The Independent Characters | Warhammer 40k Podcast

The dust is still settling on the launch, of 11th Edition, and this edition is more than rewrite the datasheets - it has redrawn the battlefield itself. Objectives are no longer abstract circles on the cloth; they are terrain, fought over and held, and the table now has a correct shape in a way it never did before. For the competitive crowd, that clarity is a gift. But what about the rest of us -...

With 11th Edition launching this month, there has never been a better moment to hand a friend a Space Marine and say "let me show you something." A new edition resets the table - rulebooks, starter sets, and community energy are all aligned toward accessibility, and even veteran players are re-learning the game right alongside newcomers. In Episode 279, we dig into the art of hobby mentorship: how...

In Episode 278 of The Independent Characters, Carl takes us along for the ride at The Maelstrom Mixer - a fantastic community event. Carl breaks down how the event is structured, walks you through the games he played, and shares the stories behind the people he met across the table. Whether you've attended a Mixer before or have always been curious what all the fuss is about, this is your inside l...

What happens when an edition starts showing its age and a new one looms on the horizon? In this episode, Carl, Adan, and Josh take a hard look at the end of 10th Edition and what GW's own history tells us about what comes next. Because this isn't the first time the 40k Universe has gone through a transition, and if you know where to look, the patterns are hiding in plain sight. From the Narrative...

What happens when The Independent Characters descend on Milwaukee for four straight days of Warhammer 40,000, other tabletop gaming, and everything Adepticon has to offer? In this episode, Carl, Adan, and Josh bring you their full review of Adepticon 2026, the games they played, the people they met, and the moments that made the trip worth it all. But this year, the crew wasn't just attending. The...

In Episode 275 of  The Independent Characters , we dive into one of the most satisfying corners of the hobby:  Model Rescue & Restoration . Whether you've stumbled across a dusty army at a swap meet, grabbed a suspiciously cheap eBay lot, or inherited a box of badly painted miniatures from a friend, second-hand models can be a gold mine waiting to be rediscovered. In this episode we talk about how...

What does it really take to stage a true Apocalypse game in the modern era of Warhammer 40,000? In this episode of The Independent Characters, we tackle "Staging the Apocalypse" - a deep dive into running cinematic mega-battles at 3,000+ points per side without letting the game grind to a halt. We will talk about how to make colossal games feel epic rather than exhausting, and we break down ideas...

Episode 273 of The Independent Characters is headed straight into the Legends Graveyard - that strange, dusty corner of Warhammer 40,000 where beloved units go when they're retired from active service. In this episode, we take a look at what it really means for a unit to be moved to Legends status, what restrictions come with it, and why it can feel like a gut punch to longtime hobbyists… even whe...

In episode 272, Carl and Josh crack open The Aranthian Succession - Cinderak Burning, the opening salvo in a multi-episode series exploring how Necromunda's story is being pulled forward and woven more tightly into the modern Warhammer 40,000 timeline. This book doesn't just advance the plot—it reshapes the balance of power in the underhive, and sets the stage for a sector-wide reckoning that long...

Episode 271 of The Independent Characters is our annual 2025 Warhammer Year in Review, and it's all about taking a breath, looking back, and celebrating another packed year in the hobby. We dig into our favorite releases of 2025 across games, models, and supplements, talk about what really landed for us at the table, and reflect on the trends that shaped how we played, painted, and engaged with Wa...

In Episode 270 of The Independent Characters, we bring our monumental exploration of Titans to a close by venturing beyond the Imperium to the heretical, alien, and utterly bizarre god-engines that stalk the galaxy. In this second part of our two-part series, we delve into the corrupted Chaos Titans of the Dark Mechanicum - twisted reflections of their loyalist kin whose Machine Spirits have long...

Episode 269 of The Independent Characters strides onto the battlefield with a thunderous step as we begin a two-part exploration of the greatest war machines ever to walk the galaxy - the Titans. In this first installment, we turn our gaze to the Imperial God-Engines of the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Collegia Titanica, delving deep into their origins, traditions, and the awe-inspiring lore that su...

Episode 268 of The Independent Characters lumbers onto the battlefield just in time for Halloween – and it's a dark and twisted one! When we set out to cover both the Imperial Knights and their blasphemous counterparts, the Chaos Knights, it quickly became clear that the topic was far too massive for a single episode. Carl's optimism got the better of him (again), and what was shaping up to be a f...

