John Peake co-founded Games Workshop in 1975 with his school- and flat-mates Steve Jackson and Sir Ian Livingstone. Together they would sell John’s handmade wooden games, publish Owl & Weasel fanzine, and battle to keep the company afloat in its first year.

Everything culminated in the first ever Games Day, followed shortly thereafter by John’s decision to leave the company as it pivoted towards Dungeons & Dragons and the emerging roleplaying boom.

This is John’s own account of the events that led to the founding of Games Workshop - a voice that has long been missing from the official record of events.

NOTE: At the 07:15 mark John mistakenly refers to the date as August '74, this should in fact be August '72.

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#GamesWorkshop #tabletop #boardgames #RPG #wargames

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Jordan Sorcery Theme by Joylin Music
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry by Becka Moor
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry and Theme copyright @jordansorcery

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Ronnie Renton, founder of Mantic Games, talks about his career starting with his time as a managing director at Games Workshop.

We explore some of the key business decisions behind Games Workshop's phenomenal growth in the 90s, how the culture of the company changed over time, and the challenges they faced. Then we talk the origins of Mantic, creating Kings of War and Dreadball, using Kickstarter, and how IPs like Worms and Halo have played a role in the company's success.

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[ ELEMENT GAMES AFFILIATE LINK ]
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#Mantic #KingesOfWar #Dreadball #Halo #GamesWorkshop #tabletop #boardgames #RPG #wargames #MiniatureGames

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References, Sources, and Links:

[MANTIC GAMES]
https://www.manticgames.com/

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Art, Music, and Copyright:

Images used belong to their respective copyright owners
Jordan Sorcery Theme by Joylin Music
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry by Becka Moor
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry and Theme copyright @jordansorcery

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Trench Crusade is a brand new skirmish wargame set in an alternate and hellish world war where demons walk the earth. Based on the world and art of Mike Franchina the game is currently going great guns on Kickstarter where it has already secured more than £1.5mn in support.

Mike has worked on Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay with Green Ronin, Warhammer Online with EA Mythic, Diablo for Blizzard, and Magic The Gathering for Hasbro. We talk about those experiences, his hobby history with Warhammer 5th edition, and how his influences and inspirations have helped to develop the Trench Crusade universe. Not just that, but what the future might hold for Trench Crusade.

[TRENCH CRUSADE KICKSTARTER]
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1405364378/trench-crusade

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[ ELEMENT GAMES AFFILIATE LINK ]
https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216

[ PATREON ]
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[ YOUTUBE CHANNELS ]
History & Editorial: https://youtube.com/ @jordansorcery
Longform Conversation: https://youtube.com/ @JordanSorceryPods

[ WEBSITE ]
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#TrenchCrusade #tabletop #boardgames #RPG #wargames #MiniatureGames

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References, Sources, and Links:

[MIKE FRANCHINA ARTSTATION]
https://www.artstation.com/sirfrancisdrake

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Art, Music, and Copyright:

Images used belong to their respective copyright owners
Jordan Sorcery Theme by Joylin Music
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry by Becka Moor
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry and Theme copyright @jordansorcery

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Mat Hart, co-founder and creative director at Steamforged Games, joins Jordan Sorcery to talk about the tabletop business, a career in video and table games, and planning the future of Warmachine and the Iron Kingdoms.

Over the past decade Steamforged Games have released original games like Guildball and licenced video game adaptations like Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and Resident Evil. Most recently they acquired the Iron Kingdoms IP and the miniature wargame Warmachine.

Mat Hart interview. Mat Hart in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.

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[ ELEMENT GAMES AFFILIATE LINK ]
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[ PATREON ]
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[ YOUTUBE CHANNELS ]
History & Editorial: https://youtube.com/ @jordansorcery
Longform Conversation: https://youtube.com/ @JordanSorceryPods

[ WEBSITE ]
https://jordansorcery.com/

#SteamforgedGames #Warmachine #IronKingdoms #DarkSouls #Guildball #boardgames #RPG #wargames

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References, Sources, and Links:

[STEAMFORGED GAMES WEBSITE]
https://steamforged.com/en-gb?srsltid=AfmBOopVuI8McF4hnqf1-GnM91IwtJrRyNWkKLKR8JUHe4twwJDXgrE6

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Art, Music, and Copyright:

Images used belong to their respective copyright owners
Jordan Sorcery Theme by Joylin Music
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry by Becka Moor
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry and Theme copyright @jordansorcery

Chats with influential, inspiring, prolific and community oriented folks.

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Author and former Games Workshop board member Peter Darvill-Evans in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.

Games Workshop and White Dwarf have a long history dating back to days before Warhammer Fantasy even existed. Under the tenure of co-founders Steve Jackson and Sir Ian Livingstone GW was the European importer of the new roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons, the UK publisher of multiple RPGs from companies like Chaosium, and the retailer for all manner of tabletop games and distractions.

By the mid-80s the founders would leave to concentrate on gamebook adventures for Fighting Fantasy, whilst a boardroom battle determined the order of succession and the shift for Games Workshop from selling everyone’s games, to focusing on their own creations manufactured in Nottingham.

My guest today joined Games Workshop in those early days, working in the first retail store before managing the entire retail operation. He contributed to White Dwarf, played in Ian & Steve’s band, wrote some Fighting Fantasy adventures of his own, created the Dr Who RPG and published many Dr Who books, and he was even a member of the board during that stressful succession.

Peter-Darvill Evans interview.

