This week we’re celebrating 35 years since the release of the first edition of Warhammer 40,000, which was also known as Rogue Trader way back then. And what better way to commemorate this classic than by re-fighting one of the game's original scenarios – with today’s modern rules?
Gaming Presenter Nick Bayton told us more about which scenario they chose to revisit, and just how they brought this iconic clash up to date.
Nick: The 35th anniversary of Warhammer 40,000 is a huge milestone, and indeed many hobbyists, like myself, have been playing it for nearly as long. When we in the Battle Report team were asked to produce a game based on a famous mission from the past, we knew there was only once real choice – Battle at the Farm. This seminal game was the first ever mission written for Warhammer 40,000, appearing in the first edition of the game published all the way back in 1987.
But therein lay a challenge, because Rogue Trader (for those not as aged as some…) was more of a roleplaying experience than the tabletop game we know and love today. It involved a third player taking the part of a games master, controlling the action and revealing the narrative to the other players as the game unfolded. It also used characteristics for models we don’t use any more, such as Cool, Willpower and Intelligence.*
We wanted to take the exact mission from Rogue Trader, and tweak it to fit into today’s ninth edition of Warhammer 40,000, while keeping the roleplay element feel to it.
Also in keeping with the spirit of the original mission, the team decided to collect and paint entirely new armies in the style of their 1980’s predecessors. For the Crimson Fists they were able to capture the Rogue Trader look by utilising the new plastic ‘beakie’ MKVI Space Marines, and for the Space Ork Raiders subtle use of paint schemes and iconography taken straight from the first edition rulebook created an unmistakably retro looking Ork army.
Nick: The Battle at the Farm takes place on Rynn’s World, the homeworld of the Crimson Fists, during a huge Ork invasion. The planet is all but lost, the Crimson Fists’ Chapter Monastery lies in ruins, and Orks are roaming the planet. Around 5km south of the ruins of New Rynn City, Commander Pedro Kantor** is hunkered down in a destroyed jadeberry farm with a few surviving marines. But Big Boss Thrugg Bullneck arrives with a mob of Orks. He’s buried a bucket of shiny jewels here and he wants them back! A desperate battle for survival… and loot… kicks off.
As you can see, not only new armies were created, the team also made a unique board from scratch! This board, painted in suitably 80’s hues as a homage to the original, is packed with features unique to this scenario. You can find a bumper harvest of jadeberries, secret treasure stashes, and even an STC tractor!
The Warhammer TV Army Painters are the team behind this fantastic board, and they told us a little about the challenges in bringing a future farm to life:
It was really fun to recreate the important elements of the scenario and gaming board from the Rogue Trader book (the farmhouse, orchard, and hilltop generator), and being able to capture those elements of the universe you don't often see. In this case, what would an Imperial agri farm look like?
A farm is a lived-in, homely place, and trying to evoke that sense on this board set in the grim darkness of Warhammer 40,000 was a fun challenge, adding the little details like the farmhouse sign, cook pot, and table brings a little life to the building. While the scarecrow is recognisable, it takes on a sinister aspect when you realise it's a servitor…
We’re most proud of the tractor and trailer. Again, we’re aiming to be recognisable for what it is, but still driving home what these machines would be like in the 41st Millennium.
The scenario takes full advantage of these fantastic features, as Nick explains: As the game progresses, the games master reveals information, creates random events and incidents, as well as telling players their options and what they can do. Simon and Ben (playing the Crimson Fists and Orks respectively) really got into character and played along with the game, which just made things better! It was so much fun playing in this way – there was an element of mystery and surprise to the game that made it just so different to a standard game of Warhammer 40,000.
Briefings
If you fancy travelling back to the murky past of Warhammer 40,000 and want to try Battle at the Farm out for yourself, then you can use the documents below, which are the ones designed for the game on Warhammer+. Be warned though, while all three of the players can read the Player’s Briefing, only the Games Master should read the Games Master’s Briefing as it contains vital secrets the players shouldn’t know.
Nick: We had an absolute blast playing this game, and we really hope you give it a try and have just as much fun yourself!
Thanks, Nick! You can catch this exciting episode of Battle Report over on Warhammer+.
If you’d like to try your hand at painting some of your models in a classic scheme from yesteryear, why not check out the retro painting guides available on the Warhammer Youtube channel this week.
* Lord Helmawr wants a word…
** While he was a Captain at the time of this battle, he will eventually become Chapter Master!