Thank you so much for making a big song and dance about the legacy of Richard Halliwell. His significance to tabletop wargaming I think is significantly undersung.
Halliwell is so important to Warhammer and Games Workshop being what it became, I think it’s a real shame he’s not more often lauded for his fine work. Especially by GW, who don’t seem to have paid much tribute to him following his passing, which is a disappointment.
Outside of his work, I’ve only read various interviews and blog/forum posts, including some about his later unfortunate struggles. It feels like there’s a real lack of writing about Halliwell, especially given his incredible contributions to the hobby.
My dad is great friends with Tony Yates, the artist you mentioned and he was a masterful DM back in the 80s, I have fantastic memories of some amazing adventures we played, also as I was getting into gaming in the early mid 80s it was Tony himself who taught me how to paint minis, which I am still doing to this day. Great times, and it was great to hear his name mentioned in the video 👍👍👍
I’m only sorry I couldn’t find more specific information about Tony Yates’ involvement as I couldn’t do much more than call out his contribution. He is a wonderful artist, and a true shadowking!
@jordansorcery hi, it was great to hear him mentioned, he now lives in worksop,Nottingham with an ever growing family, he started out as an artist from college and he was good friends with Bryan Ansell, they wargamed together for some years and when citadel started up Tony did a hell of a lot of concept art for there miniatures, back then we used to go with Tony to citadel miniatures and you could purchase models straight from cast, and get all the upcoming models....yeah its who you know!!!! But yeah, thank you for his mention, and I look forward to your next RUclips video
Boy did this video bring back some memories. And I still remember reading the Citadel Compendiums and Journals, and the article on building an Inn - especially as Bugman's Brewery. And not forgetting Kaleb Daark and the 5th Chaos god who hated the other Chaos gods, Malal ....
I touch on Malal briefly in part two, though it’s probably deserving of a deep dive alongside all the Realm of Chaos details - so much fascinating history behind those books!
I had a copy of Warhammer I in the late 80s. Long since gone to the dark gods of Ebay, sadly. I didn’t know anything about its development so thank you!
I was fascinated by this subject several years ago and looked into it for myself. What struck me about these early games were just how homemade they feel. They seem to be typed on an early home computer, illustrated with pens and xeroxed at a local shop. It really reminds me of the DIY of late 70's punk and postpunk. Today's games are so corporatized and slick, which results in ultra-professional products. But the fingerprints of the creators are long gone. It's just a completely different vibe now and it'll probably never be like this ever again. I guess it comes down to English culture of the 70s and 80s. It's a time and place that I've always wished I could've been a part of. I came to the game in 1994 after most of these creators were gone. But we did have a copy of WH fantasy role-play first edition. There was a piece of all this in that book and I thought "God, what have I JUST missed?!"
That first edition was literally typed by Rick Priestley on his mum’s typesetter! I think you’re right in a lot of ways, especially with how powerful and accessible editing and graphics software is now. That said, there’s still a lot of great indie stuff floating around online - I’m definitely in a best of both worlds camp!
I’m old enough to remember those days - computers and printers were really clunky, printing anything was slow and expensive and as for colour? That’s what coloured paper was for, just don’t have ambitions beyond two-tone. But hey, the pen-and-ink illustrators - particularly John Blanche - created amazing worlds and characters. While I am quite nostalgic about early GW and Fighting Fantasy- what I think we all wanted in our imaginations was the Witcher 3, but our young selves would have to wait 20-30 years for that…
March of progress champ. I am sure that people that made games without photocopiers [xerox], typewriters and pen, pencils and abudance of paper said the same thing about monks using feathers and ink on scrolls.
Game design, printing, illustration, it's all come very far and is definitely "better", but it's a bit apples and oranges for me. I think we all have to agree we have a more ideal situation with our fantasy products. This is where it was always destined to go. Still, there's something about the humbleness (maybe quaintness?) of these early productions. Wizards haven't had pointy hats, long beards and star patterned robes in a really long time and a big part of me misses them.
When I started playing wargames "Reaper" was my first set of fantasy rules - I never played it as the pages of tables/charts melted my little brain. The wargame group I played in were mostly older blokes with Napoleonic / historical armies. They mail ordered their rules/minis from Tabletop Games so I got the Reaper fantasy rules from them as well. I eventually got onboard with WFB in the 4th edition. Those reaper rules are probably hiding in a box somewhere in my parents attic...
Thanks for this, Terror of the Lichemaster was a great scenario, and I was glad it got ported to WFRP. Forgot how Games Workshp would give you the cardboard figures if you didn't have the minatures.
I can imagine the work needed to craft this history. Well done. The early events reflect my first days in gaming - where my big brother's gang were into home-brew D&D and extended / blended it into home-brew mass battles. We are talking the mid 70s onward and they home-brewed because D&D wasn't really available in Australia but they somehow heard about it and got enough of the idea to make the rest up. I play more historical than fantasy, and didn't know N Stillman was that involved in GW - his name is known to many ancients gamers. I play no GW games (I use some of their older figs) but found this fascinating.
