Traveling Back in Time

I’ve been an avid Warhammer 40K player since 1995, back in the days of 2nd edition. I’ve always been a fan of the Adeptus Astartes; though when I started playing, I only knew them as the space marines.

In the Beginning, the Emperor Created…

One of the coolest aspects of the space marines is their origin story; the Emperor, the primarchs, and the Horus Heresy. Shrouded in mystery and being fed only occasional (sometimes contradictory) glimpses into this legendary time I couldn’t help but be enthralled. Many times I uttered the words: “it’d be so cool to see a primarch on the table.”

A Time of Heresy

With the release of the Betrayal at Calth boxed set, gamers can be transported 10,000 years into the past or 30,000 years into the future (depending on your perspective) to take command of the Emperor’s mighty space marine legions; playing on either the side of the loyalists or renegades. However, now that we can, I’m not sure I want to.

The general idea is appealing. Especially since Warhammer 40K has become so weighed down by power units and douche-bag combos. The Horus Heresy, or Warhammer 30K, offers an alternative where—with a few exceptions—every army has access to the same toys. This seemingly levels the playing field and builds a foundation for fun, epic games.

Something Pure, Something Good

Before the release of the Betrayal at Calth, 30K miniatures were only available through Forge World, a Games Workshop subsidiary that manufactures and distributes from the UK. So if you live in the U.S. you have to order oversees and you’re going to pay a premium. Which is not as bad as it sounds.

While the hobby as a whole is more expensive, in a way it ensured only those players most dedicated to the spirit and narrative of the hobby got involved. You couldn’t go down to your local game store before an event, purchase six of the latest greatest meta, spend all night gluing your fingers together, and then show up with hunks of grey plastic and proceed to climb the “Best General” (try to imagine the air quotes) ladder.

No, you had to put in your time. Which, experience has taught, is a turn off for the cheese mongers and power gamers.

The Voice of Heresy

I fear that the release of the Betrayal at Calth is a stepping-stone toward more power gamers getting involved. My friend Carl recently spoke to a power gamer about getting involved in the Horus Heresy. The power gamer’s go-to response: “well, the Iron Hands seem like the toughest legion to beat, so I’ll probably go with them.”

Heavy sigh.

He doesn’t get it. And that’s okay. Warhammer 40K has evolved into a format for that exactly that mentality. Let it stay there.

I want to make the move to the Horus Heresy. It’s the whole reason I started playing Warhammer 40K in the first place. However, I’m afraid to explore a new frontier if power gamers are close behind.