Evert wondered about your favourite Games Designer, Miniature Artist, Writer or Painter. Well we delve into their background and tell you all about them.
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Alan and Michael Perry are miniature designers who worked for Games Workshop between 1978 and 2014 and were the longest serving members of the design studio.
As well as this, they are also former miniature sculptors for Wargames Foundry, helped found of Warhammer Historical Wargames and now run their own miniatures company Perry Miniatures.
The Green Knight, just one of many miniatures the Perry’s designed for GW.
They both take part in re-enacting historical battles and have illustrated various books on military history for Osprey Publishing.
During a reenactment in France for the Battle of Crecy in 1996 Michael Perry lost part of his right arm to an accident when reloading a reproduction cannon. However this didn’t hold Michael back and he learned to sculpt and paint with his left hand instead.
The limited edition “Gimli on Dead Uruk-hai” miniature, sculpted by Michael Perry.
The Perry’s own miniature company produces historical figures for ranges such as the Napoleonic Wars, English Civil War, Samurai, The Crusades and much more.
The Perry’s are close friends with Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson and have sculpted him many 54mm miniatures for his first world war collection.
A 75mm figure available through the Perry Miniatures website
The Perry’s are the go to manufacturer for plastic historical wargaming figures and during their heydays at Games Workshop was said to be responsible or involved in 90% of their miniatures.
From left to right, Alessio Cavatore, Brian Nelson, Alan Perry and Michael Perry on set as extras for the Return of the King
The Perry Twins are the most recognisable names in miniature sculpting and have a deserved reputation for the quality of their products.
Using traditional sculpting methods as opposed to the modern 3D sculpting that are used by Games Workshop today these men are true artists in what they do.
The Woeful Brush Painting Competition Sponsored by SCN Hobby World
Closing date for entries 30th November. £1 entry, win your choice of a Start Collecting or Combat Patrol box set!
Last week I interviewed Woehammer Ben from the channel, which you can read here. This week we’re moving onto Woehammer Dave, also known as our very own Chaos Dave.
When did you first get into wargaming?
My first year of senior school.
And what game was it that first drew you in?
A friend had been given the Epic Space Marine starter box for their birthday. We played a few games together and I got hooked.
But you hate Space Marines!
I don’t hate space marines, I dislike Primaris. Also, back then it was Space Marines or nothing as that was all that you got in the box.
So your first game was epic? What games do you play now?
Currently AoS, 40K and Kill Team are the ones I’m actively working on. With a bit of interest in a few others but not the time. Historically, I played Epic, Adeptus Titanicus, Necromunda, Battletech, Warhammer Fantasy and 40K.
I’d consider non-GW games but there aren’t active gaming communities I’m aware of.
You’re big chaos player, has that always been the way?
Not really. I started out in Epic with Salamanders, I painted my marines dark green because that’s the paint I had. I flitted around with armies in fantasy for a while, between orcs and goblins and high elves (good starter set) before settling on Undead for a long time. When I started 40k my first army was Orks, then I collected Space Wolves.I had a break from the hobby and when I started again I collected Dark Eldar (from the starter set) and then later Word Bearers. In Fantasy I collected Skaven and Empire and in 8th edition Beastmen and mixed chaos.
I started playing Ultramarines later on after another hobby hiatus.
No! Not the Smurfs!
That was one of the reasons I started them. They’re cool and don’t deserve the hate.
When I started Epic the poster boy armies were Ultramarines and Thousand Sons. I would have done ultramarines then if I a. Had the paint and b. My mate hadn’t got dibs
I prefer the twilight marines….. So what was your last game and against who?
Age of Sigmar against @dreadmund (Ed). Slaves to Darkness versus Lumineth.
How did that go?
My take a bit of everything list did not do too well against Ed’s tournament list.
What are you working on at the minute, and do you have any pictures?
Ossiarch Bonereapers for Age of Sigmar. I got an eBay ‘rescue’ army for cheap. I’m aiming to have them finished for end of 3rd October.
Dave’s first OBR model
Rear of the year?
This is the one I’ve finished. No pressure!
What’s happening on the 3rd?
Nothing. It’s just the deadline I’ve set myself.
Love that paint job.
Thank you. I might add some pigments to the base because it feels a little bit flat.
What’s your most memorable gaming moment?
The first Warhammer Fantasy campaign I took part in ended in a big four way battle, which was another first for me. My High Elves and my friend’s Imperial Dwarves versus a combined Wood Elf and Empire army. It was the first time I’d used Wardancers and I remember charging them into a unit of trash human infantry and just blending them. They just kept blending and blending these infantry units which kind of suited our opponents but I was having a wonderful time. It kind of defined how I tended to like to play the game from then on. Sometimes I’ll charge even if it’s a bad idea, just for the blood and glory!