Just found your channel and am already enthralled. Been into WH as an outsider since 1999, started to hang out with people who played in 2006 and, finally became an eternal lore need and player in 2020. It's so cool to see videos like this
Another cracking video - enlightening and entertaining in equal measure. Loved the shout out the Hal, and to the artists who defined these early editions. They were all frontiersmen and trailblazers.
Fantastic. So well researched and presented. It's so nice to see such a high quality review of this topic. I love how you notice all the things most people wouldn't, it's like you were there
This comment is mostly to feed the lost god of Chaos; Algo'rithm, as my ability to remark meaningfully on either of these first two editions is nil. So I will just say thank you for providing such a great historical look at an immortal and classic game! Looking forward to the next one!
Still have my original versions of Warhammer and many of my old ( first series) Skaven figures from the 80s. Great memories of putting on a massive display game at the Derby National wargaming event of Warhammer Fantasy battle 😊 Good times 😊
Thanks for this deep dive into Warhammer and Games Workshop history. I came early to the party but still learned a lot. Your delivery is professional as is production. I look forward to future videos
Wonderful nostalgia fest, takes me back 40 years in the blink of an eye. Nice one, Jordan. Subscribed. Ah, man, just seeing that original white box edition, and the covers of the 3 booklets... Takes me back to nights under the blankets, reading them with a torch when I was supposed to be asleep. John Blanche was always my favourite artist, loved him since he did the cover for Steve Jackson's Shamutanti Hills.
Ral Partha was here in Cincinnati, Ohio. Our friend's house was the place where they were casting those Citadel figures. In your photos, you can see they are in a basement. When my friends moved in they found lots of loose lead figures. I still have one he gave me.
Great stuff, this; cheers! Someone in our mid-80s RPG group (I've forgotten which of us it was, which gives you an idea of the setup) bought the White Box with that oh-so-seductive cover art and we eagerly set about rolling buckets'o'dice, but the cost (and quantity needed) of the metal miniatures meant we never graduated beyond using the card tokens that came with the Citadel Compendium/Journals, and the 2nd Ed cardstock sets. I think the sub-optimal experience of pushing easily blown-away chits around a table contributed to our rapid abandonment of the game (and indeed the genre), and future Warhammer outings were limited to the highly-regarded FRPG (at least until my son took an interest in 40K roughly 30 years later).
great video! I started with 3rd ed warhammer fantasy. A epic campaign with the Blood Bath at orcs drift . We had a large group 4 players ..for each side in the epic campaign. I was only 14 at the time, and the group was full of veterans with hundereds of models and fully painted armies. Castles..epic battle fields ! I was hooked and it started my love of gaming .
As boring as a find the entire platform one must give props and credit, what an amazing world they created that has given so much pleasure to so many. Amen
What on earth is going on? I leave the country for two days, and by the time I've got a local Sim card sorted, Jordan Sorcery has dropped TWO amazing videos on WHFB!
@@jordansorcery I love how the first D&D book says 'Rules for Fantastic Medieval Wargames Campaigns ...' on the front, while WFB 1st edition says 'Mass Combat Fantasy Roleplaying Games'. The two currently biggest in their respective classes, taking their first steps advertising themselves as the other.
It does seem to be underrepresented online. A demo game or battle retort using Reaper rules and Asgard miniatures is an idea I’d like to give some proper thought!
10:07 ...The hoplite looking mini #10 "Non-Cultist Adventurer" was a unit leader in my D'nD (ish) Ancient Greek army of mostly Ral Partha and Superior models for many years. He came in a baggie marked "Ral Partha Imports" so the trade at 2:53 worked both ways. I always assumed he was a Runequest knockoff.
Warhammer Fantasy Battle is the most interesting game ever made, period. Im not saying its the most balanced, and its certainly not the easiest, but it’s so, so much more interesting than anything they make today. I started playing WFB in late 1992, with the 4th Ed box set, my friend and I each got one, and traded opposite halves. I took the High Elves, he took the Orks and Goblins. We slowly added units by saving lunch money and asking for sets for birthdays. We built a beautiful table in my parents basement in high school. Perfectly flocked, moveable terrain, a castle that could be put either in the corners or on the table edge for narrative games. It took 4 of us a month with my father’s help in his wood shop. We played hundreds of games on that table from grade 7-12. We still play today. Mostly 6th Edition and WAP, with a little 8ed, pre End Times, when we can all get together.
Very informative video, thanks! My start in the hobby, like many, was via HeroQuest (1989?), then I got Space Crusade, which led me into 40K around 1993. I didn’t get into WFB until 5th edition, 97 or 98 I can’t remember, but I loved WFB and when 40K went to 3rd edition I quit 40K and solely played WFB. I still have all my WFB minis and have dusted them off in anticipation of The Old World.
Fabulous trip down memory lane and I even spotted the minis that won me The Most Awesome Adventurer painting title from the First Citadel Open Day back in 1985 (28:04)! Still got those minis though the years and Humbrol varnish yellowing have not been kind to them!
