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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 12h

If you see this, post a vampire that isn't Dracula. "Cast out of the Vampire’s Tower for his crimes, the Vampire is ready to begin his bloody reign over the land of Talisman..." store.steampowered.com/app/1287580/... @nomadgames.co.uk @talismanisland.bsky.social

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Carl Critchlow was a noted artist who gained prominence for his work with Games Workshop in the 1980s and beyond. An appreciation thread! Carl contributed towards Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader itself with pages 224-228 is a guide to the ‘Lost Worlds’

Page 226 close-up from Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader, photo by myself

pages 226-227 from Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader, photo by myself

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

So I’d written about the first Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine before, which I’d assumed was the first ever Games Workshop Space Marine, but turns out that accolade goes to ‘Doctor Who: The Game of Time & Space’ from 1980.

Photo of a counter from Doctor Who: The Game of Time & Space reading ‘Space Marine’

Photo of the cover of Doctor Who: The Game of Time & Space by patrickjgale/ebay showing Tom Baker as the Doctor.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

John Blanche: visionary artist, a giant in the creative development of Games Workshop, Warhammer indeed gaming in general. RIP exploringwarhammer.substack.com/p/rip-john-b...

The cover of White Dwarf 108 showing two huge Titans under fire, by John Blanche. It shows infantry fighting underneath the giant feet of titans.

The cover of White Dwarf issue 4 from the end of 1977. Art by John Blanche showing a stylized warrior fighting a smaller flying creature.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This is why elections matter: Good news from the UK as the goverment puts £30M into community renewable energy projects. . www.gov.uk/government/n... #ClimateChange

Image with text - GBE announces £30m for community energy

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

If you play games, do the indie dev folks who create them a favour and review the game! Here's more on how and why - nomadgames.co.uk/blog/how-to-... #IndieDev #Gaming

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Such a fun, goofy model. This is also painted very well! Context: This is Limited Edition (LE) 17 - Chaos Toilet from Jan 1987 & White Dwarf 86. All the LEs - exploringwarhammer.substack.com/p/the-most-f... Here's another take on it by siewake, via Reddit.

Chaos tiolet minature painted in blue and red.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

A Key Document in the History of Warhammer 40,000: White Dwarf 82 exploringwarhammer.substack.com/p/a-key-docu... Taking a look at White Dwarf 82 (October 1986) which promoted the new Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play game, the 2nd #Warhammer title to launch! (the 3rd being 40k Rogue Trader)

the cover of White Dwarf 82 showing a party of adventurers clashing with a group of monsters. Art by John Sibbick

the promotional page of White Dwarf 82 showing the introduction to Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. Photo by author of WD 82

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

@bristolgameshub.bsky.social, Bristol University's Bristol Digital Game Lab & @waterstones.bsky.social Bristol are hosting noted games author @georgeosborn.bsky.social talking about his new book, Power Play. [1/2] Tickets here - www.waterstones.com/events/power...

The cover of power play showing a hex style world map

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

The classic RT01 range of Space Marines. This image is from White Dwarf issue 99.

An advert for the RT01 range of space marines.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Trying something new with my climate newsletter! An interview with Tim Christophersen, author of ‘Generation Restoration’ about how to restore nature at scale climatehopium.substack.com/p/an-intervi... #ClimateChange

Image of Tim Christophersen with title text over it.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Such an iconic image. The Conan The Adventurer book cover art by Frank Frazetta really created the template for a ‘Barbarian’ warrior that has inspired so many since! More here: exploringwarhammer.substack.com/p/conan

Conan The Adventurer cover art by Frank Frazetta. A muscled warrior stands on a pile of war debris with a female character at his feet and death all around.

