40K Alignments

[Tawnis]

I got to thinking the other day when I was explaining the various 40k factions to my wife (she's finally considering dipping her toes into the hobby): There's the common trope of the 40k universe where "Everyone's a bad guy" and while that is more less correct, one of the reasons that 40k is so compelling is that within that structure, you have a wide variety of alignments split amongst all the various races and factions. So I figured that I'd post my take on them and see what everyone else thought. 

 

(Reminder: The subfactions are within their greater faction, so you can have good within an evil society as the good/evil scale is more a determination of selflessness to selfishness than what we would necessarily consider good or evil actions within our own society.)

 

The Imperium of Man: Lawful Evil
Not really much surprise here to anyone even remotely familiar with the setting. They are one of the quintessential Lawful Evil factions in fiction.

 

Astra Militarum: Lawful Good
Custodes: Lawful Neutral
Space Marines: Lawful Good-Evil (very much chapter dependent) 
Sororities: Lawful Good
Mechanicum: Lawful Neutral
Inquisition: Lawful Evil

 

Chaos: Chaotic Evil 
Again, no surprise there, however, the breakdown of the various gods was a lot more interesting the more I thought about it. 

 

Khorne: Neutral Evil (Khorne cares not from whence the blood flows.) 
Tzeentch: Chaotic Neutral (Tzeentch doesn't care about helping or hindering anyone as long as change continues.)
Slaanesh: Chaotic Evil 
Nurgle: Chaotic... Good (Okay, here me out here: Nurgle whole thing is it's belief that the plagues it provides give joy and bliss to others. You see all those smiling daemons and pox walkers and such. If it's true or not isn't the point as alignment is based on intent. The minions of Nurgle never hesitate to sacrifice themselves to spread their plagues, in fact, they often enjoy that too.) 

 

Craftworlds: Neutral Good 
Drukhari: Neutral Evil
Harlequins: True Neutral

 

Necrons: Lawful Evil

 

Orks: Neutral Evil

 

Tau: Lawful Good
Kroot: Lawful Neutral

 

Votaan: Lawful Neutral 

 

Tyranids: Neutral Evil

 

There were a few things that surprised me when I broke it all down. First, that there was a faction for each of the 9 alignments which I very much did not expect. Also that The Imperium, the Aeldari, and Chaos make up the trifecta of Lawful-Neutral-Chaotic regardless of sub faction (with the exception of Khorne which an argument could easily be made for Chaotic Evil as well). 

 

So what are your thoughts, anywhere I missed the mark? 
 

[W.A.Rorie]

I would say that is pretty spot on.

 

 

[kabaakaba]

I'm absolutely agreed for Nurgle cause so joyfull demons can't be evil!

And can't agree on Astra Militarum. They are true neutral. There's so much shades of this structure. Officio pPrefectus are Lawfull Evil, some regiments like The Savlars are chaotic evil. Some good.