@@jordansorcery Thanks so much. Really enjoyed that first open day, was all put on inside the factory, plenty of games put on by staff and local clubs, not all fantasy but historical as well, am sure there were some independant retailers there too. Citadel were proud to show off all the processes of mini production and there were numerous freebies available! The standard of painting contest was incredible! Don't know how I won in that category, I was in awe of some of the entries! Still one of the best shows I have ever attended and I've been to a fair few over the last 40 odd years!
What an amazing video and a real blast from the past. I was 12 when I played my first Warhammer game and it was the Bloodbath at Orcs drift campaign. Even though I don't play now, I still love all of the fluff and am in the process of seeing if my tired old eyes are still up to painting.
Love this series. I only played WFB a bit during third edition (High Elves), so all of this is relatively new to me. Also, kinda cool, that the game started as a miniature agnostic game 😮
I am somewhat freaked out: the first mini I ever bought was a lead goblin, in a school playground the early 80s. The seller told me it was a 'Red Goblin' but I had always assumed that was just the colour he'd painted it. I think I just saw a drawing of it here.... Oh and I had not heard of Reaper despite playing Warhammer since the 'white box' and owning it since 2E.
If you ever meet Ian Livingstone ask him to show you the picture he has of the opening day of Games Workshop. The queue went around the corner - it was a popular opening.
Just getting back into Warhammer after 20 years away, got myself a couple of sets from Sigmar. After watching this first video I've gone onto Ebay to buy loads of old White Dwarfs haha. Great video, can't wait to watch the rest.
Wow ty for this. Remember looking at metal boxes of dark eldar and reading what they do to folks. I was d and d fanboy couldn’t budge me for nothing. I’ve been playing reading building breathing eating drinking honestly you know what I’m talking about 40k. Alway had an interest in fantasy but already fully dedicated financially. I still have fun reading the lore and the rules and hope to get into it with my wife one day. Thanks mate earned yourself a familiar on this one
Another great video! Wonderfully detailed! One thing I’d love to see (as I didn’t get into WFB until the 4th edition) is an actual game being played of these earlier editions. I struggle to ‘see’ how this early games would have looked and a brief demo would be really unique. 😍
I have the second edition box, a fascinating read for a gamer, a collector, or WH historian, bought at a GW store opening where there was all kinds of games from the vault being sold for just a crown or two. Some the really nice early black and white Warhammer art which later found its way into the WHFRP hardback are some of my favourite things about that rpg book, still the best rpg book in known world.. I look forward to that future vid. Your thumbs up during the Ravening Hordes overview made me laugh. Enjoyable vid, funny and interesting, clearly a labour of love .. thank you.
Hey Jordan! I played Warhammer 1ed when it first appeared in Canada. Just like Citadel cast Ral Partha for the UK, a company called RAFM recast Ral Partha and Citadel minis for the Canadian market. They also imported GW product but not on a timely schedule. WD was 8-10 months behind and a lot of Citadel models never got recast. I ran a store but couldn't get most of the 1st generation Warhammer stuff except by buying retail mail order from the UK!. By the time we got 1ed going, 2ed was already out in the UK and 40k was on the horizon...
Ha, amazing! I didn’t realise there were local recasting operations in international markets, but of course that makes sense. Glad to hear GW shipping times have mostly improved at least!
Very impressive video. I grew up with knowledge of Warhammer - one of the later editions - though I did not play or collect it seriously. But I’ve always wanted a video about the “making of” Warhammer and the early history of GW. PS: I never knew that the Amazons - who are now in Blood Bowl - were in 2nd edition Warhammer!
Very cool video. I will now throw a couple of admittedly rather small sticks at it. Hi. I'm one of those who might not have been playing this game for the full 40 years, I had a bit of an interval from the early nineties to the early noughties. I discovered girls, motorcycles & err..substances. I came to Warhammer from 15mm Napoleonics & Ancients back in '84 with WFB 2nd.ed. I can't remember anyone at the club I went to at the time playing 1st.ed. Second edition, before the lists came out was the most fun version of the game as I remember. Ravening Hordes didn't come out until April-May 1987, so we were waiting a long time for lists, especially when you consider that 3rd.edition came out only nine months later! Actually, in point of time, RH was the last thing that was written for 2nd.ed. The three scenario boxes & the building pack came first. There were no ghosts with blunderbusses in RH! You could give up to ten of your skellie archers blunderbusses however. In one campaign I played in I had to face an undead army with cannons - that had previously belonged to me! I'm lucky enough to still have everything that was written for 2nd. & 3rd. editions. I'm presently looking for a copy of 1st.ed, and FoF; I always wanted to try playing it. I still play 3rd.ed. regularly. Sometimes a mate & me will go down to the local game store and do a demo game of Oldhammer with 80's figures. The young 'uns generally seem to be impressed by things like 300 indivdual goblins, each one different from the others. 3rd.ed. was the end of it for me for a while, not just for the above reasons. I didn't like the 4th.ed. rules. I didn't like the scale creep, or the way the quality of the sculpting was going. I didn't like the corporate takeover, or whatever it was when Tom Kirby took over either. That was the point at which I walked away from the game until Mordheim, and later, 6th.ed.came out. I must go watch your episode on 3rd. edition now! Subbed!
