Board Thread:Warhammer 40k General Discussion/@comment-14745711-20130906234048/@comment-6078851-20141120143010

well, he would be able to hold a remnant of the imperium together after emps' death but i seriously doubt it would be a large portion. it would probably be larger than any of the other 'mini-empires' that would come into existence, each trying to remain somewhat like how the imperium was, but in terms of the imperium's scale sanguinius' empire would still be but a fragment.

the emperor is what holds the imperium together but the astronomican is what allows the imperium to be so massive - faster than light communications and travel via safe (relatively) passage through warp-space. the problem with the size of any 'after emps' empires is always going to be the lack of the astronomican since emps is the source. even while on the throne no primarch, including sanguinius (or even magnus back in the day), has the inate power to shine through the warp as the emperor does meaning that warp travel reverts to being extremely unsafe and no longer a reliable means of travelling far other than under the most dire of circumstances. as such any empires that survive will only consist of closely neighbouring systems.

although, if gw do intend to let emps die physically, i can already see them maintaining the status quo by saying that the astronomican will continue to exist alongside the warp entity formerly known as emps. as much as i'm looking forward to the advancement of 40k's story my excitement is being blunted by the awareness of how long gw haven't advanced it, and i'm setting my expectations quite low on any real change. it's maybe a little cynical but i'd rather 'hope for the best but expect the worst'.