The DARK Reality Of Dreadnoughts | Warhammer 40k Lore

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This is a 2 part video, first a deep dive of dreadnoughts, followed by a short story about dreadnoughts that left me absolutely shook... Dreadnoughts are possibly the most iconic unit in all of warhammer 40k, even more so than space marines. they are literal walking tanks that are a hybrid of death engine and life support system. used by the forces of the imperium and the chaos legions, they are like an iron lung with machine gun hands. lets take a deep drive into what a dreadnought is, what life is like for their pilots and most importantly the saddest piece of 40k lore I have ever read, about what its like for a dreadnought to pass away...
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Time Stamps
0:00 Intro
1:15 What are dreadnoughts?
11:35 castraferrum dreadnought
13:10 assault dreadnought
14:03 Hellfire dreadnought
14:48 siege dreadnought
15:21 ironclad dreadnought
15:57 Venerable dreadnought
17:27 Contemptor dreadnought
19:35 Redemptor Dreadnought
22:40 Leviathan dreadnought
24:22 Telemon Dreadnought
25:54 The saddest 40k story of all time...
Music Used.
Ghost Stories Encorperated. Owned and performed by Marc van der Meulen
ghoststoriesincorporated.band...
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Warhammer and Warhammer 40k are copywritten to Games Workshop.
All footage and art in this video are used for educational purposes only.
Opinions expressed in this video are solely those of Weshammer and in no way reflect the views or opinions of Games Workshop Ltd.
Artwork throughout this video is used for educational purposes. if you see your artwork and would like an art credit, message me.

[@pyrrucsteal3184]

“Being trapped in a metal coffin for thousands of years, is actually not as fun as it sounds” I am very disappointed and my day is ruined.

[@Ghost-xu4yg]

Don't you get sarcasm?

[@Corndog_Enthusiast]

@@Ghost-xu4yg Don’t you get jokes?

[@syafiqsafiuddin8356]

Then I saw a ghost and another creature in the dark talking to each other...

[@AtlasAlternate]

@@Ghost-xu4yg r/woooosh

[@sovietdoge.7369]

@@Ghost-xu4yg I think you are the one who can't understand sarcasm.

[@taiyoqun]

Imagine a salamander dreadnought, away from the battlefield, living a normal life among his brothers, eagerly awaiting the return to the battlefield, washing the dishes with an enormous apron after a meal he lovingly prepared for his brothers, while a mechanicus adeptus prays to the giant cable recharging his bateries and an apothecary pours a barrel of nutritional liquids into his deposit. All of this while his mother knitts him a long scarf with his favourite prayers embroidered, sitting in a chair next to him Edit: Y'all are liars. You claim to love grimdark, and to love all that edgy crop. But some idiut shows up with a mildly wholesome badly-written comment and y'all loose your shut and give me more than a thousand likes. Let's go back to watching disney shows bois, you know you want to. No spoilers for the owl house, I'm still watching it. Sorry, I mean WAAAAAG, LET'S END XENOS AND EAT CORPSESTARCH BROTHERS! MEN DONT CRY! LET'S SACRIFICE OURSELVES FOR THE EMPEROR!

[@perturabo149]

dont give me hopes on that

[@artiequick3583]

I want a story of this

[@jack-the-dripper583]

We all know we want to see this, also hello

[@A_random_iron_warrior]

@@artiequick3583 we all do

[@hazydoom69]

He's dying isn't he and these are lucid visions aren't they.

[@TheWaluigiman1]

There are rare cases of Dreadnaughts having memory loss or just being confused. Sometimes there are even cases when a Dreadnaught will wake up on his own and go stomping about as if he's a regular marine. In this case, his brothers have to bring him back, like guiding an old man with Alzheimer's syndrome. "Yes Brother Deras, Captain Rass is this way, we'll meet him in just a moment."

[@WalmartBlackGuy]

Wholesome AF. Just imagining a space marine holding the barrel of a dread as he guides him.

[@wesleythomas7125]

"Where... Where do you think Captain Rass has gone, Brother Deras?" "ON DEPLOYMENT TO ARMAGEDDON, OF COURSE!" "Well, I'm sure he will arive soon."

[@joshfrew3628]

"Brother, why are you so short?" "Ah well, brother did you forget you were always taller than me?" "No...but I was never this tall......" The pause was long the motion of the dreadnought halted "I...I know why brother, you may return me to slumber"

[@SECONDQUEST]

It's so hard, dealing with people like that in real life. It makes these fictional depictions have a lot more impact. In fiction they have people supporting them, in reality a lot of them do not have a full support network. It's just hard.

[@Deamons64]

I work with people with dementia and alzheimer's. I couldn't imagine the distress that would come with caring for a dreadnought. Much less one that you might have fought along side. One you might have formed a friendship with, even before his entombment. He finds himself slipping back to moments from centuries ago. The dreadnought walks towards the surgery theater. Nervous to receive his first implants. The dreadnought awakens suddenly, remembering his training before his ascension, he begins to swiftly make his way outside for PT, the ghost of his sergeant screaming in his ear. After a while, one of his brothers begins to grow concerned, and approaches the chapter apothecary about the issue. "What can I do for you, Brother Knox?" The apothecary asks. Brother Knox wastes no time in reply. "I've been in the care of Brother Deras for quite some time now. I fear he may be in great suffering, something very, deeply wrong." The apothecary doesn't even look up from his work. "I'll have the mechanites look at him in-" Brother Knox cuts him off "No Brother, I think you misunderstand me. Vindictus Infernum stands as powerful and glorious as it ever has. I fear something is gravely wrong with Brother Deras himself." The apothecary stops for a moment, and sighs. "No. I understand far too well. The nobility of his sacrifice does not make it any less hard to see. Brother Deras will be embraced by the emperor when his time has arrived. Until then, he is still one of our chapter. We will treat him with the dignity he deserves. And we will ensure that when he is not actively serving the emperor, he is as close to comfortable he can be. Do I make myself clear Brother Knox?" "Yes Brother..."