Episode 267 of The Independent Characters arrives right on schedule, and it's a big one, both in content and in subject matter. This time, we're striding into the battlefield with not one, but two colossal armies in our latest Show of Force. Join us as we explore both the Imperial Knights and their dark reflections, the Chaos Knights. These towering engines of war have a presence on the tabletop a...

It's that time again - the 2025 Hobby Progress Challenge is here, and we're diving headfirst into all the details on this episode. Chelle, Adan, and Carl sit down to go over the rules of this year's challenge, how it's tracked, and what makes it such a fun and motivating way to tackle that pile of shame. Whether you're painting for glory in the Emperor's name or fueled by the whispers of Chaos, th...

In Episode 265, we explore what it means to be a hobbyist over time - from the first spark of excitement, to balancing life's responsibilities, to rediscovering joy in unexpected ways. We're diving into how the hobby grows with us, and how each phase of life brings something new to the tabletop. This episode features reflections and insights from both our hosts and members of the community, sharin...

Episode 264 of The Independent Characters is one for the ages! This time, we're not just joined by guests, we're joined by legends. That's right: the entire cast of Life After the Cover Save joins Carl in the Astronomicon! Ed, Blake, and Travis bring their unique brand of humor, hobby passion, and podcast chaos to join Carl and crew for one big crossover episode you won't want to miss. The topic?...

In Episode 263 of The Independent Characters, we open the doors once again to The Warrior Lodge, our roundtable-style discussion format where we bring together voices from across the Warhammer 40,000 community. This episode, Carl is joined by Josh, Adan, and Skye as we dive into some of the most pressing topics currently sparking debate and reflection within the hobby. Whether you're a veteran pla...

In episode 262 of The Independent Characters, we delve deep into the shadows of the Imperium with a close look at Imperium Maledictum, the Warhammer 40,000 roleplaying game from Cubicle 7. Carl is joined by guest hosts Lars, Thom, and Steve; each bringing their unique RPG experience to the table, as we unravel the mysteries and mechanics of this investigative game set in the decaying heart of the...

In Episode 261 we're thrilled to welcome back our longtime cohost and friend, Adan Tejada, to The Independent Characters! Adan joins Carl for a wide-ranging discussion that starts where many games and campaigns end - exploring the tools, techniques, and traditions that help preserve the epic narratives forged on the tabletop. From post-campaign surveys to lore write-ups, and archiving your group o...

The Independent Characters is a show focused on the universe of Warhammer 40,000. However, for one of the first times ever, we are going to take a slight tour and perhaps a dimension hop to discuss an Old World topic! In this episode of The Independent Characters, we dive into the crumbling streets of the City of the Damned with Episode 260: Mordheim - Warbands and Wyrdstone. Carl, Josh, and Jody...

Episode 259 is finally, our Show of Force episode about The World Eaters! To help us out, we have brought in World Eaters expert Brian Harvey, to help us understand what the Sons of Angron are all about... and what makes them such a fantastic army. If you aren't aware of what our Show of Force Episodes are all about well here is your answer: Show of Force is an ongoing series of episodes we will s...

Episode 258 of The Independent Characters discusses the future of Narrative Warhammer 40,000! With the rumors and timetable of a new edition of Warhammer 40,000 ramping up, Episode 258 sees The Independent Characters discussing where we would like to see the focus of narrative style games shift. This episode contains round-table speculation on what Crusade (or its successor) might look like in the...

This episode of The Independent Characters starts off with the usual segments. With Josh out of town, Chelle is stepping in to discuss elite choice, hobby progress, and games played. Then we pivot to discussions with on of the folks who have created and organized this years Maelstrom Mixer, a large narrative event in San Jose. Brett joins us to discuss what it took to put on the event, what they l...

Episode 256 of The Independent Characters is a long one... and we even reigned it in! We had a lot to talk about here. We revisit episode 72, where we looked deep into the history and current issues of White Dwarf. In this episode we bridge the gap between episode 72 and now, in an episode we titled White Dwarf: Now and Again. Nearly 12 years have passed since our last coverage of this topic and i...