Warhammer 40k appears to be losing its unique charm; here’s why we think the rule of cool is fading, and ideas on how to still keep the hobby enjoyable.
Warhammer 40k used to be the hobby where anything went, as long as it looked cool doing it. Now? It’s starting to feel like a bland assembly line. Forge World is drying up, terrain looks more like board game props than battlefield wreckage, and the rule of cool—the heart and soul of 40k—is fading into the background.
If you’ve noticed armies looking more copy-paste and less wild masterpiece, you’re not alone. Let’s talk about why the game’s unique charm is slipping away—and how you can still keep the hobby fun, creative, and gloriously messy.
What Has Happened to Warhammer 40k?
Back when you could make a tank from a bottle.
Once upon a time (ok, like in the 1990s), Warhammer 40k was a wild, glorious mess. You’d show up at the game store with a half-painted tank covered in baroque nonsense, and nobody would blink. If anything, you’d get high-fives. The rule of cool reigned supreme: if it looked awesome, it was awesome. Strategy? Secondary. Vibes? Immaculate.
These days? Not so much.
The Age of Sameness
Fast forward to now, and something feels…off. Warhammer 40k has gotten a bit too clean. Army lists are starting to look like copy-paste jobs. Terrain has been flattened into sad little 2D doodles. And those beautiful, weird, janky models from Forge World?
Disappearing faster than snacks at a tournament.
These are literally all the bits in the entire Fulgrim kit.
It’s not just old grognards moaning into the void either. The game itself has been streamlined into “one profile fits all.” No extra points for loadout tweaks means everyone just picks the best gear. Why bring a heavy bolter when a plasma cannon costs the same and does more? There’s no hard choice anymore, no “I picked this because it looks rad” moment.
It’s efficient. It’s balanced. It’s boring.
Forge World Is Fading, But Hobbyists Aren’t
Meanwhile, the slow death of Forge World and the random cool minis of yore aren’t helping. The crazier kits, the weird resin nightmares, the esoteric characters — they’re quietly vanishing from official support lists. Multi-part kits packed with random bits have shrunk into mono-pose starters with barely enough spares to even lose.
But here’s the thing: this doesn’t mean the hobby is dead. It just means the power’s back in your hands.
Meta Lists and the Death of Creativity
Once a winning list hits the internet, it spreads like wildfire. Suddenly, every table starts to look the same. The days of seeing someone’s totally bonkers triple-Dreadnought Iron Hands list or that weird “all Ratlings” Astra Militarum army are getting rarer. This also affects terrain, as most terrain rules have been consolidated into a few categories, and many of the previously super cool terrain options have given way to simple ruined walls.
People are optimizing, and it makes sense — nobody wants to lose on purpose. But when everyone’s chasing the same “optimal” builds, it leaves a lot less room for weirdness and personal flair. The whole vibe starts feeling less like a hobby and more like prepping for standardized testing.
3D Printing and Converting Are the New Rule of Cool
3D printing miniatures has exploded. Got a dream for a squad of flying Librarians with wings made of lightning? There’s a file for that. Need a Primarch sculpted mid-guitar solo on top of a dead Titan? You can probably find someone to print it.
And don’t forget good old-fashioned converting miniatures. Grab your hobby knife, some green stuff, and whatever weird bits you find in your junk drawer. Kitbashing is alive and kicking — honestly, it’s thriving more now because the official options have shrunk.
Making the Hobby Yours Again
Worried about official events? No sweat. Just keep your conversions clear and roughly model-sized, and nobody reasonable is going to turn their nose up. Casual games? Bring your wildest ideas to the table. Build armies that look like they stepped out of a metal album cover — because in Warhammer 40k, cool still wins hearts even when it doesn’t win games.
The rule of cool isn’t gone. It’s just no longer pre-packaged for you. You have to build it yourself — and honestly? That’s way more fun.
See How Forge World Was Slow Rebranded
Do you think Warhammer 40k has been losing the rule of cool lately?
