Big Game News Across The Spectrum From Games Workshop’s Warhammer Fest Europe
August 20, 2018 by brennon
It was a big weekend for Games Workshop as they held their first Warhammer Fest Europe. At the event, they had their regular gaming goodness and such but they also unveiled lots of special new projects and miniatures for us to get excited about for a range of their games.
To start off on something awesome we had this amazing diorama which won the Slayer Sword this year. This is The Might of Khorne by Pawel Makuch and it looks just like one of those amazing art pieces that you see inside the books! I like that it doesn't just cover Age of Sigmar but also Warhammer 40.000 as well.
Necromunda
The second bit of news was that we're seeing another gang get added to the mix for Necromunda. Above you can see the Cawdor Executioner. First off, it's great to see more gangs from the old crop getting added into the mix. Second, however, is that maybe Games Workshop needs to rethink this sculpt.
As some folks have pointed out online the pointed hat and the nooses around the neck, whilst apt for an executioner, don't exactly create an image some people are comfortable with. All it would take is a different colour scheme here (say, white) and suddenly you're creating a character that would be very disturbing. I'm sure this is simply an oversight on the part of Games Workshop but it already has a few people rather upset which is indeed justified.
(Note: I am aware that it might be making a mountain out of a molehill but it behoves me to raise some concerns people had about this on Twitter and such over the weekend. I don't think the miniature is inherently offensive, and I actually think he looks very cool, but it's understandable why some people have had adverse reactions to it. Just be aware of this when discussing in the comments below, and try not to get too up in each other's grills about it).
The Horus Heresy
Moving on to a happier topic we also had the announcement of the end of The Horus Heresy. Well, the final book in that series anyway. This then leads the Black Library team into the Siege Of Terra series which will tell the end of this epic conflict. With that also comes one of the most iconic Legions of the period, the Blood Angels.
The Blood Angels are making their stand amongst the other Loyalist Legions in The Horus Heresy. Everyone knows the sacrifice made by their Primarch and the way that it led to the curse that now permeates their bloodline and geneseed.
It is going to be awesome seeing more of these Horus Heresy-era Blood Angels hitting the tabletop, resplendent in their very heavily adorned armour.
Adeptus Titanicus
This leads us onto another portion of The Horus Heresy and Adeptus Titanicus. The team behind the game are soon going to be unleashing the Warhound Titan onto the tabletop and we got a glimpse at it from their blog over the weekend.
Once again, I will echo a lot of what we've said previously. The Adeptus Titanicus range is looking fantastic and now suddenly a much easier way for folks to collect these massive war machines without having to remortgage the house!
Kill Team: Rogue Trader
We also got an update on just what this Rogue Trader business is. We start off with this rather funky trailer...
This new expansion for Kill Team will tell stories from the furthest reaches of the lore and not only introduce to you two new Kill Teams (which can be used in standard games) but also a campaign that follows Rogue Trader Elucia Vhane and her fight against these deadly Mutants.
As they mentioned within the blog, this new box not only gives you two new Kill Teams to play as but also provides you with the terrain and landscapes to fight out many more battles with other Kill Teams too. I like the idea of more themed and narratively driven campaigns for Kill Team as it's how the game always should have been in my opinion. I do love a bit of story!
This also leads on to ANOTHER pair of new Kill Teams with the Deathwatch...
...and the Dark Eldar.
Both of these Kill Teams come with the standard load-out of the miniatures you need plus all of the extra rules gubbins. You also get some nice terrain pieces to create a dark and twisted jungle on the tabletop, perhaps growing up around the remains of an old Eldar Webway Gate?
Warhammer Underworlds: Nightvault
The next big addition comes in the form of Season II of Warhammer Underworlds. Having survived Shadespire you are now travelling to a new and equally dangerous place.
I really enjoyed the handful of games I played of Shadespire and would love to see what they have played for Nightvault. I'm sure everything from the previous outing will be usable in the new Season but I am looking forward to what's on the cards. I am thinking Aelfs!
Age Of Sigmar
Not much landed for Age Of Sigmar this time around but we did get a peek at a new Endless Spell.
