Warhammer 40,000 has absolutely absurd weapons, and not just in terms of destructive power. Even the standard equipment of the armies is … wild. An expert has evaluated some of these weapons and is likely to receive a formal complaint for a level-3 tech heresy soon.
In a world where there is constantly war on a galactic scale, weapons logically play an important role. Anyone who observes the universe even from the sidelines should know the iconic Bolter, the most famous weapon from Warhammer. But how realistic is such a shooting iron that fires mini-explosives at high speed?
Jonathan Ferguson is an expert in firearms history and the “Keeper of Firearms & Artillery” at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, UK. In a video by WatchEXP on YouTube, he took a closer look at the sci-fi firearms.
Specifically, it was about weapons from the co-op shooter Warhammer 40,000 Darktide and particularly about some weapons of the new Skitarii class that came with the latest DLC. Ferguson’s results are quite sober and are unlikely to please the priesthood of Mars.
Mars is definitely “several generations ahead”
The first weapon on the test stand is the Galvanic Rifle, which is part of the standard equipment of the Skitarii. Galvanic weapons fire rounds that create an electrical shock in the body of the hit target with its own chemicals in blood and so on, which can end fatally. A hit literally burns you from the inside out. The description alone elicits a skeptical expression from Ferguson.
Galvanic rifles are originally hunting weapons from Mars. Ferguson compares the design to the M1 Garand, which you probably know from early Battlefield or CoD titles. The rifle is known for its distinctive “Pling!” when the cartridge clip flies out of the chamber after the last shot.
This sound is also present in Darktide, however while loading – which the expert only comments by saying that it makes no sense there, but they probably wanted to somehow implement this iconic sound.
The appearance itself meets with a certain incomprehension from him:
I welcome the idea of sticking to old designs. You often see that in reality, usually more out of necessity than tradition. […] What throws me off is how such a thing arrives on Mars to then be replicated or copied there. If you can travel to Mars, you are surely several generations ahead in technology.
Jonathan Ferguson on YouTube, around minute 2:21
Ferguson mentions Mars because the Adeptus Mechanicus was founded on Mars and has its headquarters there. Mars is considered one of the most important, perhaps even the most important forge and research world of the Imperium.
At least the expert acknowledges that it is not just a fancy sci-fi name, but that there are actually deeper thoughts behind the weapon idea. And at least one other iconic weapon seems to excite Ferguson.
We have embedded the whole video for you here:
Bolters show extraordinary effect even in their smallest variant
During the video, a variant of the Bolter appears, a Bolt Pistol in human size. Normally, Bolters serve the Space Marines, who are significantly larger than humans and whose equipment a human could never easily carry.
However, the showcased Bolt Pistol is small compared to what is usually known and what Ferguson has seen in Space Marine 2. The explanation is quite simple: High-ranking members of the Imperium often have custom versions of these weapons made for them.
So there are indeed “smaller” Bolt Pistols, like here, which – as Ferguson’s video partner aptly describes – simply look squished without losing too much firepower. To remind you: Bolters fire small bombs; a “normal” gun can’t keep up.
Ferguson notes here: That such a small weapon is completely made of metal is necessary for so much power behind it, and you see and notice that in the showcased gameplay: “They have given it physics. It is realistic for the universe it comes from. Not for the real universe; that would be boring.”
The design of the bizarre weapons fits into a bizarre world
Overall, the expert analyzes 10 weapons together with WatchEXP, including the Needle Pistol and a variant of the laser rifle, the well-known standard weapon of the Imperium.
As someone with a lot of experience with real weapons, Ferguson repeatedly points out what is not authentic in the designs – for example, the depiction of sights or embellishments like skulls all over the weapons.
The compromise that Darktide particularly makes here is excellent: “They have designed them to look like a part of the weapon. They haven’t stolen it from an existing design.” Too much similarity to the original could eventually break the immersion of a completely bizarre weapon from the future.
What is your favorite weapon from Warhammer 40,000? Do you like the totally bizarre ideas that are far from any logic, or do you stick with the down-to-earth designs? Leave us a comment!
Despite the many variations of weapons and possibilities for destruction, Space Marines, their chaotic counterparts, and Orks particularly rely on close combat – and that in a world where shooting is actually constantly happening. However, there is an explanation for this: In Warhammer 40,000 there are Bolters and laser rifles, yet elite fighters often use swords – for good reason
Your opinion is important to us!
Do you like the article? Then let us know!