell]] and produced by [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tabletop_Games&action=edit ''Tabletop Games]'' in 1980. The influence of these can also be seen in the prototype ''[[Necromunda (game system)|Necromunda]] '' game mechanics. Laserburn was turned into the computer game [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_Squad Laser Squad] that subsequently evolved into the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-COM X-COM] computer games.
The second edition was published in late 1993, aimed at making it easier to fight larger battles. This and later developments of the game are the work of editor [[Andy Chambers]]. This version relied greatly on cards, and came as a boxset including [[Space Marine]]s and [[Ork]]s miniatures, scenery and dice, as well as the main rules. An expansion pack ''Dark Millennium'' was later released.
The third edition was released in 1998, and again concentrated on streamlining the rules for larger battles. The rulebook was available alone, or as a boxset with miniatures ([[Space Marines Marine]]s and the newly introduced [[Dark Eldar]]).
The fourth edition was released in 2004. It was not such a major change as between previous editions, as it did not break gamers' old army lists or codexes. The rules are available either as a separate hardcover rulebook, or in a truncated — but still usable — form within the ''Battle For Macragge'' boxset, which also includes models for [[Space Marine]]s Marines and [[Tyranid]]s, scenery, dice and templates.
The current edition is the fifth edition. This, too, comes in a box set(with Space Marines and Space Orks) or as a rulebook. There were many major changes between fourth and fifth edition, however it did not invalidate any codexes or army lists.
===Overview===
Each player assembles an army from one of the official lists (see below) and constructs an army of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pewter pewter] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic plastic] miniatures representing the various units in that army. Rules for constructing armies are contained within the Warhammer 40K rulebook, as well there are army-specific [[Codex]]es that contain specific information on the units and rules for each army. (certain armies have multiple Codices-- for example, many of the major Chapters of the Space Marines army have individual Codices).
Army size is determined by "points" (pts); each figure and vehicle has an associated cost proportionate to its potential worth on the battlefield. Players agree on how many points for the game and each assemble an army up to that maximum limit. Typical game sizes are 500, 1000, 1500, 1750 and 2000 points. Games can vary in length of time from half an hour to several hours, dependent on game size.
===Current state of play===
As of July 2008, Warhammer 40K is in its fifth edition. The core rules are presented in a single large volume, with details for each army appearing in separate codexes. Currently, the [[Space Marine]]s codex has been updated to fifth edition. The [[Tyranid]] and [[Tau]] codices are at fourth edition level, and a completely new codex has been released for the [[Black Templars]] . Several other codexes have also been released, such as [[Eldar]] being the first in october October 2006, followed by [[Dark Angels]] and then [[OrksOrk]] s in 2007. A supplement covering the Taros campaign, including additional units and models available from the Forge World subsidiary of Games Workshop, is currently available. In the meantime, there exist FAQs and errata for materials done under the previous iteration of the rules.
==Background==
===Setting===
The Warhammer 40,000 game world is most readily characterized as a gothic science-fantasy setting. The central and most popular elements of the Warhammer 40k universe are the [[Space Marine]]s, futuristic versions of fantasy knights and the finest warriors of the [[Imperium|Imperium of Mankind]], a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dystopian dystopian] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degenerate degenerate] galaxy-spanning civilizationempire.
Since it originally was created as a sci-fi spinoff of the [[Warhammer Fantasy]] Battle game, the 40k gameworld contain many elements of the fantasy genre, for example the concept of magic and adapted versions of classic fantasy races. The inspirational sources for the 40k universe include classic and contemporary sci-fi, horror and fantasy movies and television series and the works of renowned genre authors such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Asimov Isaac Asimov], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Herbert Frank Herbert], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.P._Lovecraft H.P. Lovecraft], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Moorcock Michael Moorcock], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.R.R._Tolkien J.R.R. Tolkien] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Heinlein Robert Heinlein] (Heinlein's novel [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_Troopers Starship Troopers] inspired many elements such as elite marines in powered armor, and drop pods in which encased Space Marines and equipment are fired from orbiting ships down to the battlefield), [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval medieval], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque baroque] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrealist surrealist] art (especially [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.R._Giger H.R. Giger]), popular depictions of historical settings, such as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War World Wars], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_era Victorian Britain], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire Imperial Rome], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquisition The Inquisitions], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germany Nazi Germany] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Russia Soviet Russia]. This mix leads to a wholly unique fictional universe, in which every side is to some extent evil- though some are slightly less evil than others. The Imperium for example, is often presented as the "good side", and while it may be true that there are many good people within it, as a whole it is an oppressive, xenophobic, corrupt mess which is only able to keep control of its population through the fact that being worked to the bone assembling rifles and worshipping the Emperor is slightly better than being worked to the bone and then brutally killed by Ork warlords.
*[[Imperial Guard]]
*[[Space MarinesMarine]]s
*[[Imperial Navy]]
====The Forces of [[Chaos]]====
Ten thousand years ago, the [[Horus Heresy]] nearly tore the Imperium apart. Forces loyal to the dark gods of the Warp corrupted nearly half the Space Marine legions, and plunged the Imperium into a cataclysmic civil war. The Imperium defeated the traitors, but at great cost.
The Forces of Chaos still tear away at the Imperium. The sinister whispers of the dark gods turn many people away from the Emperor and their own people, and the remnants of the traitor Space Marine Legions still reside in the [[Eye of Terror]], occasionally striking out in what is known as the [[Black CrusadesCrusade]]s.
*[[The Lost and the Damned]]
*[[Chaos Space MarinesMarine]]s
====The Xenos====
Mankind is not the only sentient race in the galaxy. Many other races vie for survival and dominance of the galaxy. To the Imperium, all of them are enemies to be destroyed. The name for these are the xenos.
====The Eldar====
* [[Craftworld Eldar]]
* [[ExoditesExodite]]s
* [[Eldar Outcasts]]
* [[Pirates]]
*[[Ork]]
*[[Tau]]
*[[TyranidsTyranid]] s and [[Genestealer]]s*[[Abhuman]]s
====Minor Races/Sub-Races====
*[[Old Ones]]
*[[Slann]]
*[[SquatsSquat]] s (officially killed off)
*[[Vespid]]
==Notable characters==
'''Of the Imperium of Man'''
*The [[Emperor|The Emperor]]
*[[Marneus Calgar]]
*[[Ursarkar E. Creed]], Lord Castellan of Cadia