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PETER’S LINKS:

[PETER DARVILL-EVANS WEBSITE]
https://peterdarvillevans.com/

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JORDAN’S LINKS:

[ ELEMENT GAMES AFFILIATE LINK ]
https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216

[ PATREON ]
https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery

[ KO-FI ]
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[ YOUTUBE CHANNELS ]
History & Editorial: https://youtube.com/ @jordansorcery
Longform Conversation: https://youtube.com/ @JordanSorceryPods

[ WEBSITE ]
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#GamesWorkshop #FightingFantasy #WhiteDwarf #DrWho #tabletop #boardgames #RPG #wargames

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Art, Music, and Copyright:

Images used belong to their respective copyright owners
Jordan Sorcery Theme by Joylin Music
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry by Becka Moor
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry and Theme copyright @jordansorcery

Chats with influential, inspiring, prolific and community oriented folks.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

Advanced Fighting Fantasy Publisher Graham Bottley in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.

Fighting Fantasy gamebooks have had an incredible legacy - ever since that we found that Warlock at Firetop Mountain we’ve gone back into the dungeons, forests, cities, islands, and everything else that Fighting Fantasy has had to offer.

In the 80s there was an initial attempt to create a roleplaying game based on the world, adventures, and enemies from the gamebooks, but it wasn’t until Arion Games released a second edition of the RPG in 2011 that the system really took off.

My guest today is responsible for resurrecting the Advanced Fighting Fantasy RPG, commissioning, writing, and publishing the entire game line, and most recently creating a brand new Advanced Fighting Fantasy boardgame - Dark Dungeons. We talk about honouring the legacy of what has come before, the methods and approaches to building a new game in an old world, and the business of RPG publishing in the modern marketplace.

Advanced Fighting Fantasy Publisher Graham Bottley interview.

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GRAHAM’S LINKS:

[DARK DUNGEONS KICKSTARTER]
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2036759092/advanced-fighting-fantasy-dark-dungeons-the-boardgame

[ARION GAMES WEBSITE]
https://arion-games.com/

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JORDAN’S LINKS:

[ ELEMENT GAMES AFFILIATE LINK ]
https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216

[ PATREON ]
https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery

[ KO-FI ]
https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery

[ YOUTUBE CHANNELS ]
History & Editorial: https://youtube.com/ @jordansorcery
Longform Conversation: https://youtube.com/ @JordanSorceryPods

[ WEBSITE ]
https://jordansorcery.com/

#FightingFantasy #AdvancedFightingFantasy #tabletop #boardgames #RPG

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Art, Music, and Copyright:

Images used belong to their respective copyright owners
Jordan Sorcery Theme by Joylin Music
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry by Becka Moor
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry and Theme copyright @jordansorcery

Chats with influential, inspiring, prolific and community oriented folks.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

Former Warhammer author Josh Reynolds joins Jordan Sorcery to talk about working with the Black Library, how the End Times really went down, and the challenges & opportunities of writing fiction for settings like Warhammer Fantasy, Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar, Arkham Horror, and the Legend of the Five Rings.

Josh Reynolds has written some of the most iconic characters in Games Workshop’s world, including Gotrek, Felix, Nagash, Fabius Bile, and of course the Lord of the End Times Archaon, and we explore all of it!

Josh Reynolds author Interview. Josh Reynolds in conversation with Jordan Sorcery

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[ PATREON ]
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[ KO-FI ]
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[ YOUTUBE CHANNELS ]
History & Editorial: https://youtube.com/ @jordansorcery
Longform Conversation: https://youtube.com/ @JordanSorceryPods

[ WEBSITE ]
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#Warhammer #40k #Warhammer40000 #GamesWorkshop #BlackLibrary #Aos

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References, Sources, and Links:

[HUNTING MONSTERS - JOSH’S BLOG]
https://joshuamreynolds.co.uk/

[BLACK LIBRARY - JOSH REYNOLDS BIBLIOGRAPHY]
https://www.blacklibrary.com/authors/josh-reynolds

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Art, Music, and Copyright:

Images used belong to their respective copyright owners
Jordan Sorcery Theme by Joylin Music
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry by Becka Moor
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry and Theme copyright @jordansorcery

Chats with influential, inspiring, prolific and community oriented folks.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

Paul Hicks is a veteran miniatures sculptor with a wealth of experience in the act and art of sculpting. Having produced many historical and fantasy miniatures over the years, after first working in Games Workshop retail, we talk about the business of being an independent sculptor, creating new games like Bolt Action from scratch, and the techniques behind making miniatures.

Paul Hicks miniature sculptor interview. Paul Hicks in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.

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[ ELEMENT GAMES AFFILIATE LINK ]
https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216

[ PATREON ]
https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery

[ KO-FI ]
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[ YOUTUBE CHANNELS ]
History & Editorial: https://youtube.com/ @jordansorcery
Longform Conversation: https://youtube.com/ @JordanSorceryPods

[ WEBSITE ]
https://jordansorcery.com/

#Sculpting #Historicals #Wargames #Fantasy #BaronsWar #GamesWorkshop
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References, Sources, and Links:

[BARON’S WAR FANTASY]
https://orc-vs-elves-28mm-fantasy-miniatures.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders

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Art, Music, and Copyright:

Images used belong to their respective copyright owners
Jordan Sorcery Theme by Joylin Music
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry by Becka Moor
Jordan Sorcery Heraldry and Theme copyright @jordansorcery

Chats with influential, inspiring, prolific and community oriented folks.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show