Please keep up the amazing content! Your videos are fantastic!well researched and Presented with better production than almost anyone else doing this kind of content!
Random and completely useless comment - Ian Livingstone dated my dad's cousin. Apparently he used to drive around in a beetle. I also had a school project I did when I was in high school that he signed (I'd written a very basic choose your own adventure book), as well as a copy of Owl & Weasel and a few signed Fighting Fantasy books he sent me as presents. Sadly, I only have the FF books left. The other two got lost in a house move.
Now THIS is what I've been waiting for, youtube is in dire need of more Warhammer fantasy content.
I do my best!
@@jordansorcery You're doing the good work.
Warhammer fantasy battle 😊
We need Dragon Warriors too!
of the times when gay wokeshop was still game workshop, that is.
These videos are like a warm bath.
That’s very nice of you to say! Unless you’re a cold showers person!
5:57 'Oh and that name Reaper? Don't fear it.'
I see what you did there, and I applaud you sir.
Thank you so much for making a big song and dance about the legacy of Richard Halliwell. His significance to tabletop wargaming I think is significantly undersung.
Halliwell is so important to Warhammer and Games Workshop being what it became, I think it’s a real shame he’s not more often lauded for his fine work. Especially by GW, who don’t seem to have paid much tribute to him following his passing, which is a disappointment.
@@jordansorcery I daresay most of the people in the company that remember him have left it. Have you read much about him?
Outside of his work, I’ve only read various interviews and blog/forum posts, including some about his later unfortunate struggles.
It feels like there’s a real lack of writing about Halliwell, especially given his incredible contributions to the hobby.
These videos about warhammer is very interesting to watch
The amount of humor and fun in the early editions makes it so easy to understand how it got so popular. Thanks for a nice video!
My dad is great friends with Tony Yates, the artist you mentioned and he was a masterful DM back in the 80s, I have fantastic memories of some amazing adventures we played, also as I was getting into gaming in the early mid 80s it was Tony himself who taught me how to paint minis, which I am still doing to this day.
Great times, and it was great to hear his name mentioned in the video 👍👍👍
I’m only sorry I couldn’t find more specific information about Tony Yates’ involvement as I couldn’t do much more than call out his contribution. He is a wonderful artist, and a true shadowking!
@jordansorcery hi, it was great to hear him mentioned, he now lives in worksop,Nottingham with an ever growing family, he started out as an artist from college and he was good friends with Bryan Ansell, they wargamed together for some years and when citadel started up Tony did a hell of a lot of concept art for there miniatures, back then we used to go with Tony to citadel miniatures and you could purchase models straight from cast, and get all the upcoming models....yeah its who you know!!!!
But yeah, thank you for his mention, and I look forward to your next RUclips video
Sounds like an amazing time! I’m glad Mr. Yates is doing well!
Boy did this video bring back some memories. And I still remember reading the Citadel Compendiums and Journals, and the article on building an Inn - especially as Bugman's Brewery. And not forgetting Kaleb Daark and the 5th Chaos god who hated the other Chaos gods, Malal ....
I touch on Malal briefly in part two, though it’s probably deserving of a deep dive alongside all the Realm of Chaos details - so much fascinating history behind those books!
I had a copy of Warhammer I in the late 80s. Long since gone to the dark gods of Ebay, sadly. I didn’t know anything about its development so thank you!
Thank you RUclips for showing me this video. Incredible work.
I’m glad it found you!
I was fascinated by this subject several years ago and looked into it for myself. What struck me about these early games were just how homemade they feel. They seem to be typed on an early home computer, illustrated with pens and xeroxed at a local shop. It really reminds me of the DIY of late 70's punk and postpunk. Today's games are so corporatized and slick, which results in ultra-professional products. But the fingerprints of the creators are long gone. It's just a completely different vibe now and it'll probably never be like this ever again. I guess it comes down to English culture of the 70s and 80s. It's a time and place that I've always wished I could've been a part of. I came to the game in 1994 after most of these creators were gone. But we did have a copy of WH fantasy role-play first edition. There was a piece of all this in that book and I thought "God, what have I JUST missed?!"
That first edition was literally typed by Rick Priestley on his mum’s typesetter! I think you’re right in a lot of ways, especially with how powerful and accessible editing and graphics software is now. That said, there’s still a lot of great indie stuff floating around online - I’m definitely in a best of both worlds camp!
