there is something bugging me, we know all about the huge ppl who go to war, colonize planets, and do stuffs, but we dont get any info about the normal ppl, hell not even on the planetery lords lifes...

my main question is, what do they do for fun? is there TV? radio? movies? do they use cars? or mass transport? whats the overall view of this techs? does the common man go to church, even if they live in a 15 billion ppl hive? does a noble travel to other solar systems? if they do, then why? how? what does a planetery lord do when not doing his work? do ppl think of him as lord of the world or just like a figure who gives the tax to the imperium? does a planetery lord own all the factories of a wolrd too? if yes, then what do the nobles have?

and many other question like this...

The answer to every question is, " It depends on your planet."

If you're from an agri-world that doesn't make use of industrialization, your entertainment is going to come from folk songs, storytellers, throwing things are criminals in the town square, and public executions. If you're on a hive world you'll probably have at least a radio, with well-off individuals possessing television, magic lanterns, or possibly a hololithic entertainment center. You can expect to listen to/watch a lot of propaganda and public executions. All planets will have some sort of theater, whether it's traveling performers or grand operas played out in titanic colosseums.

Transport varies the same way.

Everyone goes to church, though what that church consists of will depend on what sects of the Creed hold sway on the planet. Everything from aged shamans recounting tales of "the Sky-King who protects our world" to elaborate services full of pomp that play out over several hours can happen.

In short, use your imagination and find the best answers for the planet in question that best suite your campaign.

Now, I could be wrong, but it seems to me like the varied Forge Worlds probably don't differ that much from each other outside of manufacturing specialty

(Also, they wouldn't go to Church like most Imperials, since they worship the Omnissiah)

Depends to some degree on whether they were Imperial citizens or subjects of the Adeptus Mechanicus (the two being legally separate empires): we know that not all inhabitants of all forgeworlds are members or direct vassals of the AM (Orestes Forgeworld, for example, has a sizeable contingent of Imperial citizens, who are mostly Administratum book-keepers and stevedores/dockworkers). Mechanicus citizens are less likely to visit temples/churches or shrines to the God-Emperor of Man, although it is possible that they will visit temples to Him-on-Earth in His aspect as the Omnissiah (and conversely it is possible that Imperial citizens will visit such temples as well as/instead of more conventional churches).

Besides that, members and subjects of the AM will undoubtedly have their own rituals of worship which will be observed upon their own schedule (admittedly, many, if not all of these will be rote maintenance-turned religious rituals) which will affect their lives in much the same way as the various cults and sects will affect the daily life of the average Imperial citizen.

Incidentally, the above comments apply equally to AM members and/or subjects on ships, stations and planets that are not wholly (or even primarily) the sovereign territory of the Mechanicum as to those living on bona fide Forgeworlds. Most Imperial territories will have at least one enclave of the Mechanicus, which will generally be considered AM sovereign territory.

Ever see the silent movie Metropolis? The early scenes in the factories are how I picture a "day in the life" of an average Imperial citizen: massive shifts of people working long hours at back-breaking, soul-killing work in dangerous conditions. Large numbers of workers periodically killed by accidents and replaced without a blink by another wave of hab-prols. On their time off, the workers trudge back to their stark, crowded hab-units. The main difference would be omnipresent WWII-style propaganda: posters extolling the populace to work harder to support the war effort and to report any of their neighbors who are acting "odd"; and the expectation from on-high that the Cult of the God-Emperor will fill any void these horrible conditions leave in citizen's lives (weather it really does is a different story...).

1984 for the hive worlders and the chrisalids for agri-worlders

Adeptus-B said:

I would like to to enter one tiny tid-bit of the german history of Arbeitssicherheit (work saftey) here. While one would believe that the first governmental rules in regard to workers safety in germany would be the result of a union or similiar group, it was in fact the result of a monarchic government decree,,,

and the reason: the military complained about the fact that by the time the people where of ripe age to be drafted into the military a high number of them already where crippled by accidents in their life as factory workers!