The cover of HeroQuest showing a party of adventurers with a muscled barbarian warrior in the foreground, hefting a sword to attack his foes. Source lesedwards.com

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I predicted back in 2024 that this push would fail. And it has. "1) the economics are against him and 2) he’s going to pick people for jobs on the basis of loyalty not competence 3) The rest of the world (and some US states) will keep moving forwards.." climatehopium.substack.com/p/the-powerf...

headline from FT reading, "Donald Trump’s US coal revival push fails to reverse fuel’s long decline"

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

There have been many, many amazing banners from the Rogue Trader era. Here's Eldar and Ork ones from 1988's Book of the Astronomican.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The Stuff of Legends book published by Warlord Games is a treasure trove of amazing minis. Here's the Adventurers page. Back then Citadel made 3-packs that had the stages of an RPG character - where the model changed as the adventurer level increased! exploringwarhammer.substack.com/p/citadel-mi...

A page of adventurer minis from the Stuff of Legends book pg. 112.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

A fantastic paint job of a classic minature - the Solitaire (8) from RTB6 Harlequins - WD106 (Oct 88). I cover the Harlequins a bit more as the danced into Rogue Trader here - exploringwarhammer.substack.com/p/time-for-t...

Advert showing the minature no. 8 of RTB6 Harlequins - WD106 (Oct 88) - Source Stuff of Legends.

Advert showing the minatures of RTB6 Harlequins - WD106 (Oct 88) - Source Stuff of Legends.

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Reposted by Dr Tomas Rawlings

Nomad Games @nomadgames.co.uk · 08/09/2026

Today is your last chance to grab some awesome deals on our entire library of games over on Steam! Whether you're grabbing that last missing DLC expansion or picking up something from our back-catalogue, go take a look before the sale is over: store.steampowered.com/curator/3294...

store.steampowered.com

Nomad Games Publisher Sale - 2026

Save up to 75% on Talisman, Fury of Dracula, Mystic Vale, and more during the Nomad Games Publisher Sale!

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Unleash renewables to generate clean energy and help farms and nature to thrive climatehopium.substack.com/p/unleash-re... Despite attempts to scare people out of supporting renewable projects, the evidence and reality are clear; it's a win-win-win for #climatechange, farmers and #nature.

A row of wind turbines is framed against the setting sun on a hill in Scotland. Photo by the author.

A Corn Bunting sitting on a branch, one of s brid species research shows has been helped by solar farms. Image by El Golli Mohamed - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

OMG the cover for my Warhammer 40,000 book is going to be amazing! A very kind and talented friend has stepped in to take it on. More to come! exploringwarhammer.substack.com/about

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

The image of the cockpit here inspired me to try to make one of the first video games I ever tried to create. With help from a friend and on the BBC Micro.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

There is something ugly & descriptive of where we are beyond immediate violence; a group of older baby-boomer men assault a young woman who was protesting the damage to a climate system they won’t live to see fully unfolded. They are at war with a future they can’t and don’t want to understand

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

August 1989 and as WD 116 appeared, as well as more Terminator articles, players got the Genestealer Cult army list too. [1/2]

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

The first cosmic horror book I ever read was Lurker at the Threshold by August Derleth/H.P.Lovecraft. Many years ago, I was playing D&D, heard about the Call of Cthulhu RPG and wanted to know more. Found Lurker at my local library and that started a lifelong love of weird/cosmic horror.

Cover to 1970 UK Panther edition of Lurker at the Threshold. Shows a man crouched down in anguish while strange things happen outside an open door.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I've been exploring Dark Future, so sharing some more of the cool art from the game. exploringwarhammer.substack.com/p/exploring-... Dark Future: Highway Warrior by Les Edwards. Cover for the main game box. Line drawing from inside the Dark Future rulebook, a machine gun armed gangcult member

Dark Future: Highway Warrior by Les Edwards. Cover for the main game box showing a gangcult warrior swerving away from a chasing Interceptor car, in combat.

Line drawing from inside the Dark Future rulebook showing a female machinegun armed gangcult member in front of an armed vehicle.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Exploring Dark Future as a multiverse connected to Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader\ exploringwarhammer.substack.com/p/exploring-... Part 2 of a look at the classic car combat game from Games Workshop and its connections (or not!) to the 40K Rogue Trader setting

Dark Future graces the cover of White Dwarf 103, July 1988. This shows a gangcult car speeding forward armed with spikes while an armed warrior pokes out of a shooting position on the car.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

April 1987 White Dwarf 88, Awesome Lies notes that Realm of Chaos, which it says will support WFB & WFRP, is due in October of 1987. Also in this issue Open Box covers the excellent Chainsaw Warrior by Stephen Hand. It also has some extra cards for the game. It is 6 months before 40K launches.

