In Conversation with Jordan Sorcery

Tomas Rawlings in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.We talk about the culture, behaviours, and perceptions of the video game and tabletop gaming hobbies and industries. As an exceptional thinker on the nature of gaming Tomas has given TED talks, consulted across the video games industry, written tabletop games, and co-founded his own games studio, Auroch Digital, to push the boundaries of what games can mean.In more recent times Tomas and Auroch have adapted classic Games Workshop titles like Chainsaw Warrior and Dark Future for the video game market. And in their latest release they have taken the Warhammer 40,000 universe and refracted it through the lens of retro first person shooters with Boltgun.We cover enlightening topics about the past, the future, and the value of gaming in society.Tomas' Links:Auroch Digital Newsletter [https://aurochdigital.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=80f9f24ab53812fcb7ca58b1c&id=17641804d8]Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun [https://www.aurochdigital.com/warhammer-boltgun]Mars Horizon 2 [https://www.aurochdigital.com/mars-horizon-2]Jake & Dinos Chapman: How We Made Hell [https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jun/16/jake-and-dinos-chapman-how-we-made-hell]Playing at Democracy: Tomas Rawllings at TEDxHousesofParliament [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBHp5y-Idyk]Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/hJax1fYS2Ic

Padraig Murphy and Dominic McDowall in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.Dominic McDowall, CEO of Cubicle 7, and Padraig Murphy, producer of the WFRP 4 edition range, join me to about the development of the 4th edition of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.We talk about designing new supplements, updating old ones, the future of the range, and just a little bit about the recently announced The Old World RPG that is currently in development.Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/PtFRHlQH6JY

Steve Jackson in conversation with Jordan SorceryWe talk about founding Games Workshop in the 70s, starting White Dwarf, working with Bryan Ansell as his Citadel team created Warhammer, co-writing Fighting Fantasy with Sir Ian Livingstone, and creating cutting edge interactive storytelling over the phone with Steve Jackson's F.I.S.T (Fantasy Interactive Scenarios by Telephone!)This was a huge joy for me to film and a conversation I never thought I’d get to have - a magical opportunity for which I am very grateful. Thank you to Steve and to everyone who has supported the channel that has allowed me to do this work!Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/DiPHg4YKWAY

Mark Gibbons in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.Former Games Workshop artist and concept artist for Sony and Blizzard. Mark has had an extensive career creating dynamic, detailed, and amazing imagery for Warhammer, including memorable pieces like the box covers for Warhammer Fantasy 5th edition, the Circle of Blood campaign set, and the Man O’ War expansion Plaguefleet. Not to mention his countless black and white illustrations that graced the pages of Warhammer Armies books and 40k codexes.We talk about Mark’s incredible career working on Warhammer, 40k, World of Warcraft and much more. As well as discussing Games Workshop during the 90s and the way art is made.Mark's Links:Rookery Publications - YouTube [https://youtube.com/@TheRookery?si=h1QbkJzJ2m0oraH0]Rookery Publications - Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/InsideTheRookery]Dark Deeds - Modiphius [https://www.modiphius.net/pages/dark-deeds?utm_content=buffer1c080&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer]Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/0BIwmp0uPyc

Jonathan Green in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.We talk about a career working in science-fiction and fantasy IPs, novels, and gamebooks. Jonathan is credited on 8 gamebooks in the Fighting Fantasy series, wrote the definitive history of the series, has worked on several stories for the Black Library set in the 40k and Warhammer Fantasy worlds, including rare gamebook adventures in both!Jonathan has also created his own series of gamebooks that draw inspiration from classic literature like Dracula or Alice in Wonderland and give readers the chance to choose their own route through these famous stories.We had a terrific chat about the changes in fantasy writing over time, working with Games Workshop, and the art of gamebook writing.Jonathan Green's Links:Jonathan Green's Blog [https://jonathangreenauthor.blogspot.com/]Shakespeare vs Cthlhu [https://mailchi.mp/5d8ad4b0736c/shakespeare-vs-cthulhu]Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/rxf5DeOOeKM

James Wallis in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.James is the founder of Hogshead Publishing, the company that resurrected Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay first edition, refined it, expanded it, and kept it alive for a decade. And then he decided to shut down the successful company and walk away.We talk about why, his remarkable journey in the RPG industry, and what he learned from crafting some of the most innovative, award winning RPGs of the past 30 years.James Wallis Links:Ludonarrative Dissodents Podcast [https://www.ludonarrativedissidents.com/]James Wallis Website [http://www.jameswallis.com/]Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/bT-4f4eRvmM