By this margin, I could imagine that on worlds close to some kind of war or regular warzone their COULD be relaltive safe work in a manufactorum by governmental decree. Less likely on a major hive world, more likely on a "regular imperial world".

The following are just my own assumption and in 99% of the cases not based on any official material

Examples of thing Imperial Citizens could do for fun

Eating & Drinking
Especially in a society where food is a mass-produced good (like most hive worlds) "real food" (something somebody actually cooked for you) could be the highlight of the month. A father could take his familiy to some real restaurant once in a month where their is actually a waitre asking you what dish you would like to be served (instead of the food you get handed in the cantina). Drinking has alway been a popular past time for those who cannot afford either.

Holo Lantern Shows which seem to be something like "3D holographic cinema". This should be a rather costly affair, me guesses. Perhap once ever two to three month for a commoner. If such technology is available at all

Carnivora/Arena/Death sports are an everpresent underpin of what we have learned about 40K society. Bouts between human might me the best thing commoners might get to see. Besides normal brawls/boxing, I once heard the idea of "Shock Boxing" and grew so found of it that I included it into my game world. Their once was comic (non-40k) about artificially enhanced boxers that spurred my imagination here. It would be like regular boxing but an additional level of stamina would be needed. Otherwise, a competitor would go down VERY FAST. Shows involving local beasts might be common still. Thinkg about old british rat fights (rats against rats or a trained dog pitted against rats. It was not if the dog would loose but it was about how quick the dog could kill all the rats in the pit). Visiting shows including LEGALLY imported xenos beast should be expensive, so.

Gambling is always a good option. Especially things like blotto or a "wheel of fortune".

Carneval/Side Shows would be another good examples. Simple boots with games of dexterity or strenght, simple shows and attractions. Perhaps one or three in each carnival including something technically advanced.

Race Spectacles could be another valid option. Jockey on horses, flying beasts or skimmer cars could be a specatcle to keep the masses happy and distracted

Opera and Theatre where the first is a thing for those of cultur and standing while the second could be a very raunchey affair indeed, with simple stage plays about vulgar topics.

A visit to the botanic garden / to the zoologic garden hence the nobility could use such thing to show of their wealth and grandeur. In real life, this was how the first zoos where established: as those of noble blood openend their private gardesn to the pulbic (first with specific restrictions, so).

Sitting together with the neigbhors to tell stories or to sing songs. The later is a WONDERFUL way to spend some free time and it is a shame that our current society started to pay many a coin for listening to professionals but is ashamed to thing with each other on occasion.

Depends on the planet, which includes societal structure, tech level, and which part the Empire the world belongs to.

Hi Khensu,

@Mass Media and the like
I normally treat any kind of "mass media" (which I interpret as: any media which is accessed by the majority of the populace) as

a) view indeed
b) seldomly to be a written medium

I choose A because I expect "the Imperium" to apply censurship. A body of government has it easier to apply censurship if there are less source they need to check and bully

B is a direct result to the seming lack of literacy (if the PC/careers are taken as a basis). While most people on "Imperial Worlds" (Origin) have basic skill in literacy… I guess reading anything but the headlines of a newspaper is a painstaking process if one has only "basic skills in reading".

That said, I tend to radio (vox) broadcasts. Partyl due to the history of my homecountry (Germany) where early radio was used as an propaganda distribution tool in the Drittes Reich. Many a section of the middle hive I head my players moving through even had loud hailers spourting Imperial Hymes, censored news about the success of "our sons and daugthers" (if an IG Regiment was raised on this world recently) and of course the repetance of the "Thought of the Day" like it would be an A-rotation song of one of our contemporary radio stations.

Another feature I do use is "Cable Comm". It like our phones (and somtimes like a Vidphone) with the difference that their is no phone box and each and every call goes through a dial switiching centre like in the roaring 1920s… with the difference that spider-limbed servitors are making the connections and each HAB or city district might have its own dial switiching centre. Of course, the government often taps phone lines if it thinks it to be feasiable.