The cover of White Dwarf 88 showing a female warrior next to a slain dragon.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

There's a new Space Marine biker mini being released. Which reminded me of White Dwarf 96. Coming out not long after Rogue Trader launched & it started a regular column in support of 40K, Chapter Approved ... [1/2] www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articl... #Warhammer

The new miniature of a space marine on an armed and armoured bike.

A drawing of a Space Marine on a hover bike from White Dwarf 96, page 53.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Warhammer 40,000 Total War has a presence at Gamescom, this banner being outside one of the entrances

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

More Dark Future - minatures! An Interceptor car ready for battle (by Scifiwargamers) Dark Future Infantry / Dark Future Bikes - White Dwarf 105 (via Stuff Of Legends) More about our Dark Future.... of 1995... exploringwarhammer.substack.com/p/the-strang...

Dark Future Infantry / Dark Future Bikes - White Dwarf 105 (via Stuff Of Legends)

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The two power-armoured 'human renegades' sitting in front of a 'Smash the Empire' graffiti was such an evocative image that spoke of a far bigger universe than the words and pictures alone contained. Plus someone (Rogue Heresy) made a mini for the dude on the left!

Human renegade minature from Rogue Trader, by Rogue Heresy.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

The strange connections of Dark Future and #Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader While not canon that there is any connection, however there’s a couple of fun things that emerge when you drive down highway 666 exploringwarhammer.substack.com/p/the-strang...

Dark Future art by Les Edwards. A couple of Sanctioned Ops and their vehicles, are ambushed by a gangcult.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Ministry for the Future is a great book

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Stuff of Legends - Barbarians! One of the pages of the new book showcasing of the the amazing minatures collection of Richard Hale (RIP). The book is great and worth picking up IMHO. store.warlordgames.com/products/stu...

A page of minatures of barbarian warriors.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

A bit later than the OldHammer I often post, but still very cool. White Dwarf 288, December 2003 had the cover promoting the video game Fire Warrior. I played this on PlayStation and loved it! Note the guide to making level 1 as a scenery model; it shows how we design video game levels! [1/3]

Cover of issue 288 showing a Tau warrior kneeling on a pile of skulls.

From inside issue 288 showing how to make a physical game model of the first level of the game.

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Reposted by Dr Tomas Rawlings

Bristol Games Hub @bristolgameshub.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

🎉 Submit your game, interactive, immersive and art curios for the Strange Peripheral showcase this November in Bristol, UK docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

White Dwarf 103 (July 1988) has a Dark Future cover. As well as this we’ll see adverts for Rhinos and for Space Marines Rhino crew too. Plus there was also a guide to them in the article ‘Rampaging Rhinos’, Chapter Approved would update the vehicle rules from the base version in Rogue Trader. [1/2]

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Reposted by Dr Tomas Rawlings

Vote to Stop Reform @stopreform.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Our latest tactical voting advice to stop Reform: stopreformuk.vote Parliamentary by-election 13th Aug 2026 🗑️ Clacton = COUNT BINFACE Local by-elections 13th Aug 2026 🟠 Almondbury = LIB DEM 🟠 Honiton St Michael's = LIB DEM #Clacton #Huddersfield #Honiton

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

1985 was a major year for Games Workshop/Citadel - GW launched Warhammer Fantasy Battle 2nd Edition, Judge Dredd RPG, Fighting Fantasy plastic miniatures (so learning more about the material) [1/2]

Backing to the fighting fantasy Heroes packs showing all the characters. Source; https://fightingfantasy.fandom.com/

Judge Dredd RPG box cover. Source -eBay.

Warhammer fantasy battle 2nd edition cover showing a hammer-armed warrior fighting orcs.

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Dr Tomas Rawlings @tomasrawlings.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Some Dark Future art by John Blanche. Am thinking might write some more on the fan theories of Warhammer 40K to Dark Future?

A female road warrior stands near a damage car on the blood red sky.

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