[@thebighurt2495]

I have a feeling treatment of Dreads depends on the chapter. Tancred, for example is a treasured Ancient, but he's kept suspended between battles. Bjorn, on the other hand, is woken up regularly and used by the Space Wolves as an advisor and living memorial. They're like a bunch of kids asking Grandpa Bjorn what the War was like.

[@Makorze]

The thing with Tancred and Bjorn is they have nearly died several times even as dreadnaughts so they genuinely need the rest between battles from the strain of surviving those battles. When Bjorn first became a dreadnaught, he was practically flexing how much more powerful he was after being dragged from the brink of death, ( "This Is Eternal. I can NEVER leave, I can NEVER follow him. THIS. IS. ETERNAL!" ) ofc after 10,000 years he is tired but also is reaching the point where his memory is starting to fail him. Now if you want to see a whimiscal dreadnaught, Autolochus of the Iron Snakes, he literally just has nostalgia trips at random, just walks about whenever he wants because "he can't sleep from all the racket the young ones make", and even uses both politeness and manners when murdering DarK Eldar (such was telling them he knows where they are, when they don't reply he just says "have it your way" and autocannons them to death through the cover they are hiding behind) and when a Dark Eldar just swears at him in thier tobgue, he just replies "Wrong Answer" and kills him when all he asked as for directions. Autolochus: "I used to be a notable once, Notable Skypio, ah yes.... Captain: You still are. Autolochus: I know. :P

[@JohrnyReport]

"Regular" is big word. By lore, he has been atleast woken up for story time 10 times in between battles. 10 times in 10.000 years.

[@Makorze]

@@JohrnyReport If your talking about Bjorn your wrong. Not accounting calls for battle, Bjorn is always revived for "The Feast of the Emperor's Acension" - The day Russ left the chapter - to recount the old tales to the chapter (and especially the newbloods), the most popular being the 3 Contests between Russ and the Emperor. (Plus for awhile, Bjorn was still Great Wolf so he likely did not sleep like a regular Dreadnaught for a few centuries.)

[@thebighurt2495]

@@JohrnyReport "at least" isn't the same as "only."

[@PJOZeus]

Might depend on the chapter, but also think it depends on the Marine themselves Bjorn is jovial and a story teller, like most Space Wolves Not sure which legion Tancred is but most don't celebrate quite as much

[@helixmusic4279]

Honestly, the dreadnought pov story really broke me... you don't usually get this sense of humanity from a lot of the Imperium and it's a welcome change.

[@deusmachinashirou5044]

Same it just brought me to tears 😭

[@josephboustany4852]

Canyou tell me Which one ?

[@Spaniard727]

Alright y’all convinced me and I just bought that audio drama. It’s “the glorious tomb” we’re talking about right?

[@deusmachinashirou5044]

@@Spaniard727 👍 yup

[@helixmusic4279]

@@Spaniard727 Thank you! I couldn't remember the name, I immediately went and bought the audio book and it was extremely worth it. Anyone have any suggestions in regards to other 40k novels that are a definite must-read?

[@shaggyzor]

Björn the fellhanded wasnt given the choice, his brothers were so desperate to preserve him no matter the cost that they decided to do so on his behalf. In the audio short story about it you can feel his pain as he awakes and realizes what he has become.

[@weshammer]

That's super interesting! I've only read about him in wikkis and codex's, haven't had the privilege of reading the novel he is in. I am looking forward to reading his story!

[@EasyEnough102]

Link??

[@nidhogghulk]

@@weshammer The book where you witness his thoughts about his entombment is Battle of the Fang by Chris Wraight (A Space Marine Battles Novel)

[@shaggyzor]

@@nidhogghulk Ah yea there is that too, but parting of the ways was the one I meant hehe.

[@kevineberwein9608]

*Spoilers for Prospero Burns* Bjorn also shows his anxiousness about the idea of being put into a Dread at the end of Prospero Burns. It has been one of the most heart wrenching throw away lines in the series.

[@juggernaut6544]

In the Angels of death when the dreadnought is dying and talking about how he wished he could have seen the sky of Bale one last time and how he never thought he would feel cold air on his skin again almost had me crying

[@weshammer]

Oh God! I read that book! I completely forgot about that scene! Fookin chills!

[@OreoDips2]

@@weshammer +Q

[@Questknight12]

Dude, I'm forty, play the table top and, listening to Ignus say that, I broke and, ugly cried.

[@THExRISER]

@@weshammer 0:48 It's not a book though... Or was it adapted from one.

[@AdderTude]

Which short story is that within Angels of Death?

[@NutjobGTO]

It's kind of fascinating how practically every variant of Dreadnaught is simultaneously one of the rarest types of Dreadnaught

[@briantarigan7685]

​@Ban this youtube it's more like every chapter has it's own unique pattern

[@mirromarnicco3162]

​@@briantarigan7685You are mostly wrong. Blood Angels and Space Wolves are the only Chapters (That I am aware of) who utilise their own variants.

[@_vez]

This is one of the reasons why 40k is so good. It might be a bunch of buffed up space dudes shooting giant guns on the surface, but it's so diverse and it has alot of depth. This is some good writing on the Black Templar Dreadnaught. Damn it weshammer, this was one hell of an ending.

[@jasperzanovich2504]

Under the surface it touches a lot upon what it means to be human. There is also a lot about duty and what is expected of you, or the relationship the space marines have with their families. Be it their original family or their chapter and primarch.

