Abstract
The concept of death, as expressed in games and other fictions, is not necessarily negative. It does not play the same role, or pose the same threat, as death for us, in the physical world. But few intellectual properties revel in the exploration of death in the way that the Warhammer 40k setting does. Whether in its canonical tabletop form, through novelisations, RPGs, or computer games, death is ubiquitous. Violent, messy, usually meaningless, and often futile, death comes for everyone in this universe. How, then, is it so much fun?
In this paper, I argue that Games Workshop’s use of comedy is the secret ingredient which underpins the enduring popularity of this intellectual property. I examine the role of comedy in the 40k universe, and argue that while there have been occasional mis-steps in its use, the humour built into the world has consistently enhanced the experience of players and other participants in this domain.
Author bio
Nick is a Moral and Political Philosopher based in Kirikiriroa (Hamilton), Aotearoa (New Zealand). He currently works primarily on topics at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Friendship, but also researches on Democracy, Enfranchisement, and Death (not all at once).