I’m old enough to remember those days - computers and printers were really clunky, printing anything was slow and expensive and as for colour? That’s what coloured paper was for, just don’t have ambitions beyond two-tone. But hey, the pen-and-ink illustrators - particularly John Blanche - created amazing worlds and characters. While I am quite nostalgic about early GW and Fighting Fantasy- what I think we all wanted in our imaginations was the Witcher 3, but our young selves would have to wait 20-30 years for that…
March of progress champ. I am sure that people that made games without photocopiers [xerox], typewriters and pen, pencils and abudance of paper said the same thing about monks using feathers and ink on scrolls.
Game design, printing, illustration, it's all come very far and is definitely "better", but it's a bit apples and oranges for me. I think we all have to agree we have a more ideal situation with our fantasy products. This is where it was always destined to go. Still, there's something about the humbleness (maybe quaintness?) of these early productions. Wizards haven't had pointy hats, long beards and star patterned robes in a really long time and a big part of me misses them.
When I started playing wargames "Reaper" was my first set of fantasy rules - I never played it as the pages of tables/charts melted my little brain. The wargame group I played in were mostly older blokes with Napoleonic / historical armies. They mail ordered their rules/minis from Tabletop Games so I got the Reaper fantasy rules from them as well. I eventually got onboard with WFB in the 4th edition. Those reaper rules are probably hiding in a box somewhere in my parents attic...
That’s a great find if it’s still hidden up in the attic! Proper piece of gaming history!
So you are in your 50's at best late 40's storing things in ya parents house?
Damn bro, good luck finding it i guess.
Thanks for this, Terror of the Lichemaster was a great scenario, and I was glad it got ported to WFRP. Forgot how Games Workshp would give you the cardboard figures if you didn't have the minatures.
My pleasure! The old token sets were so great
I would possibly parrot someone here, but this is history of Warhammer I have been looking for.
I’m very glad!
Same! I’m loving these videos 👏
I really love seeing the old school look of early Warhammer, even if the game itself wasn't super polished, the aesthetic is pretty great!
I totally agree, some fantastic and inspiring art throughout the early books!
I can imagine the work needed to craft this history. Well done.
The early events reflect my first days in gaming - where my big brother's gang were into home-brew D&D and extended / blended it into home-brew mass battles. We are talking the mid 70s onward and they home-brewed because D&D wasn't really available in Australia but they somehow heard about it and got enough of the idea to make the rest up.
I play more historical than fantasy, and didn't know N Stillman was that involved in GW - his name is known to many ancients gamers.
I play no GW games (I use some of their older figs) but found this fascinating.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Warhammer originally developed to sell more miniatures? But I thought only Evil New GW did that?! :P Great video as always, can't wait for the rest.
It’s fascinating how much history repeats itself!
Well I mean transformers and Gi Joe did it first;) also great video!
The people at the top of the company at the time were gamers making games for gamers, but they were also trying to make a living at the same time.
This is what I've been waiting for!
Excellent, I’m glad!
Partway through. Very enjoyable thus far.
This channel is becoming something special. Keep producing content at this level and the RUclips algorithm will eventually tip your way.
Thank you kindly, Major! I’ll keep working whilst the algorithm keeps algorithming!
This vid just popped into mine so it's being picked up a little bit
Thoroughly worthwhile to see the origins of the game, the people, and the process. It was a treat!
Just found your channel and am already enthralled. Been into WH as an outsider since 1999, started to hang out with people who played in 2006 and, finally became an eternal lore need and player in 2020. It's so cool to see videos like this
Another cracking video - enlightening and entertaining in equal measure. Loved the shout out the Hal, and to the artists who defined these early editions. They were all frontiersmen and trailblazers.
Indeed they were! The creative team did outstanding work through that era, and beyond tbf, but it was a real moment in time
Fantastic. So well researched and presented. It's so nice to see such a high quality review of this topic. I love how you notice all the things most people wouldn't, it's like you were there
Thank you, I appreciate your kind words!
This comment is mostly to feed the lost god of Chaos; Algo'rithm, as my ability to remark meaningfully on either of these first two editions is nil. So I will just say thank you for providing such a great historical look at an immortal and classic game! Looking forward to the next one!
Your sacrifice is gratefully received in the name of Algo’rithm!
Still have my original versions of Warhammer and many of my old ( first series) Skaven figures from the 80s. Great memories of putting on a massive display game at the Derby National wargaming event of Warhammer Fantasy battle 😊
Good times 😊
16:16 Yay! Collin!
What a lad!
Your channel keeps getting better and better, keep it up!
Thank you! I’ll do my best!
Great, great work on putting this together chap.
Thank you
Just wanted to say thank you for this. This series is excellent so far. Keep it up.
Thank you, I’m glad you’re liking it!
Interesting video, fascinating with all the nerdy little details.
Thank you!
Thanks for this deep dive into Warhammer and Games Workshop history. I came early to the party but still learned a lot. Your delivery is professional as is production. I look forward to future videos
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it
you're chanel is doing great for being around for such a relativly short time, bravo!
Wonderful nostalgia fest, takes me back 40 years in the blink of an eye. Nice one, Jordan. Subscribed.
