Upload 'em if ya got 'em.
← Older revision
Revision as of 06:56, 25 February 2016
Line 1:
Line 1:
{{MattWard}}
{{MattWard}}
{{Fail}}
{{Fail}}
+
{{NeedsImages}}
Line 44:
Line 45:
==Almost-as-Ancient History==
==Almost-as-Ancient History==
+
[[File:John Peake and Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson.jpg|thumb|center|300px|Steve, John, and Ian with their first products.]]
Games Workshop was established in 1975 in London as a small literal workshop that created wooden boards for public domain games, such as [[Chess]] which it sold through mail-order catalogs (not its own).
Games Workshop was established in 1975 in London as a small literal workshop that created wooden boards for public domain games, such as [[Chess]] which it sold through mail-order catalogs (not its own).
The original staff was just three men in a flat in London. [[John Peake]], [[Steve Jackson (Warhammer)|Steve Jackson]] (not to be confused with the other /tg/ [[Steve Jackson]]), and [[Ian Livingstone]]. Livingstone was a massive game fan and was captain of the Chess club in grade school while Peake carved wood as a hobby. They soon made a business of selling boards for Chess, Go, and Backgammon.
The original staff was just three men in a flat in London. [[John Peake]], [[Steve Jackson (Warhammer)|Steve Jackson]] (not to be confused with the other /tg/ [[Steve Jackson]]), and [[Ian Livingstone]]. Livingstone was a massive game fan and was captain of the Chess club in grade school while Peake carved wood as a hobby. They soon made a business of selling boards for Chess, Go, and Backgammon.
−
+
[[File:Owl And Weasel Number 21.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Owl And Weasel #21.]]
In the same year Games Workshop put out its own newsletter, called "Owl And Weasel" which somehow wound up crossing the Atlantic and ending up in the hands of the tabletop gaming Jack Kirby, [[Gary Gygax]]. Gygax sent the trio a copy of [[Dungeons & Dragons]] to playtest for a review in their publication. Jackson and Livingstone were hooked and ordered six more copies. Gygax, thinking they were a much more established (as in established at all) company, offered them exclusive distribution rights in the entirety of Europe.
In the same year Games Workshop put out its own newsletter, called "Owl And Weasel" which somehow wound up crossing the Atlantic and ending up in the hands of the tabletop gaming Jack Kirby, [[Gary Gygax]]. Gygax sent the trio a copy of [[Dungeons & Dragons]] to playtest for a review in their publication. Jackson and Livingstone were hooked and ordered six more copies. Gygax, thinking they were a much more established (as in established at all) company, offered them exclusive distribution rights in the entirety of Europe.
Line 59:
Line 61:
==Citadel==
==Citadel==
−
[[File:
Games Workshop Old Ad
.
png
|thumb|right|300px]]
+
[[File:
White Dwaf Issue 1
.
jpg
|thumb|right|300px
|White Dwarf, issue #1.
]]
+
The new building allowed them to host gaming conventions which would later become the famous [[Games Day]]. This was followed Owl And Weasel being discontinued and replaced with [[White Dwarf]], a small magazine (originally just black and white on colored stationary) written by the now obsessed tabletop gamer Livingstone, which covered industry-wide tabletop gaming news. White Dwarf was supposed to be sci-fi and fantasy neutral, referring both to a dying star and to, well, [[Dwarves]]. Originally the magazine was everything Livingstone felt like writing about, from movies to publishing short stories to computer and computer gaming-related articles. The letters section quickly became THE forum for tabletop gaming in <strike>the Old World</strike> Europe, where everything from rules clarifications to personal reviews were published. Interestingly, Livingstone published letters that were critical of both him and Games Workshop.
