Aside from the red spaceship, which is rather random, there's really nothing to look for. Eldars even predate that show by a large date. Now, it is possible that since GW mixed elves to ninjas, there could be *some* anime influences, but I don't really see that in the eldar vessel designs. Of course the universe evolved. There's more robotech in the eldar "titans" than anything else but it kinda stops there, because the humanoid shape is sleek, effeminate and has stuff that protrudes everywhere, but curvy, just like in modern animes. That said it has its appeal, although it seems to me that a lot of the coolness of the vehicles was originally based on the bat wing schlick that was so hot in the 90s. The original models, the oldest, on the other hand, just feel completely uninspired and some of them seem to channel a kind of vikings in space vibe. The newer curved designs aren't specially japanese. There were plenty of them in old American SF.
Tau for me seem more video game inspired to me. Tau look like a cross between Battletech, Metroid, and Halo to me, but i can see a bit of The Shadow Chronicles.
Not sure there's anything specific about video games. It's so large of a category, and Metroid, for all I've seen, hasn't struck for being a brand that established strong cultural or mecha designs.
Their manta reminds me of a toy I had, which was a big white vessel, shaped like half an ovoid. You could remove the top and there were plenty of vehicles to clip inside, and tons of small plastic soldiers, yellow, blue, etc.
Mr. Oragahn wrote: and where we agree is that they're not over the top grim. They're just some very rigid structure, with its own propaganda and founding myths, but it's nothing like the IoM. Mind you I wouldn't dislike the IoM for what they are. I think the Tau fit rather well, in their niche, which is plainly mirrored by the small sector of space they occupy.
The problem with the IOM for me is that they have certain practices they could easily stop, and it would help them a lot
Not only can this be debated (I believe that if you wanted to change the IoM, you'd most likely break it at this point, if only because it would take resources the IoM barely seems to be able to use for defense these days), but it's also part of its charm. It's stupidly stuck and belives in its own mytho.
Mr. Oragahn wrote: Perhaps, or perhaps they're too much fanatics of their own peculiar vision of 40K. It isn't surprising though, considering how this approach of Warhammer has been championed by the very makers of this game, in their disorderly canon policies.
Even if you go with everything being equal canon in 40,000 there are certain things that are repeated everywhere to the point it can't be ignored without being rather dishonest.
One might argue that it's not because a source is repeated a gazillon times, even if under several forms over the times, that it's particularly more valid than a source that got mentionned once.
It's a flawed reasoning. Multiplication and spread of A doesn't make it better than B just because B remained stuck in one region.
Mr. Oragahn wrote: Yes but they're focusing on Terra because of the beacon of psy-whatever cast by the Emperor I think, or something similar, or perhaps that's just a theory. But the latest codex shows that there still are huge amounts of the larger swarms which are yet to enter the most active regions of the Imperium.
I thought it wasn't the Emperor the Tyranids are suppose to be after, but rather the system the IOM uses for navigation?
Perhaps it's the Astronomican that is tasty, can't remember right now. But surely, the idea is that the bugs like the shiny thing on Earth.
That sounds like the swarms are already in the galaxy?
Can't tell. To me it just shows swarms. Are there more? We don't know. Although the idea that swarms are attracted would tend to mean that all would be there, unless some swarms don't care about that snack.
It is also curious because the Astronomican's range is very limited, yet it is supposed to have attracted beasts from outside of the galaxy, like hounds which have a better flair than humans, or like blood for predators (air and water based)?
Intriguing.
Mr. Oragahn wrote: They more or less all fight as efficiently and ruthlessly as they did before, and safe a few nerfs, they're still technically superior. Their division doesn't seem that dramatic as far as their global interests are concerned. The cases where disagreements may have occurred are probably numbered by one in a hundred.
For business reasons, Games Workshop added diversity as much as they made the Nucrons more active.
The problem is that the Necrons have be supreme leadership, and if some full is to be believed no FTL of their own.
Yes, they lost some bits, clearly. The "everywhere and anywhere in the blink of an eye" is myth now, for certain. I'd have to check but I think they just use something similar to what the Eldars use.
In terms of strategy it's not uninteresting. It's a pretty simple rule that limitations of movement in space and chokepoints and anchors make for better tension and stories.
Mr. Oragahn wrote: Ah?
Going by the wikis, common traits Sensei are said to possess are:
1) immunity to warp/chaos corruption
2) being somewhat rebellious
3) natural enemies of Chaos/corruption
4) Charismatic
5) highly skilled, but not obviously superhuman
6) trying to do the right thing
7) enhancing the abilities of their allies
8) they stop aging, and do not suffer the effects of old age
That sounds like Captain Titus, but I lack a first hand knowledge of the fluff concerning Sensei.
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Sensei#.UT5wXBxnaZQ
http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Illu ... The_Sensei
Becoming a space marine would likely be a good way for a sensei to go unnoticed, and said sensei might not even know his nature when he joins up.
Here's the Hidden King silver lining for you.
Mr. Oragahn wrote: I wonder if they're going to develop that part any further. Like a new order or some potential quasi-reincarnation for the God Emperor of Mankind. Or through a sacrifice of several senseis, they start a new cycle which final outcome is the return of the GEoM, like it's supposed to have happened first.
Narratively wise, that universe is so huge they have like a ton of things to write about to sell books to fans! :D
Having the GM return somehow would certain be an easy way to justify new armies, models, and a great way to remove a lot of the the grim stupid from the IOM.
From an in-universe perspective it would likely start a civil war in the IOM, but what is good for the IOM is not necessarily good for humans.
Business wise, I wouldn't count on it yet.
I'd probably rinse the Nucrons dry first, and even try to bring back the squats in some way, before completely screwing over the Fall of the Imperium era.
Not only it keeps fans on their toes, but doing it too soon can kill opportunities for milking.
They couldn't really launch it as some kind of "Battlefeet Gothic", you know, like focused on a given timeline, because knowing for sure that there's a future and the return of the GEoM, it would completely relieve the sense of despair for all pre-return material.
It could only work if they added like a MASSIVE does of dramatic irony, and having the IoM make huge sacrifices that actually bring it close to extinction because it lost faith in the return of the GEoM, so there would be an even darker era just before the Return, and whole new wave of traitors all around, with the GEoM starting small and perhaps even far from Terra. Like some messiah no one wants to hear about, and could even get impaled by the Romans in space. :P
I think GW could pull that stunt in about 15-20 years from now.