The world's first academic conference dedicated to all things Warhammer
In the grim darkness of the far future, there is a surfeit of narcissists (quite apart from a host of other psychopathologies). Drawing on the existential-phenomenological model of narcissism developed in “Das unersättliche Selbst (The Insatiable Self)” (Arnold/Fuchs 2026), I will first give a brief overview of the spectrum of narcissistic behaviour and its core …
This paper argues that the setting of Warhammer 40000 is an example of modern epic storytelling that replicates the essential functions of archaeological deposition and classical myth-making. I draw from studies of archaeological reception, classical reception, and themes established in The Siege of Terra: Saturnine to argue that each edition of the tabletop game and …
A surface-level reading of the Adeptus Mechanicus presents a grimdark vision: the transhumanist project has failed. The aspiration to elevate humanity beyond its bodily condition and discard everything that does not conform to pure reason appears fundamentally at odds with the techno-theocratic structure of the Cult Mechanicus.
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. …
The Adepta Sororitas ranks among the most extreme representations of nuns in popular culture. Their habit-like armour and religious accessories make them easily recognizable as women of the cloth. But if they are nuns, what kind exactly? This paper argues that the most important inspiration for the Sororitas is the female branch of the Dominican …
The Imperium of Warhammer 40,000 is constantly at war, waging an endless series of military campaigns, the largest of which are known as crusades. From the Great Crusade ten thousand years earlier, to the Indomitus Crusade of the setting’s ‘present day’, these crusades can be directed against any and all foes across the galaxy. Some …
Beset on all sides and within, even with a million worlds, humanity fights a long-drawn battle of attrition. If the Imperium of Man wants to stand a chance, technology is its only hope. And even if it lacks behind, compared to the Necron or Eldar, human ingenuity once rules the stars. Technology is so important …