Ah, man, just seeing that original white box edition, and the covers of the 3 booklets... Takes me back to nights under the blankets, reading them with a torch when I was supposed to be asleep. John Blanche was always my favourite artist, loved him since he did the cover for Steve Jackson's Shamutanti Hills.
I did not expect to see minis I played with in this video, as I started in the early to mid 90s.... But those Orcs.
Thank you for all the old memories. Keep up the great work look forward to your next podcast
Glad you’re enjoying it!
Ral Partha was here in Cincinnati, Ohio. Our friend's house was the place where they were casting those Citadel figures. In your photos, you can see they are in a basement. When my friends moved in they found lots of loose lead figures. I still have one he gave me.
Great stuff, this; cheers!
Someone in our mid-80s RPG group (I've forgotten which of us it was, which gives you an idea of the setup) bought the White Box with that oh-so-seductive cover art and we eagerly set about rolling buckets'o'dice, but the cost (and quantity needed) of the metal miniatures meant we never graduated beyond using the card tokens that came with the Citadel Compendium/Journals, and the 2nd Ed cardstock sets. I think the sub-optimal experience of pushing easily blown-away chits around a table contributed to our rapid abandonment of the game (and indeed the genre), and future Warhammer outings were limited to the highly-regarded FRPG (at least until my son took an interest in 40K roughly 30 years later).
The tokens are a fantastic idea, but totally get that in reality they’re not ideal! Can’t beat that 1st Ed art though!
Totally enjoyed this content! Watching whilst painting my Bloodbowl mini's lol...
great video! I started with 3rd ed warhammer fantasy. A epic campaign with the Blood Bath at orcs drift . We had a large group 4 players ..for each side in the epic campaign. I was only 14 at the time, and the group was full of veterans with hundereds of models and fully painted armies. Castles..epic battle fields ! I was hooked and it started my love of gaming .
That sounds like an awesome intro to the hobby! I inherited a 3rd Ed rulebook, but it was 4th that got me started, some amazing times back then!
I miss blocked infantry..sniffles lol
As boring as a find the entire platform one must give props and credit, what an amazing world they created that has given so much pleasure to so many. Amen
These are next level videos. Yes it’s a niche subject but it’s my niche subject. You deserve a lot of success. Keep these videos coming
It’s my niche too! Thanks for for the kind words, James!
What on earth is going on? I leave the country for two days, and by the time I've got a local Sim card sorted, Jordan Sorcery has dropped TWO amazing videos on WHFB!
Sometimes inspiration just strikes!
Dude great video man! This legit inspired me to make a history video on Battletech!
Good stuff!
Interesting how D&D came from a miniature game and Reaper came form a roleplaying game.
The relationship between TSR, GW, D&D, and Warhammer is so interesting. A lot more levels than it seems!
@@jordansorcery I love how the first D&D book says 'Rules for Fantastic Medieval Wargames Campaigns ...' on the front, while WFB 1st edition says 'Mass Combat Fantasy Roleplaying Games'. The two currently biggest in their respective classes, taking their first steps advertising themselves as the other.
Incredible point!
Thanks for this great breakdown. Looking forward to part 2!
My pleasure!
doing a review of Reaper would probably be a good anniversary vid, I can't find a copy or pdf of it anywhere online
It does seem to be underrepresented online. A demo game or battle retort using Reaper rules and Asgard miniatures is an idea I’d like to give some proper thought!
10:07 ...The hoplite looking mini #10 "Non-Cultist Adventurer" was a unit leader in my D'nD (ish) Ancient Greek army of mostly Ral Partha and Superior models for many years. He came in a baggie marked "Ral Partha Imports" so the trade at 2:53 worked both ways. I always assumed he was a Runequest knockoff.
An amazing video. Thank you for taking time to do this
Thanks for taking the time to comment! Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you for this documentary! :) & the TRex with a Saxophone! Heck Yeah
Absolutely my pleasure - I’ll do anything to get more people talking about T-Sax!
This was fantastic, can’t wait for the rest 🙂
Warhammer Fantasy Battle is the most interesting game ever made, period. Im not saying its the most balanced, and its certainly not the easiest, but it’s so, so much more interesting than anything they make today.
I started playing WFB in late 1992, with the 4th Ed box set, my friend and I each got one, and traded opposite halves. I took the High Elves, he took the Orks and Goblins. We slowly added units by saving lunch money and asking for sets for birthdays.
We built a beautiful table in my parents basement in high school. Perfectly flocked, moveable terrain, a castle that could be put either in the corners or on the table edge for narrative games. It took 4 of us a month with my father’s help in his wood shop. We played hundreds of games on that table from grade 7-12. We still play today. Mostly 6th Edition and WAP, with a little 8ed, pre End Times, when we can all get together.
Really an exhaustive video! It's the second time that i watch it.
