The Warhammer 40,000 Grand Narrative: Everything you need to know

If you love playing lore-driven games of Warhammer 40,000, the Grand Narrative might just be the best gaming weekend you ever have. 

Hundreds of commanders take to the field of battle in the most immersive Warhammer event on Terra – and the only one where the outcome becomes official lore in the Warhammer 40,000 canon.

The Grand Narrative is about community, immersion, and story. It has a very different feel from a competitive tournament – for a start, there’s no winner, and personal glory is secondary. Instead, attendees are playing to advance the story in favour of their faction’s goals.

How does the Grand Narrative work?

The Grand Narratives is a huge, multi-day Warhammer event, with hundreds of players fighting grand battles of Warhammer 40,000, or sneaky special operations missions of Kill Team.

Your in-person experience will be guided by a variety of costumed dramatis personae, collectively referred to as the Command Staff. These are  newly-canonised members of the Warhammer 40,000 lore, and their actions and words will help guide you through the Grand Narrative experience. 

The Command Staff will take note of courageous or dastardly actions by your warriors throughout the campaign, with especially impressive actions (or dice rolls) possibly becoming part of the story. The manner in which you engage with the story, the Command Staff, and your fellow (and opposing) commanders will be the most impactful part of how you influence the story. At the end of the day, the Grand Narrative is a celebration of Warhammer and the Community – enjoy!

The Command Staff

Included in this rogue’s gallery of characters are the Lords of War. These are point-of-view characters and leaders of the three broad factions: the Forces of the Imperium, the Forces of Chaos, and the Interlopers. 

The tale they individually tell will be entirely driven by how the players who have joined their faction perform in battle and engage with the story on the day. A beloved leader may inspire their faction to glory, while a villainous fool may face a cataclysmic downfall. The Grand Narrative’s twists and turns will always be a story authentic to the Warhammer universes, but the exact direction in which a character’s tale travels is decided entirely by the players.

Previous iterations of the Grand Narrative have seen one Lord of War ascending to Daemonhood, while another was executed by a heroic Valhallan Colonel. Others have met less certain ends, pleading with the Arkifane for a fate beyond death, or disappearing in a flash of mysterious green light. The list of fates goes on… 

Assisting the Lords of War are the Vox Localum. These are the organisers and on-the-ground administrators of the Grand Narrative, who will guide you to your battlefield and answer any questions you may have. 

All of the Command Staff are fully realised characters in the Warhammer canon. Fully bedecked in the garb of their faction and with their own set of missions and agendas, the Vox Localum are just as vital to the Grand Narrative as the Lords of War. Some may find their way through the campaign as little more than attendants to a given warzone, while others may find their own route to glory through the manner in which they engage with the Field Commanders – that’s you, the attendees.

What is it like taking part in the Grand Narrative?

As the name suggests, narrative is at the heart of these events. From the moment you buy your ticket, communication is conducted in-universe – and this continues right through to the final theatrical performance at the end of the event.

You’re encouraged to bring appropriately themed armies for the event, and of course Legends units are positively encouraged. If you’ve ever wanted to try to bring a crazy themed army to an event, this is your perfect opportunity. Many commanders also bring elaborate display boards to show off their armies, and there’s an opportunity to showcase your force for all to see. 

Warhammer 40,000-themed cosplay is also encouraged, so if you want to put on your best dress uniform, the honoured armour of your ancestors, or your shiniest gubbinz to lead your forces into the fray, this is your chance. Many attendees cosplay to some degree, so you won't be alone if you dress the part yourself!

Does the Grand Narrative really affect the lore of Warhammer 40,000?

Yes! The overarching story is written by the Warhammer Design Studio, and the main characters and the outcome is written into the canon of Warhammer 40,000 forever! Keep in mind that not every word and action by the Command Staff during the event will be canon (they are live actors in a public setting, after all), so forgive them the occasional 21st century statements of enthusiasm about your awesome paint jobs and epic battles. 

Previous Warhammer 40,000 Grand Narratives

The stories of previous Grand Narratives have entered Warhammer 40,000 lore as official canon events. You can read the after action reports here:

Running your own Narrative events

Running narrative events can be a huge amount of fun. If you’ve been inspired by the Grand Narrative to run your own story-driven event, the following links might help: