INTRODUCTION TO THE HOBBY OF WARHAMMER 40,000 BACKGROUND This game is based on occurrences in the far future of the 41st millennium (year 40,000+) and occurs in our own milky way galaxy. It is a period where humanity has reached out to the farthest reaches of our galaxy, colonising a million worlds spread across many star systems. This Imperium of Man is beset from all sides by alien threats, both internal and external. It is a galaxy where there is no peace. To merely survive is to achieve victory. To loose is to become extinct. In this dark and dangerous universe, the vast Imperial Guard and the Imperial Navy try to hold the imperium together. But it is humanity's finest, the elite superhuman warriors called Spacemarines who are the ultimate defence. The one thousand chapters of one thousand space marines stand guard, ready to protect the imperium and humanity. The Dark Angels Spacemarine chapter was the first of those one thousand chapters created by the emperor. This Fortress is a tribute to the Dark Angels Chapter and their successor chapters, collectively known as the Unforgiven. THE GAME Warhammer 40,000 is a tabletop science fiction wargame, created by Games Workshop Ltd, in 1988. It uses 28mm high model figures of individual troopers and their associated vehicles, weapons and support equipment. The game is played on the table top by two or more players. Various armies can be created according to the points listed in the rule books. The size of the battles depend on the size of armies selected according to their point values. Players go through a turn sequence of moving, shooting and assaulting. Most gamers add realism by creating scenery, which can be placed on the table top. THE HOBBY The hobby of WH40K intertwines with the game, but is much more. It can be pursued simply as a modelling hobby, the science fiction aspect allowing modellers to go with their imagination. The hobby actively encourages modellers to create their own conversions of existing miniatures or even sculpt their own. The myriad of painting and modelling competitions are a testament to that support. The rules allow players to create their own armies, histories and units within the constraints of the rules. The background of the universe and history has been deliberately left incomplete, encouraging fans to create their own unique and original fiction to slot within those areas. This hobby contains the greatest contributions by fans in any such hobby and a number of such contributions have subsequently been incorporated in to the official versions by Games Workshop. Warhammer 40,000 cannot be simply defined as wargame, miniature modelling or science fiction hobby. It is a complete and multi-faceted hobby whose potential can only be fully realised if one fully immerses oneself in to the background of its universe. GAMES WORKSHOP The Warhammer 40,000 game is a creation of Games Workshop Pty Ltd, which is the largest retail hobby chain in the world with more than 140 outlets world wide. Headquartered in their massive studio in Nottingham, they are currently also the world largest sellers of plastic model kits. Games Workshop (GW or Gdub in short) outlets can be found in most major cities with their characteristic logo HOW TO GET INVOLVED If your curiosity has ben pickled and you have no idea as to how to get an introduction, no fear! You can simply walk into one of the GW retail shops and ask the extremely helpful staff there to describe the basics of the game or hobby to you. Most retail outlets have a program of events through out the week ranging from painting lesons, modelling lessons, and run games on their own tables stufdded with their terrain. You could simply take your army and play a game there if you like to. There are also a large number of web site related to the GW hobby ranging from modelling & painting sites to sites dedicated to specific armies or races, like the Fortress site. Most importantly there are a number of related chat boards where a alrge number of experienced and newcomers gather to have their querries answered, opinions discussed and ideas shared. |
INTRODUCTION |
