Friday 18 July 2014

The oldhammer goblin.

Gaj/Weazil has some very wonderful news for all of us attending BOYL14, straight from Bryan Ansell no less.

Kevin, The Goblin Master, Adams is sculpting an oldhammer goblin to be given to those who attend the day, any spares will be available to buy after the event.  A topic on the oldhammer forum is running to discuss this very news:
Link to Oldhammer forum post.

I'm sure I'm not over stepping the mark to extend my thanks on the behalf of all of us here at the Oldhammer blog to these two Titans of warhammer let alone Oldhammer.



Wednesday 2 July 2014

An Oldhammer Reader

I recently asked Rick Priestly, Tony Ackland and Bryan Ansell to reccommend some of the books that inspired the early development of Warhammer to share with the Oldhammer community. Rick and Tony kindly responded with a wealth of material, and indicated the kind of books that Bryan was reading and recommending at the time.

The authors mentioned are listed below, where no title was given I have noted the most well known or typical of that authors work.

Warhammer Fantasy Battle


Michael Moorcock: Elric series
Michael Moorcock: Hawkmoon series
Robert Howard: Conan series (esp. the Sprague de Camp versions)
J.R.R. Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien: The Hobbit
Harvard Lampoon: Bored of the Rings*
Poul Anderson : Broken Sword (esp. Jes Goodwin)
Poul Anderson : Polesotechnic League**
John Norman: Gor series
James Branch Cabell: Jurgen
Lord Dunsany:  Time and the Gods
Druilet: Lone Sloane***
Jack Vance: The Dying Earth
Star Reach (comic)
Anne McCaffery:  Dragonriders of Pern


Rogue Trader


Frank Herbert: Dune
Frank Herbert: Children of Dune
Frank Herbert: God Emperor of Dune
2000AD: Nemesis the Warlock
2000AD: Rogue Trooper****
Heavy Metal
Howard Chaykiin: Cody Starbuck (Star Reach)
Ray Bradbury: Martian Chronicles
Poul Anderson: The Terran Empire
Harry Harrison: Stainless Steel Rat series
Harry Harrison: Deathworld series
Harry Harrison: Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers 
Robert Sheckley: The Status Civilization
Philip Hose Farmer: Riverworld (esp. Richard Halliwell)




Although  split into Fantasy and Rogue Trader, this division is somewhat artificial.  Some material clearly has influence into  Laserburn and Reaper eras as well as into the development of Warhammer and beyond.  It is also clear that several of the authors had a direct and broad influence, Moorcock and Herbert especially, whereas others figure as background reading and yet others lend perhaps only one or two specific motifs.  The recurrence of comic-books is notable, as is the inclusion of works of parody.

The list is by no means a definitive list of literary sources for Warhammer. other games, both Greyhawk and Glorthana, from Dungeons & Dragons and Runequest respectively clearly influenced the 'world' of Warhammer. Nor is this list intended to define a cannonical range of Oldhammer settings - the worlds of George RR Martin,  Douglas Adams or Stan Lee are as just as open to gaming with Warhammer -  nonetheless I hope my fellow Oldhammeristas find this compilation of some interest, entertainment, and perhaps inspiration for your own games.



* esp. Halflings - RP
** The origin of Zoats - TA
*** Red Redemption, also 40k /Laserburn / Chainsaw Warrior -TA
**** Souther armour influence on space marine  power armour - RP