Chris Pramas in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.After a career at Wizards of the Coast working on D&D, Alternity, and Chainmail, Chris Pramas co-founded independent RPG publisher Green Ronin and began releasing award winning and critically acclaimed TTRPGs like Mutants and Masterminds. And after that Chris was asked by Games Workshop to develop a brand new edition of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay for Black Industries that would explore the Old World in a way unlike any tried before.We talk about Chris' time for WOTC, his Dark Matter adventure The Killing Jar (a personal favourite of mine), his work with Green Ronin, and of course WFRP 2nd edition in a conversation filled with interesting insights, observations, and experiences from an influential career at the forefront of popular RPGs.Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]Valiant Adventures Kick Starter [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/greenroninpub/valiant-adventures-roleplaying-game]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/qoEgCKmrRSU

Dominic McDowall in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.The man behind the incredible homegrown success of UK RPG publisher Cubicle 7, Domininc McDowall has helped to rejuvenate the RPG marketplace with a broad range of well received and successful roleplaying games. Not only that, but he brought together the team that would reinvent and restore Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay to its rightful place as one of the best RPGs available.We talk about the evolution of Cubicle 7 as a company and RPG publisher, how the TTRPG industry has changed, and how Dominic came to be such an important figure in its development. Not only that, but we explore the history of WFRP 4th edition, the opportunities and challenges of updating a beloved game, and how things have developed over the life of the range.Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]Cubicle 7 [https://cubicle7games.com/]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/BK34Pgp9iKU

Tuomas in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.In my second conversation with Tuomas Pirinen (you can find my first interview exclusively on my Patreon) we talk about his work redefining Chaos in the Warhammer Old World, and beginning the journey to dividing the forces of the ruinous power by beast, warrior, daemon, and god. We also explored Tuomas' complete reinvention of the magic system for Warhammer Fantasy's 6th edition, a change that would give the game incredible new life and power it for it's next few editions.Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]Trench Crusade [https://www.facebook.com/trenchcrusadeofficial/]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/Xq6jekHssCA

Graeme Davis in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.One of the key game designers involved in the creation of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay and The Enemy Within campaign, Graeme Davis has long been an important voice in the TTRPG industry.Graeme talks with me about the early culture and ways of working at Citadel and Games Workshop under Bryan Ansell, how things changed over time, the end of Flame Publications, and a litany of other fascinating topics from the beginning of Warhammer.Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]MythWalker - Nant Games [https://nantgames.com/]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/BK34Pgp9iKU

Johnny Fraser-Allen in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.After working as a conceptual and special effects artist at Weta Workshop on films like Steven Spielberg's BFG, Guillermo Del Toro and then Peter Jackson's the Hobbit movies, and James Cameron's Avatar Johnny Fraser-Allen began making miniatures for gaming in the fantasy realms he loves so much.Working with Alessio Cavatore & Riverhorse Games Johnny designed the miniatures for the boardgame adaptations of Jim Henson's Labyrinth and Dark Crystal. As a lifelong Warhammer fan his work has been featured on Warhammer Community, and his incredible creations have regularly appeared on Adam Savage's Tested.And all of that is before the creation of his 20-year-in-the-making magical world of The Gloaming. A folktale and fae inspired fantasy world drawing on European and Antipodean myths & legends, filled with incredible creatures, and perhaps one of the most immersive game settings ever devised. A full-size tour of The Gloaming has been produced by Weta with narration by Stephen Fry, and Johnny has been working on a series of campaigns to release 28mm scale miniatures and printable STLs for the denizens of this otherworldly place.Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/iVcVl3uidWM

Rick Priestley in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.The creator of 40k and Warhammer Fantasy, Rick Priestley in conversation! Rick Priestley and his school friend Richard 'Hal' Halliwell created Warhammer Fantasy for Bryan Ansell at Citadel in 1983. After that Rick worked on 5 more editions of Fantasy, as well as Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, countless other games, and of course, also invented Warhammer 40,000.With a lifetime of experience creating some of the greatest tabletop games in history it was my privilege to talk with Rick Priestley about how everything began, what it was like to work at Citadel and Games Workshop in the early days, and how things evolved.Due to some technical issues with the video I have annotated several portions of our conversation with images from the archives - illustrating the games, people, and places that Rick describes in wonderful detail. And if you want to see even more there is an extended version of my conversation with Rick available exclusively on my Patreon.Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/RkJIx5lRyVE

Sir Ian Livingstone in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.Along with a couple of friends Sir Ian Livingstone founded Games Workshop in 1975 to sell wooden toys and games. Within a few years they had become the exclusive European distributor of TSR’s Dungeons & Dragons, had been offered a merger by Gary Gygax, launched White Dwarf magazine, and started producing their own board games.In our conversation we cover those early years, the creation of Citadel Miniatures and partnership with Bryan Ansell ahead of the arrival of Warhammer. And we go on to explore the origin of Fighting Fantasy and Sir Ian’s transition into the world of video games.Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/TO8mQPPqQ04

