Brummies in 40K

[BooTMGSG]

Tralling through the Lexicanum I found a Bit about Garran Crowe defending a desolate planet called Birmingham.
On clicking the link I found that:

"Birmingham was mentioned in Rogue Trader as one of the feral or backward planets where the musket is still in use. The world is also known as the Black Planet, as it receives almost no visible light; as a result, no one wants to go there, and its inhabitants have become linguistically and culturally isolated. "

Did the guys in Notingham put really put this in? or is the guy filling out the entry having a joke?

[warlordbob]

I'd guess its a rogue trader cast off, or a nod to those days, alot of vague steriotypical references have been splashed about the background since its early days. It just adds to the humour, like Orks being loosly based on football hooligans

[A.T.]

Did the guys in Notingham put really put this in? or is the guy filling out the entry having a joke?

It's also mentioned in the 5th ed book, and appears at the bottom of the map on page 138.

[omegoku]

Yup, the original quote is in the Rogue Trader book

[cornonthecob]

40k used to be alot lighter then today

[The bearded one]

There are lots of such gags spread around 40k and fantasy.

For example apparently the golden throne is located right over present day nottingham

Anyone else know of such gags? They're definately quite fun.

[Killgore]

There have been a few mentions of this 'Black Planet' in numerous WD's/ codexs

[Poncho160]

Coming from that general area, there used to and still is a bit a lot of rivalry between the cities and towns in the Midlands (Birmingham and Nottingham being quite close). It was probably a sly dig at people from Birmingham from people who were mostly based in Nottingham

[AndrewGPaul]

There are lots of such gags spread around 40k and fantasy.

For example apparently the golden throne is located right over present day nottingham

Anyone else know of such gags? They're definately quite fun.

I think there's been a few threads about things like this over the years. Things like the inspiration behind the Dark Angels and Lion El'Jonson, the 2nd War for Armageddon being Operation Barbarossa in a cheap disguise, two Eldar craftworlds being named after celtic religious dates and Ghazgkull's middle and surnames being apparently based on the name of a certain female Prime Minister of the UK.

A somewhat more obvious one was the Inquisitor Obi-wan Sherlock Clouseau. One of the first "special characters" was the Imperial Accountant from the first Chapter Approved; Book of the Astronomican who would follow Space Marines around and chastise them for not picking up spent bolter casings - that brass is expensive, after all!

[cornonthecob]

Everyone on Birmingham was killed recently due to a Dark Eldar attack

[Lord Squidar]

See lizardmen special character names for more... Tiq tac toe etc, Teeny Huan, etc.

I especially love the one about the Praetorian Guard fighting at the battle of Ork's Drift since I live near the real Rorke's Drift.

There was also a Red Orktober submarine around.

[Lord Damocles]

I especially love the one about the Praetorian Guard fighting at the battle of Ork's Drift since I live near the real Rorke's Drift.

Actually, that battle was never refered to as Ork's Drift.

There was a Battle of Ork's drift, but it was a Fantasy battle.

The Zulu inspired battle [report] was titled Last Stand at Glazer's Creek (UK WD 222), while the Zulu Dawn/Isandlwana battle was titled Massacre at Big Toof River (UK WD 118)

[baphomael]

Yup, b'ham the black planet (as opposed to the black country) exists. Yes it is described as a backwater full of culturally challenged degenerates. Yes, its a bit of UK midlands tongue in cheek rivalry.

Not to be confused, as some in the US do, with b'ham Alabama and issues of racial intolerance.

[BooTMGSG]

Always good to see a bit of local piss taking.

Also fun to hear Ghazgkull's not for turning.

[Cthell]

See lizardmen special character names for more... Tiq tac toe etc, Teeny Huan, etc.

Don't forget the old Dark Eldar Special Character "Kruellagh" AKA "the vile"

40K's also full of literary jokes (of varying quality); my personal favourite (which it took me an embarassingly long period of time to get) being the last known words of Corax...

[Tinners]

My favourite is that Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka is a refrence to Margaret Thatcher.


Margaret Thatcher

Mag Uruk Thraka

[Johnnya10]

You had Mad Donna as a special character in Necromunda. The resemblance was uncanny.
http://www.redstargames.net/images/MadDonnapage.jpg

[AndrewGPaul]

Also, take a look at the names for the first line of "Space Dwarfs":

http://www.solegends.com/citrt/rt03spacedwarfs.htm

[chromedog]

Not just the top line.

Pretty much ALL of those dwarfs were named after guns.

Maxim, Gal, Owen, Sten, Colt, Stoner, etc.

[Lord Squidar]

Of course the beastmen Jabberslythe is a very easily recognisable Jabberwocky from Lewis Carol's stories =)

And who can forget Sly Marbo!!!