Mmmm.. goths in space....

[gridlore]

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the Warhammer 40K universe. It is wonderfully dark and filled with gothic horror. An undying Emperor strapped into a life-support system/throne so his psychic powers can guide starships? Solemn orders of warrior monks in powered armor? Legions of enemies both brutal and cunning? It has it all!

Alas, except for some homebrew systems and halfhearted GURPS adaptations, it was all in support of miniature gaming. But now, that has changed.

I hold in my hands (OK, it's sitting next to me while I type) the first WH40K RPG: Dark Heresy. The characters are Acolytes in the Imperial Inquisition. Under the guidance of an Inquisitor, they are dispatched to hunt down the foul stench of heresy, the vile influence of aliens, and the twisted machinations of Chaos. The war never ends, and vigilance must be eternal.

This looks good. more detailed review when I've had a chance to read it in depth.

But space goths!!! C'mon!

Comments

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

It is worth noting that I only found any appeal in that setting when they finally introduced the Tau, specifically to be less GRIMDARK. Your mileage may definitely vary.

[caraig.livejournal.com]

And apparently, they have put enough ambiguity into the Tau to make them GRIMDARK. The possibility that 'the greater good' is actually some sort of pheremone/telepathic supersuggestion by the Ethereals which thus controls the entire race. They couldn't leave well enough alone....

That being said, I find the 40K setting fascinating for the sheer corpus of work that's been done for it, and the complexity of the more subtle things going on.

[dalen-talas.livejournal.com]

That, and the fact that many planets get issued "Join us or be nuked from orbit by the Air Caste" ultimatums.

OTOH, you gotta love the expression Ciaphas Cain coined: "Purging the heretics in the name of the greater good."