This Flaming Bull spell has led some folks to speculate about what the newest faction for Age Of Sigmar might be. Chaos Dwarves have always been a part of the Warhammer lore and so it would be very interesting to see if they make their way into the mainstream rather than being relegated to Forge World only!
Speed Freeks!
We also got a proper look at the War Buggy from Games Workshop which will herald the coming of Speed Freeks to the Warhammer 40,000 world.
We got a proper lowdown on what will be included as part of the boxed game.
"This boxed set pits you against a friend in a series of death races between a variety of Orkish speedsters, including the aforementioned Kustom Boosta-blasta and the Shokkjump Dragsta – a racer that uses shokk-attack technology to project itself ahead of the competition – or just into anyone that looks like they need smashin’ up."
So, look out for some massively customisable War Buggies and more coming your way from the Games Workshop team for this game. I can see this being another one of those fun games to play instead of having to deal with massive armies in Warhammer 40,000.
As someone who has stepped away from the idea of large games all of these smaller boxed set experiences are very much up my alley and very tempting to pick up, especially if they can exist in their own little bubble without too many additional purchases needed.
Blood Bowl
We finish on some Blood Bowl with the announcement of another team, Nurgle's Rotters.
This new team expands on the array of options available to you in Blood Bowl and provides you with another neat painting challenge.
A friend of mine does have the new Blood Bowl game and I would like to play more of it I think. I might bring back my old Human team, the Ostland Ogres, who lost their Ogre in the first game...yep, I was that unlucky.
...Oh, And One More Thing
We also got another awesome teaser for the Sisters Of Battle who will be joining us in 2019.
The Games Workshop team has been showing off more progress on the Sisters Of Battle and particularly the weapon options available to them which you can see on the blog HERE.
Phew, that was a lot of stuff from Games Workshop! What caught your eye from their reveals this year at Warhammer Fest Europe?
Drop your thoughts below...
"What caught your eye from their reveals this year at Warhammer Fest Europe?"
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I only saw the teaser for Nightvault 2 days ago and I’m already sick of waiting for more information! I can’t wait to see what else comes out for Warhammer Underworlds, GW nailed it with that game.
I also can’t wait for the rest of the Adeptus Titanicus range to come out, I need the warhounds for my planned Legio Audax force.
And Speed Freakz just looks fun, should be a fantastic game.
All those brand new models look great with IMO that Ork vehicle being highlight and it’s nice that they continue making more of those Kill Team boxes.
@brennon – are you sure the executioner’s design is an oversight? It could be an intentional design by GW to evoke the fanaticism of the faction and reflect how much of a s**thole the Imperium can be. Plus it’s not an unprecedented design in GW minis – fairly sure it was used for the Redemptionist faction back in the day and in Mordheim some of the Chaos Cultists also wore that type of hood – so it wouldn’t be surprising if they’re intentionally drawing in that real world image.
On a more positive note; good to see the Warhound’s coming out soon – you can’t really do a titan army without them. ;). Anyone got any ideas as to price?
Also it’s great to see Chaos Dwarfs getting some love. Hopefully this is the first of a slew of releases for the Dawi Zharr – Praise Hashut!
I know that they are working with the fanaticism and the over-the-top nature of the faction and it has always been part of their aesthetic but I think the nooses around the neck are what people are alluding too.
I don’t think that people would have said much if it was just the traditional hood we’ve come to know from the gang, but the inclusion of those nooses brings up much more disturbing imagery for a lot of people.
The model could very easily have been presented as is, without the nooses, and I don’t think there would have been anyone getting upset about it – and it would still have continued to have that iconic executioner appearance (with the axe etc).
Good points.
I wonder how many people would be upset if someone converted a bunch of cawdor gang armed with tiki torches polos and khakis…
I get what you are saying. I also know that even if the model was presented without the nooses that it isn’t that tough to “greenstuff” them if someone so chose. I’ve been war gaming for a while and have seen numerous paint schemes that have had real world hate group based paintings. As someone that could be offended I find myself not being so. Their money, their models, their choice. I can choose not to play against them or associate with them if I find it bothersome. There are too many other people out there that would enjoy playing with/against me (and me them) to occupy my mind and time with those that dislike me over something arbitrary and that doesn’t define my character.
