The Wargames Orchard
by wargamesorchard
A Warhammer Fantasy podcast dedicated to exploring the game in a whole new way! We discuss rules, armies, and units from 5th to 8th edition, while working to make our rule sets and scenarios. Listeners will also find plenty of lore, news, and hobby talk. Take a walk back in the Old World with us!
Episodes
-
Old World and new podcast
I've got good news, and bad news, which may turn out to be good news as well. This will be the final Wargames Orchard episode for the foreseeable future. Because of practical reasons to do with time zones and dependence, GJ is going rogue! The Warhammer Fantasy through the editions reviews will…
more -
News & Hobby update
What do you do when you don't have time to prepare an actual episode? Record a few random ramblings when painting and slap a title on it, of course! If you're looking for a more professional approach, you might think of this as an official Wargames Orchard news and hobby update. But if you were...
-
The old, the new, and the Giant bowling alley
Whether you are over the moon that the old Bretonnia plastic kits are coming back, or ready to burn your miniatures (again) because the base sizes are increasing, we can all agree on one thing: Warhammer 1st edition is its whole own level of awesomeness! This episode we take a look at three 1983...
-
Magic, characters, and magic characters
GJ continues his journey to the beginning of time - or at least the beginning of Warhammer Fantasy - with a look at the role-playing elements of the game found in the 2nd and 3rd volume of the First Edition box set: Magic and Characters. Although perhaps that should have been Characters and…
more -
First edition first-timer
It has begun! The die is cast! The Rubicon is crossed! There is no turning back! Get ready for a journey through 8 editions of Warhammer Fantasy Battles, starting this episode with the very first book of the very first edition, in which GJ gives an overview of how the game is played. Oh, yeah…
more -
(Semi) random ramblings
GJ has got new toys: 3d printers! Since he is now an expert (cough, cough), he'll tell you all about it while painting some Minotaurs. Yes, it's that time of the week again where, mostly due to life happening, there was no time to prepare for an actual episode. But we'll make up for it next week....
-
Big, bad and for hire
We've got Old World news! And it seems very difficult at this time for GW to please us, because Grumpy GJ makes a special appearance today. To lighten the mood, we'll look at some big friendly Giants for the Dogs of War, as well as a big, rather unfriendly Dragon for the same faction. These big...
-
Expensive Free Companies
There is one Warhammer kit you can't live without as an Empire player: the Militia set. Want to make Free Companies? Militia set! Archers? Crossbowmen? Militia Set! Zombie Pirates? Warriors of Ulric? Militia set! Going to Mordheim? Don't forget to pack your coat... and your Militia set! Join GJ…
more -
(Don’t) PANIC!!!
If there's one book the creators of Warhammer haven't drawn inspiration from, it's the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. On its cover are the words "Don't Panic" in large, friendly letters. But any Warhammer unit (well, except for those nasty immune to psychology guys) can, and most likely will,...
-
Old World News: Settra Does Not Serve!
Nathan breaks down the latest Warhammer: The Old World dev diary on the Tomb Kings and speculates on some important information within! As a bonus, he's not even grumpy about this article!
-
Hobby & Chat with GJ
Some episodes are meticulously planned and written. This is not one of them. Join GJ as he discusses the newest Fantasy related releases from Games Workshop and just talks hobby. How to make an army list that will lose you the battle? GJ knows. How to keep making the same mistake when modelling?…
more -
Daemon come, Daemon go (will you let them go?)
Imagine you are one (or two) of the most powerful, most favoured Daemons in the Realm of Chaos. Mortals tremble at the very sound of your name. You are second only to your dark god. The Warhammer World is at the tips of your fingers (or claws, or wings). And then... sixth edition happens and…
more -
Old World News & New Years Resolutions
Nathan and GJ get together for a grab bag episode featuring Nathan's holiday disaster, a new Warhammer the Old World article, hobby new years resolutions, and some sneaky Beastmen Talk. *Due to technical difficulties Nathan's audio was captured through the wrong microphone. We apologize for the...