[@shoeberrypie]

With the heavy religious themes involved, it also really highlights the old Gnostic concept of the Demiurge. The instant you subjugate people to a unidimensional, religious way of life is the instant you create the Demiurge: a being that projects benevolence and salvation at the cost of every other individual's unique soul and personal vision. Sounds an awful lot like what the God Emperor unintentionally created! Even within this monster of a universe where radical unification seems the only chance of survival; the methods used WILL backfire and cause a profound unrest in the collective consciousness, which leaks into the Warp where every pragmatic action has an equal and opposite reaction. Every ounce of vicious aggression only makes Khorne stronger. Forcefully chastised populaces give way to heightened unconscious lust, while the hyper-rich head to Pleasure Planets. Both of these make Slaanesh stronger. Technology and culture is stifled for many centuries, which makes the hive cities cry out for Tzeentch to bring changes. Some citizens run from constant sickness and pain to pray for death. Some embrace the sickness to live their lives. Both of these make Nurgle stronger. Of every fictional setting I've ever seen, this one takes the cake for nailing the glaring hypocrisy of claiming to know *who God is* and *what it takes to achieve salvation.* The Eightfold Path is "misguided," Hinduism is "devil-worship," mysticism of any sort is heresy, and any other way of doing things is not worth learning about. "Only *OUR* way is the right way, and the rest can go to hell!"

[@1003JustinLaw]

And now for a grim-derp ending: all of his brothers are slaughtered and eaten by the Orks, and Armageddon has to be cleansed via exterminatus, so even his armor isn't recovered. Hooray, grim-dark!

[@Nerobyrne]

When I really looked at the space marines, I wondered if they were even human. I mean, look at humans and chimps. We're genetically so similar that some biologists have proposed that hybrids might be possible, yet they are ABSOLUTELY not human. Space marines have a bunch of extra organs, are infertible, and have genetically imprinted personalities, along with super powers, or in the case of the blood angels, genetic mental illnesses. Are they humans? Probably not, but also, they are kind of the absolute peak of human potential. Really makes you think.

[@_vez]

@@Nerobyrne Except the Salamanders and their Successors. They are for the most part pretty close to their families and their home world. My favourite Legion by far.

[@Adamant1993]

Speaking as a father, I'm sure the Emperor would forgive any marine who wishes, even just once, to have spent more time with their father. The Emperor is a father too.

[@Arandomperson1327]

Albeit a not very good one

[@cybronikai1957]

@@Arandomperson1327 id say hes a hit or miss depending on which son

[@jackwyattwyatt2220]

@@cybronikai1957 mostly miss I think.

[@ErikVonStrix3]

@@cybronikai1957 let's be real, even the hits are glancing ones And this is coming from an Imperium stan

[@boredniko2406]

I appreciate your positive outlook, but Big E didn't care about them that much. The Primarchs cared more for their men then Big E did for the Primarchs.

[@zerotankor]

So I’m not gonna lie, I had a few too many drinks and clicked this video by accident and now I’m addicted to 40K lore. It is absolutely fascinating and you explain it so well. Please do more.

[@weshammer]

Glad you enjoyed it! There's a lot to 40k and it can be a little intimidating for new people but it's a lot of fun and super in depth!

[@michelmanno8244]

welcome to the fray brother. FOR THE EMPEROR

[@iskar5598]

Welcome to the Astra militarum FOR THE EMPEROR

[@sethkeown5965]

I hope youre enjoying the daily horror of 40k. From corpse starch to the demonculaba, theres always something.

[@simonrogersons8310]

This story gets me every time man.... It when he realised how little of his body is left as the fluid slowly drains. Love these little books and novels, they bring real life to the universe. Reminds me of another story if anyone remembers the name please let me know, a dreadnought keeps waking up and roaming the chapel fortress to do his daily duties, several times he's tried to go on patrol or to meet with his long dead Sargent to report in for duty and each time the apothecary and his aids have to walk him back to his pad and reassure him the Sargent will be along soon. It's like telling your granddad that yes you brother will be here soon when you know he died 10 years ago. Hits me every time.

[@Gwydion_Wolf]

The Iron Warriors novel thats linked to the Ultra-Marines books (if im remember correctly), talks about how one of the Iron Warriors (chaos) leaders stopped a plan from a underling to usurp him, and as 'punishment' forced that underling to undergo the process that placed him into a Dreadnaught. It was seen as a punishment because they nolonger 'feel' anything. They nolonger feel there enemies crushed under their gauntlet, or hear the roars of War. All of their 'input' comes purely from sensors and targeting readouts now. So they are eternally 'disconnected' from the vary war they .. well for all intent and purpose... 'love'.

[@insertedgynamehere]

Another time one chaos marine was placed in a sarcophagus but not the a chassis, and the sarcophagus was buried or something and he was just left there

[@roblindsay3422]

I think that's in Angel Exterminatus

[@TCR111311]

Iron within Iron without!

[@sud1jsuxjahwhdauwnskqowiksn641]

@@insertedgynamehere what lol, can i have the source

[@JohrnyReport]

Wow, that ia fucking brutal.

[@leatherjerk2192]

That must’ve been my first time hearing the thoughts of a Black Templar. It seems strange that Brother Adalar’s last moments wasn’t of some religious guilt of dying too soon or how he’s finally welcomed by his God-Emperor to a glorious death; his last thoughts were of family and the relief that his life of suffering is finally over. If we all show our true selves in the face of death then it’s strangely comforting that even superhuman soldiers still grasp with the uncertainty of life.

[@Alex-qr7yh]

The impression I always had from the Over-the-top, super brutal art style of the 40k universe wasn't that it was juvenile, or cheesy, but more of a way of examining what makes a warrior a warrior. Always showing how the bad guys can be worse than the good guys, but the good guys can still be bad. How much pain and self sacrifice these marines go through for their abilities, the dreadnoughts the embodiment of this. Simultaneously they are the embodiment of the emperor's cruelty.

[@weshammer]

That's a really cool way of looking at it!