The new building allowed them to host gaming conventions which would later become the famous [[Games Day]]. This was followed Owl And Weasel being discontinued and replaced with [[White Dwarf]], a small magazine (originally just black and white on colored stationary) written by the now obsessed tabletop gamer Livingstone, which covered industry-wide tabletop gaming news. White Dwarf was supposed to be sci-fi and fantasy neutral, referring both to a dying star and to, well, [[Dwarves]]. Originally the magazine was everything Livingstone felt like writing about, from movies to publishing short stories to computer and computer gaming-related articles. The letters section quickly became THE forum for tabletop gaming in <strike>the Old World</strike> Europe, where everything from rules clarifications to personal reviews were published. Interestingly, Livingstone published letters that were critical of both him and Games Workshop.
Line 68:
Line 71:
Nothing Games Workshop made was as successful as Dungeons & Dragons, which was now being carried by competitors. Citadel sold generic fantasy miniatures for use with D&D, but players only ever made small purchases and were not in the market to collect one of everything leaving some stock hard to move. Ansell had become the primary boss of the company, and his solution was the wargaming market that had begun to catch on internationally. At this point, Games Workshop was still very much a small business with most employees putting in work as needed; a writer or mail sorter would load shipments into the building or package products.
Nothing Games Workshop made was as successful as Dungeons & Dragons, which was now being carried by competitors. Citadel sold generic fantasy miniatures for use with D&D, but players only ever made small purchases and were not in the market to collect one of everything leaving some stock hard to move. Ansell had become the primary boss of the company, and his solution was the wargaming market that had begun to catch on internationally. At this point, Games Workshop was still very much a small business with most employees putting in work as needed; a writer or mail sorter would load shipments into the building or package products.
+
<gallery>
+
Image:Games Workshop Old Ad.png
+
Image:Valley Of The Four Winds.jpg
+
Image:Doctor Who Games Workshop.jpg
+
Image:Battlecars.jpg
+
</gallery>
+
==Warhammer==
In 1983, [[Warhammer Fantasy|Warhammer]] was released. It was created by Games Workshop writer [[Richard Halliwell]] and his friend (former mail order department) [[Rick Priestley]] (known by [[Meme|many nicknames on /tg/, often "The Based"]]). Priestley was mostly inspired by growing up and delving headfirst into both science fiction and history, the news of the Atomic Age, and World War 2; all of which lead him to the first wargames, and eventually getting a job at Games Workshop with the goal of working on his own.
In 1983, [[Warhammer Fantasy|Warhammer]] was released. It was created by Games Workshop writer [[Richard Halliwell]] and his friend (former mail order department) [[Rick Priestley]] (known by [[Meme|many nicknames on /tg/, often "The Based"]]). Priestley was mostly inspired by growing up and delving headfirst into both science fiction and history, the news of the Atomic Age, and World War 2; all of which lead him to the first wargames, and eventually getting a job at Games Workshop with the goal of working on his own.
The requirements for the new product were simple.
The requirements for the new product were simple.
Line 78:
Line 88:
Originally having no actual miniatures associated with it, it simply consisted of a single set of three books giving a basic rule system and scenarios. While filled with typos, contradictory rules, and BADLY needing an FAQ that never came (so basically Games Workshop has always been bad at balance and fixing mistakes) it was well accepted for introducing the concepts of magic failing and of the psychology of forces on the field. The setting was almost non-existent, and what little lore there was only existed in the flavor text of magic items. Of special interest is the game was originally conceived partly as a wargame, partly as a roleplaying game with actual guidelines for leveling up your general and interacting with the world-even an alignment system! If anything, the game combined the role of Dungeonmaster and player into one as a character lead a force of generalized encounters against each other and looted the dead. Every group of friends had a different world, as the results of a previous battle fitted into the unending campaigns of war. A major difference between current and early Warhammer is an extra player was required as a Game Master for a battle to take place.
