>>719096803
>, why does warhammer 30k exist
Because space marines make up 80% of their sales.
So they made a spinoff game with only space marines functionally (technically 30k versions of the other armies exist but lets be fucking real here) so they could sell more space marines without the vocal minority throwing a fit.
I dont think it really fractures their playerbase since people can just use their 30k models in 40k and vice versa, its TECHNICALLY not "allowed" but no one gives a fuck and 40k is such a non competitive game it doesnt matter outside of tournaments which are such a small subset of the community.
Generally 30k kinda thrives when 40ks rules are ass, when they are fine its kind of a ghost town.
IMO they do different things, 40k is more about matched play aka a more fair 1v1 game while 30k is more fun over balance. The big thing about 30k is its way more complicated than 40k for its listbuilding and such so it can end up more lopsided.
A good comparison I saw once its in MTG terms 40k is constructed and 30k is commander. The latters supposed to be more casual but autists can make it hyper competitive because the systems are in place there to let you.