[@jordandecourcy3652]

Davian Thule of the Blood Ravens will always be my favorite dreadnought. From the commander you controlled in Dark Crusade to the, as Avitus put it, shadow of his former self, barely able to stay conscious for a single battle. “Is that you… Gabriel? The secrets of Kronus shall not pass my lips.”

[@yyeezyy630]

I’m literally In the middle of the choas warriors dlc. I agree Thule is the best dreadnaught by far

[@greatbritishsquid5638]

If there is one thing I can greatly appreciate so much with glorious tomb is how human and touching those final moments are... no grand death or zealotry over ruling his reason in his final moments... just all crumbles away as he slowly reclaims himself in his dying breathes, regrets and achievements both... he no longer knows whats next, and he no longer fears it. He accepts that human truth. Thanks for covering that, I always love it when space marines just get to be human beings again... and not just glorious tools.

[@yepeng1977]

Could you do a video about STCs or the dark age of technology?

[@iNNoitora]

Inqusition want to talk with you about those "stc". ][

[@TeinLaeda]

That could be a very long video

[@uriahgreene9816]

Yes that would be great

[@henryheavy8044]

Screw that crap

[@argeltalthecustodiankiller6552]

@@henryheavy8044 Yeah your new to 40k

[@RasVasul]

The Story though.. It's really sad for a Space Marine, Dreadnought to gain back their sense of Humanity and emotions before and finally getting the deserving and never ending rest that they do needed

[@fildariusv7045]

As Dr. Seuss said "Don't cry because its over, smile because it happened". That Dreadnought got to relieve his trully most happiest memory just as he was about to die, he becomes trully human once more. The Emperor protects the Faithful

[@Stywel]

Interesting detail I found: When Adelard/Invictus wakes up for the second time to enter his drop pod, he starts identifying more and more with the machine, saying "I enter my drop pod". After the drop in the anticipation of battle, Adelard even asks himself, whether he is Invictus and admits to not knowing. The lines disconnecting the man from the machine fade more and more during battle until being violently introduced back with Invictus' near destruction and Adelard's death. I take this as a testament to how bred and conditioned for battle the Space Marines are, to the point of Adelard periodically forgetting about his entombment, doing his duty as an avatar of war. All that is in crass contrast to Adelard's dying memory of his childhood and imagination of a peaceful life, which he deems traitorous in the end, finally proving his complete indoctrination. Beautiful effing story, well written and Gareth Armstrong's reading performance is beyond stellar. A Dreadnought's POV was something I was madly curious about ever since reading somebody's homebrew of one called Vercingetorix on a certain imageboard. Thanks for the vid man, otherwise this might have gone below my radar.

[@EVER_PRINCE]

Fun fact: Dreadnoughts are actually what made me fall in love with 40k. Dreadnoughts are just so wild that I think they’re fun. Also one more thing. Something really really important. **I AM RYLANOR AND I AM THE ANCIENT OF RITES**

[@weshammer]

Honestly same here! I thought the Space Marines and all of the xenos races were really cool but tanks and Marines were something I had seen before. Walking coughing tanks with something brand new they were so clunky and unique looking I completely fell in love with them. They weren't trying to be some kind of sleek Mech like you see in other franchises. They were distinctly 40K

[@laughingman7467]

Amidst the desolate soil, We hear the repeating cries of a fragment of metal.

[@intrepidferret6704]

@@laughingman7467 so true to magnus' orders,

[@silentedict4256]

​@@intrepidferret6704 I take my company's reigns - onto the surface we settle.

[@argeltalthecustodiankiller6552]

@@intrepidferret6704 Magnus got clap by a dreed

[@superfinalcountdown1]

I'm sad you didn't mention The Anchorite. From Apocalypse: Book 5. A Word Bearer Contemptor Dreadnought. He rejected the daemonic teachings of Lorgar and is a living repository of the chapters knowledge. He was held prisoner on a Imperial world since shortly after the Horus Heresy.

[@axriim7251]

Isn't that he wasnt a dreadnought when heresy began after word bearers betrayed the big e he think that lorgar failed because the burning of monarchia is a test of their faith by the big E and lorgar failed by turning to chaos, he surrendered to imperium and tried to commit suicide entombed him in dreadnought vowing never to kill anyone again then word bearers sent a squad to retrieve or kill him his bodyguard sworn to protect him to the last man and he snapped then slaughtered the word bearers squad. He then became instrumental in bringing religion of emperor worship in the imperium of man

[@osirisshadoll4572]

@@axriim7251 yea, he was such an badass, one word and all the warp fuckery gone

[@michelmanno8244]

if i remember well he's a pacifist but if you push him he will shove a bolter where the sun don't shine

[@I_am_ENSanity]

That last bit sent me back to mom's last few days before losing her 2nd battle with breast cancer. Remembering how as she took her last breath, surrounded by the friends and family that love her, she wouldn't suffer in pain any more and could rest in peace.

[@Anasi94]

I had no idea this franchise existed until I happened upon one of your videos. Never played any of the games or read the books. I've spent hours listening to you explain the universe and will happily spend hours more.

[@Tsurf]

It honestly says so, so, so much about just how insanely stressful the life of a Grey Knight is that as a Chapter, they very much are not about being brought back as a Dreadnaught. You'd think that they would be willing to be interred to continue their War against Chaos and the specific Demon they are Anathema to, but nope, they see their eventual death as a reward for their long service to the Imperium and the Emperor.

[@Runeclaw]

"Reveal the cannons, align the guns, unleash their wrath! Unopposed under crimson skies Immortalized over time, their legend will rise And their foes can't believe their eyes, believe their size as they fall. And the Dreadnoughts dread nothing at all!"

[@blazikenking]

I was hoping to see this in the comments.

