Gorkamorka interview
The nice folks at The Unnamed Gorkamorka Site recently pinged me out of the blue to ask some questions about my time working at the GW Studio on Gorkamorka. I was happy to oblige as far as I could given the fifteen years that have passed and my extremely fallible memory.
The game was a lot of fun to work on and answering the questions brought back some great memories. I strongly believe that, while 2nd Ed 40k had a lot of flaws, Gorkamorka was the most fun and the most fluid version of those rules. Also being a skirmish game it avoided many of the systemic pitfalls that caused problems in WH40k. I always felt that 2nd Ed WH40K had too much focus on individual models and that strong characters were the main elements of an army rather than units of guys. In Gorkamorka, the much smaller scale works well with that dynamic.
I’d still like to see a more detailed skirmish system using the later 40k framework though. Maybe I’ll write one myself.
January 30th, 2011 at 2:49 am
I, too, would really like to see a good miniatures skirmish game. ( 40k-type or not ) I absolutely loved Necromunda, but it had a couple of serious flaws. I liked Gorkamorka, but it seemed somehow limited. Yes, there were two factions- but only sort of. ( I know more were added later, right? Wasn’t there an expansion for it? )
I would really really like to play another skirmish level game. And unfortunately, Malifaux doesn’t fit the bill- too many rules intricacies and complexities. Also, it takes far too long to play. I have very fond memories of sitting down with my friends ( I suppose you’d say Mates ) to play Necromunda. It only seemed to take about an hour to get through a game, so whoever wasn’t playing that time would sit at the side table and paint, occasionally offering comments from the peanut gallery. Ahh, those were the days.
I do understand why true skirmish level games are so few and far between. Not a lot of money in selling a half dozen figures to gamers. Far better for the game companies to sell dozens or hundreds.
January 30th, 2011 at 2:51 am
Oh, by the way, nice interview! It’s cool to have a window into the development of a game I enjoyed, even if it is more than ten years later.
January 30th, 2011 at 3:31 am
Thanks! You hit the nail on the head with the reason for the relative lack of skirmish games. I’m not sure how PP can sustain themselves on their model at present. I guess not having their own retail chain makes a huge difference to their operating costs but still it has to be a very tight organisation to be profitable on the volumes that each gamer is consuming.
January 31st, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Warmachine isn’t really a skirmish level game. The models and the world they are in are very compelling. Most people who play have more than one army, or buy nearly every model from their chosen faction.
Two random armies ( at the 35 point level, which is small ) from a thread I have open on their forums:
Cygnar
3 warjacks
unit of 7
unit of 3
3 solos and a warcaster
total cost ( from a large internet discounter ) $143.90 ( Which is a far cry from the +/- $400 you need for WFB )
Circle
3 warbeasts
2 units of 6
1 unit of 3
1 solo, 1 warlock
Probably a pretty similar price.
Contrast that with ( If my memory serves me correctly. ) a $35 Necromunda gang box set. That is closer to what I’m looking for. The Necromunda/Gorkamorka/Mordheim box sets were what, around $70? ( probably closer to 100$ if GW did another one. ) They came with enough figures and scenery to play. Mordheim came out in, what, 2000? 2001? GW hasn’t put out another skirmish game lately, right? ( Other than LotR, which I don’t count. )