Very informative video, thanks! My start in the hobby, like many, was via HeroQuest (1989?), then I got Space Crusade, which led me into 40K around 1993. I didn’t get into WFB until 5th edition, 97 or 98 I can’t remember, but I loved WFB and when 40K went to 3rd edition I quit 40K and solely played WFB. I still have all my WFB minis and have dusted them off in anticipation of The Old World.
Fabulous trip down memory lane and I even spotted the minis that won me The Most Awesome Adventurer painting title from the First Citadel Open Day back in 1985 (28:04)! Still got those minis though the years and Humbrol varnish yellowing have not been kind to them!
Beautiful work! What was it like at that First Event? The various entries look fantastic
@@jordansorcery Thanks so much. Really enjoyed that first open day, was all put on inside the factory, plenty of games put on by staff and local clubs, not all fantasy but historical as well, am sure there were some independant retailers there too. Citadel were proud to show off all the processes of mini production and there were numerous freebies available! The standard of painting contest was incredible! Don't know how I won in that category, I was in awe of some of the entries! Still one of the best shows I have ever attended and I've been to a fair few over the last 40 odd years!
What an amazing video and a real blast from the past. I was 12 when I played my first Warhammer game and it was the Bloodbath at Orcs drift campaign. Even though I don't play now, I still love all of the fluff and am in the process of seeing if my tired old eyes are still up to painting.
So exited. I always wanted to know more about the origins of Warhammer fantasy.
Love this series. I only played WFB a bit during third edition (High Elves), so all of this is relatively new to me. Also, kinda cool, that the game started as a miniature agnostic game 😮
I’m glad! It’s fascinating how much has changed as well as just how much has stayed the same!
Loved this!
I am somewhat freaked out: the first mini I ever bought was a lead goblin, in a school playground the early 80s. The seller told me it was a 'Red Goblin' but I had always assumed that was just the colour he'd painted it. I think I just saw a drawing of it here....
Oh and I had not heard of Reaper despite playing Warhammer since the 'white box' and owning it since 2E.
I've played WFRP for over 30 years. I love all this information and history. Thank you!
The Nurgling that comes and goes in the background is mildly unsettling. Great stuff :)
What nurgling?
@@jordansorcery o.o
What a wonderful journey that was!
I knew nothing of what you covered. Thank you; I loved it.
If you ever meet Ian Livingstone ask him to show you the picture he has of the opening day of Games Workshop. The queue went around the corner - it was a popular opening.
I think they included that picture in the book Dice Men
I just want to say I feel the very same about Richard Haliwell thanks to his incredible design of Space Hulk.
A game design Titan, no doubt about it
Thanks for The Analytics, ITS so great to see a realmy deep dive into The development of The Game
Thanks Eterna, glad you like it!
@@jordansorcery your Welcome, also are you planning on reviewing warhammer ancient battles ?
It’ll get a mention, but I probably won’t be going into it in too much detail - not in this series at least!
@@jordansorcery well you have another series idea now xD
Excellent history lesson & a very touching coda. Keep up the great work Mr. Sorcery.
Thank you, kind Templar!
Commenting for the algorithm.
Oh, and btw, that Grateful Dead reference was sneaky AF
Just getting back into Warhammer after 20 years away, got myself a couple of sets from Sigmar. After watching this first video I've gone onto Ebay to buy loads of old White Dwarfs haha. Great video, can't wait to watch the rest.
I love that one of the elementals looks like the back of the Earth spell cards in Heroquest!
It does! I’m a big fan of those early elements, just such a great look. I was pleased to see them make a reappearance in Dreadfleet too (sort of!)
very solid account of the origins of WHFB
Thank you!
Love this. Was looking for a video to learn about the humans who made this amazing series that has brought inspiration to so many
Glad you enjoyed it, hopefully the rest of the series is enjoyable!
Wow ty for this. Remember looking at metal boxes of dark eldar and reading what they do to folks. I was d and d fanboy couldn’t budge me for nothing. I’ve been playing reading building breathing eating drinking honestly you know what I’m talking about 40k. Alway had an interest in fantasy but already fully dedicated financially. I still have fun reading the lore and the rules and hope to get into it with my wife one day. Thanks mate earned yourself a familiar on this one
Cant wait to watch the video about WRPG creation amd history!
Another great video! Wonderfully detailed! One thing I’d love to see (as I didn’t get into WFB until the 4th edition) is an actual game being played of these earlier editions. I struggle to ‘see’ how this early games would have looked and a brief demo would be really unique. 😍
Thank you! I’ve been giving some thought to demos or battle retorts of older editions - no guarantees, but it’s an idea!
A refreshing new channel for me to watch. Looking forward to further uploads!
Welcome aboard!
I have the second edition box, a fascinating read for a gamer, a collector, or WH historian, bought at a GW store opening where there was all kinds of games from the vault being sold for just a crown or two. Some the really nice early black and white Warhammer art which later found its way into the WHFRP hardback are some of my favourite things about that rpg book, still the best rpg book in known world.. I look forward to that future vid.
Your thumbs up during the Ravening Hordes overview made me laugh. Enjoyable vid, funny and interesting, clearly a labour of love .. thank you.