[@connertomaterhater6691]

Sabaton is too good

[@jamesbooth4157]

i like to think its a dreadnoughts drive and will that determines how often it is forced to rest Naum was awake for 9000 years but had no real goal or reason to be awake, he was simply awake because of a malfunction but bar the usual chaos stuff had no real reason, Rylanor however managed to stay lucid and sane because he had a reason, a drive to continue and that was his need for revenge, the need for revenge is what kept Rylanor sane and forced him awake, i belive that all the super long lived Dreadnoughts have an underlying reason as to why they need to keep going, why they need to keep sane wether it be loyalty greater than no other or revenge on the one that put them in this situation or even something small as the need to pass on their wisdom.

[@DUKEHadToDoItToEm]

"A man only dies once they've decided they no longer have the will to live" - Cus D'Amato

[@samos343guiltyspark]

As someone who's gone through the dying throws myself, that last part hit hard. The pain really does finally disappear. And there really is nothing but peaceful bliss afterwards.

[@mrbejam]

You died? That must've sucked.

[@samos343guiltyspark]

@@mrbejam the actual experience itself isn't so bad. In fact, being dead was the best I've felt since childhood. The hardest part was suffering surviving afterwards, having felt the bliss of oblivion and the sweet release of death but then struggling through recovery over the next two years.

[@ynpavo]

@@samos343guiltysparkglad you‘re still here bro

[@k9vendettathewolfofmordor529]

That part with the word bearer dreadnought is interesting. There is still compassion in the hearts of these tainted men.

[@justbob5013]

Damn, didn't expect to cry in a dreadnought video. Well done man, once again.

[@vulpinitemplar5036]

In Dawn of War 1 I always loved massing an army of only melee Dreadnoughts, you may be surprised to find out just how effective 6 mobile punchy walls can be.

[@onatyungul872]

"Forgive me this one final sin" legit made me sob. This is why WH40k is one of if not the best story universe. I hate the fact that i have nowhere near enough money to purchase just one godd.mn novel or any printed book let alone the all written materials (exchange rates, i hate it. )

[@weshammer]

I'm sorry about your financial situation, I personally use audible. It comes out to like $13-$15 for an audio book. Which is 8-13 hours of entertainment so I feel it's a good deal. The narrator's are amazing!

[@noahraab2429]

You can propably find pdf‘s on the Internet.

[@edwardbryan9501]

Dreadnoughts are badass. Now, I want to know what chapter or legion has the largest amount and well maintained Dreadnoughts.

[@weshammer]

During the Great crusade I think the iron hands were known for this. I could be wrong about that though but I'm pretty confident. However, after the events of the drop site massacre and the subsequent Herresy, their drednought numbers were reduced to only a fraction of what they once were. I'm not sure who uses the most dreads in the 41st millennium.

[@anexistanthuman2435]

Iron hands, most likely

[@contemptordreadnought]

Not exactly a chapter but the custodes had quite a lot

[@ekhidna4]

Iron Hands without question. And due to sheer numbers, the Ultramarines could be a close second.

[@judowrestlerka]

The Ultramarines and Iron Hands are probably the highest census of Dreadnoughts.

[@kevins797]

I made the mistake of listening to The Glorious Tomb on my way to work. I clocked in and made my way to the work truck to finish crying as soon as possible. My coworkers also cried after I played it again for them. Still is one of my top favorite stories.

[@yourtrappedinmygenjutsu]

You are definitely lying

[@roland2864]

I watched someone die of natural causes. They experienced all the stuff the dreadnought did. It was scary to see and think about

[@oscarl.7856]

Well I paused this video when you mentioned The Glorious Tomb. You ABSOLUTELY did not prep us for that short story. That was by far the saddest 40k pov story I’ve ever listened to/read. Started off great then made a sharp turn there at the end. Great video, great mention of a wonderful book.

[@failsc2player]

I'm glad your able to capture some of what makes your shorts as entertaining as these deep dive lore videos, keep up the great work. Honestly, I can't wait until you end up covering the Schola Progenium and the many types of graduates they produce.

[@sethleoric2598]

Dreadnoughts are like a guy with Alzheimer's in an Iron lung that also shoots missiles.

[@judowrestlerka]

The Glorious Tomb. The short story of the last fight of a Black Templar Dreadnought. The last thoughts and feelings that go through his mind as he dies his final death. It's beautiful.

[@Khutukhu]

Space Marines: "I am IRON, I am WRAITH, I. AM. DOOM." VS DREADNAUGHTS: "I am STEEL, I am VENGEANCE, I am: RESISTANCE."

[@legendinmysparetime985]

I’m absolutely loving these deep dive lore vids! Thank you so much for all of your hard work!

[@juliangarcia2365]

Can you imagine finding him on the brink of death hearing him talking to himself saying “I’m not scared father I’m a warrior”

[@kenneldbofungus]

A year later, i read this comment. Made me shed a tear for a soldier in a fictional universe. Even a dreadnought a mass of steel and gun has to reassure himself that "im not scared dad, im a warrior" under all that steel is still a man

[@jrs99]

Damn it, that story at the end brought me to tears. Honestly one of the few times where I actually feel compassion and pity for a 40K human. Good job to whoever wrote this story and a good job Weshammer for telling it.

[@ravenRedwake]

2:45 in Betrayer I think, there’s a newly entombed ultramarine who is pissed that he’s in a dread, and he was sort of triaged into it because he was wounded and they needed more dreads.