-
Stegado’s and Stegadon’ts
A major philosophical question is not how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, but how many Skinks you can fit onto your Stegadon. Join GJ as he explores these and other pressing matters (or, to use the technical term, ramblings) while talking about the evolution of the Stegadon from…
more -
On the streets of Praag
The siege of Praag is one of the most dramatic events of the Great War against Chaos. The horrors unleashed upon the people of the city gave the citizens of the Old World a glimpse as to what awaited them should armies of Chaos stand victorious. This week enjoy three selected tales from siege of...
-
Warhammer’s Missing Monsters
Warhammer is known to have a few monsters here and there. If you think hard you could probably picture one or two. Here at the Orchard we think there's room for more monsters! This week we're going to look at some classic monsters that are sadly absent from Warhammer Fantasy and see where we can...
-
Dreaming of a White Dwarfmas
A slightly grumpy GJ is reconsidering his faith and so there is only one logical conclusion: talk about the White Dwarf. Because if you look really hard, squint with both eyes and cover one of them with a fancy eyepatch just like Gotrek's, there is a very definite sort-of link between Grombrindal...
-
New Warhammer Fantasy / Old World Releases (Sort Of)
There's a slew of new stuff from Games Workshop, so Nathan and GJ are pretty sure it can all work for Warhammer Fantasy. Join us for a breakdown of the new models and Battleforces that Fantasy fans can use to bolster their forces. Also GJ has an fun announcement for our Patreon members!
-
Old World Grumblings and Man O’ War
It's the return of Nathan, we don't remember him, but he insists he used to host this show. This week we catch up on some hobby talk, including Army Painter's Speed Paints. Then that Nathan guy gets grumpy about the last Old World update, finally we finish with Man O' War!
-
Like a brass bull in a china shop
Join GJ as he delves (or gores, or gauges, or slashes) deeply into the history of the mighty Minotaurs, both in Warhammer Fantasy and the original iteration hidden away below the palace of king Minos on Crete. Is there truth to the legend? We sure hope so! But not so much if the Minotaurs take on...
-
Who’s a good boy...?
Happy Halloween! Or not, if you happen to run into a 3rd edition intelligent Dire Wolf. Fortunately they are rare and disappear when the sun comes up. Not so the later iterations, which are very much no longer dead anymore and may or may not hit harder or more often on the charge. If you want to...
-
Border Princes Bash
Join GJ on a paint ramble - although this one is a lot more structured than the last one! Topic of discussion is the scenarios for the upcoming 5th edition campaign on the first ever Dutch Oldhammer Con this weekend. Prepare for drunken Giants, wild magicks, and Skink-infested jungles. All of…
more -
Swing low, sweet skeleton chariot
Ladies and gentlemen, Goblins of all ages, we finally have some Old World news. Well, Old World concept art. But one of those is a lovely Tomb Kings chariot which inspired GJ to take a deep dive into the chariots of the Undead and Tomb Kings, whether they are made of bone, wood, or reanimated...
-
Hopping around the Realm of Chaos
Are you ready to dip your toes, or hooves, which may or may not turn into kangaroo legs, into the Realm of Chaos? As if organizing and participating in a painting challenge isn't enough, GJ wants to model up a Beastman hero with a bunch of random gifts and attributes taken straight out of the...
-
Looks like manflesh is back on the menu
They are the biggest, the best, the brawliest and the most well-traveled Ogres: Maneaters! Join GJ as he looks at the Ogre Maneaters in all their various (ahem) iterations, as well as the long and rich history of Mr. Maneater himself: Golgfag. Or Golfag, depending on... reasons, maybe? Empty your...
-
King Arthur and the Knights of... Bretonnia?
This week we take a look at the stories, histories, myths and legends on which everyone's favourite noble nation of Knights is based. Much of the general aspects of Bretonnia are derived from the legends of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Some parts of these legends have been…
more -
Episode 100: A Dark Omen
We made it to one hundred episodes! That seems like a lot. To celebrate the accomplishment, Nathan and GJ get together and wax nostalgically about one of the greatest Warhammer video games of all time: Dark Omen. It's a wonderfully realized journey into the Old World with the Grudgebringer...
