Henry Cavill has officially signed on to both produce and star in an Amazon Prime Video series centered around the Warhammer 40k universe. While the community surrounding the franchise is one of the most dedicated to the tabletop genre, it's likely about to expand with more mainstream attention.
Cavill himself is a lifelong player of Warhammer 40k and for those who also want to start out with the line, it's important to know a few fundamental facts. These will help with gameplay, aid in explaining the universe further and will essentially give a framework of where to begin with this huge brand.
A Games Workshop Property
Warhammer 40k is actually a subsection of Games Workshop. The British brand has been dominating the tabletop industry for decades and has a few different product lines to its name including 40k, the Age of Sigmar, and a Lord of the Rings-inspired line.
While physical Games Workshop stores are rare in the United States, they do exist especially internationally, and stock a full range of products to help newcomers get started with their gaming experience. Each store usually has an experienced team member who can help talk players through the rules as well as aiding them on their journey with what to buy.
Tabletop Experience
Warhammer 40k is a tabletop gaming experience that can be expanded upon in multiple ways. Although there are specific packs that actually boast slightly alternative Warhammer gameplay styles, sometimes including boards, the traditional battle setup leaves a lot to individual taste.
Players can build out their terrain and any objects or environmental factors they may want, or they can play anywhere they wish without the need for additional model-making. Everything within the game has a physical representation; this isn't akin to the likes of Dungeons & Dragons which often relies on a party's imagination.
The Premise
The premise of the Warhammer 40k world sees a universe at constant war. Divided into factions, each has a controlled territory that continues to move as the timeline progresses. Everything is presided over by an Emperor, with a legion of Space Marines bred to die in his service.
Considering there is consistent conflict, the backdrop opens up the opportunity for players to imagine their own narratives and thus forge their own battles within that. Whatever game a group decides to play, they are thus contributing to the fabric of this brand, adding additional depth to the characters and armies they control.
Differences To Warhammer
Those who have begun researching the Games Workshop brands ahead of playing the game might have come across Warhammer, which is often referred to as the Age of Sigmar. This is an alternative reality to play in, that holds a number of similarities to that of 40k.
In fact, many assume that both of these brands are a part of the same timeline, or at the very least the same multiverse, with Warhammer based around a fantasy set of characters and worlds, while 40k relies on futuristic technologies and personalities. Both utilize dark chaos forces as antagonists and the likes of the Orcs, suggesting there is some continuity between the two. Both are equally fun.
Picking An Army
When picking an army there is a lot to consider. Starter Packs that are available from Games Workshop usually encourage the play of the Space Marines and the Orcs, two of the most iconic figures in the universe. But there is such a huge variety of characters that might appeal.
Whether it's because of a fun easter egg hinting toward pop culture, the physical design of the characters, what powers they might boast, or how their narrative fits into the overall brand, there is no right or wrong answer to the choice made. Many people play with more than one army, expanding their gameplay options significantly, but each has very distinct traits.
Painting And Making
Those getting to grips with the game will soon realize that it is on them to build their army. Sure, pre-made figures can be bought, but there is something much more fun about starting from scratch. Part of the Warhammer community is about making and painting the models.
Games Workshop supplies plenty of tools to help someone get started, and there are a lot of guides out there to get a polished visual design. The creative direction is up to the player, although within the lore there are a few paths that could be followed. This model-making can be expanded to creating everything from the scenery to the vehicles used in battle.
The Rule Books
There is a general Codex for gameplay which has been expanded, streamlined, and adapted over the years. Official Games Workshop platforms will be able to point new players the right way when it comes to choosing a rule book that will give a competent overview.
The rules are important to get to grips with how to play the game, but there is some room for invention as well. Some armies will have rules that only apply to them, so that is something to be aware of, and before playing a game it's important to agree on the structure of how everything will take shape.
Gameplay Mechanics
In of the gameplay mechanics, Warhammer 40k is built on a turn-based strategy system, where each player controls a range of figures, that move across the territory involved in the battle. Following the rule book, players can maneuver, attack, defend and take the narrative in any direction they see fit.
Special abilities are constantly in play and there are lots of ways for a battle scenario to be expanded to impose new threats. Players will certainly need dice, some kind of measuring device, and a few specialist tools that will help them on their way, that decide elements such as radius damage. All of these tools can be found in Games Workshop starter packs.
Tournament Play
Some players might not think that playing within smaller friendship groups is enough. There are those ambitious fans who want to the larger community and compete in scaled scenarios. There are tournaments out there, both national, and internationally run.
Of course, there may be a local group that someone can , and there are countless official live streams that cover the latest news in the tournament scene. It's a really fun way to perfect some tactics and find a team of like-minded people that share the same hobby.
Expanded World
The world that players will find within their starter packs and from the background given by the Codex is just the beginning. The Black Library for instance is home to countless comics, novels, and other extra materials that give fans an insight into the Warhammer worlds.
Plus, with Marvel also running some graphic novel series and a range of brilliant video game adaptations set within the same continuity, inspiration for new battles are easy to find. It's unclear whether the show will be set within the same continuity, but thus far Games Workshop has done a stellar job ensuring everything is connected in Warhammer 40k.