[@steweygrrr]

From the Legion Mortifactor consul role: _A specialised subset of Techmarines, mortificators are ultimately responsible for the Legion's honoured dead, the furious Ancients entombed within cyborganic sarcophagi slumbering in the Legion's sepulchres, and show a near-fanatical devotion to their charges, in some cases going as far as to contravene the tenets of the Martian Cult adopted by the Legion's Forge Lords. A mortificator's primary duties include the protection during slumber and rousing during war of the Legion's complement of Dreadnoughts, and when necessary, extends to the controlling of those Dreadnoughts too long asleep or too choleric to be considered wholly sane._ That would imply that even during the 250 years of the Great Crusade with the sum of mankind's knowledge and technology available they kept their Dreadnoughts asleep when not actively on campaign and that there's a balance of how long a Dreadnought can spend awake or asleep before mental degradation sets in. Then there are Dreadnoughts like Bjorn who can sleep for centuries at a time and be fine or the War Sage of the Night Lords who had been asleep (subjectively) for 'only' 70 years after the Siege of Terra and actively ignored all attempts to wake him up. Seems to me like it's a case by case basis and down to the individuals mental strength as well as what chassis they pilot with some causing more strain than others.

[@weshammer]

These are all great points and very well thought up! Thank you very much for your input!

[@steweygrrr]

@@weshammer If I had watched the full video before commenting I would have realised that they were all points made _in_ the video. Thanks for taking the chance on doing your style of videos on KZbin otherwise I would never have found them. I've been playing since 1994 and there are still things I'm finding out about the universe and discovering points of view I hadn't considered and your videos in particular have had me going 'hmm hadn't thought of it that way'

[@borisdorofeev5602]

There are a few POV Chaos Space Marine Hellbrute short stories. Theyre intense ; one has an Emperors Children Marine trying to feel the extacy of death cby stabbing himself and chucking himsel off a building. Edit: only to wake up with his warband "brothers" laughing at him as hes interned in a possesed chassis. I believe they all start to roast him as hes getting double teamed by possession AND interned. Another Emperor Children marine had a squad of hellbrutes with one who he continuously messed with specifically. He's in his ship loading the hellbrutes into teleporters because he was paid by a warband to teleport 5 hellbrutes into some meeting or battle. Another story has the Hellbrute pilot being awakened but everytime he wakes he has a nightmare of himself in a maze running from a demon. He always believes the nightmare is really happening. So when the demon eventually captures him, he wakes up in a foul sludge and a sharp phantom pain coming from his limbs used to be. There are a few other short stories but theyre all pretty good and properly grimdark.

[@oligb1469]

Okay that story broke me, but all I thought was Santodes from TTS when he said "push me daddy! Push me on the swing!" and it both made me laugh and cry!

[@Slop_Dogg]

Dreadnought: “Oh wait this sucks actually” Necron: “Yeah, no shit.”

[@TheAgentmigs]

25:55 That was definitely a good story. It shows the isolation of the dreadnought the claustrophobia, even. It reminds me of Metallicas song, One.

[@Zenphoshen]

Fantastic video Wes. I can see why this would bring you to tears. Just listening to you recount it had my emotions going. The Grim Dark isnt always Heavy Metal, sometimes it's an orchestral symphony honoring the fallen. Recounting their tails of Heroism and Valor to inspire the next Generation. I think that's one of the many reasons I fell in love with Warhammer. Your videos just keep making me love Warhammer that much more with each post.

[@Shire_Sam]

I’ve always wondered, when a space marine is inside his armour and connected to all of his suits systems, can he feel if a bullet hits his armor? Or does it just register as a hit? Considering the plugs all over a marines body that allow a him to communicate with his suit surly it must have some type of feedback? Does a dreadnaught plug into those same connection points on the marines body if they exist anymore? Does the standard armour have a machine spirit of its own? Thinking of it, is this the same technology just scaled up? Marines/Terminators/Dreadnoughts/Knights/Titans?

[@memesfromdeepspace1075]

Probably not so like Titan that the body soul and mind blur together into one .even with ordinary space marine they already have cybernetic connecting to their armor . They just re route that conection to dreadnough

[@tvw4951]

I REALLY hate the abrupt ending cause god damn that was intense. I got some tears from that, well done.

[@jamjar1726]

i have solved Warhammer 40k, put the golden throne / the emperor inside a titan sized dreadnought

[@argeltalthecustodiankiller6552]

No because terra would blow up

[@UnprofessionalQualifications]

Finally had a day for myself to spend painting minis, and saw this was released. Fantastic timing! Keep doing what youre doing, Wes!

[@Nxtl68]

I love how Cawl is openly throwing a middle finger to the Mechanicus's "no inventing" rule but we don't have time to argue with him about it.

[@Mr_Waffle.]

Great video! For additional Dreadnought stories, the game Battlesector has a great sub-story about a Blood Angels Librarian Dreadnought, having to stay awake and use his power to help fight the Tyranids despite the pleas from his Techmarine carer to rest. The constant strain pushes him to the limit with the risk of falling to the Black Rage, which would make him virtually unstoppable but lost forever.

[@bookkeeper1995]

Battlesector is very good

[@thegumydragon]

Absolutely loving the longer form content.

[@NameName2.0]

Dreadnought: So, little brother, what is 9 + 10? Space Marine: Twent-- Dreadnought: No. Return to your studies.

[@KapnRich]

Dammit Wes! As a father that last part totally broke me. Even a hardened warrior, a fully grown man, someone who's been stoic and strong for centuries of life, someone numbed by the brutality of their experiences, despite all that the last thought they had when dying was spending time with their dad...

[@1155Dave]

That dreadnought story hit me right in the feels 😭 I'd still opt to be entombed in one though

[@PensiFase]

What a powerful ending. I hope we all go that way with the pain finally being gone.

[@Angron14]

More lore vids with this kind of storytelling! Very compelling and thought provoking!

[@MexcanNinja]

i have recently gotten into warhammer lore after going against my friends. and holy cow im glad i found your channel. You can hear it in your voice how moved you were by this dreadnought book. it truly is touching.

