A look back at half a century of Games Workshop and all the incredible memories we’ve shared wouldn’t be at all complete without your Warhammer stories from times gone by. We constantly hear at events and in stores how the hobby has changed your lives, and frankly, we want more of this warm, fuzzy feeling.
So we put the word out to you, the Warhammer community, for your stories – and this is what you told us.
Martin, United Kingdom – Hobbyist for 25 years
My first introduction to the wonderful world of Warhammer was when my best mate Josh got the third edition Warhammer 40,000 starter set for his birthday – we were both about 10 or 11 at the time, so it must have been 1999. I remember being drawn in immediately by the details of the models and the way you were able to build them how you wanted.
The following weekend Josh’s dad took us to our local store and I bought my first ever Warhammer model which was an Ork Bike! Many weekends were spent in Josh’s shed where his dad had built us a massive board to play on using one of the grass mats that were sold back then.
We both collected multiple armies and would have huge battles that lasted for hours, or sometimes days! I’m now in my mid 30s, still have a huge collection, and attend many events. I owe a lot to Warhammer – I’ve met some amazing people and had some brilliant times whilst rolling dice. Long may it continue!
Willibald, Austria – Hobbyist for 41 years
It was 1984 and my interest in tabletop and roleplaying games started with Warhammer Fantasy Battles 2nd Edition and Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. After defeating the Lichemaster and taking a stand at Orc’s Drift, my Empire army fought until the world shattered.
Luckily I reached space in the meantime, discovered the realm of Ultramar, and have smote the enemies of Mankind ever since in the Emperor’s name. Over the decades I tried just about every system Games Workshop published – some lost in the fog of history now – and the passion carried over into computer games.
My pile of grey shame* is the size of Mount Everest and will be inherited by my little baby girl who can paint it any way she likes, and I have a feeling the blue of the Ultramarines may vanish under the bright pink heresy of the Emperor’s Children. Her brooding father will retreat to the wastes of Necromunda and send out kill teams to fight back.
Kevin, United States – Hobbyist for 3 years
My journey started with me dimly able to recognise a Space Marine, but quickly became one of endlessly escalating ‘buts’. A YouTube video popped up about Total War: Warhammer 3 – I'll watch it but surely never play it. Ok, I've logged 700 hours in Total War but surely I'll never go further. Arkhan the Black is really cool so I'll read a few books, but surely I won’t play the tabletop.
Arkhan is still a playable model? And Nagash too? Ok, well, I'll start collecting Ossiarch Bonereapers, but surely I'll never make the jump to Warhammer 40,000. You can probably imagine how that's going.
What I love most about Warhammer though is that this endless escalation is a great way to constantly improve yourself, both in and outside of the hobby. You finish a model and love it, but the cracks shine through as soon as you finish your next one. It pushes you to constantly challenge yourself, and to top your previous work.
I do want to give a special shoutout to my local Warhammer store for helping me along this journey though. I don't make it in as much as I'd like to anymore, but when I had just moved for work and didn't really know anyone, Warhammer was an incredible way to just break down that initial awkwardness and throw down some dice with some great people.
Soph, Northern Ireland – Hobbyist for nearly 1 year
My partner got me into Warhammer after a few months of dating. I've been loving the hobby, stories, and lore of Warhammer 40,000, and I like how I can just relax and add my own wee details to my Blood Angels.
But really I just love doing Warhammer things with my partner, because he loves helping me and telling me all sorts of interesting facts. I help him with his as well, even with shades of paints that he sometimes cannot see, and I’m looking forward to building up my hobby experience and hopefully growing my collection in the near future.
Beryl, United States – Hobbyist for 27 years
The first time I learned about Warhammer was when a friend of mine showed me a White Dwarf at school. I was captivated by the pictures of the third edition plastic Aeldari (Eldar) Guardians, so I saved up my allowance for a month and on my way out of town on a family trip I convinced my parents to stop at the local gaming store.
I bought the first box of miniatures that I saw, the original Space Wolves Grey Hunters. I still remember building those first miniatures and I've been in love ever since.
It is hard to believe that a place as inhospitable as the grim, dark far future could bring so much enjoyment and satisfaction, but that is how it has always been for me. Other hobbies and interests have come and gone but my love of Warhammer 40,000 has stayed strong for almost 30 years!
Ignacio, Canada – Hobbyist for 26 years
I got very sick when I was about 11 years old and I would have been hospitalised if not for my mother being a nurse. Around that time Games Workshop published a weekly collectible magazine that came with a couple of different models and paints, so my mother brought me the first issue. I got some Bretonnians and Orcs painted in no time, asked around to see if I could buy more somewhere, and the moment I could leave the house I became a regular at our local game store!
For years I played several times a week, funding my own armies by painting my friends'. One of my favourite projects was an Ork army I painted for a friend which I played roleplaying games with – his character was a half-orc barbarian with a bandana, so I sculpted and painted bandanas on every single one of his 120 Orks!
Becca, Ireland – Hobbyist for 30 years
I absolutely loved the minis and the artwork in White Dwarf, it truly captured my imagination! I got my first mini from a White Dwarf that gave a free plastic Necromunda model, and now I’ve collected almost every army!
Sebastian, The Netherlands – Hobbyist for 24 years
I remember as a 15 year old boy I went to my local game store and saw a collection of High Elves in a small display cabinet. I was in awe of the details and the possibility of massing a gigantic army of these elves, though as I was a young boy with low funds I had to build up my small (but in my mind mighty) army over a few years. I think it was about 1,000 points all together, and had lots of wizards because I fell in love with the miniatures.
After joining a gaming club I found out there were entire stores dedicated to Warhammer owned by Games Workshop, and it took one visit before I bought a few Space Marines and was off on a 41st Millennium adventure. After a few years, as a teenager, all my money went into other areas and school.
Fast forward to the Covid-19 pandemic, and a few friends started playing Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Age of Sigmar. I bought a few (might be more than a few) armies for both games, had loads of fun, and with the return of my beloved High Elves in Warhammer: The Old World I re-started my first ever army with some of my old miniatures.
I love the Old World. I love it so much, I have bought something from all of the armies released so far. It’s good to be back. I hope to introduce my son to Warhammer when he's a bit older. Congratulations Games Workshop on 50 years!
This is only a short snippet of your responses – we received hundreds of them, in fact – and every one was a precious reminder of the part Warhammer has played in all of our lives. We always love to hear how your hobby is getting along, from wistful memories to new experiences, so make sure you let us know on the Warhammer Facebook and Instagram accounts every now and then.
You know how it goes: More Warhammer! More often!
* We like to think of them as mountains of opportunity – WarCom.
