In Warhammer 40K, the Imperium of Man are awful, but they're the 'good guys' because they're human, any every other species is even more awful and would wipe humanity out given the chance
Most of the independent human systems doing just fine without the Imperium tyvm
Eldar
Some Necrons, maaaaybe. It's hard to tell with them sometimes.
Hrud mostly seem to just want to be left alone.
A lot of aliens just chilling
Fun Fact: the Imperium doesn't actually span most of the galaxy. Nor do they really "control" the area around their systems.
Because of how FTL works in 40k, some areas just aren't accessible to them. There's a full on insectoid empire called the Q'orl near Terra that they didn't have access to or know about until the Warp currents shifted.
And apparently their technology is even enough to be a potential threat... And the Imperium learned this when they immediately tried to kill them, obviously
Ah yes you can join our 'Greater Good' if you volunteer to be our slaves and castrate yourself. Also if you change your mind and try to leave we'll kill you.
Enlightened 40Kism, we know we are the bad guys, cause there are no good guys, just worse villians.
What is 40Kism?
In Warhammer 40K, the Imperium of Man are awful, but they're the 'good guys' because they're human, any every other species is even more awful and would wipe humanity out given the chance
That is what new players/readers are told, sure.
Tau wouldn't and doesn't exterminate. On the other hand they may or may not brainwash their populace.
Tau?
Space Dawi
Most of the independent human systems doing just fine without the Imperium tyvm
Eldar
Some Necrons, maaaaybe. It's hard to tell with them sometimes.
Hrud mostly seem to just want to be left alone.
A lot of aliens just chilling
Fun Fact: the Imperium doesn't actually span most of the galaxy. Nor do they really "control" the area around their systems.
Because of how FTL works in 40k, some areas just aren't accessible to them. There's a full on insectoid empire called the Q'orl near Terra that they didn't have access to or know about until the Warp currents shifted.
And apparently their technology is even enough to be a potential threat... And the Imperium learned this when they immediately tried to kill them, obviously
Ah yes you can join our 'Greater Good' if you volunteer to be our slaves and castrate yourself. Also if you change your mind and try to leave we'll kill you.
But less bad than the imperium, no?