Originally having no actual miniatures associated with it, it simply consisted of a single set of three books giving a basic rule system and scenarios. While filled with typos, contradictory rules, and BADLY needing an FAQ that never came (so basically Games Workshop has always been bad at balance and fixing mistakes) it was well accepted for introducing the concepts of magic failing and of the psychology of forces on the field. The setting was almost non-existent, and what little lore there was only existed in the flavor text of magic items. Of special interest is the game was originally conceived partly as a wargame, partly as a roleplaying game with actual guidelines for leveling up your general and interacting with the world-even an alignment system! If anything, the game combined the role of Dungeonmaster and player into one as a character lead a force of generalized encounters against each other and looted the dead. Every group of friends had a different world, as the results of a previous battle fitted into the unending campaigns of war. A major difference between current and early Warhammer is an extra player was required as a Game Master for a battle to take place.
+
+
<gallery>
+
Image:Warhamme Fantasy 1e.png
+
Image:1e Fantasy.jpg
+
</gallery>
Also in 1983, to much less fanfare but still modest success, the board game [[Talisman]] was first released. In it, players are adventurers trying to obtain the Crown of Command and kill their opponents.
Also in 1983, to much less fanfare but still modest success, the board game [[Talisman]] was first released. In it, players are adventurers trying to obtain the Crown of Command and kill their opponents.
+
+
<gallery>
+
Image:Talisman 1e.jpg
+
</gallery>
Ansell used the success of Warhammer to move Games Workshop HQ from London to Nottinghamshire, in what was presented as a merger but many at Games Workshop saw as a Citadel takeover. By that time there was six other Games Workshop locations, and the cost is the only reason the name was not changed to Citadel. Few Games Workshop staff stayed on, as Nottinghamshire was in the midst of a nasty Thatcher-era labor dispute that saw employees harassed.
Ansell used the success of Warhammer to move Games Workshop HQ from London to Nottinghamshire, in what was presented as a merger but many at Games Workshop saw as a Citadel takeover. By that time there was six other Games Workshop locations, and the cost is the only reason the name was not changed to Citadel. Few Games Workshop staff stayed on, as Nottinghamshire was in the midst of a nasty Thatcher-era labor dispute that saw employees harassed.
Line 85:
Line 104:
Due to popularity, an expansion for Warhammer was released in 1984 which began to describe the factions in the world (all still extremely generalized, mostly Dungeons & Dragons based). The same year also saw Games Workshop stop importing printed books from the United States, and instead print them in the UK while also expanding into having a US headquarters and manufacturing division so as not to have to physically import goods in reverse.
Due to popularity, an expansion for Warhammer was released in 1984 which began to describe the factions in the world (all still extremely generalized, mostly Dungeons & Dragons based). The same year also saw Games Workshop stop importing printed books from the United States, and instead print them in the UK while also expanding into having a US headquarters and manufacturing division so as not to have to physically import goods in reverse.
−
==Warhammer==
Later in 1984, the second edition of Warhammer was released. It combined the expansion with the core game as well as suggested supplementary rules from White Dwarf. Still having very loose rules, the game was three books although this time they were actually professionally printed rather than looking like something off a photocopier. Paper punchouts were included to represent troops rather than any miniature although Citadel produced a range of minis which were advertised in White Dwarf (although the rulebooks still said in those days to simply use whatever you want), and the very first Warhammer lore was established. The [[The Empire (Warhammer Fantasy)|Empire]] was a vague kingdom of men in decline, [[Chaos]] was some kind of Demonic extra-planar threat that prophesied the [[End Times|end of days]], there was some kind of ancient race that created the monsters of the world called [[Slann]], and [[High Elves (Warhammer Fantasy)|Elves]] had some kind of [[Dark Elves (Warhammer Fantasy)|civil war]] going on. Three supplements were released, the first adding the very first Warhammer villain, [[Heinrich Kemmler]], in the "Terror Of The Lichemaster]] campaign. The second, "Bloodbath at Orcs' Drift", introduced the first [[Orcs & Goblins|Orcs to the setting]] (although they weren't the asexual greenskins of today, but rather generic Dungeons & Dragons Orcs and Half-Orcs). The third, "Tragedy of McDeath" was basically Warhammer Macbeth, involving a plot of necromancy with Dwarfs and humans who would eventually come to be the [[Bretonnia|Bretonnians]]. The final expansion, "Blood In The Streets", was just rules for fighting with buildings as well as paper scenery.