Vox Comm (like our modern mobile phones) is a tool of business adepts, the nobility and certain professionals. Their is no phonebook, so, and wise people recognize that they fully trust the Adeptus Mechanicus if they use such devices.

Info CogNet (Informational Cogitator Networks) only exist on very adcanved planets while non-connected Info Terminals might be available where it pleases the GM put are nothing for the unwashed masses since literacy is clearly needed to handle the systems.

Electronic Letter Systems (ELS) are likewise only existing on advanced worlds and are under full controll of the Mechanicum.

Newspapers and other print media are present, but are view, censored and only used by the middle class (nobles have servants that keep them informed).

The universe of Warhammer 40k is largely an ode to Medieval Europe, and Rogue Trader the Age of Discovery. I would look to those eras for learning the average person's day-to-day life or forms of entertainment and give a grimdark sci-fi twist.

Citizens spend most of their waking hours toiling in fields or factories (12-14 hours / day) and are probably too exhausted for much personal entertainment afterward. Maybe reading a few chapters from local liturgical sources, if you are literate, or a few hymns sung if not. (Secular entertainment, books or music, are probably viewed as a foolish waste of Imperial worshipers' time, at best.) Public entertainment, such as plays, magic-lantern shows, etc. are largely religiously-themed, since most consumers have little, if any, knowledge stories or events outside the purview of the local "bible" and don't have the attention span or patience for most "art". Invariably, most entertainment is religious and certainly all public entertainment , to enforce group- think and -behavior, is propagandistic by nature.

A lot of medieval entertainment utilized extreme acts of animal cruelty. For example bear-baiting was extremely popular in the Middle Ages. Baiting was a "game" in which a bear would be chained to a post inside a small pit or arena to be beset by vicious dogs or men with sticks or farm implements until death, all to the delight of the crowd. Imagine hormagaunt-baiting; utilzing a pathetic, starved runty 'gaunt with most teeth and its scythe-blades removed. What a spectacle for your simple, loyal Imperial citizen!

Relief from constant drudgery would be the sabbath (fun to imagine what this might entail for adherents of the Machine Cult!) with citizens spending most of the day attending religious services, as mentioned other places in the thread. Occasionally, religious festivals and holidays: Drusmas( St. Drusus' Mass) or (Saint) Kadmon's Day, for example, provide citizens an unusual (and whole!) day off from labor here and there throughout the year. Such events commonly utilize traveling bands of entertainers, side shows and even carnival midways. Contests are popular and tolerated by religious authorities in these instances, in order to give peasants an outlet for competition, respect by their peers and as sources of personal pride. Common events could be communal dances, socials or religious passion plays (with peasant actors), grox pageants, puppet shows, Ork cosplay, witch-burnings, heretek-quarterings and always lots of eating and drinking all in honor of the Saint(s).

For the more "sophisticated" citizens of the Adeptus Mechanicus, I would imagine it as a more satirical look at comtemporary society; far less religiously-themed holidays or competions and far more secular propaganda, in the form of magic-lantern war movies, for example. The sabbath might also consist of religious events, as with Imperial citizens, with meager amounts of free time; perhaps violent primitive video games for manufactorum workers (to encourage lever-pulling and button-mashing skills) memory and word games for Administratum / office drones (to develop record-keeping abilities). Religious festivals are probably more like Super-Bowl Weekend (in America) or the World Cup, lots of passive consumption of sports and Arena spectacles! Contests may be more frequent with small, token rewards, like extra break time or rations of Crisp-o-Munch for the following work week, for workers of the "Manufactorum with the Fewest Fatalities" or "Cube-Section with the Fewest Clerical Errors".

I imagine Imperial / Adeptus Mechanicus culture as having few mercantile or middle-class elements, with independence and individuality routinely discouraged, granting your average Rogue Trader a far easier time recruiting wanderlusty or adventurous bilge-scum for the lower decks!
.