So what do find you get out of the hobby?
I find the painting to be relaxing and a good stress reducer. Also enjoy the banter. Playing the game is obviously challenging to some extent at the moment but I enjoy the spectacle of the games.
Quiz time! Name five GW games that aren’t AoS or 40k.
Warhammer Fantasy Battles. Horus Heresy. Dark Future. Trolls in the Pantry. Gorkamorka.
Magnus did nothing wrong! Yes or No?
Everybody has ‘done things wrong’, especially in 40k. I think his initial motivations and intentions were largely good but also self-serving and hubristic.
If you were to fall to chaos which power would you devote yourself to?
The Lore Nerd answer is all Gods are Chaos Gods. So my answer would probably be Tyrion for AoS as he doesn’t seem, unusually, to be actively shit to his followers. Cegorach for 40k for similar (though less strong) reasons.
If you’re going to hold me to the ‘big four’ though…. my answer is Tzeentch. Or is it?
Welcome to Woehammer – have you noticed the lovely feeling of no adverts (ads), no pop-ups and no auto-playing videos? Well, that’s the norm here at Woehammer.
But this is only possible because of our wonderful Patreons. So, some articles over 1 year old will now display our Patreon request at the top of the article… like this one! Don’t worry, we are not adding ads – but if you can afford to donate to the site, we would definitely appreciate it.Membership is available from just £1/month (plus taxes!!)
Following on from the success of my article on Jervis Johnson. I thought I would continue this into a series with another great games designer, Alessio Cavatore.
Alessio who hails from the City of Turin in Italy moved to the UK in 1995 and joined Games Workshop in the same year as a translator.
A year later and Alessio was made a games developer and was set to work writing several supplements for Warhammer Fantasy Battles before heading up the Lord of the Rings Strategy Game.
2004 was the year that saw Alessio made responsible for all the rules published for Warhammer Fantasy Battles, Warhammer 40k and Lord of the Rings. Two years later and he would write the rules for the 7th edition of Warhammer Fantasy Battles.
As well as writing the rules for Mordheim alongside Rick Priestley and Tuomas Pirinen, Alessio has been involved in games for both Warlord Games and Mantic Games. With Bolt Action (Warlord Games) and Kings of War (Mantic) all receiving input from this talented writer.
Out of the 73 games and add-ons that Alessio has worked on to date, that number includes;
Mordheim (Games Workshop)
Warhammer Fantasy Battles – 7th Edition (Games Workshop)
Kings of War (Mantic)
Bolt Action (Warlord Games)
The Lord of the Rings: Strategy Battle Game (Games Workshop)
Conquest: The Last Argument of Kings (Para-Bellum)
Warhammer 40,000 5th Edition (Games Workshop)
As a side note, Alessio, Brian Nelson and the Perry Twins all had cameo appearances in The Return of the King film as Rohirrim at the Battle of Pelennor Fields. They can be seen near the Mumakil when Pippin goes searching for Merry after the battle.
Behindtherules.com conducted an excellent interview with Alessio back in 2010, if you would like to learn more about Alessio and his rules writing you can find the 1st part of the interview here.
Like Jervis, the wargames community owes a lot to Alessio for his contribution to the industry and for what he continues to contribute.
I’m also hoping that articles like this will show that many of the rules sets you may dismiss out of hand have often been worked on by a writer you know and love that has worked for Games Workshop at one time or another.
Why don’t you let us know in the comments below which of Alessio’s games is your favourite, and why not suggest someone to focus a future article on.
Orange Ben and @rightangle79 (Declan) are both off to the Facehammer Grand Tournament this weekend (11th & 12th September 2021). I thought it would be a great time to interview them about their tournament lists and their past glories…..
Ok. So you’ve both been to tournaments before, what do you enjoy the most about them?
Ben: For me it’s mainly seeing friends and looking at cool armies. But mainly this:
Declan: Seeing friends, having a beer and chatting about Warhammer. It also means I have a deadline for painting toys… which I almost always need. For most tournaments I include something new to paint.
So which armies are you taking to Facehammer this year? Care to share your lists?
