If you want to shoot 3d4 magic missiles and colorful sprays of light from your hands, you play D&D. If you want to burst open the heads of your enemies like ripe melons with the psychic equivalent of the Tsar Bomba, you play Warhammer 40K. Warhammer’s worldbuilding has become stunningly well-developed over the past thirty years, from the galaxy-spanning star maps down to the chapter-specific patterns on a Space Marine’s knee armor. Only the minds of tabletop wargaming hobbyists could create a universe this minutely detailed—and then take joy in painting every centimeter of it. I’ve been talking about fantasy … Continue reading The Magic of Warhammer 40K