Not too shabby for a game invented solely to sell more sci-fi miniatures. Say what you will about Games Workshop, when it comes down to it they have had the acumen to successfully evolve their business constantly over the last 30+ years into the gaming juggernaut of today.
But I digress, this is post is about my personal perspective on 40k’s birthday.
While I could afford some of the miniatures from back in the day (here we go again), I was never able to afford the old Rogue Trader Rulebook itself.
I had asked for it for Christmas one year, but my mom didn’t get it because she was afraid it was like Dungeons and Dragons (chuckle)… In the 80’s DnD had a bad rap cause people tended to act irresponsible, and attack each other in real life and such. I think a school where I was living at the time almost got shot up over it as well. So no 40k book for me, sad pandas.
I did get tons of miniatures though. There was the old “Penguin Pattern” Terminators (before Pre-Hersey post) I still have to this day, a few of the old Land Raider MKI two packs, and various tanks and such. I remember, comically, that I could never get the metal Land Speeder assembled correctly, and eventually detonated it in my back yard.
When I got a wee bit older I could finally afford better minis. Coincidentally in the mid nineties, the first 40k Starter box was released. Second Edition 40k it was called, and the rules allowed you to play larger scale battles that were not RPG tabletop based. Oh snap!
Immediately I was hooked, and played for several years. The rules, for what they were at the time, were awesome, but games were long and arduous at times. Overall they probably didn’t lend themselves well to tournament play because of this, though. I don’t remember playing in any tournaments until Third Edition came out, but that’s not to say there wasn’t any.
Overall I enjoyed playing Second Ed. more than all of the following editions, but (at least as I remember) there was more of a rock, paper, scissors feel to the games that could be played.
Today I have for you, a look at my old Second Edition Starter Box. I never really had to use it much, as all my buds had one, and we played either at a game shop, or my friends house. So mine sat around collecting dust for about the last 20 years.
I did use the Marines out of it though, but not the Orks (cause I thought they looked stupid at the time). Kids, what do they know….
The cool thing about this set is that the Games Day miniature the least year of games days is the sergeant from the box art! I can’t wait to get mine!
Let’s dive in shall we?
What are your favorite memories from Second Edition 40k? -MBG
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
