The Warhammer Thread

[Silver Nemesis]

There are many different ways to experience Warhammer, though the scale of the franchise might be daunting to newcomers. For me, it was always about the game. I loved collecting and painting the miniatures as a kid, and then experiencing the lore through the battles I'd play against friends. Some fans like collecting and painting the miniatures, but don't care about playing the game. Other fans have no interest in the miniatures or the game and just like to explore the lore through books, comics, videogames and animated movies. Then there are fans who don't buy or read any of the official merchandise, but like to explore the mythology through wikis and YouTube videos on the subject. There are lot of different ways to become a Warhammer fan.

But where to start? A good resource for newcomers would be the following YouTube videos that introduce the basics.

Then maybe check out the Ultramarine CG-animated movie that was released in 2010. To date, this is the only official feature length Warhammer 40K movie. The script was written by prolific comic book writer and sci-fi author Dan Abnett, who also wrote the videogame Alien: Isolation, and the voice cast includes Sean Pertwee, John Hurt and General Zod himself, Terence Stamp. The film had a relatively low budget, so the quality of animation isn't great. But it offers a simple yet engaging story that conveys the gothic 'grimdark' feel of the 40K universe without overwhelming the viewer with too much lore. There are several copies of this film available to watch free on YouTube.

Also worth watching is Astartes, which started off as a fan-made series but was so well received that Games Workshop made it an official part of the canon. The whole series is collected in the following video.

Aside from collecting issues of White Dwarf magazine back in the nineties, I neglected the literary side of the Warhammer universe until very recently. I'm presently reading my way through the Eisenhorn Omnibus, which collects several novels and short stories by Dan Abnett starring the eponymous inquisitor as he hunts down criminals, heretics and demons. Many seem to concur that this is a good starting point for getting into the Warhammer 40K books. So far I'm enjoying it. As far as my limited knowledge of Warhammer literature goes, I'd say it's a good place to begin.

For anyone wanting to get into the miniatures and tabletop game, I'd recommend the Warhammer 40K 10th edition introductory set. This is the cheapest of the starter sets presently available, but it's great for beginners or people like me who are getting back into the game after a prolonged absence. It includes 16 miniatures – a squad of 5 Space Marines and 11 Tyranids – as well as paints, a paintbrush, a battle mat and a simple version of the most basic rules. It's great for getting started.

I'll end this post here. I just wanted to get this thread started and offer some recommendations for people curious about the franchise. Feel free to post anything Games Workshop related here, be it art, news, nostalgic memories, opinions, videos, or just general chat about the franchise. I've only addressed the 40K side of Warhammer in this post, but there's a lot to be said about Warhammer Fantasy too.

[Silver Nemesis]

The Secret Level Warhammer 40K episode was released on Amazon Prime yesterday. I watched it last night. It's pretty good. The story is very simple, and I found the animation a little too murky in places. But on the whole, I enjoyed it. Here's a clip from one of the brutal battle scenes.

Since Secret Level is a videogame-themed show, this episode focuses on the Ultramarine Demetrian Titus from the Space Marine game series. Space Marine II came out earlier this year, and while it triggered certain critics it was very well received by fans. I haven't played it myself, but supposedly it's excellent. That said, you don't need to have played the games to enjoy this episode. It's only twenty minutes long, but worth watching. As well as following on from the Space Marine games, it's very much a spiritual successor to the Astartes animated series.

In related news, Amazon and Henry Cavill have closed the deal to produce a Warhammer cinematic universe: https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/henry-cavill-warhammer-40000-series-development-update-1236244532/

Negotiations have been ongoing for the past year, with insider reports claiming the deal would fall through owing to Amazon's desire to alter the lore in order to meet DEI requirements and Cavill's refusal to acquiesce to such changes. But if those rumours are true, then any such disagreements must have been have resolved.

Cavill's clearly the right man to oversee this project, and given his bad experience on The Witcher – where the writers' flagrant disrespect for the source material prompted him to quit – I assume he'll insist on faithfulness to the Warhammer lore. Of course Amazon has a terrible recent track record adapting beloved fantasy franchises, with The Wheel of Time and The Rings of Power being to two most egregious examples. But considering the cultural shift signalled by the outcome of a certain election in a certain North American country lately, the studio would be unwise to repeat those same mistakes with Warhammer. Right now I'm cautiously optimistic that Cavill will fend off the usual ideological incursions and deliver something good.