-
Old Man Yells At Lizards: A History Of Cold One Knights
It was bound to happen. Nathan was left on his own and now we have a whole episode dedicated to his love / hate relationship with Dark Elf Cold One Knights. At least he spends most of the episode charting the evolution of these lizard riding elves from 3rd to 8th edition Warhammer Fantasy. There…
more -
Quit Hitting Yourself: The History of Empire Flagellants
Bad things happen in the Warhammer World. Sometimes your family gets eaten by Orcs, or Beastmen, or Ogres. Maybe instead they were stolen away by pale faced nobles in the night, or carried off by giant rat-men that no one believes actually exist. Whatever horrible fate befell your loved ones...
-
Rolling out the big guns
Do you hear that, in the distance? Is it thunder? Is it Grom the Paunch racing his chariot over the cobbled streets of Nuln? No, it's the explosive conclusion of our two part deep dive into the gunpowder powered section of the Imperial armoury. Join GJ as he takes a look at the rules for…
more -
The little Engineer that could
Join GJ as he explores the history of Nuln, a city renowned for its engineers and gunpowder contraptions in the first of this two-part episode on Empire gunpowder weapons. From the short-lived (both literally and figuratively) Nipponese grenades of 3rd edition to the famed and feared Hochland…
more -
Campaigns of Legend part 6: Why should 5th have all the good packs?
Have you ever thought: "I love those 5th edition campaign packs but I don't play 5th? Why are they not also playable in 6th?" If that's you, then look no further than this episode. GJ interviews friend of the show Andreas from Germany who will tell you all about the 6th edition based, fan-made...
-
Fanning the Flame
Join GJ as he takes a deep-dive into the lore and evolution of the most useless - er - most noble of all the High Elves, the Phoenix Guard. From the fearsomely silly reason for causing fear to the actual Phoenixes of 8th edition - that don't really need guarding - to the special and…
more -
Big Tough Warhammer Questions
It's time to choose! This week Nathan is put through the wringer as he's got to make tough choices between some of his favourite Warhammer factions, gods, vampires, and more. You can play along at home, but make sure you don't get any of these totally subjective questions wrong!
-
Campaigns of Legend Part 5: The Treasured Elven Pastime of Fratricide!
In this finale of our look at the legendary boxed campaigns of 5th Edition Warhammer Fantasy, GJ takes you to Ulthuan to share a story about two brothers who want nothing more than to murder each other. The High Elves and Dark Elves clash in a tale of treachery, violence, and envy that tears a...
-
You got your Lord of The Rings all over my Warhammer!
Apparently people who love Warhammer Fantasy also love Lord of the Rings! Who would have guessed that? Nathan and GJ sure love them both, and on this episode they talk about the good and bad of the LoTR influence on Warhammer, what things they might steal from LoTR to add to Warhammer, and which…
more -
Bonus Episode: Paint & Chat with GJ
Join GJ for an evening paint session In this experimental bonus episode. Settle in and paint some models of your own while GJ talks you through his High Elf project and whatever else comes to mind! Apologies for the audio on this episode, there were some issues with the recording. Please imagine...
-
Marvellous Mummy Magics!
Gather round young Liches, Grand Hierophant GJ is here to relate the great history of Tomb King Magic from 4th Edition all the way up to the End Times. It's time to unearth a few of Warhammer Fantasy's lesser known magical lores. Chart the great magics of the undying dynasties, Starting with…
more -
Campaigns of Legend Part 4: The Fast and The Chivalrous
Get ready for a Perilous Quest as GJ takes you on a tour of this gallant Warhammer Fantasy campaign. Get ready for tournaments, sneaky elves, and a lot of chivalry. Seriously, a lot of chivalry. You've been warned. it's not our fault if you get caught up in the story and immediately ride off on a...