I can’t and won’t fault the creative talent of GW for the twisting of it by other folks. /shrug
I lived in Louisiana when the Cawdor offshoot Redemptionists were introduced. At the time, I remember finding the designs to be in poor taste, so I think I can understand why people would feel that way now.
Oddly enough, I don’t find the one above to be problematic. Maybe it is the robes that he’s wearing, but it is also likely that I’ve just gotten used to the way that Adrian Smith designs cultists.
Rogue Trader looks like it will be burning a hole in my wallet…
Burning bullock looks great…
What’s the big deal with the executioner in the dunces cap?
Does the KKK still do lynchings and race violence in america? Because I assumed they died out when Kirk kissed Uhura in the 1960’s
No the KKK doesn’t still lynch people, but everything old is offensive again thanks to the internet. How hard one has to stretch their mind to compare a space-man fanatic, living in a 10 mile high factory city, with a bygone social group of racists is impressive.
*sigh* that’s not the point.
As I said above in my comment on this, you can have a space-man fanatic living in a 10-mile high factory city called the executioner without the ropes around the neck…and it still does the job. For some people, this brings up unsettling imagery of the past that (whilst we’re not going to erase) we probably don’t need to see in a tabletop wargame…especially in a far future where there are probably myriad others ways to torture someone and put them to death.
Sigh, speaking of missing the point…
The KKK still has around 6000 members. And racial violence is still alive and well in America, it pains me to say.
We’re saying the same thing.
We’re really, really not.
Oh yes, we are. You just don’t realize it.
The KKK is about a 6,000 member strong organization.
6000/325,700,000 = 0.00001842186
And racial violence is a real thing, not some silly esoteric complaint by gamers looking to have people pay attention to them, despite the fact that their experience with racial violence is 3rd hand. This would include you, Brennon, me, and the rest of the message board most likely.
And it shows with these internet comments about a defunct group totally unrelated to the life experience of anyone playing Necromunda. And how utterly esoteric their complaining is, and how easily they can and will be ignored. Just wait and watch if you don’t believe me.
“everything old is offensive again thanks to the internet”
It was never not offensive.
“How hard one has to stretch their mind”
I don’t think it’s a stretch.
“a bygone social group of racists”
The KKK themselves may be less active these days, but that doesn’t mean the iconography they used is gone from the public consciousness of many Americans.
If I have misinterpreted your words, and you’re saying you find that figure as problematic as I do, then I apologize for the misunderstanding. The above statements seemed to me to be arguing the opposite.
I am fully aware that racial violence is a real thing. The high school I went to had fewer than 20% white students. Do not presume to speak for my life experience.
If you make claims that you have experienced mobs of KKK members attacking you or burning down your home, then I presume to think you are not being honest. Trying to connect it to a Necromunda figure is an embarrassing stretch, and everything you’ve said in these responses is just flailing, unconnected nothingness.
… I in no way made any such claims.
There is a wide spectrum of unpleasant experiences between “perfect harmony” and “mobs of KKK members burning down one’s home.”
There are more “non-white” people on these boards than you would probably guess. They just don’t go advertising it because internet anonymity brings out “(sarcasm)the best(/sarcasm)” in a number of folks. It is disconcerting for some hateful folks to find out those they arbitrarily hate (and believe don’t have the mental capacity to enjoy) have some of the same hobbies and interests.
The KKK is not equally active across the US. They are very active in a few states in the South.
I lived in Louisiana, and the Klan was active at my junior high and high school. While there are few official Klan members, there are quite a lot of Klan sympathizers (some of them were teachers at the school). Also, the Klan still has
And my parents were in Charlottesville during the recent violence there (the difference between the Klan violence in the south and self proclaimed Nazis waving Confederate flags is kind of moot).
I self identify as white, and have never been the victim of racial violence in any way, but it isn’t a far off esoteric concept to me, and I suspect that some of the people complaining have even more first hand experience.
The KKK does still exist in America, although it is very regional (you find them in the Southern states like Louisiana- where I used to play necromunda, but not in the north or west).
They are not as active in lynchings as they used to be, but they still promote inequality for black people- and violence to an extent.
It is probably more of an issue right now, due to the US’s current political atmosphere.
