Warhammer creators respond to 'female custodians' controversy | indy100

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A gender row has erupted in the world of Warhammer as a squadron that was previously thought to be male-only by players 'has always had' women says Games Workshop (GW), its creator.

Female characters have been included in one of its most popular table-top battalions whose devotees include film star Henry Cavill.

Some are furious insisting the Adeptus Custodes brigade has always been male and changes should have been done differently.

On X / Twitter, asked why female custodians had been made, Warhammer replied: "Since the first of the Ten Thousand were created, there have always been female custodians."

One social media user said Warhammer has 'retcon the lore', meaning including a piece of new information that imposes a different interpretation on previously described events, typically used to facilitate a dramatic plot shift or to account for an inconsistency.

@Idk721252 Since the first of the Ten Thousand were created, there have always been female Custodians.
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A new edition of Warhammer 40,000 fantasy fiction introduces a character called Custodian Calladyce Taurovalia Kesh using female pronouns.

Long-time fans say it's the first time a woman has been included as part of that squad and there has been a backlash online because of it.

Wargamer, a fan site, discussed the controversy.

A post said: "After nearly three decades of Warhammer 40k books and short stories only featuring male-presenting Custodian Guards, fighting alongside their distinctly all-female allies the Sisters of Silence, the introduction of a canonically female member of the Custodes is being seen by fans as a conscious narrative shift on GW’s (Games Workshop) part."

Another social media user asked Games Workshop if more female members would be added

The X / Twitter account replied: "We'll just have to wait and see."

@RatGirlMinis We\u2019ll just have to wait and see, make sure to check back at Warhammer Community!
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The move has sparked outrage among players but others have welcomed it.

@warhammer @Idk721252 I don't think this approach is going to go as well as you think it will, personally.
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@warhammer @Idk721252 Why, prior to this, has there not been a single named character in all the codices or books?
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@warhammer @Idk721252 I am a female player. I have Ultramarines, Orcs, chaos marines and I collect various minis that I enjoy, like Grimaldus. \n\nFrom now on, I will be 3D printing. I will pirate your books and share them with all of my friends for free. This pandering is insulting and condescending.
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@warhammer @Idk721252 Show me in the previous Codices where it says that.
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@warhammer @Idk721252 That's not true. They were always men. See my pinned thread. You can make them female now (mistake when you have Sisters of Silence). But why lie about the past?
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@warhammer @Idk721252 This is the laziest thing I think I\u2019ve ever heard from this account.\n\nEver since 1987, not so much as a whisper in lore or novels, or a single miniature. Now all of a sudden BOOM \u201cthey were always a thing\u201d. No worldbuilding or development.\n\nSo disappointing and pathetic.
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@warhammer @Idk721252 Great to hear! Glad to see GW standing behind this and showing the angry bro's the door if they want to leave. Less hate in the community once they are gone.
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@warhammer @Idk721252 Kinda sounds like....\nLazy writing.
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@warhammer @Idk721252 It's your IP, so you can say what you want\u2026but I'd love to see just one piece of evidence older than yesterday.
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@warhammer @Idk721252 Games Workshop is dead to me.
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