For years, ‘Warhammer 40K’ was a treehouse for groups of men who wanted to enjoy their hobby of painting miniatures and playing, but with a sign at the entrance indicating that girls were not allowed. However, general tastes have changed: video games, role-playing games, and strategy games have ceased to be assumed male niches (they never were, actually) and there are new demands in the market. And of course, some have been caught up in the treehouse without wanting to come down.
Warhammer, for men
Controversy has arisen around the Custodians, a group of over 10,000 veteran warriors, each one independent and absolutely fabulous. In fact, it is, for example, the faction that portrays Henry Cavill. The actor has not commented on this terrible controversy surrounding the toy soldiers, but it turns out that for the first time since 1987, when they first appeared, the official ‘Warhammer’ account has stated that yes, there are female Custodians.
In addition, they have stated on Twitter that there have always been women among the original 10,000. And if you think that people have accepted it normally by saying “Oh, okay, a fact we didn’t know”, you are very mistaken. In 2024 everything has to be a cultural war. To explain their disagreement, they have brought up old lore pages where it was indicated that they were “men”. On the other hand, there is also a novel where it is indicated that they are “men and women” (like ‘Echoes of Eternity’), but everyone chooses what they want from a somewhat confusing lore.
In fact, Aaron Dembski-Bowden, author of the saga, recently explained on Reddit that anyone who believes they know the Custodians’ lore perfectly is mistaken because they don’t even control it at Games Workshop: “There was no reason why they couldn’t be men or women (even now). But there is a reason that has nothing to do with the lore, and it is the former owner of the intellectual property saying ‘There are no female Custodian models, they are all men, so don’t write any women’“. And in the end, it’s as simple as that.
Ultimately, everything is as simple as assembling your army without female miniatures (if they ever come out, which remains to be seen), if that’s what you prefer. Or only with women. Or adding whatever you want. Because in the end, it’s a board game meant to have fun, entertain yourself, feel alive, and be represented. Crying because the world progresses and you stay behind doesn’t say much about ‘Warhammer’ as it does about the person who is painting figurines and immersing themselves in a lore based on the construction of said figurines. I would say “Live and let live,” but I’m not sure if it’s correct in the case of ‘Warhammer 40K’.
