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eldargal
11-01-2010, 08:55 PM
http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=281473

If true (seems likely) this is very sad. Not any kind of blow to GW from a business perspective as Mr Priestley wasn't that active with rules making (excluding the new Warhammer Forge thing, which is going ahead still). But for veterans who remember from the 90s (or earlier even) toearly 00s when he was much more active it is very sad.

But, it is not yet confirmed, and we don't know why, so no GW-hissy fits please.:rolleyes:

For any newbies who don't know who he is, he created Warhammer 40,000.
Bigred
11-01-2010, 09:57 PM
I have heard this from sources as well. Apparently happened 2 weeks ago.

The biggest of the "old guard" to leave to date I'd say. A lot of institutional memory goes with anyone of that stature.

As others have said, no details on the particulars of the separation, just that the 2 have parted ways.
eldargal
11-01-2010, 10:06 PM
Any rumours as to why? It is quite odd, he was very enthusiastic about WarForge, and it isn't easy or cheap to sack a head of a department with 28 years in the company.
Kahoolin
11-01-2010, 10:16 PM
Wow that's big news. I suppose he's been there almost his whole working life. Maybe he's decided to retire or something, he must be getting on a bit.

It makes me feel kind of weird, but I suppose nothing stays the same forever. I mean, he was going to have to go some time right?
Bigred
11-01-2010, 10:31 PM
No particulars on the reasons, just that the two have parted ways. Priestley is certainly of an age for retirement to be a consideration...

Still, when people that high up the chain depart, you can often expect institutional change as so much political power and long held views often go with them. Interesting times ahead for GW...
eldargal
11-01-2010, 10:44 PM
Certainly some change, but I'm not sure how much power he really had for the past five years or so. In fact I did wonder whether he was pushing for WarForge precisely so he could have his own little kingdom and the freedom to do more things than he had as GWs creative figurehead.
Whatever the truth, it would be nice to know one way or the other simply so all the rabid anti-GW crowd can get it out of their system or shut up if it turns out Mr Priestley just retired to spend more time with his family or some such.
Duke
11-01-2010, 10:58 PM
Sad news... Hopefully he is going on to bigger and better things.

Duke
Farseer Uthiliesh
11-02-2010, 01:54 AM
I thought he left ages to ago, well at least to focus on historical wargames.
Monkey Tom
11-02-2010, 03:08 AM
I wonder if he has just gone over to forgeworld so that he can concentrate solely on Warhammer Forge. When I spoke to him at gamesday he was really enthusiastic about the project and loiking forward to the possibiltities it could have.
miteyheroes
11-02-2010, 03:15 AM
I thought he left ages to ago, well at least to focus on historical wargames.

Nope, he was running Warhammer Forge and chatting about it enthusiastically as recently as Games Day UK... Very odd!
miteyheroes
11-02-2010, 04:13 AM
Hmm, poking around the GW Investor website turns up the fact that Max Bottrill sold up all of his GW shares at the end of September: http://investor.games-workshop.com/news/rns/2010-09-29_director_pdmr_shareholding.aspx

Max is not a famous face like Rick, but he was head of the design studio before he was head of product and supply, and he's been a hobbyist for ages. He's another of the GW hobbyist senior managers rather than the non-hobbyist types. Seems like they're dropping like flies! Is there some kind of internal restructuring?
Farseer Uthiliesh
11-02-2010, 05:06 AM
Nope, he was running Warhammer Forge and chatting about it enthusiastically as recently as Games Day UK... Very odd!

Ahh, thanks for that. I had no idea.

So many of the legends have left.
scadugenga
11-02-2010, 06:17 AM
Hopefully if he left, it was on his own terms and for his own reasons.
gridespider
11-02-2010, 11:10 AM
This is very sad news, I have a wide collection of G.W games and the name Rick Priestley and warhammer are one and the same. I remember buying the rouge trader book and reading the words under the title .... by Rick Priestley.... wow. :( its like d.n.d losing Gary Gygax..
Galadren
11-02-2010, 12:58 PM
He's been with the company for 28 years. Maybe he's retiring?
MarneusCalgar
11-02-2010, 01:16 PM
Veteran Champion Priestley leaves the Company...

Emperor blesses him!!

Good luck Rick, it was wonderful for 28 years
oldone
11-02-2010, 02:47 PM
I do hope it was his choice as i've only been in the hobby for a few years but i known he was a brillant gmaes designer and hope he has a wonderful life:D.
miteyheroes
11-03-2010, 03:48 AM
I wonder what he'll do next?

Maybe he'll go to Warlord Games? It's a Historical company, based in Nottingham, run by his friend Jon Stallard (who was another Citadel / GW Old Guard, one of the key drivers of the Games Workshop store format). And Rick has written rules for them before: http://www.warlordgames.co.uk/?p=4695

Interview from last year with Rick and Jon (long, but well worth the read as they're brilliant): http://www.battlegames.co.uk/documents/BG_HH-RP-JS-interview_unabridged.pdf
MC Tic Tac
11-03-2010, 04:27 AM
I wonder what he'll do next?

Maybe he'll go to Warlord Games? It's a Historical company, based in Nottingham, run by his friend Jon Stallard (who was another Citadel / GW Old Guard, one of the key drivers of the Games Workshop store format). And Rick has written rules for them before: http://www.warlordgames.co.uk/?p=4695

Interview from last year with Rick and Jon (long, but well worth the read as they're brilliant): http://www.battlegames.co.uk/documents/BG_HH-RP-JS-interview_unabridged.pdf

Warlord Games are on the same Industrial Estate as GW, literally down the road, and Mantic Games are only on the other side of the City (Nottingham as cities go isn't that big).

Rick has been producing content for Warlord for sometime now with their historical games
eldargal
11-03-2010, 04:36 AM
His interests had seemed to shift in the direction of historical games quite some time ago (Warhammer Forge notwithstanding) so I think it would make sense for him to go for one of the companies which would let him fulfill that. I know there is Warhammer Historicals but GWs great strength is its miniatures, and they aren't producing a miniature range for WHH.
Lane
11-03-2010, 04:57 AM
It's all part of a secret plot.

Rick, Andy, Mike and a few others are buying up the remains of Rackham and starting a new company.
MarneusCalgar
11-03-2010, 08:14 AM
It's all part of a secret plot.

Rick, Andy, Mike and a few others are buying up the remains of Rackham and starting a new company.

Hope this time they donīt sell pre painted plastic miniatures!!
Wolfen
11-04-2010, 09:00 AM
Hope this time they donīt sell pre painted plastic miniatures!!

Buying the IP of At-43 would be F...ing fantastic... I would poo myself of happines if that happens
Porty1119
11-04-2010, 02:52 PM
It just would need to have aircraft and unpainted, customizable (well, easily customizable) minis. Then that would be PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wolfen
11-05-2010, 06:02 AM
It just would need to have aircraft and unpainted, customizable (well, easily customizable) minis. Then that would be PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!

With exception of the Aircraft I agree... I prefer more grunts and Tanks/robots/vehicles... but heck... AT-43 rules were just a bit short from perfect... IMHO...pity of RAckham AND Rackham entertainment Management