So I've been reading a lot of 40K novels lately, and they've all been really helpful, though the ones focusing on Marines have done the most of course. I was wondering what other sorts of inspiration people have been able to find, not just from Black Library stuff, but other sources as well, and what they've done with it.

For a couple of the things I've latched on to, it's mostly been the small things, little details that add a lot of flavour by the way they emphasise that the Astartes are a warrior fraternity who take their heritage, as well as their honour, very seriously.

Flight of the Eisenstein mostly in the form of how wargear was treated. We've always known that the Space Marines 'recycled' their equipement, passing along Bolters and Power Armour as old bearers died, but something I never would have considered before is how the names of all the previous bearers would be engraved in to the casing of a Bolter, as noted by Captain Garro, when he is issued a replacement, and spots a the name of a recently fallen Battle-Brother from his company. Or how wielding the power sword Libertas is considered a great honour in and of itself, far beyond the raw might of the weapon.

While another example is Helreach, which I just started recently, and how it never occured to me that some Chapters of the Space Marines might ise a term like "Knights" for their brothers. Not to mention the insight it would give in to the Black Templars themselves, as a Chapter.

Well, mostly, my recent inspiration has been from the DW book itself. There's A LOT of background in the Jericho Reach chapter, and by reading through it enough, I've been picking out little hooks here and there which I'm turning into full-blown adventures.

Apart from that, I've been getting some inspiration from a weird source: music. Lately, I was adding tracks to my 40K Spotify collection, and some of the CD cover art from movies has sparked a few ideas, such as taking the Aliens plot and literally converting the whole movie into a 40K version. Cheesy, but easy!

I havent really had more than a quick luck through the main book itself, ive got a copy of dark heresy that ive been through a few times but mainly for inspiration on 40k based stuff i use the old rule books and codexes. Ive been playing since the Rogue Trader days so ive got a few of them now

But mainly i use the literature, ive just finished writing the background for my Blood Claw and for the most part the original Space Wolf trilogy by Bill King has provided most of my background and a web site called as the viking lady provided the more norse side of things for him.

Generally i play a lot of different rpgs and i try and vary my chars as much as i can, usually Some come from movies, some from books, a few from build types that i hear about on the net.

obviously lots and lots of the literature. particularly Eisenhorn and Ravenor for ideas of evil chaos schemes.

For big epic set pieces I use the Halo series alot, for vehicle battles and the like

Aliens is a classic for creating a spooky suspenseful atmosphere

for ideas on how human life might adapt to inhospitable planets (terraforming etc) I use a trilogy called the Mars trilogy. but thats pretty heavy going for a few terraforming ideas.

[edit] I'm speaking mostly as a GM here I realise. for space marine characters I guess I would draw on Horus Heresy novels to the max. although I admit I have yet to actually play a PC, I was elected for GMing in my group [/edit]

If you're looking for inspiration for adventures featuring a bunch of near-unstoppable superhumans, then don't forget your Greek Classics and Viking mythology.

There's a DW short story in Heroes of the Space Marines which isn't half-bad. Other than that: the intro to Dawn of War 1, the theme of Fallout 3 by Inon Zur, and the Litany of Hate. Heroic, bombastic and grimdark.