Rick Priestley on Warhammer Fantasy Battle 1st-3rd Editions (Part 1 of 2)

I had the pleasure of visiting Rick Priestley at his home and chatting with him on the creation and development of Warhammer Fantasy Battle! In this video we cover the very early days of the game, and what was going on behind the scenes with the company.
There will be a part 2 of this interview, covering 4th-6th edition fantasy.
Please do like, subscribe and share with anyone who might be interested.
My instagram: @Filmdegminiatures
These videos were made in my spare time, and if you wish to pop a donation my way to help support me it'd be greatly appreciated:
Paypal: PayPal.Me/Filmdeg
Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoff....
/ filmdegminiatures

[@rickpriestley4569]

Many thanks for letting me ramble on and apologies if I misremembered a few details on the spur of the moment - Elric rpg was - of course - Stormbringer and not White Wolf! Doh!

[@MossyMenhir]

Thank you for making our lives more fun!

[@BlastastiC]

@@MossyMenhir hear hear! Thank you Rick - Warhammer has been such a positive in my life!

[@Rusty_beauandyankee]

I still remember the feeling I had looking at the shelves filled with boxes of minis 26+ years ago. Warhammer has always been a part of my life in some way, shape or form ever since. Thank you for that, and as ya'll say across the pond... Cheers!

[@earlofsandwich7884]

Dude ramble all you want. I've been obsessed with Warhammer / 40K for around 30 years.

[@Filmdegminiatures]

No need to say sorry @rickpriestley4569 ! You did well to go into as much detail as you did pretty much just on the fly! Was great to be able to meet you :)

[@SilverSword1]

The actual, true original source of all Warhammer and 40K. Speculation about the creation and meaning of these universes is pointless, since you can hear the words from the origination himself. Thank you Rick, without you our hobby and the fantasy worlds we love and know simply would not exist!

[@thelonelybolter8245]

I cannot described how PUMPED I am that warrhammer history is becoming its own sub niche sub genre on youtube.

[@jamieclifford5491]

Enjoy getting pumped 😂

[@MariusGage]

Rick deserves so much more than whatever he got for his creations.

[@darthcheese7971]

Never get bored of hearing the great one talk.

[@Zalintis]

"The unit needed rules and it was almost 5pm" feels to me like GW has kept this design tradition alive!

[@dirtyhandskev]

Can you also hit Rick back up and get him to finish explaining how the rest of the combat resolution in 3rd goes??? Curious minds want to know 😂

[@benrositas8068]

What I miss most about the oldest Oldhammer editions is that beastmen used to be truly chaotic, not just goat/ram like they are in every other wargame now. Beastmen were a chaotic mix of canines, bears, birds, turtles, _fish_, and I believe there was even a camel-man or something like it! Did make painting up a regiment rather tedious, though. I suppose that's why they streamlined the beastmen.

[@adrian.k1982]

No Warhammer Fantasy without this man :)

[@ObjectiveAnalysis]

And 40K

[@NuisanceFlute]

I cannot stress enough how much I love Rick and what an influence he’s had in my life. I’m an illustrator and animator now and my work would not be the same without him and John Blanche.

[@chaz32]

I played Rick at Warmaster once. I was about 13 - he won. Not surprising, really seeing as he wrote it.

[@TechnicolorDave]

What was he like?

[@chaz32]

@@TechnicolorDave As you see here but 20 years younger! Affable, down to earth and ruthless in battle like any good wargamer.

[@robertsmith8520]

I also played him when I was a lad at the first warmaster tournament in Nottingham, he had orcs and goblins, I had high elves, I lost badly. Great times for me at least, not sure I was the best opponent for play testing

[@chaz32]

@@robertsmith8520 was there too! such a fun system compared to the special rules and doodads you have to wade through today.

[@VoltanIgnatio]

A piece of history, and my childhood. Sincere thanks to you and Rick

[@brianonboard6483]

A friend bought 2nd edition and we used to enjoy going to a local art shop after school and buying random miniatures to use in the battles, we had a roll of green wallpaper that we rolled out on the floor and used cut up blue wallpaper as rivers, it was what first got me to the hobby, 10 years later I worked for GW in one of their stores, when people could turn up and play in the stores, such fun times.

[@BlastastiC]

An actual living legend worthy of the title. Rick really has brought so much joy into the world.

[@AndreaMartini74]

"...the problem with having lots of modifiers is that they tend to swing very quickly to ones and sixes, particularly if few goblin are fighting elves..." thank you Rick!

