I was watching a Weshammer video where he mentioned that retcons are not necessarily bad and can sometimes enhance the narrative. I’m curious about your thoughts on this! What are some of your favorite and least favorite retcons in Warhammer lore? What has worked well, and what do you think has gone wrong?
3 Answers
For me, the best retcon has to be the 5th edition Necrons. They really became rich in character during that transition. And speaking of strong concepts, the Horus Heresy itself is a game-changer; shifting the Emperor’s fate to a tragic showdown with his son is brilliant, even if current storytelling isn’t perfect. On the flip side, the retcons around Perpetuals just feel poorly handled—what started as a small detail ballooned into major plot points that overshadow the original story.
Some good retcons worth mentioning are the changes to Wraithbone and Eldrad’s return after his previous demise. The Wraithbone lore was definitely improved for narrative coherence, while Eldrad’s comebacks keep adding to the mystery of Eldar. But can we talk about how the introduction of female Custodes rubbed a lot of fans the wrong way? Not because of the ideas themselves, but because of how poorly it was managed. That was a tough sell!
True, and it’s even more frustrating when GW acts like these changes were always part of the plan!
A great retcon has to be the rewritten 13th Black Crusade from the Gathering Storm! It’s way more intriguing than the earlier versions. I’m also a fan of the Leagues of Votann—definitely a cooler take on space dwarfs compared to the old Squats. Even if it took 20 years for them to come back, I think they kept the spirit of Demiurg lore alive. Plus, I feel like Genestealer Cults and the Necrons having personalities added depth to those factions, making them more engaging!
Totally agree! The new spin on the 13th Black Crusade gives a fresh lens on the lore!
Right? It’s frustrating when retcons derail the core narrative for some new concept that doesn’t quite fit!