Warhammer goes woke. Tries to rewrite history
(twitter.com)
You're viewing a single comment thread. View all comments, or full comment thread.
Comments (60)
sorted by:
It'd be simple and straightforward to clone the core setting & rules of 40k and just make your own. There's literally nothing stopping people now, easier than ever. A council of high-profile 40k guys who agreed to stop promoting 40k and supported a fan-made & fan-curated alternative could succeed.
I don't think ceding ground and abandoning a cultural outpost is the right call, even if it's lost. This fosters the mindset that it's ok to lose ground because we'll just make our own 40k with blackjack and hookers. There's decades of creation and cultural capital infused into that cultural outpost and the enemy should at least have to sacrifice something in order to take it. Make it hurt instead of handing it over for free.
Getting people to stop supporting GW is the only way to hurt them. Replacing WH40K with a better product and getting people to switch is the only way to do it. That and a lot of gate keeping.
That's exactly what abandoning official 40K would do if a significant enough chunk of the playerbase jumped off to their own system & setting.
If you have a different proposal, I'm open to hearing what alternatives you think exist. But from where I stand the reason that all this happens is that the fans don't really have any leverage because GW owns the game + setting. They can screw people over and unless fans are willing to walk away and play something else (even if that something else is the same w/ filed off serial numbers) then GW holds all the cards.
How?
That leaves them with a cultural institution that flies their flag. They don't care that you aren't there anymore, they took what was yours, which was the goal. The fact that you retreated elsewhere just means they have a new target and you've lost cultural significance.
This. Plus it's just a matter of time before they come for the thing you created. It happens all the time. This is why Niemöller's poem is so significant: they will eventually come for you, even in retreat.
The "how" is easy. If you slice off even a small-ish fraction (10 - 20%) of GamesWorkshop's profit & market share then the bean counters start asking if it's worth it.
If you make them bleed, they might backtrack. In the current environment, there is literally no other option that fans of 40K have.
As far as the principle of "ceding ground" -- You're assuming that fans of 40K have any ground to begin with. Simply put, they don't. There are guys who played the game for decades, grew up with the hobby, painted, competed, taught their sons how to play. But none of that matters.
The people with the actual power work at GamesWorkshop, and those people are either too cowardly to steward the game correctly or ideological enemies. The only real way to prevent this from happening is to have ownership of the game & IP and strictly gatekeep any role of authority from subversive elements. The process of decay and corruption is ultimately inevitable for any insitution and 40K franchise is no exception. The solution to decay is rebirth in new creation.
Loudly and determinedly announcing why you're boycotting. It worked with Bud Light until people cucked and took one (1) cowboy commercial as a good enough apology.
The company has to see financial pain and know exactly why if you want any hope of enacting change. But again this is ideological driven and not financial, so it likely won't do much if it isn't deafening
And how do you suppose you do that?
Pirating minis seems to be the way most people are going.
Nobody's going to make a successful 40k knockoff, though. Space King by Flashgitz is a pretty funny series, actually a great product with a lot of potential, but that's a parody "TV" show, not an entire tabletop and lore experience. There is an insane amount of time invested into the 40k world at this point.
Yeah it's obviously true that 40K has a huge amount of lore and it's not possible to easily replace that. What I'd suggest is simply having a group of lore nerds sit down with the 40K lore and agree to an approach of either time-skipping forward (aka 45K) or freezing the timeline at a certain point (pre-Primaris marines for example) and agree to that.
Then you work on developing basically a set of interchangeable terms e.g.
Space Marine = Space Marine (Not copyrightable)
Imperium of Man = The Galactic Dominion
Chaos = Ruin
Demons = Demons
Warp = Nethereum
Eldar = Sylvani
Tyranids = Raveners
Start with the big concepts and work your way down. Stuff would feel different even if you did a perfect 1:1 copy to start with, and that's assuming no one wants to add or subtract something.
I ran this through ChatGPT just to present how this could look:
The Galactic Dominion (Imperium of Man) The Galactic Dominion is a vast, galaxy-spanning empire of humans led by a powerful, god-like figure known as the Celestial Sovereign. The Dominion is a highly militaristic and religious society, with a strong emphasis on loyalty, obedience, and the eradication of all threats to humanity.
The Eternal Forgemasters (Adeptus Mechanicus) The Eternal Forgemasters are a faction of tech-priests who worship ancient technology and machines. They are responsible for maintaining and producing the advanced weaponry and equipment used by the Galactic Dominion's military forces.
The Astral Warriors (Space Marines) The Astral Warriors are genetically engineered super-soldiers who serve as the elite fighting force of the Galactic Dominion. They are organized into chapters, each with its own unique culture, traditions, and specialties.
The Devouring Swarm (Tyranids) The Devouring Swarm is an extragalactic race of insectoid aliens that consume all organic matter in their path. They are driven by an insatiable hunger and are capable of rapidly evolving and adapting to new threats.
The Ethereal Crafters (Aeldari/Eldar) The Ethereal Crafters are an ancient, psychically-gifted race of aliens who once ruled a vast empire. They are now divided into distinct sub-factions, each with its own agenda and goals. The Crafters are known for their mastery of advanced technology, psychic abilities, and their ability to manipulate the threads of fate.
The Necro Continuum (Necrons) The Necro Continuum is an ancient race of mechanical beings who once ruled the galaxy. After a long period of dormancy, they have awakened to reclaim their lost empire. The Necro Continuum possesses advanced technology and the ability to self-repair, making them a formidable force.
The Verdant Tide (Orks) The Verdant Tide is a race of green-skinned, warlike aliens who live for the thrill of combat. They are known for their brutal tactics, ramshackle technology, and their ability to grow stronger and larger as they fight.
The Immaterial Realm (Chaos) The Immaterial Realm is a parallel dimension of raw psychic energy and chaotic entities. It is home to the Chaos Gods, powerful beings who seek to corrupt and control the mortal realm. The Immaterial Realm's influence seeps into the material world, twisting the minds and bodies of those it touches.
The Ethereal Collective (Tau) The Ethereal Collective is a young, technologically-advanced race that seeks to unite the galaxy under its banner of the "Greater Good." The Collective is known for its advanced plasma weaponry, sleek armor, and its use of diplomacy and coercion to expand its influence.
The Dread Kindred (Dark Eldar/Drukhari) The Dread Kindred are a sadistic offshoot of the Ethereal Crafters who revel in causing pain and suffering. They are masters of fast-paced, hit-and-run tactics and use advanced weaponry and technology to terrorize their enemies.
The Unyielding Vigil (Sisters of Battle/Adepta Sororitas) The Unyielding Vigil is an all-female military order dedicated to the worship of the Celestial Sovereign and the protection of the Galactic Dominion. They are known for their unwavering faith, their powerful armor, and their use of flame-based weaponry.
Not great for 1 try, but some aren't bad (I like "Dread Kindred" for Dark Eldar as it has some vampire vibes).
Yeah Dread Kindred isn't too bad of a name. I'm always amazed at how closely AI can hit the target with the right prompts. I'm not sure how kindly copyright law will look on a 1:1 ripoff though considering the Blurred Lines decision etc.