The world's first academic conference dedicated to all things Warhammer
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 …
This talk by Dr Thomas Arnold is based on an article he wrote for Blackwell’s ‘And philosophy’ website, posted 11th January 2023.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among combat veterans presents a complex challenge for mental health professionals. Traditional therapeutic approaches often fall short in addressing the intricate layers of trauma experienced during military service. However, emerging research suggests that unconventional methods, such as utilizing immersive and narrative-driven activities, could offer novel avenues for therapeutic intervention. This abstract …
In the Horus Heresy series, the Edict of Nikaea looms large as one of the setting’s most pivotal narrative events. With the Edict, the Emperor proscribed the use of Warp-derived psyker powers by the Legiones Astartes and nominally disbanded the psychically-gifted Librarius orders—at great cost both to the individual Astartes of the Librarius and to …
Superficially, the Imperium of Man within Games Workshop’s ‘Warhammer 40,000’ fictional universe is presented as a pastiche theocratic autocracy. Its sprawling territory is ruled by the Lord Commander of the Imperium and the Council of the High Lords of Terra on behalf of the God Emperor of Mankind. At a mundane level, Imperial authority is …
This paper is an exploration and examination of a series of interlinking rules for the game and in the parlance of Carter, Gibbs and Harrop, the “pastime” of Warhammer 40k (and Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Fantasy Battles or Warhammer in general). These rules are True Line of Sight, Proxies, What You See is What You …
Warhammer 40,000 draws its influences from across history; notably the in-universe history, theology, and iconography of the Imperial Cult and the Adeptus Ministorum are inspired by the medieval and early modern Roman Catholic Church. One instance of the history of the Adeptus Ministorum paralleling the history of Catholicism can be seen in origin of one …
Warhammer 40,000 is the world’s largest and most significant miniature wargame, with some of the highest-quality models produced in the industry. It is a hobby beloved by many fans of all ages and genders. In addition to the game, Warhammer 40,000 enjoys a wealth of novels released by the Black Library – a company dedicated …