Aug, 1 2023
Unboxing the Cardboard Idea
Hold your horses, enthusiast Warhammer players. Before you raise those carefully detailed, painstakingly painted miniatures in utter disbelief, allow me to explain. Yes, the title says it all: I'm proposing that we consider using cardboard cutouts for Warhammer. Now, don't start sharpening those mini swords and axes. It’s just an idea. An idea is harmless, right? Remember, all great things started as ideas; chocolate chip cookies, the wheel, and let's not forget, Warhammer itself! I am by no means suggesting we quit playing with our beloved three-dimensional minis. Perish the thought! This is simply about opening our minds to a far-out concept that could potentially take our beloved game to new heights.
Cheaper and Simpler: The Accessibility Card
Imagine, for a moment, the countless Warrior Priests, Tzaangor Enlightened, Kommandos and Spirit Hosts you could bring to life with just a few sheets of cardboard. Now, with the cost of paint, the hours of scaling and detailing, and the time it takes to assemble a Warhammer army, it's no secret that it can be an expensive hobby. Beautiful, yes. Rewarding, absolutely. However, this could be perceived as a barrier of entry for some potential players, especially young ones. They might see Warhammer as a daunting, wallet-emptying ordeal. Cardboard cutouts could change that by offering a cheaper, simpler alternative.
Connor’s Cardboard Chaos
My darling Connor—my spouse, my fellow Warhammer enthusiast—has been toying with the idea of using cardboard cutouts for his Orc army. To quote the man himself: "If I can use a humble cardboard box as a fortress, why not have an army made of the same economical material?" Now, believe me, nothing would make Connor happier than a legion of hyper-detailed orcs, but for now, his cardboard cohorts are doing just fine. They may not be as pretty, but they play just as hard
Getting Crafty
Aside from the cost aspect, assembling a cardboard force could actually make for a fun project. You think painting your marine chapter’s emblem on the shoulder pad of each soldier is a task requiring precision? Try cutting out a Ghorgon. Now that’s what I call craftsmanship! It's a whole different approach to the hobby that I believe we shouldn't dismiss lightly. Plus, remember the joy of crafting a volcano for a school science project? This could be just as fun (and much less messy).
A Touch of Creativity
Cardboard cutouts also provide a platform for a different kind of creativity. Ever dreamt of battling fiery cardboard deamons, only stopped by the fact that beasts of that nature do not exist in the Warhammer universe? Well, simply design your own! Cardboard cutouts make it easy for us to breeze past the physical limitations the official Warhammer kit might pose, as they enable us, the crafters, the artists, to give life to our wildest Warhammer fantasies.
Imagination, the Name of the Game
Ultimately, we should remember what draws us to Warhammer in the first place: It's not about the money we pour into it, nor about the physical beauty of our armies (although I must admit, those minis are really quite something, aren't they?). At its core, Warhammer is about the power of imagination. It's about rallying your Dusk Knight forces against the crushing wave of a Necron swarm on a barren moon in the Gottfrey system. It's about your Slann Mage-Priest performing a spell of unseen power to turn the tide of a battle amid the roaring jungles of Lustria.
The Art of Warhammer
That being said, cardboard or not, playing Warhammer remains an art. It's an art that requires the right blend of strategic thinking, imagination, and a passion for storytelling. A cardboard Dreadnaught might not look as menacing as its molded, painted counterpart, but it can be just as lethal in the theatrical script of play. It's this essence we should always cherish, the ability to invent, interact with, and immerse ourselves fully in an epic world of our making.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, while cardboard cutouts can't, and shouldn't, replace our treasured Warhammer miniatures, they could make for a fun, creative, and more accessible alternative. Just like my Connor's orc army, they don't have to be pretty to make their mark.