[@simonphelon7221]

I wish i was alive when these games were being made, oh wait, i was and i played them and it was great.

[@drfishynooooo881]

Thanks for archiving the words of someone I've never met but I feel is an important part of my childhood. As I get older I hope I can show my kid one day how this wonderful hobby began

[@minacapella8319]

If you want to trace its roots back further, war games existed long before this too. In fact, H.G. Wells made his own war game for him and his friends to play, that became a kinda "public" game that still has people playing to this day.

[@jasonuerkvitz3756]

This man is like that big brother, uncle, next-door-neighbor, best friend you may have never met in person, but knew in a very odd, very special way through the games and stories he created. What a superb video. Thanks, Filmdeg!

[@Astartesdave]

30 years ago I spent most of my GCSE art years obsessed with these black and white line and cross hatch drawings. They would be a feature of everything I drew. Now I find it was due to a printing limitation 😂😂😂 amazing. Can't have been that bad as they gave us a reasonable mark at the end and shoved some of it on a wall 😂 thanks guys 😊

[@Grymbaldknight]

I've recently been getting back into Oldhammer and Midhammer (90s-00s), and the work done on those rules and army books was absolutely masterful. Although the new miniatures are gorgeous pieces, somehow the new game systems can't hold a candle to the old ones.

[@pludedriteken]

Funnily enough, AoS is the real Midhammer

[@Grymbaldknight]

@@pludedriteken How so?

[@dungeonsanddobbers2683]

@@pludedriteken AoS isn't good enough to be classed as mid

[@communitydrivingschoolc.i.8316]

This man and his creations played a HUGE part in my life in the late 70's early 80's. Thank you Rick for creating another world which I could escape to.

[@markmarsden1806]

I would absolutely second this - I would have never thought that from picking up Citadel Miniatures in the local Stamp Collecting Shop in South Yorkshire in the late 70s it would take me down the hobby path I have taken. This man is more than a legend.

[@goreshadetube]

I never got to play WHFB 3rd against another player, only did practice solo games. That book was a great production for the time though.

[@TheByteknight]

I remember Warhammer fantasy on store shelves in the early to mid- Eighties. Back then, gaming stores were few and far between. I didn't think much of Warhammer back then, as I was knee deep in role playing games. Who would have guessed back then it would spawn a phenomenon.

[@Redmow51]

That's about when I showed up to this amazing hobby. WHFB 3rd Edition. Rick Priestley and Andy Chambers were the great ones to me.

[@WaxBotanical]

Fascinating interview, some really interesting tidbits. The sound is great too. Thanks for putting these together Tom and Rick for sparking off my imagination at an early age and the hundreds of happy hours spent hobbying and dice rolling since then. Would be very curious to know who was behind the more unified look to the units/armies going from 3rd to 4th edition if there's a follow up interview in future.

[@kwest9747]

Another fantastic video. Well done and thank you! My jaw dropped hearing about the 3rd ed combat resolution!

[@OldenDemon]

Excellent content, thank you for doing these

[@Moritz19081980]

12:10 Oh, I remember Rune Quest. I just played one adventure (which took several days/sessions) but I still remember a guy in our group permanently became a duck (by some magic). He then had to play as a duck and his character stayed a duck. ^^

[@garysmithson9707]

What an amazing and insightful look into the start of Warhammer/Games Workshop. You can tell that Rick really has a love for what he and his team made and all these years later, what we have now is still going going strong. Thank you for giving many of us fantasy/Sci fi warhammers a hobby we love.

[@karmacedon]

😊 thank you mr. Primarch , your imagination gave us endless hours of entertainment !!! 🎉

[@WarlanderTV]

I could listen to Rick read a phone book. Much like his video on LotR, I am glad this is recorded for historical purposes.

[@Ethnarches]

Yes! Can't wait to listen to this. A big thank you for doing this!

[@The_emperor_neglects]

This is fascinating stuff. Amazing thank you. Can’t wait for part 2!

[@boardgameboy9938]

So nicely filmed. Can’t wait for part 2! 👏🏼

[@Grimslath]

Fantastic! Great to hear all the behind-the-scenes stuff. Look forward to part 2!

[@ThorstenPattberg]

Good man. Imprinted on my young adulthood. Will be remembered in a thousand years. Warhammer is forever.

[@richtheunstable3359]

Just got my hands on a copy of 3rd. You definitely did a good job on the book.

[@sirvivor7835]

Just bought a copy again. Trying to remember what happened to my original copy...