[@ToxiicZombee]

Bro warhammer is fucking amazing I'm Mexican too cool seeing another Mexican into this. 😂

[@travis8106]

"The cannon speaks, until it has run out of words" so metal

[@PugMast3r]

I always love hearing lore wise something being rare, because you know there’s someone out there with like 80k points of Space Marines with like 50 Contemptors or whatever

[@TheHelltorn]

Hi Wes 👍 I just want you to know that I appreciate you. Thank you for all the work you put into these videos, you are awesome 👍

[@m4dg33k]

I've never thought I could say this about a fictional cloak and dagger sci-fi background to a tin soldiers' game but... that was moving. That was really moving, you really got me with your description of a dreadnought's death. Thank you.

[@chiragsanghvi5865]

That audiobook was brilliant! And i thank you for reminding me of it.... amazing + emotional synopsis!! Cheers!

[@daemonofdecay]

In one of the earliest 40K stories, a CSM is punished for his failure by being implanted in a dreadnaught sarcophagus - and then buried underground, awake and conscious, doomed to an eternity of conscious nothingness.

[@lukaszrower7612]

And see all the friends who have died in the battles. They smile at him. Time to rest. A strange peace felt inside ... Later to see his family again. they smiled at him. He felt like a little kid again. My little ending of a soldier's story😔

[@skullduggery8514]

I'm glad I found this channel. Honestly the best narration out there for the lore. Not deadpan. Not trying too hard to be funny. Just right. Well done sir.

[@keegobricks9734]

I didn't think I'd be legitimately balling my eyes out at a 40k lore video , but here we all. I mean really, though, it's any and every story about a soldier dying, the 40k element is just surface level in a way. What we all wonder about but can never truly get an answer to, what it's like to die. Or the memories of loved ones that we'll never see again. The hope/wonder about what comes next. It's all very human stuff and it's ironic it comes from a space marine dreadnought, someone who would in theory be 2 steps removed from being a human.

[@randomyella8865]

I ALWAYS FOUND THEM FUN TO PAINT AND PUT TOGETHER THE ART IS AMAZING!!!

[@norman2.0]

I find them a little pricey, but it's a fun unit

[@randomyella8865]

@@norman2.0 I AGREE THEY COULD DO WELL TO DROP THE PRICE A BIT!!!

[@YOOT_JJ]

You live up to your username sir

[@quekZo95]

@@YOOT_JJ lmao

[@randomyella8865]

@@YOOT_JJ THANK YOU I LIKE TO THINK IT GETS MY POINT ACROSS BETTER!!!

[@lawrencekassab1226]

Another 40 minute lore video from the Master story teller Weshammer. Perfect Saturday Morning

[@The_Digital_Ghost]

I wasn’t a big war hammer fan until I found your channel now along with Star Wars I have another thing to nerd out over thank you

[@nathanmintz8185]

Theres an awesome interaction between a nightlords dreadnought and and loyalist dreadnaught in one of the nightlords novels. They had fought each other as legionnaire during the heresy and remember each other when they meet

[@HumbleHuddle]

Thank you for the videos!! Love the lore of 40k!! 💀

[@aaronself2411]

The whole insanity thing due to being operational thing actually makes a bit of sense, think about what these things are used for. War. The PTSD is probably incalculable, and the fact anyone has any sort of sanity is actually an accomplishment. BUT some people are going to inherently be more resilient to seeing horrific things, or being left alone. Solitary confinement can drive people insane, while others actually enjoy being cut off from everyone and everything. From what I understand though, there isn't much care spent twords checking the mental stability of the users, so much as it is testing to see if they'll survive. I'd be willing to be that a bunch of those "insane dreadnought" probably just need some seriously intensive therapy and they'd be right as rain. As evidence, I'm using Mr trapped for 10k years. Of course hes more mentally stable than the 9k year old guy, considering ones been fighting the entire time, while the other has been essentially taking a super long nap. Combined with their ability to process a shit ton of information on their heads, and it makes total sense the guy who's biggest struggle has been keeping himself occupied is better off than the guy who's been drug through damn near every fight he could've been sent to, and has had to deal with the WORST kind of torture for that entire 9k years. Dealing with people.

[@BenHyle]

A note about PTSD: just because you've been in combat, and even a lot of combat, doesn't mean you develop PTSD. What constitutes "traumatic stress" isn't universal, and is often cultural. A Space Marine, who has spent his entire life around battle and war wouldn't necessarily perceive "traumatic stress" from experiencing war, or even injury. Their transhuman brain implants, training, and conditioning also will definitely mitigate how capable they are of developing PTSD at all. Throw in being constantly surrounded by their fellows, most Astartes would never experience PTSD at all, as it has been demonstrated that companionship with those you went through battle with minimizes the development of PTSD, and as the Astartes live with one another until their end, there's probably a lot less of that. Those in a dreadnought may develop some, due to their isolation--but their isolation may well be difficult enough.

[@aaronself2411]

@@BenHyle You forget something. PTSD can form from things besides just violence. There's also survivors guilt, which given the number of losses every faction sustains is unavoidable, there's also failure. Which, for most Space Marines is a fate worse than dying horribly on a battlefield. Besides all of that, everything you said just minimizes the chances of it happening, but the fact is some marines live for so long, that then NOT developing some kind of mental health issue is unavoidable, and the number of roles within the emperium which have the phrase "and then you go crazy" in the job description is a pretty good indicator that the Human faction hasn't managed to figure out mental stability. Which, considering how amazingly uneducated everyone ACTUALLY is despite having extremely advanced technology makes a lot of sense. It doesn't matter how good someone's training is. When you see potentially billions die horribly, even if you WIN, then having a battle where you lose, would absolutely have negative consequences. Just look at how many Marines despite their military discipline are still absolute lunatics. There's a LOT of "religious fervor" that's clearly just mental displacement. Also, it's not like the god emperor has had a GREAT track record of bioengineering "perfect" soldiers. Hence the reason space Marines exist to begin with.

[@dragongrazer7620]

From what l read in one of the codexes, l believe that there are a number of dreadnaughts in every chapter, and that they are rotated in and out of active service, depending upon their needs and number of dreadnaughts. Since some of the pilots are often thousands of years old and a link to the chapters history. But in the other hand a dreadnaught can experience psychosis if left active for too long.

