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So when I was about 10 years old I used to collect White Dwarf magazine.

I used to be a peaceful man. I used to be a happy man. I thought when I was a teenager! But really I was quite a fighter, in my heart. Probably because my favourite Warhammer Quest character was the Pit Fighter and I thought it was the coolest set ever. I got in as a present. I was a great set and I really enjoyed playing with it.

Some days I wonder if my prayers as a child, like those from Warhammer to Sigmar, didn't end up coming true... wanting to be a Pit Fighter in the modern age and an adventurer! Well simply put maybe or maybe not, I have no real evidence to show of God or prayer other than I have scars now and I have been in fights. Plus I aways make sure I get the best medicine money can buy. Plus if I have to I can use my belt as a whip. And do not worry I do not have children and nor do abuse them. But somehow I am forever that ugly Pit Fighter in my heart. With his fist spike, his flail or morning star and his Heal Itt potion. At least it is not the Chaos Gods I suppose...

This is simply to say I love Warhammer, Warhammer the Fantasy Battles game was the first game I really came to enjoy. I remember playing with micromachines and playing with the one boar boy I had and painting it as a child. I was lucky enough to have someone lend me their Dune 2 game and got into strategy gaming. Starcraft came afterwards and of course Warhammer 40k with Space Hulk. Before that though was the game of fantasy battles and I loved the cover with the high elf art and the goblins. It is a beautiful piece of art and I really liked it. My brother was not really into it, more of a military man than me.

I am definitely a creature of habit though and I have picked up some bad ones. Despite that though and collecting goblins for a bit I tried collecting Dwarfs with the Battle For Skull Pass when I was older. Some days I think of "rocket hammer" as I think it was called online as regards 8th and I am so glad they have streamlined and really checked through the rulebook in Old World Warhammer. I have played some games of Old World and despite the magic being less impactful it is still powerful.

As I see it there are five main elements to Warhammer Fantasy. First there is the square based system which makes the act of flanking, rear charging and guessing or working out charge distances under a timer or in an evening a very interesting prospect and is different to other modern wargaming activities. Secondly there is a problem with the most complicated thing points in most games, by breaking down the main units into command groups, simple formations, different fantasy types, army organisation and types of things like monsters (and war machines); it is possible to make a very collectable and complex army game with a lot of models able to be calculated in points in ones head with reasonable maths (ie does not require a computer like computer games). The lore is some of the most fun darker or low fantasy I have ever read and spin offs like Blood Bowl are great even like I said before or implied Warhammer Quest. That was the third point.

Fourth point is this - no point in trying to ruin the game without ruining it for yourself. Unlike many games the mostly two player warhammer fantasy lends it self to playing for fun and trying to play fair that is the beauty of it's design if you ask me. Bending the rules only takes away your joy and it is fairly easy if your maths are alright and you have a pen and paper to keep track of who is winning. Finally it is flawed but the evolving editions are sort of like game patches you can roll back to which you cannot do in normal computer games, you can keep the models for life and you can paint them however you wish.

This is my army that I have written up:

High Elf Army. Old World (OPEN WAR)

Prince 'Yeowind Tallar', Full plate armour, Shield, General, Lion Chariot of Chrace, Burning Blade, Bedazzling Helm, Dawnstone, Chracian Hunter
Mage, Wizard, lvl 2 with Silvery Wand, Elementalism Magic
10 Lothern Sea Guard, with Shields, Veterans and Obsidian Lodestone, Full Command
10 Silver Helms with Shields, Full Command
5 Elven Archers, Full Command
5 Elven Archers, Full Command
5 Elven Archers, Full Command
5 Elven Archers, Full Command
5 Phoenix Guard, Full Command with Razor Standard
5 Shadow Warriors, Shadow Warrior with Sword of Might
Lion Chariot of Chrace
10 White Lions of Chrace, Full Command
Frostheart Phoenix
5 Sisters of Avelorn Stubborn, Ambushers, High Sister

This list is an all comers list based on some studies on Achilles and Leonidas I did privately and I hope to have an army like this one day as I do not fully have it yet. Tips are welcome.

Saw “White Dwarf fan from the old days” and expected to talk about daleks appearing in Paranoia scenarios and when every model had a name, sometimes in tribute to another source….