[@dicnar]

The man the Legend! I'd love to see an interview with Tuomas Pirinen. Mordheim related ;)

[@Filmdegminiatures]

It’s on its way 😅

[@Dunbar0740]

I'm relieved to hear the early editions of Warhammer "rules" were of an ad hoc nature. The twelve year old me assumed they were beyond my grasp, or the grasp of any of my peers. We just muddled along, mostly. Still tremendous fun, and provided a respite from the awfulness of Thatcher's Britain.

[@Leon-bc8hm]

Still got my 30+ yo Warhammer DE army. So do my brothers. Great times.

[@luisvelez3489]

Here Luis from Spain: I LOVE the old good times! Thank you, great interview.

[@nealbosher9293]

Thanks Rick. I was, and still am absolutely beguiled by the worlds you created.

[@chrish1657]

Wow, seeing that artwork from the 3rd edition brought back some memories.

[@kengc3]

Excellent interview with a legend. Fantastic quality as well. Can’t wait for the next one!

[@broncofun5636]

Great interview about the business side of things! Can’t wait for part 2

[@JJtoutcourt]

16:30 this push up move is back in the new version of Warhammer, The Old World, and my first though when I read the rule was exactly what Rick Priestley describes: "if you got big units, just moving them back 2" is gonna be such a burden !"

[@sleeper1855]

The wargaming -> role playing games -> wargaming crossover in the 70s and 80s is pretty cool. D&D evolves out of the Chainmail wargame in '74. D&D spawns a ton of other fantasy roleplaying games - many of which people play with miniatures. Rick and Co are selling models for fantasy TTRPGs and then decide to make their own wargame with them in '83 ish. Full circle.

[@karlfran0404]

I fell in love with Warhammer at second edition. It was a box of magic. I also would love to ask Rick where they got inspiration for Emperor Karl Franz given that’s virtually my name and I was on your mailing list.

[@slthlrdz]

this guy is an actual "THE MAN"! great to hear his perspective. thank you!!!

[@abdulhammouda4884]

This is fabs,can't believe it doesn't have more views!

[@benmoores5775]

Thank you for this content, this was absolutely fascinating insight into a previous time of my life.

[@SilvioCM]

lovely video, thank you so much for bringing this to us all! And all my love to @rickpriestley4569 who made my dreams come to life. This 50-year-old little boy cannot thank you enough!

[@marcellocimatti2322]

So interesting listening to the business aspect of all of it ! Thx a lot for sharing, much appreciated !

[@Filippo5]

Can't wait for part 2 😁

[@kimhansen8615]

That was actually quite interesting, if you like me, have followed wfb since 2nd. edition. Thanks.

[@BRUSHFORSOUL]

Thank you for the interview with the living legend!

[@Satyr_Art_Studio]

LOL I love how the end just fades out while Rick is still talking. Like if you left to go to the kitchen for a drink of water, and when you came back Rick would still be talking. LOL

[@keysersozie3312]

this was Fascinating. please I need More GW back stories

[@cyberneticthezero]

Wonderful insight and video ❤

[@riggermortisfpv526]

Nothing has replicated the tone or feel of WHFB 1st edition, I regret ever getting rid of my 1st ed books, I think I'd still play it if I had the books. Thankyou for WHFB Rick.

[@totalal4601]

You're a big tease fading him when there is so much more! This is a great series, fantastic to hear about the work and lives of the designers begund the games!

[@Choom89]

Great watch, looking forward to part 2!

[@michaelkarpstein1599]

When can we expect part2!? This was really great to listen to

[@matt6477]

Massive part of my childhood- thank you so mich

[@misomiso8228]

Great vid. Great man. WOuld be interesting to hear where the ideas of 'Chaos' came from, ie the main four chaos gods and how they developed, where the visual imagery came from for each God etc.

[@georgesutherlandhoward4417]

Man, that advanced psychology stuff from 2e is hilarious, and would slot so well into the new Path to Glory/Crusade systems in AoS and 40K. I hope The Old World includes a similar system; it would be a fantastic update to these old-school RPG elements.

[@AsgeirrSpjuth]

Thanks for getting them on and collecting these interviews. Super interesting to hear their recollections!

[@adamwise3113]

Oh wow these interviews are an absolute delight. Thanks for sharing these!

[@NullaUK]

Really interesting. Thanks for this! I recently found all my old miniatures and got nostalgic...

[@endtimestcg5146]

Thank you for this ONE!

[@JescoJimBo]

Man, can't wait for part 2!!!

