Forgeworld Warhammer 40,000 Open Day 2014

[Skullric]

Some notes made during the first Galaxy at War seminar at the WHW Open Day

Standard Background Questions were covered, then it was open for the audience to ask questions
Is the clock ticking? Nope, it's 11:58.
The plan i to expand the war zones and embed them into the background
10,000 years so a lot of backstory to fill in
Thus gives a broad canvas to set games as and when required
It's an evolving timeline rather than a progressing timeline

How is racial depth progressed?
Driver is from the miniatures, but themed releases will give character to each race. Release methodology assists in this.

Is the Emperor (who protects) dead?
Is the golden throne failing? And thus will the light of Astronomicon go out?
If the emperor dies does it bring about his true apotheosis?
He's not dead, but on his last legs
Re the golden throne: Mars tech advice is to "turn it off and turn it back on again"

Q&A eldar and exodites expansion likely? Fits in with what was said earlier regarding supplements and an agile release schedule. If a sculptor is inspired to create a spot release, it could more easily be fitted in.

Primarchs: will the ones that still exist appear in the post heresy timeline? The Chaos Space Marine book timeline includes 13th Black Crusade, with Abaddon expanding the eye of terror towards Terra. There are hints that some of the bad primarchs have an active influence in the post heresy timeline. Thus the precedent is set to allow Loyalist Primarchs to also exert their influence in some way.

Black crusade campaign book? Not touched upon, but a possibility.

Thought process in adding minis to the back ground? Eg centurions appear in real life, but have been part of the mythos forever. If the background is "fixed", there's no scope for expansion, hence would be stagnant. "It's always been there, just not been revealed to us"

They like to release new models, but some tyranid characters went into retirement, eg: parasite of mortrax(?), so if no models, the unit is removed. The increased White Dwarf frequency allows new model rules to be released alongside the models outside the codex release sequence. Common sense approach to ensure models are available

How do you decide where to cast the spotlight? There's a pool of stuff being enthusiastically worked in. So many things simmering, so will evolve and some to fruition, some will not

1000 psykers are needed to kill the Emperor alive? 40k story is that humanity as a race is evolving and unsanctioned psykers are more prevalent. Hence the black ships section of the Inquisition round up the clerks, deck hands, etc that exhibit psyhic power and utilise them to.

Any plans to update older metal ranges? Eg Sisters of Battle. It's what they do and depends if it's one of the projects that evolve. It'd need to have a level of commitment to do it properly. Sisters of Battle are not going away. It took a while to return to Dark Eldar, but eventually they got back to do it properly.

But why for example, do the Imperial Knight? Well, Imperial knights have actually been in the background for longer (older IP). They were also an enthusiastic project. Sisters, as a full army, will take more work

How is the scale of figures decided upon? Eg Space marine vs knight?
No way will he fit in the head, hence sat in body. How do you get ten marines in. Rhino? People can budge up a bit.

When citadel minis, they were a size rather than a scale 1/56. Over time things have changed. Space Marines have changed in the literature, gaining height from the original 7-8 feet. True scale vehicles would make battlefields a lot more crowded.

How are the back stories of Hero characters developed? They read the past stories. Then ask what can these people do to evolve the story line? Look at their traits, e.g. lysander's quarantined return. Take the traits, turn the dial to 11 and make them exemplars. Throw in an occasional anti-hero for contrast.

What about Death-watch minis? They're just another example of the desire for expansion. The well (of source material to draw on) will not run dry.

Questions to the audience:

The imperium is beset on all sides? Who will get us and why?
Nids!
Orks, because Nids/Orks become Orks!
Squats!

Who's the biggest, nastiest villain?
The Emperor?
Gulliman for weakening the legions?

End of seminar


Skullric

[Path Walker]

Outdated information is outdated.......

Apparently the Black Book is still given out, it's a work of art.

[Mr Mystery]

Apparently the Black Book is still given out, it's a work of art.

It's really not. Whole new way of doing things came into effect around 2010. I should know. I was there for it!

[Aldavaer]

Re the golden throne: Mars tech advice is to "turn it off and turn it back on again
Skullric

Nice to see there will be no advance in tech support advice in the next 38000 years.

[Psychosplodge]

Well we've regressed, because they have to burn incense and chant at the same time...

[Tomgar]

Nice to see there will be no advance in tech support advice in the next 38000 years.

"Have you tried praying at it?"

"Yeah, it's not working."

"Bugger..."

[Arkhan Land]

Well we've regressed, because they have to burn incense and chant at the same time...

when im soldering my PA equipment I burn incense and listen to kraftwerk...

[Kirsten]

I always like the sanctified 40k approach of giving it a ceremonial smack on the casing

[Mr Mystery]

The Litany of Percussive Maintenance.

As featured in Ciaphas Cain.

[Kirsten]

that's the one