Yes, there are still lynchings going on in the southern United States. Shouldn’t be hard to find the news of them if you do a Google search.
I could not find any news of lynchings happening in 2017 or 2018, I believe you are confused.
We may be beginning to split hairs on a lot of this chaps 🙂
While it’s absolutely clear there was no intent to connect the design of the model in any way to the Klan, for some there may well be a ‘look’ that stirs some discomfort. To get a feel for why the imagery of the model might do that it’s worth taking a look at the images on this page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynching_in_the_United_States (WARNING: some pretty harrowing stuff in there so be warned in advance ok)
Whether they are happening at the moment or not is not particularly relevant, as the 4000 odd cases of it that stretched right up to as recently as 2008 are more than enough to establish its horrendous effects and imagery on folk who have been affected by it in ways.
I was chatting about this to the team today and explained that we are now about 20 years into peacetime here in Northern Ireland, but there was a particular sign that used to frighten me as a teenager when I’d cycle out to the rural areas to meet a girlfriend: https://www.reddit.com/r/ScarySigns/comments/8oqy46/sniper_at_work_sign_in_crossmaglen_northern/
IF there was a model today that stood in that stance (yes let’s say by complete coincidence) it would stir up feelings buried deep within me. I wouldn’t be offended by it for sure, and of course, I would understand there was no intention to offend etc – but I know the industry – and others do not – so a mum or dad who would see it would not necessarily have the same context.
These kinds of things are always going to crop up… forever… there is just no way for coincidences not to happen, but I think its good to calmly air issues and address them (again calmly) ultimately we only have explicit knowledge of our own frames of reference, and I don’t presume to understand the lives of those thousands of miles away from where I sit, but I will try to at least emphasise with them and try to understand the background to an issue.
And of course there are always those out there who delight in taking offence at things but again, they are always going to crop up… forever… but they are not everybody 🙂
So let’s show a little tenderness and understanding to all voices in this discussion 🙂
Well said. Too many take the stance of “I never saw it personally” or “It never happened to me” so they choose not to believe that it happened to anyone else. Nothing can be done to change their minds (not that they want to) and I’ve found there is no use engaging with them, especially on online forums.
Anyway, enough on this from me. Not why I come to this site as this discussion can be found just about everywhere else on the internet. /cheers
Those trees are a bit meh.
Don’t know whether to start with a LOL or FFS, people are uneasy about a model with a bit of rope but are ok with half naked demon women with blood soaked swords ?
I don’t think it’s entirely unreasonable for someone to be uneasy about a model which has features which are unsettling.
The difference is that half-naked demon women aren’t something that has historically been running around doing terrible things to people in real life.
It’s reasonable to not be fussed by this model at all, but it wouldn’t exactly be fair for me not to raise some questions about the sculpt that folks have talked about on social media.
I completely agree that it’s reasonable not to be bothered by the model. I’m a little disturbed by people mocking those who ARE unsettled by the model.
As an American who grew up in the South, to me the iconography of this piece is kind of akin to having a supervillain with a swastika on its chest. Like, sure, as a miniature designer, that’s a choice you CAN make… but it might not be the most thoughtful choice you COULD have made.
I fully recognize that the history of racism in Britain is different than that in America, and that the optics on combining hoods and nooses are not the same. That doesn’t make it wrong to point out that hey, over here, to a large group of people, that model is super creepy, and people might not react well.
This is the most articulate, objective and well reasoned post in this whole thread, probably in everything I’ve read online today – thank you for the clarity you’ve brought to this conversation. I’ve been burnt in the last couple of days for asking a question about something I perceived to be problematic, so am all too painfully aware how these threads can bring out challenging viewpoints.
Thanks again for providing such a well argued response
I would hope that folks aren’t mocking people for being disturbed, but rather only mocking them for implying that their own personal sensibilities should dictate the rules of what is and isn’t acceptable.
That ‘large group of people’ has every right to find the model creepy, but simply stating they are upset without suggesting a solution is about as facile as saying “I love it” or “It looks bad”. The purpose behind a public declaration of offense is surely to influence future design decisions, right?