[@MrClassicor]

Rick is so awesome. He also starts looking like one o the old metal Necromancers, he just needs a longer beard. And yes, from a decade-long Undead collector, that is a compliment

[@totalburnout5424]

Thx for sharing this. Glorious times, a legend seen from today. Love it. ❤

[@Atom.Storm.]

What an interesting man and story.

[@Karlmakesstuff]

Hearing Mr. Priestley speak is fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@jcpouzols]

Such a great interview! Thank you for sharing this ❤

[@CaptainBanjo-fw4fq]

It’s impressive that you got these legends of the games industry essentially in your first four videos for the channel. Well done!

[@carldanescd]

Thank you - very cool.

[@40kWARGAMERSTv]

Truly a great moment ! Thanks a lot !

[@joshuagarcia4523]

Thank you for this interview.

[@Joth4851]

Great interview! Some comments. There were an army list supplement for 2nd edition, and that was Ravening Hordes, that Rick mentioned! The Moorcockian rpg that chaosium made was called Stormbringer and yes, GW did publish a licenced version.

[@jprp999]

He was also wrong on the Middle Earth game, MERP was by Iron Crown Enterprises.

[@Joth4851]

@@jprp999 Games Workshop did produce it in the UK tho, so Rick was actually correct on that count.

[@jprp999]

@@Joth4851 Oh, ok, i knew they sold it in their shops at that point but didn't know they were involved with the production.

[@hardrada8407]

Thanks for this - so interesting.

[@Aki-Amaz]

Great video and a good piece of nostalgia for myself who grew up on 2nd and 3rd ed. Wrt the boxed games i think Blood Bowl was first, then Dark Future, then Adeptus Titanicus and then Space Marine. Thank you to Rick (amongst others) for my 80's 😂

[@mrpapafakis1290]

@rickpriestley4569 Loved the interview, but could you elaborate more on that cliffhanger of the missing combat resolution page in 3rd ed please? That was the first set of rules I played and chatting with friends the other day about this missing page made us laugh coz like you said, nobody picked up on it and played the game fine without it 😅 I'd love to know more about it if possible. What you and the other GW crew created back in those days was, and still is, some of the greatest fantasy/sci-fi settings ever made. I still play in those worlds to this day and enjoy it immensely. Thanks ❤

[@DS_painting]

Great interview and dive into the history of Warhammer!

[@rubenlopezcatalan8661]

Fantastic content, thanks Tom 🙌🏻…besides…perfect timing due to the imminent TOW release. “Paint, you fools!” 😂

[@Irgendwaslanges]

Wow! I just discovered this channel! Ian and Steve were mentioned briefly, where does the 'Dice Men' book about GW fit into the history? Was that way earlier?

[@rotwang2000]

Still got my second edition set, which is still in fair condition. Never got round to getting the 3rd edition for myself, though I did play it quite a bit.

[@Bledoston]

This is absolutely amazing, thank you! And thank you Rick for everything!

[@JazzyJoyBoy]

Great interview-documentary type deal, glad I found your channel!

[@goreshadetube]

Thanks Rick

[@ced1106]

Be your own competition! (: Thanks for the video!

[@anotherzingbo]

First off, this is a fascinating interview, thank you for doing this! Secondly, I am fascinated by those planes on the shelves behind Rick. I think I can spy a Lancaster but I'd love to know what the other ones are, particularly that large white one!

[@nicofolkersma2535]

Isn't it a space shuttle ?

[@rickpriestley4569]

I think you are referring to the Corgi Aviation Archive TSR2 - there is a smaller white one which is a Meteor in late war colours - the others are a Spitfire and Hurricane.

[@anotherzingbo]

@@rickpriestley4569 Thanks for letting me know! My dad has the same Corgi model of the TSR.2, and one of a Lancaster, and I wondered if hours were similar. It's playing to discover they are. 🙂

[@nicofolkersma2535]

@@rickpriestley4569 Thanks for the explanation. I had never heard of this plane and after looking it up, I knew why. Never entered service and is older than I am (by a couple of months). Does look good though.

[@juliantheapostate8295]

Black Powder and Bolt Action from Warlord Games are worth looking into. Excellent rule-sets

[@anvilofdoomminiatures]

Loved everything about this video mate! Amazing insights. Lovely work 👏👏

[@madzen112]

Early rpgs really had the feel of secret, occult books

[@crafty_android]

amazing thanks

[@Wiggins773]

Great to hear this I got into WH a couple of years ago I wanted an army since I was just a child

[@johnsnow5968]

"Trousering" is definitely the best term ive ever heard for what a ceo does with tons of profit

[@housecaldwell]

Fascinating! Thank you so much for this.