Jim Butler in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.Jim  worked at Games Workshop for 30 years holding a variety of management and leadership positions. Working under Bryan Ansell, Tom Kirby, and Kevin Rountree Jim was responsible for developing the GW management trainee programme and academy, leading the design studio for a number of years, and ultimately taking on the role of head of e-commerce for the company.Amongst the many and varied experiences during his career Jim helped build the Games Workshop and Forge World web stores and we talk about the approach taken as well as what may have influenced the most recent update to Warhammer.com. We also touch on a wide range of stories, from the development of Mordheim to the cultural shifts in the business over the years.Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/lIwvlOzF4io

Alan Merrett in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.Alan has held many roles in his 36 year career at Games Workshop; starting as a caster at Citadel in the early days of the company and ending as the Head of Intellectual Property for the international hobby mega-corp that GW had become by 2016.Over that period Alan was involved in some of the most significant business decisions in the company's history, helping to influence the creation and evolution of the Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000 universes, even pitching the concept for what would become Age of Sigmar.In our conversation we talk about the beginning of 40k and the development of Warhammer Fantasy into a more accessible product. The way in which the culture of GW changed over time, and the countless inflection points in the creation, expansion, and destruction of some of the greatest gaming worlds ever devised.Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/eSgtqUCTpi0

In Conversation with Jordan Sorcery brings to podcast feeds all of the amazing interviews that Jordan has recorded with the most important figures in the history of Games Workshop, Warhammer, and tabletop gaming.Featuring interviews with Rick Priestley, Andy Chambers, Gav Thorpe, Alessio Cavatore, Sir Ian Livingstone, Steve Jackson, and many more!Settle in and listen to stories and insights about the history Games Workshop and tabletop gaming from the people who lived it!

Gav Thorpe in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.Gav has worked on innumerable games, supplements, and stories at GW for Warhammer Fantasy, Warhammer: 40,000, Warhammer Quest, Inquisitor, Battlefleet Gothic, and just about everything else released by Workshop in the early 2000s!As one of the designers who resurrected the Citadel Journal, helped develop Tau and Sisters of Battle for 40k, created Inquisitor, and continues to write  countless novels and adventures for Black Library Gav Thorpe has impacted the games and worlds of Games Workshop in a way that few can rival.We chat about developing Warhammer Quest, designing 40k, telling stories in Warhammer Fantasy, and the evolving culture and business of Games Workshop. It's a good one!Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/H9HOrVuRiYU

Mark Wells in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.We explore a period of incredible change in the organisation as it shifts from the 90s approach of 2 core games (Warhammer Fantasy & Warhammer 40,000) with specialist games like Gorka Morka, Necromunda, and Mordheim alongside them, to the 2000s focus on 3 core systems - Warhammer Fantasy Battle, 40K, and the Lord of the Rings.During Mark's tenure at the company there were many exciting, challenging, and at times controversial decisions, changes, and products. This was the era that saw the rise of the internet, the legal wrangles with Chapter House, the end and then return of the boxed game (and one of the best GW ever made in Space Hulk 3rd edition), the introduction of one-man retail stores, and a host of other inflection points in the story of Games Workshop.Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/jh3o-BkXpNw

Andy Chambers in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.Andy Chambers was lead designer, AKA the Overfiend, for 40K 3rd Edition and was arguably the person most responsible for evolving it into the foundations of the modern game.Starting with White Dwarf articles for Space Marine & Adeptus Titanicus, writing Battle Magic and Warhammer Armies: Skaven for Fantasy Battle, and then leading the development of 40K and working on at least 12 Codex books! And that's not to mention Necromunda, Battlefleet Gothic, and Gorka Morka. Plus more recently the 2000AD and Judge Dredd games for Warlord Games.Andy and I talk about his career at Games Workshop, the art of developing 40K and other GW classics, and his more recent work on new games like Judge Dredd.Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/HLTpV3_Mekc

Alessio Cavatore in conversation with Jordan Sorcery.Alessio has designed countless games in his remarkable tabletop career. At Games Workshop he worked on a host of Armies Books before taking over as design lead for Lord of the Rings: Strategy Battle Game, Warhammer Fantasy Battles, and Warhammer 40,000.Since leaving Games Workshop Alessio has contributed extensively to games like Bolt Action from Warlord Games and Kings of War from Mantic. He has also founded his own company, River Horse Games, to develop board game adaptations of classic movies like Labyrinth, Highlander, and the Hunger Games.We talk about his game design philosophy, the culture and changes at Games Workshop over the years, and reflections working on some of the most important games in tabletop history.Support my work:Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/jordansorcery]Element Games Affiliate Link [https://elementgames.co.uk/?d=11216]Download my Fantasy Battle Scenario: Dead King Wenceslas [https://jordansorcery.itch.io/dead-king-wenceslas]Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/jordansorcery]Discord [https://discord.gg/vtjKzTGevD]This episode was originally released via YouTube: https://youtu.be/5ZqlaS-xQaA