Gregorius21778 said:

'Fair enough, Adeptus-B. On the other hand, you have a whole planet of mad scientists to ensure employees remain "competent" in the event of catastrophic injury. If a worker falls into the gears, he or she has crippled limbs simply removed and replaced by superior, durable bionics. In the event of worker death, which section can't utilize more servitors. I like your notions (especially how they dove tail with imperial Germany) a lot, but I could see lathe worlds having a lot in common with death worlds in more than a few ways.

Each bit of cursed gristle shorn brings you closer to Perfection! Every industrial accident is a gift from the Omnissiah!

I would think that the level of piety among the common man varies a great deal from world to world. Sure, Shrine Worlds might not have any entertainment that isn't brought to you via the Ministorum, but I would think that many Hive Worlds are quite different.

HappyDaze said:

Oh absolutely! I was raised going to church every Sunday, which I no longer do. Just because you are "made" to do something, doesn't mean you like what you are doing or even believe it. Having a city of tens of billions of people would make it very easy to slip between the cracks as an apostate or non-believer; nobody's going to miss you at Drusmas Midnight Mass if the local city square can accomodate 2 million believers for the service! On the other hand, in a universe where there are perceived (investigation by the Inquisition) and even very real threats (the Ruinous Powers) to non-believers, no one is probably openly mocking or in direct defiance to the religious doctrine. Probably everyone pays lip service to it in order to keep up appearances. I look at it this way: in New York, no one would notice your disbelieving ways (necessarily), but you had better not take that attitude to the backwoods of Mississippi, unless you are ready for some real trouble.

Also, remember that in the Imperium, the church is the government. Although in America, and most places on Earth, religious have no real legitimate legal power. To be further USA-centric, imagine if the FBI (Inquisition) or the Arbites (local police) noticed you weren't quite enthusiastic enough in your worship in public. Imperial citizens probably take every opportunity they can to for public displays of their faith, just so obersvant feds don't get the "wrong idea" on whether they love Him On Terra.

Of course the explorers of Rogue Trader are a special case and live largely outside the bounds of normal Imperial law. I imagine Lord-Captain and his immediate crew could be quite brazenly disrespectful towards clergy and disbelieve the church's claims to any legitimacy without immediate reprisal. (This sort of seems silly, though, as Missionary explorers have tangible and obvious Talents bestowed by their faith in the God-Emperor that other explorers just don't have.) Yet how is morale on a void ship with a crew of 5 thousand worshipers whose leader mocks their faith openly and imperils their souls? Furthermore, how do would any missionaries, confessors and commissars on board feel? That sounds like mutiny waiting to happen.

You can be a believer and not be a zealot - at least in the relatively 'cosmopolitan' parts of the Imperium (so, not on Shrine Worlds). Not every branch of the Ecclesiarchy is either corrupted beyond measure or a front for the Red Redemption. There are moderates.

Warmaster Picklehauber said:

Warmaster Picklehauber said:

Actually, (secular) music is probably encouraged, particularly on pre-industrial worlds, and those with mass-media systems, such as vox-propaganda. It's a form of entertainment that pulls a minimum of potential workers out of the productive population, can be enjoyed while working without causing a significant drop in productivity in the meantime, and the morale-boost would most likely up the overall productivity to more than compensate.
Sure, chamber music and modern pop/rock concerts would likely be considered fripperies and special events and/or limited to the upper classes, but virtually everywhere would have some people who can sing/play instruments well enough to please a pub crowd.

I'd disagree with Imperial worlds having a limited mercantile/middle-class elements, as the society as presented doesn't work without them, but given the broad diaspora of the Imperium of Man, I can see it as plausible in some cases- most likely on War/Fortress worlds, and those given over wholly to the Administratum as bureaucratic fiefs.
I'ts far more likely on Mechanicus worlds though… but sadly for a recruiting Rogue Trader, there's a far greater chance of wanderlust being already curbed by lobotomy and/or servitor cyborgisation.

If you are lucky enough to be born on one of the worlds administered by Ultramar you might have all sorts of choices in your life. Opportunities for social mobility, education according to your talents, career choice. Essentially these worlds are the closest WH40K gets to 'good' societies.

This was Guilliman's intent… How much of this survives to the M41 is debatable of course.