Warhammer is a reputation that evokes many feelings and concepts into many individuals. From followers of the traditional tabletop franchise to the intensive lore from Black Library, to the numerous well-liked online game variations. Warhammer is huge, however how did a tiny firm from Nottingham, England grow to be one of the crucial recognisable manufacturers in nerd tradition?
It began in 1983 with Warhammer Fantasy Battle. Set in a medieval-style world, partly impressed by what Tolkien had created with Lord of the Rings, and a little bit of DnD. Which in itself owed rather a lot to Tolkien’s work. It had all of it: Orcs, Elves, Dwarfs, People, Lizard individuals, Trolls, and every little thing in between. I used to be first launched to Warhammer by means of video video games within the ’00s when a buddy and I’d journey a number of cities over to the Video games Workshop retailer (now all referred to as Warhammer shops) and simply take a look at the fashions, and watch individuals play. Weirdly, I’ve only a few reminiscences of ever truly shopping for any fashions, I definitely have no of them any extra, sadly. However my introduction was a lot later, actually it was within the 40k interval that I used to be first launched.
A number of years later, Video games Workshop went futuristic with Warhammer 40,000 (40K), and the remaining was actually historical past. Think about a satirical, black comedy from a bunch of individuals in Britain, with the “Are we the our bodies” meme, anticipate everyone seems to be. Then fill that World with towering House Marines, mystical Eldar (Aeldari), Orks, Samuri-inspired robotic fish individuals? In the event you’ve ever encountered the time period “Grimdark”, then you realize what Warhammer 40k is all about. It’s maybe greatest summed up with the collection’ iconic quote: “Within the grim darkness of the far future there’s solely battle.”
Warhammer Age of Sigmar has now taken the fantasy setting to new heights, because it succeeds the Fantasy recreation earlier than it. Although, you possibly can nonetheless play Fantasy within the new Previous World setting.
At this time, Warhammer has grown method past the tabletop—there are novels (Black Library), video video games, and even animated collection. Personally, the magic comes from being a part of a World that grows on a regular basis. Whereas I do not play Warhammer a lot, I do play the video video games, paint the minis, and browse novels. The Worlds of Warhammer are ever increasing, and it is one of the crucial recognisable franchises within the World of nerds.
The Origins of Warhammer: From Tabletop Miniatures to a Cultural Phenomenon
Now that Warhammer is a World-wide phenomenon, it is onerous to think about the origins of the franchise. The primary retailer opened in 1978, in Hammersmith, London. Whereas the corporate now could be intently related to the city of Nottingham, it began in London. Pictured beneath, that first retailer produced Citadel steel miniatures which had been used for different miniature role-playing video games resembling DnD. GW and DnD had a detailed partnership, actually, not lengthy after the 2 corporations nearly merged. TSR, INC which owned DnD on the time had been resulting from merge with Video games Workshop earlier than Steve Jackson and Sir Ian Livingstone pulled out.
One of many first main strikes Video games Workshop did was to safe the UK printing rights for the RPG video games Name of Cthulhu, Runequest, Traveller and Center-earth Function-Enjoying. The got here after the corporate had already been doing the identical for DnD years prior. This transfer helped safe GW as a serious participant within the UK, chopping out costly import prices for UK residents.
Finally, in 1983, Video games Workshop launched Warhammer Fantasy Battles. The corporate’s very personal miniature recreation. The sport rapidly gained reputation amongst younger individuals who wished to discover the lore, figures, and aggressive gameplay. See, whereas DnD left rather a lot as much as the participant, Warhammer was far more centered. You had clear factions, guidelines, and methods to have interaction. These battles would typically embrace 100s of miniatures throughout an enormous desk, making it a spectacle to behold for anybody standing round. This was a serious a part of the early success of bodily Warhammer areas, and why to today that mannequin works for the corporate.
All the things modified in 1987, nonetheless, when Video games Workshop moved from the Fantasy setting to the far future with Warhammer 40k. Whereas the corporate had blips since, actually, the corporate’s Lord of the Rings providing on the peak of the film reputation may be why the corporate remains to be right here at the moment. It is onerous to look past 40k as a key altering level within the historical past of Warhammer. The fortieth anniversary of 40k is quickly approaching, and it is wonderful to see such a distinct segment pastime nonetheless round to today and loved by new generations of gamers.
Warhammer Goes Digital: The Evolution of Warhammer Video Video games
There have been numerous Warhammer video video games. Going again to the Nineteen Eighties on the ZX Spectrum, however it’s the previous decade the place Warhammer, and particularly 40k has began to seek out its toes. There was numerous video games that stand out, for me, the sport that actually grabbed me was Daybreak of Battle. It was the primary time the Warhammer tabletop had translated over to the online game house in a method that felt proper. Daybreak of Battle took the Actual-Time-Technique gameplay of titles resembling Purple Alert or C&C, and added a Warhammer spin to it. The sport would spawn two sequels, although the third could be the final within the collection.
Warhammer has tried its hand at nearly each self-discipline of video video games, however it’s when the sport stays true to the tabletop that the brand new work greatest. House Marine, and now House Marine 2 have usually been talked about as one of many video games that “received” Warhammer 40k. Curiously, House Marine may be very closely impressed by the gameplay of the Gears of Battle collection, with the Gears of Battle characters themselves usually described as being primarily based on the titular House Marines. For Fantasy gamers, the Complete Battle: Warhammer collection was the game-changer, mockingly the video games was launched proper when Fantasy Battles entered their “finish instances” occasion, ending the sport and changing it with Age of Sigmar. Since then, the collection has had two extra sequels, and regardless of some blips stays as well-liked as ever. Although nonetheless primarily based on the Fantasy recreation setting, and never Age of Sigmar.
Warhammer Going Ahead
Warhammer is not displaying any indicators of slowing down, whereas the pastime had an enormous peak throughout COVID-19, it has continued to do effectively. 2024 noticed a brand new version of Age of Sigmar, Kill Workforce, and Underworlds. Subsequent yr is prone to be a bit slower with Horus Heresy and perhaps Warcry alongside the Lord of the Rings Fantasy Battle.
2026 would be the huge yr for Video games Workshop, with a brand new version of Warhammer 40k prone to be dropping.
