Civil wars in 40k

[Biggle_Bear]

I saw a YouTube video that described how space marines are supposed to be rare. Like most citizens have never seen one. It’s just that we see them a lot because our games represent the future-deciding battles.

Made me think, is there a way of representing planetary civil wars of the 40k setting that would be interesting and without resorting to using the chaos army lists.

My mind goes to writing an army list that is highly UNDER powered, but messes with the rules of the game. Like one unit could be Rioters, that if attacked lose the other side victory points. Combat units likely have stats below that of regular imperial guardsmen. Leaders are rebel starters that draw more units into the battle. Stuff like that.

But of course, my thoughts aren’t other people’s thoughts and someone might have a better idea. So feel free to tell them below or to direct everyone to where it has already been done.

 

[Punktaku]

Wouldn’t the simplest way being Guard vs. Guard? One could be traditional Guard, the other could be PDF forces. Guard vs Redemptionists. Guard vs. Arbites. For many of those you could include units of civilian rioters that lose the victory points. Maybe each side gets a “free” unit of rioters they control just to mess with the other side?

 

[SuboptimusPrime]

I think the usual way the Empire handles civil unrest is "send a guard regiment from other world to restore order with absurdly callous violence", so Guard vs. Guard makes sense. Maybe modified Genestealer cults that don't have the Tyranid-specific trappings (or just handwave these things with tech and or psychic powers) to show rioting workers.

If it turns out the reason for the unrest is, like, heresy-heresy, as in "worshipping the ruinous powers and/or Genestealer cults", and not regular heresy like "being unhappy you have nothing to eat because all food gets shipped off world" or "not working 20-hour shifts in the manufactorium until your arms literally fall off because you are treated worse than chattel", they call in bigger and bigger guns until eventually the Space Marines arrive, cause an unholy mess, and in the end the Guard regiments they sent in the first place are all rounded up and killed by the Inquisition.

When you look at the big picture, all those cults in the Empire start making sense, really.

 

[MusingWarboss]

I saw a YouTube video that described how space marines are supposed to be rare. Like most citizens have never seen one. It’s just that we see them a lot because our games represent the future-deciding battles.

Made me think, is there a way of representing planetary civil wars of the 40k setting that would be interesting and without resorting to using the chaos army lists.

My mind goes to writing an army list that is highly UNDER powered, but messes with the rules of the game. Like one unit could be Rioters, that if attacked lose the other side victory points. Combat units likely have stats below that of regular imperial guardsmen. Leaders are rebel starters that draw more units into the battle. Stuff like that.

But of course, my thoughts aren’t other people’s thoughts and someone might have a better idea. So feel free to tell them below or to direct everyone to where it has already been done.

I’m not sure I’m understanding the request here.

On the first bit, yeah Space Marines are supposed to be the super elite troops of the imperium. Problem is that GW has then as the go-to unique IP trooper, so they produce way too many chapters, models and scenarios for these super soldiers to be in.

As for civil war… that is Necromunda, it’s all warring factions of civilians.

If you want similar in 40k then the Imperial Guard/Adeptus Militarum would be the place to look and you can use any sculpts you wish to represent whoever.

 

[Biggle_Bear]

I was particularly thinking of a worker uprising kind of civil war. The planetary governor and army versus mutant slaves and downtrodden normals. But it was just a passing thought that might spark discussion so take it where you like.

 

[Punktaku]

That’s kinda the idea behind my chaos cult of Malal.

 

["Technic" Al]

Again that's very Necromunda with the uprising and aranthuan succession campaigns, although you could feasibly use the models and some missions from that to upscale it into 40k terms. As suboptimus prime has said if you wanted that as more of a 40k army then genestealer cult without the genestealer flair is the way to go as everything is designed to be civilian tech - to the point where the vehicles and dirtbikes made its way to Necromunda.

 

[ChapterAquila92]

Made me think, is there a way of representing planetary civil wars of the 40k setting that would be interesting and without resorting to using the chaos army lists.

Individual planets, systems, and even sectors in the Imperium have fallen into civil war without it ever being the result of Chaos or Xenos influence. Kreig, Aexe Cardinal, the Trade Wars on Verghast, the Severan Dominate, the Badab War... even that spat over Vraks that got out of hand started off as a mundane rebellion. 9 times out of 10, it's a job for the Guard to handle, to the point that one of the most common enemies they face are regular unaugmented humans equipped and organized much the same as they are.

 

[spafe]

If you are talking about games of 40k, what edition?
3rd-5th you can easily use Lost and damned army list, or any guard (standard dex, IA lists or suppliments), stealer cult or the vraks renegades lists to make suitable down trodden masses with minimal xeno or chaos influences.
6th-7th IA13 renegades and heretics comes online and is a stunning book of beauty that can provide you with a suitable army list
8th+... I dunno, I checked out of 40k by then

If you want smaller scale, 4th ed 40k has kill team rules and combat patrol. Both are great for small missions/fun story driven mini campaigns and arbitrator shenagins.
Alternatively, shadow war armegeddon, or any necromunda version will also provide a great basis for skirmish level low stakes conflicts

If you are asking about the background and story...
Marines are rare, regardless of the GW hype and focus, in universe, they are rare. The fact that they are the focus... well, you'd feel a little let down if you went to watch a marvel universe movie only for it to be about a random street mugging in a small city somewhere, solved by a local cop, just because it was not focuses on where the superheroes were battling to save the world over new york... yeah, thats the same reason marines are in all the headline GW stuff... they are the focus and main story protagonists.

in terms of a 'common' conflict, for the imperium, most will involve guard fighting rebel guard, rebel pdf, pirates (human), orks or the local wildlife. Pretty much no other enemy (with possible exception of nids) is glaxay spanning enough to be considered a common enemy, and marines, inquisition, mechanicus or knights are too rare to be the imperials.

Others have referenced various campaigns/worlds that are good examples of these conflicts so I wont bother listing more of them