All this "40k is a setting" argument holds no weight. You could make ridiculous changes to the overall plot of 40k without altering the playability of each faction.
Hell you could mirror the WHF End Times almost point for point and have it play out much the same. Have Szarekh of the necrons trigger some ancient necron doom device that puts even the Chaos gods on edge. Have a massive convergence of necrons on the galactic east, coming to meet the advance of an new Hive superfleet and dragging every sentient race into battle right with them both.
So many things are already set to happen, we could almost write the story for them. The Dragon shard is about to crack out of Mars, the Hive Fleets are engaged in a battle that if they win will basically hand them the strength to take the rest of the galaxy.
I used to be on the fence over this but now I say roll it forward.
Hell you could mirror the WHF End Times almost point for point and have it play out much the same. Have Szarekh of the necrons trigger some ancient necron doom device that puts even the Chaos gods on edge. Have a massive convergence of necrons on the galactic east, coming to meet the advance of an new Hive superfleet and dragging every sentient race into battle right with them both.
So many things are already set to happen, we could almost write the story for them. The Dragon shard is about to crack out of Mars, the Hive Fleets are engaged in a battle that if they win will basically hand them the strength to take the rest of the galaxy.
I used to be on the fence over this but now I say roll it forward.