[@Ahriman55]

Agrippan is the name of a Venerable dreadnought in the Damnos novel that is a complete boss!! He saves Sicarius by bitch slapping a necron Overlord, rips apart a monolith after tanking a blast from it and held a city gate single handedly for 3 hours against wave after wave of necrons. Even after running out of ammo he used his plasma canon as a club. He even stays behind to buy is brothers time to escape, eventually after knowing his brothers are safe, he lets his power core go critical and not only flattens the fortified space port he was defending but every necron on the battlefield. As a Necron player I loved this novel of the ultramarines getting hammered for once, but Agrippans sacrifice made me build my own Ultramarine force so I could play out the Damnos campaign book with friends. He was the first space marine let alone dreadnought I built and is the only model of that force I kept all these years. After this video it makes me want to look for some of the old forgeworld venerable parts and finally use all my new modeling and painting skills to give him a proper upgrade.

[@benjaminstevens6043]

That was very, very special Cool, and special there at the end. Great information and pacing... And a most excellent choice of narrative.

[@robbie_the_mastermind2176]

Commander Bravestorm From the Farsight Enclaves is a Tau Dreadnought.

[@LtColShingSides]

I recently got into 30k. Got myself a trio of Contemptors. Looking forward to the new Leviathan kits!

[@FUBARGunpla]

that last bit crushed me, holy fuck. i live with chronic pain due to a spine injury, currently waiting to see a surgeon, i couldn't imagine having to live with that for millennia.

[@Mike-jz3oo]

I’m rapidly beginning to develop a love for the little epilogues at the end of your videos, where you read from the novels, as you bring a little of the horror, humanity and the intrigue to enhance the lore that you have dispensed - this makes it more than a retelling of facts, it connects the audience to the characters!

[@derekostrom5080]

Thank you so much Weshamer for introducing me to this amazing universe that is WARHAMMER 40K

[@derekostrom5080]

Sorry for spelling ur name wrong 😶

[@TheBuuurnz]

On the chaos side I would have thought they'd be more into being in a dreadnought, with the heavy mutations you see on that side I had assumed that it would essentially just make a marine become a bigger stronger being

[@hammer1349]

To quote Sindri from DoW: "Power demands sacrifice". Not all chaos marines want mutations either, iron warriors and so on. Hellbrutes are a nightmare because there is no rest, only pain and madness

[@leedrage5514]

I'm not crying, you're crying 🥲 such an amazing story! I need to get that book for sure. I love the dreadnoughts! When I was running imperial fists I had two and I gave them both back stories and names, which as you can imagine people loved at games nights. I've even done the same for my dreads in my Ork army 😅 Great video man and I look forward to the next one but for now I need to go find that book!

[@BenofLangley616]

Wow that last moment of the dreadnought at the end of this video that was amazing and really sad at the same time what a brilliant way to end a video cheers for the upload

[@yes.elevens3688]

Can we have something wholesome for once in this brand? Are there no rainbow kittens or do we just have massive murdering demon and robot coffins?

[@jamjar1726]

it would be nice, in the noble-brightness of the far future there is only love.

[@weshammer]

There are some wholesome moments, and I'll probably make a video on them at some point. Wholesome in this series tends to take the form of heroic sacrifices or last stands. Something bitter sweet 😅 it's the Grim dark after all.

[@LordCommander-ui2fw]

@@weshammer One thing I would include is a small but notable moment in one of the Ultramarines novels when Uriel Ventris goes out of his way to visit an ordinary Guardsmen he fought alongside while the man is recovering from his injuries, and gives the unconscious soldier one of his Purity Seals in recognition of his service and after seeing a picture of the man’s family.

[@-SRM-]

No. And Yes, only murder demons and robot coffins. Heretic.

[@ayindephulgence4950]

The rainbow kittens went extinct during the great War of m36 in the fuckedupashell sector

[@BarelyDecentProduction]

3:56 damn, need that artwork

[@argeltalthecustodiankiller6552]

Why

[@LordRevan420]

Love these longer videos Honestly think you should do more of these videos they are done fantasticly

[@pjoter8832]

Holy sh*t I honestly cried at the end of this video. It was soooo good. I'll never look at dreadnoughts the same way after this. Amazing video Wes like always !

[@p1stole1ro]

When the golden throne fail, just put the emperor in one these

[@aaronself2411]

That would be the GREATEST plot twist ever, and honestly would be a great end to series. With the god emperor being turned into a slave to protect the very species he almost destroyed with his own arrogance.

[@guywholikesmemes4993]

Never forget how much of a chad RYLANOR was bois

[@theabomb8305]

And so it falls to my hands to end the prodigal son!

[@guywholikesmemes4993]

@@theabomb8305 you cannot imagine the beautiful bounty of chaos!

[@ezekielambrose1930]

@@guywholikesmemes4993 Those things I’d never even wish to know!

[@theabomb8305]

@@ezekielambrose1930 I see your potential that shines through! Imagine the unfulfilled glories we’d see to!

[@stevenlouton6381]

I should have said this the first time I saw this, you ended this video perfectly and epically. Thank you for another great video. Take care and keep on with the fantastic work. Peace.

[@Daflames51]

This is done so well. Great video and very nice touch at the end.

[@SpriteAndSmite]

I came here for dreadnought lore, not existential dread 😭

[@jamalsodipe772]

Only in death does duty end

[@Balgus4]

I never thought I could feel this much sadness for the black templar, but I do... This was great episode Wes , dreadnaught were a favorite of mine since I first played DoW 2 but I must admit I knew very little about them. Until now, thaf is.

[@rlricksterson]

For the emperor! I wasn't expecting at all that story at the end. Caught me totally off guard. Love your videos.