So, people who are pushing back aren’t necessarily upset at others for being offended, but are just trying to have their voices heard to say “Please do not allow the sensibilities of the few to dictate the breadth of art and creativity that is available to us.”
I, for one, don’t want to envision a future in which artists have to constantly second-guess every design decision they make, in the off-chance that it can be construed as offensive under some unforeseen light.
Your arguments have been very polite and eloquent, but implying that the noose is as indicative of the KKK as the swastika is of the Nazis was a tad hyperbolic, to be honest. Games Workshop literally just released another model with a noose and hood for Age of Sigmar, and unless I just totally missed the outrage, I don’t think anyone was upset…
I never would have connected with KkK if you hadn’t made me think about it.
The miniatures I find disturbing are the bad squiddo ones mentioned today. I’m no parent, but dismembered babies are unpleasant.
.
I find this interesting how people will the Cawdor model as offensive, or saying it brings up bad memories, because it is wearing a an executioners hood and nooses. Both of which fit the theme of executioner.
While perhaps the KKK did use these things, they were not exclusive to them nor were they invented by them.
Now if it was a burning cross, then perhaps I would agree with it taking on an unsavory aspect.
But to say something should be censored or changed because some people will decide to take it out of context and turn it into something they can take offense from is not the right call.
The thing I find really hard to swallow about this is, while people are calling for this model to be changed, where then is the outcry over historical WWII minis? Who actually represent Nazi Germans, Imperial Japanese etc.
Both of which committed some of the worst atrocities in history. Those models intended to represent the forces and individuals of some of the most evil ideologies of our time are fine, but a space man who people can take out of its intended (and obvious) context saying it could insinuate racism needs to be changed? In my opinion this is perhaps more than a little ridiculous. If someone were to paint them in a white hood, do you know what the problem is there? The person who paints them in white hoods.
In fact, I can take any cultist miniature in a hood and paint them white, nooses or not, and it will have more racist connotations than this model, mostly because of the context I would create by painting them white.
Also, I doubt many FLGS and gaming groups would look favorably upon anyone who paints their models to be allegories of KKK members. That is where the issues should come from, not from a few nooses put on there for what was very clearly a different reason.
I find racism despicable, I see it a lot in the real world and I think we all need to do what we can to stamp it out. However, that fight becomes much harder when people seek to censor anything that could possibly be taken in an offensive way by someone somewhere if they choose to do so even if it has to be taken so far out of context that it is nonsense, because that is basically crying wolf, and it makes us look like nutters and kills artistic expression and creativity because people will fear being labeled (unjustly) as racist.
I appreciate the good intentions of bringing this up, and yes, it is a good thing because it has allowed for discussion to take place. Discussion and communication is the first step in solving problems and issues so long as we can all do so civilly.
Peace.
I agree. Probably said this much more coherently than I could/have done actually. In raising a few comments I’d seen on Twitter about this I may have made a mountain out of a molehill (not my intention) but it seemed apt to at least put it up for discussion.
As I’ve added in the news piece above there’s nothing inherently wrong with the miniature, but I can understand why some people would have a problem with it.
Look its good to bring it up so it can be discussed. It is equally bad to not bring something up out of fear of “making a fuss” as it is to not bring something up because of fear of offending. Evil and good men doing nothing and all that.
People can get a little emotional about these topics, and that is understandable, we just have to stop, count to 10, avoid knee jerk reactions (especially around table corners) and talk like reasonable people, even about unreasonable things like racism.
So again, I say you did the right thing in bringing it up. It would have been easier to ignore the topic entirely and play it safe (especially considering the very public nature of here) but you tackled it head on and opened the doors for it to be discussed, which takes a level of courage and integrity that most media outlets seem to avoid at all costs. So kudos to you.
You even said so yourself, though, that bringing furor and attention to an issue of offense that was neither intended nor obvious, only serves to weaken your overall standing.
I don’t think trying to ignore an actual incident (like a model implying rape, for example) is the same as not mentioning that some people somewhere have been ‘offended’ by this miniature.
If it’s in the real world, someone on Twitter is offended by it. That’s just how things work.
I am absolutely not against confronting evil, but if 9/10 people read this and think, “Oh my God, are they serious?” while rolling their eyes, how has that advanced the cause? It has just wasted precious social capital that should be used to draw people’s attentions to real offenses, not slip-ups, coincidences, or circumstantial incidents.
