The world's first academic conference dedicated to all things Warhammer
Material games are bigger than ever, be that in retail, media or academia. The latter field has paid particular attention to the way in which the “story engines” (Arnaudo 2018) behind games like Warhammer 40,000 combine textual elements (like codices and novels) with ludic elements (like datasheets and stratagems) to immerse players in unique storytelling …
“Inefficiency is a slope whereupon one slides ever downwards, by degrees, until one reaches the nadir unknowing.” — Canticles Borealis 6.15, Adeptus Mechanicus Efficiency is a core tenet of the Cult Mechanicus, enshrined in sacred scripture and invoked in every calibration. However, when examining the interface design of machines developed and maintained by the Imperium …
The Emperor demonstrates a complex blend of transformational and strategic leadership styles, characterized by: (1) Transformational Leadership – evidenced by his ability to inspire devotion through grand visionary goals for humanity’s ascension, as reflected in his statement “In the beginning, I sought only the survival of mankind. Now I seek his ascension”; (2) Strategic Long-term …
In the 41st Millennium the Emperor of Mankind occupies many archetypal roles – Theos Patēr, Christ, who died to save humanity, Prometheus, beloved father to the Loyalists and hated, rejected father to the Traitors. He’s also a prisoner, caged by the Golden Throne, and by circumstances. Drawing on my research with the children of prisoners, …
Heads up, scummers, we are in for some mayhem! Continuing research in SEL skills development and Peer relations in middle schoolers, this talk will present findings utilizing a “deeper dive” into longer gaming experiences through the use of the the “Necromunda” game system. Through the use of extended campaigns, role-reversal, and collabortive play, this study …
Game designer Rick Priestley has described the original Warhammer setting as a portmanteau-world: a universe inspired by real world history, folk stories, and fantasy literature, particularly the works of J.R.R. Tolkein and Michael Moorcock. Priestley’s subsequent science-fantasy game, 40k, took the same approach: drawing liberally on roleplaying games, comics, science fiction novels, and movies, as …
The TV show MythBusters (2003 – 2016) took popular myths – can a car engine run on Coca Cola? – and put them to the test. I will swap MythBusters’ engineering for social science to put a myth about learning and Warhammer under a metaphorical microscope: “Doing Warhammer is a waste of time because you …
The Warhammer 40’000 universe is immediately recognisable through its distinct visualgrammar: gothic arches, excessive skulls, layered plate armour, cathedral starships, andbaroque insignia. This presentation examines the design and visual aesthetics ofWarhammer 40’000, exploring how these elements construct its oppressive “grimdark”identity and sustain immersion across miniatures, artwork, and digital adaptations.Using visual culture theory (Mirzoeff, 1999) and …
This talk addresses Ork technology in Warhammer 40,000, focusing on the intersection of science, colonial tropes and mysticism. Ork machinery is often cobbled together from scrap and seemingly nonsensical parts but nevertheless functions with surprising efficacy (or catastrophic failure). Two different explanations are given in game materials: Fan discussions lean towards a hybrid model: Ork …
The story of Ork Warlord Grizgutz—who inadvertently travels back in time via the Warp, kills his earlier self, and steals his favorite gun—offers a uniquely absurd case study in temporal paradoxes. This presentation examines the plausibility of such an event through the lens of real-world physics, focusing on time travel, causality, and the nature of …
Plague narratives, from Thucydides’ account of the Plague of Athens to Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death, pervade literature and represent a compelling theme and narrative device into the modern age. The Warhammer universe is rife with plague narratives, often the work of the Chaos God Nurgle, or his followers, human, transhuman or demonic. …
Internet memes have become ubiquitous tools of digital communication and a fundamental component of everyday communicative practices (Johann & Bülow, 2018, 1). Far from being merely humorous images, memes function as multimodal artifacts, so called Language-Image-Texts (Osterroth 2015, 2019, 2020), through which users can perform speech acts in the sense of Austin (1962) and Searle …
The Chaos Gods of Warhammer 40K are more than mere antagonists; they are manifestations of mythological archetypes, shaped by religious iconography, esoteric symbols, and historical depictions of divinity and damnation. Their presence is both active and passive—they gaze upon mortals, shaping their fate, while mortals gaze back, becoming reflections of the gods themselves. This paper …
Humanity currently finds itself awash in data, generating over 300 exabytes daily through a mesh of connected devices, digital platforms, and increasingly autonomous systems. While this may seem extraordinary, it is but a prelude to the data-saturated absurdity imagined in the Warhammer 40,000 universe – a setting where information is sacred, dangerous, and often utterly …