-
Sauron VS Nagash, Dressing Up As Mummies, & Beastmen Artillery.
Nathan and GJ are back together this week to bring you serious Warhammer talk. Would Sauron survive the Warhammer World? Is Athel Loren scarier than the Chaos Wastes? Can you wrap yourself in toilet paper and call it a Settra cosplay? These questions and more answered in this enlightening episode!
-
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Warhammer: Kings of War
We start off this week's episode talking about some changes coming to the Wargames Orchard. Then it's on to a Review of Kings Of War, the game of fantasy battles. Hmm, that last bit sounds a bit familiar... How does Kings of War feel to a life long Warhammer Fantasy player? Tune in to find out!
-
Campaigns of Legend Part 3: Circle Of Blood
The Red Duke has risen, and with him come a legion of the restless dead! Only the brave knights of Bretonnia can hope to challenge this wicked vampire and return peace to the land. GJ's back to break down Circle of Blood. One of the wonderful boxed campaigns from 5th edition. Learn all about the...
-
Scourge of the Drakwald
Beastlord Khazrak may only have one eye, but that doesn't stop him from raising War-hounds, and raising hell. With a magic whip and a hoard of beasts at his back, he'll take back the Drakwald for the true children of chaos! Join us as we look at Khazrak One Eye from 5th-7th edition.
-
Can we see the future of Warhammer: The Old World by looking at the new Horus Heresy releases?
What can the new Horus Heresy release tell us about GW's approach to Warhammer? Nathan think's there's good and bad omens afoot in GW's latest game revamp. Plus join us for two stories about servants of the Chaos gods as they get up to mischief and mayhem!
-
Campaigns of Legend Part 2: Does that rock look like an Orc to you?
We've always liked Gork! He's big, mean, and green, and that's everything you could ask from an Orc God! You could maybe say that we idolize him... GJ is back with another deep dive into the glorious boxed campaigns of Warhammer Fantasy! This week it's Idol of Gork, where the forces of the Empire...
-
Play It Forward!
When editions change in Warhammer, some units are sadly left behind. We say no more! In this episode we update some lost units from 3rd-5th edition to fit in with the later eras of Warhammer Fantasy. It's time to bring back our Mummies, Whelp Masters, and Sneaky Gits!
-
Wings Of Fury: The History Of Warhawk Riders
Nathan's recently discovered how much he likes birds! In light of this important news, we now bring you the History of Wood Elf Warhawk Riders! From their odd spiritual predecessors in 3rd, all the way to their armour piercing, killing blow glory days of 8th. We look at a unit that was markedly...
-
Let’s Build A Chaos Goblin Gang?
Goblins. Yeah! Goblins! But with crazy mutations, and weird magic swords, and maybe one of them is sort of a robot... We've ventured back into the 3rd edition Realm of Chaos books to build Gary, The Goblin Champion of Chaos, and his all goblin retinue of Terry, Barry, and Larry. This time the…
more -
Campaigns of Legend Part 1: Does anyone know a good Dwarven marriage councilor?
It's two episodes for the price of one this week! Join GJ as he introduces you to the legendary boxed campaigns of 5th edition. Their names alone can send hobbyists into fits of nostalgic bliss: Grudge of Drong, Idol of Gork, Perilous Quest, Tears of Isha and Circle of Blood. GJ then explores the...
-
Always Judge A Book By It’s Cover
Warhammer Art has gone through several styles and re-imaginings throughout the eras. The Cartoony brilliance of the Herohammer era, the grim dark of 6th, and the brooding colours of 8th all contribute to the look and feel of the Warhammer world. This week we're having some fun discussing the art…
more
About this show
A Warhammer Fantasy podcast dedicated to exploring the game in a whole new way! We discuss rules, armies, and units from 5th to 8th edition, while working to make our rule sets and scenarios. Listeners will also find plenty of lore, news, and hobby talk. Take a walk back in the Old World with us!
Hosted by
wargamesorchard
Categories