Sorry, did you say “while perhaps the KKK did use these things”? Do you have any doubt?
From my own point of view, as a white guy from the UK, I wouldn’t have really made the connection or found offence with the model, but if someone from a different background finds the imagery upsetting or offensive, then I’m sorry to hear.
It isn’t wrong nor is it silly for people to find aspects of this model problematic.
The new figure’s that GW are bringing out are fabulous the new warhound Looks great and love the Flaming Bull spell.
That Khorne diorama is basically an 80s metal album cover. He’s captured it perfectly IMO
Clearly he’s just wearing a Spanish Capirote. And the nooses are only there to push sales in the southern US 😛
My wallet didn’t survive 40Kfiveteen years ago, but Orkish speedsters looks interesting. who doesn’t like an ork with red go-faster stripes and a speeding bullet.
Loving the look of speed freeks so far, a different aesthetic but still very orky. Would have liked some more substantial info though.
Rogue trader also looks great, however as it is that or speed freeks for me not one I will be picking up on release. I understand current release schedule seems to be aimed at flooding the market but I believe they are at risk of canbalising their own sales. Maybe that is just me as what it is not doing is taking my hobby money from other companies, as gw still show no sign of stepping up the game in terms of rules writting.
The rotters I think I like, just a few bits seem odd.
I like the look of the cawdor, but have no love for the current version of the game. I didn’t make the link with the klan beyond the historic religious fanatism the range has always hregarding
the executioner. It is not an issue for me as I don’t have the sense of history and closeness to the subject it works to show the unpleasantness of the character, but with a different perspective I can understand the concerns. Tackling imagary with historic significance in gaming is a thorny subject, not one that had easy answers, but definately one that requires some empathy.
I feel like there might be a little American Exceptionalism going on here…
The KKK wear hoods and lynched people, sure. If you only look at those two details of the model (though in my memory, no Klansman ever wore studded rivets in their hoods), then I could see you finding offense.
However, if I try and spot “Medieval Executioner”, I find… the hood, the axe, the candles, the reliquary, the nooses, the cut of the clothing, the stakes, the gloves, and the parchment seals.
If I look for “Grim Dark Future Man” I see his one sort-of futuristic mining boot…
It’s a bit of a stretch to assume that racial violence in the States has essentially monopolized such imagery… do we think that blacks being lynched in the US make up even a fraction of the executions by hanging that have occurred over human history?
This guy would look way more in-place in Saudi Arabia today, where they, you know… actually still behead people in the town square, than he would in the American South.
Is my old Orc Bully model offensive now, because he’s a comedically beetle-browed oaf with a whip? I mean, slaves were whipped, right?
Frostgrave’s cultist box comes with rope. It also comes with a hooded head, and body robes that are far closer to KKK attire than this fellow.
What about their new Mad-Max ork vehicle, with the grot crucified on the front of the car? Is that offensive? It’s certainly blasphemous.
How about the hoards of miniatures smoking cigars, cigarettes, and what-not? That’s horrible imagery to show children, right? It’s not allowed on television, so why on miniatures?
Or all the miniatures wearing furs and pelts, aka tortured and mutilated animals? Remember we all scoffed and laughed at PETA when they came after our hobby for that? Why’s this any different?
We literally all seem to agree that GW did not design this miniature with the intention of evoking racial violence or hatred, right? So, any inference there is coincidental, and frankly, the responsibility of the viewer.
If I was mauled by a dog as a child and have horrific PTSD as a result, does your miniature of a rabid dog suddenly become problematic? How about if I’m an arachnophobe and am subjected to images of horrific looking spider creatures?
I can accept that some people (though honestly, I feel like the truthful percentage of those offended is absolutely minuscule) might find this miniature offensive. I refuse, however, to cede control of art and expression to their whims and sensibilities.
If someone makes a KKK model meant to offend and hurt people, you can be sure they’re going to get called out.
If someone makes a cool model that can, under certain conditions, potentially look like something that’s offensive to some people… then what? Do we let censoring them become the standard? Because if we do, I promise you there won’t be a miniature left in 5 years.