Ben’s Kharadron Overlords (Ghostlords)
Declan’s List
Loonboss – Clammy Hand
Fungoid Cave Shaman – Hand of Gork
Madcap Shaman – Hand of Gork & Moonface Mommet
Webspinner on Arachnarok Spider – Curse of da Spider God & Amulet of Destiny
60 Shootas
20 Shootas
40 Stabbas
2 x 20 Stabbas
2 x Sneaky Snufflers
Rippa’s Snarlfangs
Scuttletide
Scrapskuttle’s Arachacauldron
Emerald Lifeswarm
2120 points; 214 wounds; Warlord; Hunters of the Heartlands; Vanguard
This is my favourite at the moment. Other option is full squigs.
Do you have battle plans or tactics in mind for when you make it to the tournaments?
Ben: To a certain extent, you know you need to claim objectives so you need units that can do that.
Declan: Gloomspite outside Troggs can struggle to kill things so I need to play like Gargants – get on objectives early and start scoring. Hand of Gork (movement spell) is critical in the list as it means people can’t leave objectives unguarded. I have the Spider to get Monstrous Takeover early and get the option of broken ranks with him. Although I need to protect him or lose him on my turn to prevent him giving 1 point away. 2nd turn is normally Ferocious Advance with Loonboss and both Fungoids (who spend most of their time hiding behind the Loonshrine). Finally I don’t mind losing units because I want as many opportunities as possible to get them back – hence Clammy Hand (Roll twice for reinforcements from Loonshrine).
Ben’s Ghostrek
Ben, I notice you have the dreaded Gotrek! Facehammer have slightly adjusted rules for him now, how do you think he’ll do?
Ben: He is still super smashy, he is there to kill gargants!
Declan, Sounds like a thorough plan. I love the Arachnarok unit, I’ve seen people include more than one, you weren’t tempted to do this?
Declan: I want to try a horde army because its my normal playstyle and is against the meta with reinforcement points and no horde discount. Unfortunately points are too high normally, but with an extra 150 it’s worth a go. I also want GW to see that people will take armies which are rubbish if they get small boosts. GG effectively have c8% reaction in points at facehammer which is what they need before the book. Unfortunately 60 Grots went from 360 to 450 which is criminal for a low power level book.
Have you ever crossed swords with each other in a tournament, if so how did that go?
Declan: I think we played Ogor v GG didn’t we? On the way in people were complaining about your list being too good and I said it was fine… then gummed you up with Grots?
Ben: Yeah it was the cows Throwing snowball list, I told everybody it was rubbish but no one believed me and then I got grotted!
Declan: Ah yes… you forgot the Stonehorns!! I did have 180 Grots in your defense.
Ben: 2+ I do six mortal wounds, cool, there are 54 left.
Declan: Yeah… no where near enough damage.
Whats your most memorable moment at a tournament?
Ben: Played a chap called Laurie who Declan will know, with a shooty stormcast list, and turn one took off his archaon off turn one, was crazy good.
Declan: I was playing GG with allied Gitmob grots at Sheffield Slaughter against Nurgle with their first book. It was against a GW employee who I won’t name as they get enough grief! His Great Unclean One had a -1 to hit within 12″ bubble. My shaman cast a spell on 60 Gitmob archers, who walked into the 12″ range, fired at the GUO and took it off! He was a little shocked but took it very well!
Ben’s Ghostlords Army
For someone looking to go to their first tournament, what advice would you give?
Declan: Definitely take the plunge. Let the TO and your opponents know it’s your first tournament. Take an army you know (don’t go for LRL net-list). Limit your warscrolls where possible. If you can bring 6 or fewer it gives you a chance of remembering the rules. Play the objectives!
Ben: Agreed
Looking at each others list, how would you try and defeat them?
Ben: You can’t ask us that we might play each other! But the short answer is throw Gotrek at him and shoot him a lot.
Declan: I think I probably have the advantage due to numbers here. If I can get on the objectives early it’s difficult to get me off them. Especially as Ben’s units flying in the boats don’t count as on the objective. I also just played Will with his KO and the grots can actually damage the units with shooting, and in combat. That said no doubt we’ll play now and Ben will rightly beat me!
Ben is one of the founding members of the Woehammer crew and also plays the character Grymar on the Curse of Strahd D&D playthrough.
I talked to him about how he got into the hobby and why he loves the Raptors so much.
Ben, top right as Grymar in Dunces & Dragons
Ok first question, when did you first get into wargaming?
I first got into wargaming when I was 12/13, so around 1998. It was after visiting the GW store on Oxford Street (London) for a friends birthday.
Did you get your parents to buy your first army while you were there then?
No, my first model was a Leman Russ tank for my birthday that year. After that it was Imperial Guard all the way.
Leman Russ tank! That’s an awesome first model! Do you still have the Guard army?
Unfortunately my older brother like Abaddon decided that Cadia must fall. He burnt all my minis and gaming board.
