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The authors of the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop war game explain its design in print.

New 40K rules were sometimes accompanied by articles on game development and the rationale for choices made. Below is a short list of articles on the design and evolution of the 40K rule system.

Ed. Topic Authors Article Publication Year
1 Development of Rogue Trader between 1982 and 1987 Rick Priestly Marginalia White Dwarf 94 1987
2 New elements, introducing your own rules & importance of terrain Rick Priestly & Andy Chambers Designer's Notes 2nd Edition Rulebook 1993
Changes to 40K for 2nd edition & influence of Epic & Warhammer Rick Priestly The New Warhammer 40,000 White Dwarf 165 1993
Analysis of prior vehicle rules and problems with maintaining separate rules for vehicles Jervis Johnson Adapting the mechanic stuff Citadel Journal 10 / 11 1995
Adapting Rogue Trader's Realm of Chaos books to 2nd edition Andy Chambers Designer's Notes Codex Chaos 1996
3 Design changes for 3rd edition with reference to Epic, Necromunda, Gorkamorka & how players were actually building armies Andy Chambers What's It All About Then? White Dwarf 226 1998
Redesigning Orks for 3rd edition and changes made for the codex Andy Chambers Gork Told Me To Do It White Dwarf 235 1999
Designing the urban warfare supplement Andy Chambers, Jervis Johnson & Pete Haines Cityfight Designer's Notes White Dwarf 261 2001
Designing Codex Necrons Andy Chambers, Pete Haines, Phil Kelly, Graham McNeill & Andy Hoare Necron Designers' Notes White Dwarf 271 2002
Designing Codex Daemonhunters and the influence of narrative, playtesting & the 54mm Inquisitor game Andy Chambers, Graham McNiell & Phil Kelly Daemonhunters Designers Notes White Dwarf 279 2003
Designing the second Codex Imperial Guard for 3rd, aligning with Codex Eye of Terror and adding more colour to the army list Pete Haines Codex Imperial Guard Designer's Notes White Dwarf 285 2003
4 Refining 3rd edition rules with notes on improving play and effect on each faction Pete Haines, Adam Troke, Phill Kelly, Mat Ward, Andy Hoare, Anthony Reynolds, Graham McNeill, Ross Watson & Evan J Lougheed Warhammer 40,000 Designer's Notes White Dwarf 297 2004