I did sound only, it gives an air of creepiness that you can only speculate on what you are hearing. Especially when they searched the Procession of the Damned and could see debris out the window but heard all sorts of creepiness over the comm channels.

I orientated on some of the scenes in different WH40k novels like the Gaunts Ghosts series on the frigate Navarre. Mostly flatscreens for the workstations and a hololithic display for the captain. Communications almost always audio only.

korjik said:

I'd argue that one, Star Trek ships can convert energy to matter with such ease they use them to make ice cream sundays and for Sherlock Holmes cosplay.

Star Wars is not nearly so advanced but they still have FTL ships the size of a modern jet fighter.

40k tech is big, ugly, dirty and unreliable.

Anyway I vote for big screens and exchanging Shakespeare quotes, it's just cooler that way.

Kid Kyoto said:

True but at its height they were creating black holes that they could switch on and off in the shape of swords, because you know.. when all else fails hit your opponent in the face with a black hole.

Shame they lost the paperwork that would permit the propers hymns to be sung in order for them to recharge the batteries on that weapon.

Kid Kyoto said:

Notice the 'at its peak'. There is no reason to believe that either of those is not possible in 40k. Gregor Eisenhorn had a lightsaber. Impys would consider an Imperial Star Destroyer to be an escort . Eldar can make starships with their brain .

You are right that 40k tech is big, ugly, dirty, and unreliable, but that wasnt true at the high point of the Dark Age of Technology.