Later in 1984, the second edition of Warhammer was released. It combined the expansion with the core game as well as suggested supplementary rules from White Dwarf. Still having very loose rules, the game was three books although this time they were actually professionally printed rather than looking like something off a photocopier. Paper punchouts were included to represent troops rather than any miniature although Citadel produced a range of minis which were advertised in White Dwarf (although the rulebooks still said in those days to simply use whatever you want), and the very first Warhammer lore was established. The [[The Empire (Warhammer Fantasy)|Empire]] was a vague kingdom of men in decline, [[Chaos]] was some kind of Demonic extra-planar threat that prophesied the [[End Times|end of days]], there was some kind of ancient race that created the monsters of the world called [[Slann]], and [[High Elves (Warhammer Fantasy)|Elves]] had some kind of [[Dark Elves (Warhammer Fantasy)|civil war]] going on. Three supplements were released, the first adding the very first Warhammer villain, [[Heinrich Kemmler]], in the "Terror Of The Lichemaster]] campaign. The second, "Bloodbath at Orcs' Drift", introduced the first [[Orcs & Goblins|Orcs to the setting]] (although they weren't the asexual greenskins of today, but rather generic Dungeons & Dragons Orcs and Half-Orcs). The third, "Tragedy of McDeath" was basically Warhammer Macbeth, involving a plot of necromancy with Dwarfs and humans who would eventually come to be the [[Bretonnia|Bretonnians]]. The final expansion, "Blood In The Streets", was just rules for fighting with buildings as well as paper scenery.
Line 93:
Line 111:
Talisman received a second edition, different only in that the pieces were printed in color, in 1985.
Talisman received a second edition, different only in that the pieces were printed in color, in 1985.
+
<gallery>
+
Image:Talisman 2e.jpg
+
</gallery>
+
Games Workshop also acquired the license to make Lord Of The Rings miniatures in '85, taking over from competitor [[Grenadier Miniatures]].
Games Workshop also acquired the license to make Lord Of The Rings miniatures in '85, taking over from competitor [[Grenadier Miniatures]].
Line 144:
Line 166:
In 1994 the third edition of Talisman was released, adding miniatures, experience points, alterations to the board, and the biggest change of all; it was set in Warhammer Fantasy. Later that year, White Dwarf contained mini expansions to the game while the first true expansion, City Of Adventure, reintroduced the city board as well as a forest. Dungeon of Doom came next, adding the dungeon and a mountain.
In 1994 the third edition of Talisman was released, adding miniatures, experience points, alterations to the board, and the biggest change of all; it was set in Warhammer Fantasy. Later that year, White Dwarf contained mini expansions to the game while the first true expansion, City Of Adventure, reintroduced the city board as well as a forest. Dungeon of Doom came next, adding the dungeon and a mountain.
The year also saw the launch of Second edition Epic, still consisting of two games. The first was a rerelease of Space Marine that had Space Marines, Orks, and Eldar. The second game was Titan Legions which had the same factions.
The year also saw the launch of Second edition Epic, still consisting of two games. The first was a rerelease of Space Marine that had Space Marines, Orks, and Eldar. The second game was Titan Legions which had the same factions.
+
+
<gallery>
+
Image:Talisman 3e.jpg
+
</gallery>
In 1995 Dragon's Tower expanded Talisman 3e as an alternative end goal as players climbed a tower and killed a dragon (duh). It came with another White Dwarf expansion.
In 1995 Dragon's Tower expanded Talisman 3e as an alternative end goal as players climbed a tower and killed a dragon (duh). It came with another White Dwarf expansion.