I’m pleased you liked it! There’ll definitely be a WFRP video one day!
Fantastic series of videos. Subscribed immediately.
Thank you!
Just discovered your channel - it’s really good to have all the gaps in my knowledge filled - congrats!! 🎉
I’m glad you discovered it, thanks for watching!
As a Dresden Files fan i always do a double take when i hear mention of Heinrich Kemler.
Jim Butcher must be a big gw fan.
Great to have another history of warhammer, bonus that this is an impressive overview! Squeak-squeak! 🤩🐀🌠
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is the content I'm looking for! Amazingly content.
Glad you found it!
Fascinating.
Hey Jordan! I played Warhammer 1ed when it first appeared in Canada. Just like Citadel cast Ral Partha for the UK, a company called RAFM recast Ral Partha and Citadel minis for the Canadian market. They also imported GW product but not on a timely schedule. WD was 8-10 months behind and a lot of Citadel models never got recast. I ran a store but couldn't get most of the 1st generation Warhammer stuff except by buying retail mail order from the UK!. By the time we got 1ed going, 2ed was already out in the UK and 40k was on the horizon...
Ha, amazing! I didn’t realise there were local recasting operations in international markets, but of course that makes sense. Glad to hear GW shipping times have mostly improved at least!
Very impressive video. I grew up with knowledge of Warhammer - one of the later editions - though I did not play or collect it seriously. But I’ve always wanted a video about the “making of” Warhammer and the early history of GW. PS: I never knew that the Amazons - who are now in Blood Bowl - were in 2nd edition Warhammer!
Thank you! One of the things I love most about GW is how they revisit or homage their older games and ideas! I like seeing how things get reinvented
Very cool video. I will now throw a couple of admittedly rather small sticks at it. Hi. I'm one of those who might not have been playing this game for the full 40 years, I had a bit of an interval from the early nineties to the early noughties. I discovered girls, motorcycles & err..substances.
I came to Warhammer from 15mm Napoleonics & Ancients back in '84 with WFB 2nd.ed. I can't remember anyone at the club I went to at the time playing 1st.ed.
Second edition, before the lists came out was the most fun version of the game as I remember. Ravening Hordes didn't come out until April-May 1987, so we were waiting a long time for lists, especially when you consider that 3rd.edition came out only nine months later! Actually, in point of time, RH was the last thing that was written for 2nd.ed. The three scenario boxes & the building pack came first.
There were no ghosts with blunderbusses in RH! You could give up to ten of your skellie archers blunderbusses however. In one campaign I played in I had to face an undead army with cannons - that had previously belonged to me!
I'm lucky enough to still have everything that was written for 2nd. & 3rd. editions. I'm presently looking for a copy of 1st.ed, and FoF; I always wanted to try playing it. I still play 3rd.ed. regularly. Sometimes a mate & me will go down to the local game store and do a demo game of Oldhammer with 80's figures. The young 'uns generally seem to be impressed by things like 300 indivdual goblins, each one different from the others.
3rd.ed. was the end of it for me for a while, not just for the above reasons. I didn't like the 4th.ed. rules. I didn't like the scale creep, or the way the quality of the sculpting was going. I didn't like the corporate takeover, or whatever it was when Tom Kirby took over either. That was the point at which I walked away from the game until Mordheim, and later, 6th.ed.came out.
I must go watch your episode on 3rd. edition now! Subbed!
I really enjoyed this video! Can't wait for the new warhammer fantasy game to come out.
Thank you! You and me both!
Awesome Warham-mentry video. I am certainly looking forward to the other Warhammer history episode, especially the teased WFRP.
Thanks Matthew! Glad you’re enjoying these!
This is where it all started for me.
I love these deep dives, amazing work mate
Thank you, that’s very nice of you to say!
I loved the old tabletop games company and their products
29:10 GW are cowards if they don't release a T-Rex playing a sax and an AK-47 Ork for Warhammer The Old World... fantastic video!!
Hard agree
26:03 small correction. Frugelhorn mountain and the Kell Mound are in the Grey Mountains east of Reikland, not the Border Princes.
Please keep up the amazing content! Your videos are fantastic!well researched and Presented with better production than almost anyone else doing this kind of content!
Thanks Jack, I’ve got lots of videos in production so there’s plenty more to come as well!
Random and completely useless comment - Ian Livingstone dated my dad's cousin. Apparently he used to drive around in a beetle. I also had a school project I did when I was in high school that he signed (I'd written a very basic choose your own adventure book), as well as a copy of Owl & Weasel and a few signed Fighting Fantasy books he sent me as presents. Sadly, I only have the FF books left. The other two got lost in a house move.
An interesting, though still random, comment if ever I saw one! Amazing to have some FF books with that history in your hands!
Well done
as im watching this, its announced that Bryan Ansell passed away. RIP to a legend
Excellent? A very interesting topic that I really enjoyed. I look forward to seeing more
Great stuff, glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent video! Long live The Old World!