Wow! You never went back to them after that. Is that when you moved on to Marines? Also I hope your brother made up for that!
I had started to move away from warhammer at that point and wouldn’t return until 2019. He has since made up for destroying my minis by buying me copious amounts of paint so I’d call it even.
Good man! We all have that gap away from the hobby at some point. What brought you back?
My wife started to sell GW products in her shop around 2018. I was helping her with learning about the 40K side of things. After really getting into all the new lore I had missed I decided to start painting up a Deathwatch army so I could play again.
Ben’s Beautiful Bel’akor
And what made you interested in the raptors?
My Deathwatch army was made entirely of non primaris units. I wanted to keep the feel of the Deathwatch being an elite veteran chapter. While I was building and painting my Deathwatch army I would watch lore videos. That’s where I came across the Raptors, or as they’re also known, the Reasonable Marines.
I began to read more into the Raptors. They’re a successor chapter of the Raven Guard. The Raptors are know for being stealthy, using geurilla warfare and hit and run tactics. They are also prized marksmen. I felt this fit well into Phobos primaris units like infiltrators and Eliminators.
Some of Ben’s Raptors
What was the last game you played and against who?
The last game I played was a path to glory game of AoS against fellow Woehammerer Declan Waters. You can read his excellent write up on here.
Declan the baby faced assassin
What’s your most memorable gaming moment?
Haha, that has to be when my Chaos Lord on Karkadrak was down to his last wound and ended up killing my opponents Lord Kroak in one turn.
Was this against Orange Ben?
Yes it was. I should probably stop bringing it up…
No! You need to make the most of these memories.
Makes up for the battering I took from Declan.
The baby faced assassin!
Will be interesting to see what happens if him and orange Ben have a game.
What do you find the hobby gives you?
It’s surprised me how much I get out of the hobby. I really enjoy building and kit bashing models. I’ve found the painting to be massively therapeutic and has kept me reasonably sane through long stints of lockdown. It’s also an amazingly social hobby too. Not just the gaming element, but also chats over zoom while hobbying and meeting up for days out.
So apart from 40k what other games do you play?
During the first lockdown I started to build and paint a Slaves to Darkness army for AoS. Coming out of lockdown AoS has been the predominant game I’ve been playing. Ive also got into playing Dungeons and Dragons recently.
Ben’s Slaves to Darkness army
And hopefully we’ll be adventuring together again in the future! Ok time for a bit of a quiz. Name five GW games that aren’t AoS or 40k.
Necromunda, killteam, warcry, blood bowl, and trolling customers.
Magnus did nothing wrong. Yes or no?
It’s all his fault…
If you were to fall to chaos which power would you devote yourself to?
Blood for the blood god!!! Khorne all the way.
And the last one…. Ultramarines are…..?
Blue
Thanks to Ben for agreeing to be my first ‘subject’ in this series.
You can find Ben on Instagram here. Next week I’ll be talking to our very own Chaos Dave…
Welcome to Woehammer – have you noticed the lovely feeling of no adverts (ads), no pop-ups and no auto-playing videos? Well, that’s the norm here at Woehammer.
But this is only possible because of our wonderful Patreons. So, some articles over 1 year old will now display our Patreon request at the top of the article… like this one! Don’t worry, we are not adding ads – but if you can afford to donate to the site, we would definitely appreciate it.Membership is available from just £1/month (plus taxes!!)
Jervis Johnson officially retired from Games Workshop in July. As such I thought it was a great time to cover his career as a games designer, from his first game to his last and the impact he’s had on the hobby.
If you don’t know who Jervis Johnson is then this will introduce you to a man who has created many of the great games you know and love today.
Jervis joined Games Workshop as a trade sales assistant in 1982. During this time he started writing rules for Games Workshops’ own games in his spare time (them being the seller for dungeons and dragons in Europe.and not producing their own game of Warhammer Fantasy until 1983). What would become the first edition of Blood Bowl was produced in 1986, followed closely by Rogue Trader (the 1st edition of Warhammer 40k) in 1988.
During his time Jervis has designed or has been involved in the design of over 93 games and add-ons. Both for Games Workshop and other companies.
Many other companies have taken inspiration from some of Jervis Johnson’s games. Whether you know it or not, your favourite game has probably been worked on or has used inspiration from one of Johnson’s game.
Some of the games Mr Johnson has worked on
His retirement is well deserved, but the wargaming community is losing a true giant of the industry. Goodbye Jervis, and enjoy your retirement.
Why don’t you let us know in the comments below which of Jervis’ games was your favourite?
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