Does AI kill the grit? We explore why 40k needs the “human error” of the grimdark & how “Abominable Intelligence” threatens the hobby’s soul.
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The Long War: Episode 496
Article Table of Contents:
Show Summary:
This week, the crew discusses AI, its presence, and possible impact on Warhammer! Here are the key takeaways, section by section:
- (00:00 to 01:25) Intro banter
- New year vibes, and they tee up the AI topic, noting GW conveniently said the quiet part out loud right when they were about to record it.
- (02:35 to 07:26) “Evil Genie” would-you-rather segment gets very edgy fast:
- Involuntary offensive language when you burp vs being forced to mimic people with disabilities. They argue the “burp” option is the least socially catastrophic and most avoidable.
- (08:43 to 13:43) Quick news sweep:
- Not many post-holiday surprises, a preview stream is coming Friday at about 2 p.m. Eastern, and they pivot to the big headline of a Warhammer World USA concept, likely in the DC orbit, with lots of speculation about Northern Virginia vs Maryland.
- (13:43 to 16:53) Event logistics:
- Long War Doubles at Adepticon is sold out and may expand; they point people to Discord and the player pack FAQ. Then they cover a model policy call: old Nightbringer models need a correct-base solution plus a silhouette/token matching the new model’s footprint to prevent line-of-sight and cover abuse.
- (17:24 to 20:36) Bourbon and Bolter hype:
- They plan to record on-site again, and they’re surprised the “luxury hobby boot camp” angle (a week of painting in a focused space) is the real magnet for attendees. Also, Mike’s bringing a huge 3D-printed Captain Titus project.
- (21:29 to 27:56) The main course:
- They read and dissect Kevin Rountree’s statement about GW’s very cautious internal AI policy, including no AI-generated content or AI in GW design processes, and no unauthorized AI use tied to Games Workshop activities like competitions. They also note a small group of senior managers are allowed to keep testing and exploring the tech.
- (24:01 to 26:27) They connect the policy talk to recent community drama
- Including a Fulgrim-related art/product controversy where people suspected AI artifacts. They argue the internet and big outlets are flattening the nuance into “GW is not using AI,” which is not what the ACTUALLY statement says.
- (29:28 to 36:21) Wider cultural doom spiral:
- AI incentivizes the path of least resistance, erodes reading, retention, and original creation. They talk about schools shifting toward “you can use it, but you still must prove you understand it,” partly because AI detection tools are unreliable.
- (37:25 to 58:22) Where AI belongs (and does not):
- They like it for slog work and learning support, and even quick “what does this list do?” analysis, but they do not want it replacing the fun parts of 40k (art, creative writing, list-crafting, hobby). They end with a practical counterplay: read harder books (they name 1984), write by hand to keep your brain sharp, and they worry future stuff like 40k Total War could replace tabletop for a lot of people because it is easier.
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