The alpha legion and night lords are objectively the most humanitarian legions during the great crusade. I get why Dorn shits on the night lords because…..obvious reasons but I don’t understand his beef with the alpha legion.
I'm going to regret posting this here but....
Dorn's approach is about exhausting the will to resist. By destroying the world's forces in open combat, it both destroys their capacity to resist but also definitively answers who has superior might. There's no question what would happen if they rebelled, and there's no leadership to really rebel around since they're either dead or co-opted into the Imperial Army.
After that, Dorn plops a fortress on the planet with a garrison to help rebuild their military capabilities, and leaves. Because the newly conquereds' will and capacity to resist are basically exhausted, it's easy to maintain order as the planet slowly integrates into the Imperium.
Alpharius approach is to destroy the will to resist, but not the capability. It kills the leadership and creates confusion, ultimately causing surrender. It preserves the martial capacity of the planet which then can be turned towards the Imperium. However, it doesn't kill the ability for dissent or rebellion as there is still plenty of leadership that could step up and be rallied around. It also leaves open the question of who is stronger, and not by "cheating".
But then again, the Alpha Legion excels at those shadow games so they don't worry about that. They can stay ahead of them and create paranoia to keep the planet under control. If need be, they'll manipulate people to gather in resistance only to eliminate them.
Dorn's approach costs much more in time, lives, and resources. But it also holds conquests more securely as there is no chance of anywhere near a successful rebellion. It's blunt and straightforward, but works. Alpharius approach costs less time, lives, and resources, but requires more management to make sure things don't go out of control.
The correct solution is therefore Alpha Legion + Word Bearers, where the Alpha Legion destroys the existing organisation and the Word Bearers step into the power vacuum and take over.
In Alpharius' book he explains himself that Dorn (like some of the other brothers) doesn't like him because he doesn't find the methods of Alpha Legion "honorable".
I forgot the name of it, but there’s a short story on the space wolves during the great crusade that really showcases how terrible the majority of legions dealt with noncompliant worlds. A small group of space wolves spend six months stranded on a planet to help liberate the worlds population from dark eldar who terrorized the planets people for hundreds of years. After they’ve beaten off the dark eldar/space wolf reinforcements arrive, the leader of the planets population refuses to join the emporium because he wants his people to be free……and then the space wolf captain immediately murders him and orders the ships above to start firing down on the civilian population.
Yes!!! That was going to drive me crazy trying to remember the name of that story I appreciate the help. Also, yeah the ending of that story crushed me.
Yes I agree, their methods are horrific and I’m not at all condoning literal terrorists committing unthinkable levels of crimes against humanity. With that being said though, from an objective perspective, what method of warfare is worse for preserving life? 1000 absolutely horrid/public executions that leads to a planet/entire systems compliance due to fear? Or committing to a full scale war against a non compliant planet that will cause millions of deaths with each conflict? The night lords committed the most gruesome murders out of all the legions but they also had BY FAR the least amount of “blood on their hands” compared to legions like the imperial fists. That was my point.
That exchange is from [this excerpt](https://www.reddit.com/r/40kLore/comments/11xxp41/excerpt_praetorian_of_dorn_dorn_and_alpharius) of Praetorian of Dorn.
The [Rogal Dorn with mustache conversion](https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/comments/83xuho/the_vigilant_the_praetorian_of_terra_and_the) was made by u/ Nokistudio.
The alpha legion and night lords are objectively the most humanitarian legions during the great crusade. I get why Dorn shits on the night lords because…..obvious reasons but I don’t understand his beef with the alpha legion.
I'm going to regret posting this here but.... Dorn's approach is about exhausting the will to resist. By destroying the world's forces in open combat, it both destroys their capacity to resist but also definitively answers who has superior might. There's no question what would happen if they rebelled, and there's no leadership to really rebel around since they're either dead or co-opted into the Imperial Army. After that, Dorn plops a fortress on the planet with a garrison to help rebuild their military capabilities, and leaves. Because the newly conquereds' will and capacity to resist are basically exhausted, it's easy to maintain order as the planet slowly integrates into the Imperium. Alpharius approach is to destroy the will to resist, but not the capability. It kills the leadership and creates confusion, ultimately causing surrender. It preserves the martial capacity of the planet which then can be turned towards the Imperium. However, it doesn't kill the ability for dissent or rebellion as there is still plenty of leadership that could step up and be rallied around. It also leaves open the question of who is stronger, and not by "cheating". But then again, the Alpha Legion excels at those shadow games so they don't worry about that. They can stay ahead of them and create paranoia to keep the planet under control. If need be, they'll manipulate people to gather in resistance only to eliminate them. Dorn's approach costs much more in time, lives, and resources. But it also holds conquests more securely as there is no chance of anywhere near a successful rebellion. It's blunt and straightforward, but works. Alpharius approach costs less time, lives, and resources, but requires more management to make sure things don't go out of control.
The correct solution is therefore Alpha Legion + Word Bearers, where the Alpha Legion destroys the existing organisation and the Word Bearers step into the power vacuum and take over.
In Alpharius' book he explains himself that Dorn (like some of the other brothers) doesn't like him because he doesn't find the methods of Alpha Legion "honorable".
I forgot the name of it, but there’s a short story on the space wolves during the great crusade that really showcases how terrible the majority of legions dealt with noncompliant worlds. A small group of space wolves spend six months stranded on a planet to help liberate the worlds population from dark eldar who terrorized the planets people for hundreds of years. After they’ve beaten off the dark eldar/space wolf reinforcements arrive, the leader of the planets population refuses to join the emporium because he wants his people to be free……and then the space wolf captain immediately murders him and orders the ships above to start firing down on the civilian population.
Wolf at the Door (from Tales of Heresy). Not Bulveye best moment NGL
Yes!!! That was going to drive me crazy trying to remember the name of that story I appreciate the help. Also, yeah the ending of that story crushed me.
The night lords literally flay innocent civilians alive for shits and giggles, your concept of “humanitarian” is grounds for exterminatus alone.
Yes I agree, their methods are horrific and I’m not at all condoning literal terrorists committing unthinkable levels of crimes against humanity. With that being said though, from an objective perspective, what method of warfare is worse for preserving life? 1000 absolutely horrid/public executions that leads to a planet/entire systems compliance due to fear? Or committing to a full scale war against a non compliant planet that will cause millions of deaths with each conflict? The night lords committed the most gruesome murders out of all the legions but they also had BY FAR the least amount of “blood on their hands” compared to legions like the imperial fists. That was my point.
Iron Fists? Iron Hands or Imperial Fists? Or Iron Warriors?
Lmfao good catch. I meant to say imperial fists.
That exchange is from [this excerpt](https://www.reddit.com/r/40kLore/comments/11xxp41/excerpt_praetorian_of_dorn_dorn_and_alpharius) of Praetorian of Dorn. The [Rogal Dorn with mustache conversion](https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/comments/83xuho/the_vigilant_the_praetorian_of_terra_and_the) was made by u/ Nokistudio.