Podcast Transcript
Imagine a dedicated, intricate world that combines futuristic sci-fi with fantasy straight from the dark ages. There’s so much to learn about and interact with, truly a work of art. Now stop imagining, because you’re going to have to spend a lot of money to experience it. Welcome to the world of tabletop games, a subject that I am educating myself on at the moment. As always, I’m Connor, and you’re listening to Shortwave Sci-Fi. The main series that I’m trying to learn more about is “Warhammer 40,000.” Created by the British company Games Workshop, they’ve been expanding the lore of their morally corrupt galaxy for decades. Often referred to simply as “40K,” this is a strategic war game played around the world. The problem is, the story is far more complicated than it needs to be, and the buy-in price is insane. To play the game, you need miniatures, dice and a special measuring device that will all cost a pretty penny. On top of that, the miniatures are gray out of the box. While painting them isn’t required, it’s an integral part of the hobby to many fans. I’ll expand upon the real-life implications in a moment, but first I should give a very brief rundown of the story.
It’s often said that there isn’t a way to break down this story quickly, and that is true. I’ve listened to a few hours of podcasts discussing the lore, and I’ve barely scratched the surface. So if you’re looking for a Warhammer lore explanation, this isn’t the place for you. That being said, I apologize for any inaccuracies, seeing as I have not read the books first hand or played the game. To put it in simple terms, mankind began evolving quickly and making technological advancements. Some people have magic powers, and one simply named the Emperor is more powerful than any of them. As humans begin to colonize the solar system, an interdimensional portal called the Warp is discovered. We then expand outward and colonize a good portion of the Milky Way galaxy. Needless to say, life on other planets opposes this, and things get bloody quite quickly. The Emperor starts building an army of superhumans that range from seven to eight feet tall called the Space Marines. If you’ve seen any promotional Warhammer art, then these are probably the guys you’ve seen. Long story short, this group begins to call themselves the Imperium of Man and acts as an oppressive authoritarian government led by the Emperor. But here’s the catch: None of the factions in this game are “good.” They are all just evil to a different degree. In a similar vein to my episode about “Helldivers,” it’s fine to align with a faction in game as long as you recognize that they aren’t good people, and you should not ever reflect their views within the real world. Essentially, just pick one that looks cool to you. Personally, I love the aesthetic of the Space Marines, even though I acknowledge the fact that their actions are horrible. I’ve ran this section a bit too long, so I figure I should start talking about the real world. If you want a detailed storyline, I recommend “The 40K Lorecast.”
Warhammer was made to be a fun strategy game. But the story can warn us about the dangers of greed, hatred and advancing technology. There are also plot points about AI, which I find interesting. But for the real-world application, I may talk about my slight bit of experience with the game. I went to a comic shop to pick up a new issue of “Transformers” that had come out that day, and I ended up buying a $20 Warhammer starting kit that came with two miniatures and a rundown of the lore. I thought it came with paints, but it did not. So I have an unpainted Space Marine and an unpainted Tyranid on my desk right now. I’m hoping to expand that collection and paint them around this holiday season. So that’s the only experience I’ve had so far. But painting miniatures is a hobby on its own, and many people enjoy doing that and don’t even play the tabletop game. The intricate process of detailing the models is soothing to a lot of folks. And I like to think that it gives a sense of creativity and happiness to a game full of brutal fighting, xenophobia and immoral factions. At the end of the day, Warhammer 40K is a hobby as much as it is a game. The only problem is how often it’s gatekept from new players because of the high cost, but the story alone is worth looking into if you have a few hours to kill. That’s going to wrap up today’s episode. I’m Connor Riley, and thank you for listening!
