#ArcFest2026
Only War at Glance
Game System: Warhammer 40,000 (2nd Edition)
Point Size: 1500 Points
Missions: Rulebook & Dark Millennium
Board Size: 6ft x 4ft
Event Organiser: Adept DSilver
Sessions: 5
Schedule: TBA
Ticket: $85
Updated: 31/01/2026
Only War is a two-day Narrative event for Warhammer 40,000 2nd Edition.
Welcome Commander to the inaugeral ONLY WAR. An ARCFEST Warthammer 40,000 2nd Edition Narrative Team event.
We are honoured by your presence and look forward to seeing Sustained fire dice rolling, templates scattering and vehicles careening out of control and exploding!
This event is about bringing back the glory of gaming during 1993-1998 if only for a couple of days.
We are excited to bring you this event and hope there are many more in the future.
This is 2nd Ed 40k. There is ONLY WAR!
This is a living Player Pack and will be edited as updates and clarifications are needed.
ArcFest Basics
Play for Fun is all about bringing armies that are enjoyable to play against.
You don’t need the most powerful list—focus on what makes the game fun, engaging, and memorable for both you and your opponent.
Roll dice, tell stories, and enjoy great games where shared fun always comes first.
Challenge Your Hobby is all about bringing your painted models to the table.
Every miniature must be painted, giving you the chance to showcase your army to fellow gamers, try new techniques, and push yourself creatively.
This event celebrates both your craft and your courage to put your hobby on display for everyone to enjoy.
Create & Collect is all about the rule of cool. Bring the models, conversions, and armies that excite you the most—no limits, no pressure, just fun.
Show off your creativity, collect inspiration from others, and celebrate the ideas that make your hobby unique.
This is your space to play, craft, and enjoy the things you love most.
Play It Forward is about making new friends, enjoying a hobby we all love, and showing respect and sportsmanship to everyone at the event.
It’s about being part of a welcoming, positive community where every game is fun and every player feels included.
Each event will either score, or give awards representing these categories.
ArcFest wide Rules
Painted Miniatures: All models must be painted with a minimum of three distinct colours (This includes the base, which can be 1 of the colours). This ensures every miniature is table-ready and contributes to the visual enjoyment of the event. It’s about celebrating your hobby and showing off the creativity and effort you’ve put into your army. Everyone knows, painted models roll better dice.
All 3D-printed models must follow the ArcFest Model Policy. This ensures they meet the same standards as other models for quality, safety, and table readiness. It’s about keeping games fair, enjoyable, and consistent for everyone at the event. We also want to make sure participants are respecting our sponsors and game creators who support the entire con. Some events will have exceptions, however please review the policy for more detail.
ArcFest Model Policy (update coming)
Behaviour Policy: All attendees are expected to act respectfully and responsibly. Any inappropriate, violent, bullying, or abusive behaviour, deliberately cheating, or disregarding TO rulings will not be tolerated, and those who engage in such conduct will be asked to leave. This helps keep ArcFest a safe, fair, and welcoming environment for everyone.
AI Artwork: If the event has theme or presentation you may not use Chat GPT or gen AI to create text or artwork for your theme. You will receive no points for it, and AI artwork may not be displayed at the event. Ours is a hobby of imagination. We want to see yours.
More about Warhammer 40,000 (2nd Edition)
Warhammer 40,000 2nd Edition is a classic tabletop game from the early 1990s, remembered for its cinematic, over-the-top gameplay.
Decades on, it lives on through passionate community groups like Sustained Fire, who continue to run narrative campaigns and events that celebrate the storytelling, chaos, and character of this iconic era of Warhammer 40,000.
Games
Each player will take part in 5 games over 2 days.
Players will be split into two sides. The Attackers and the Defenders. Red Vs Blue. Gork vs Mork. You get the idea.
Players will be assigned a team at the start of the event.
Games will be the standard 1500 points using strategy cards from Dark Millennium and White Dwarf. Tyranids refer to the Jones is acting strangly tables.
Our aim is for each person to have 5 fantastic games and go home at the end of the event basking in the warm glow of multi-meltas and safe plasma weaponry (assuming your not a chaos marine player).
At the end of the event we find out which team came out on top!
Missions will be kill points and a series of pre-chosen ones from Warhammer 40,000 Starter box and Dark Mellenium. So no Tyranid specific mission.
Psychic Phase
The power of the warp roll to determine how many warp cards each player gets will be capped at 2d6.
Models
Warhammer 40,000 2nd Edition was a long time ago (sadly), and getting your hands on period-appropriate models can be… challenging.
We strongly encourage the use of original 2nd-edition or classic-era models where possible, but we understand that isn’t always realistic. Substitutes are absolutely fine — including 3D-printed models — as long as they fit the spirit and scale of the era. As a rough guide, models close to 2nd–3rd edition size are generally acceptable.
Modern 10th-edition scale models, however, are significantly larger and won’t be suitable for this event. A bit of common sense goes a long way here. If you’re unsure about a model, please reach out in advance — we’re more than happy to review it and make a call before the event so there are no surprises on the day.
Base Sizes
Like the models, ideally we stick to the era with most troops on the old 25mm and monsters on 40/50mm.
Round or square is fine.
Larger is ok, smaller is not.
The old tyranid Termagants were on 25mm bases but modern ones are 32mm.
Painting
All models must be at least 3 colours and based with some appropriete technique such as sand, flock, static grass etc
Any model found to not abide by these rules will be banned and if mid game said models will be removed and appropriate victory points will go to your opponent.
As with all tournaments, there are a lot of rules to make it clear and fair for everyone, but honestly we just want to have a blast playing this marvelous classic edition of Warhammer 40,000. Rock up for a rad weekend playing toy soldiers with new friends, and you’re already a winner.
Only War Rules
Rule Sources
Warhammer 40,000 Rulebook
The Wargear Book
Codexes
Codex Army Lists (Often Referred to as 'The Black Codex')
Dark Millennium
White Dwarf FAQ Articles
White Dward Datafax cards
Faction Sources
Armies must drawn from their relevent codexes or 'The Black Codex' lists if Squats. This includes sub lists such as Genestealer cults and Chaos Cults.
Citadel Journal Pirates, Harlequins, Arbites and Eldar Exodites list can be used with appropriate models and conversions.
We will use White Dwarf articles like Marine Commanders and Marine 'Combat Squads'.
Ork Weirdboy/Warpheads may be used from Dark Mellenium.
Arbites from White dwarf also can be taken.
'Build your own' Vehicle rules are permitted.
Citadel Journal is also acceptable (Goffik Rokkers!!) for additional units.
Allies
Allies are allowed as per the codex restrictions and Grey Knights may be taken by referencing their entry in Dark Millennium.
Restrictions
No Armorcast style Titans or super heavies. Other vehicles/monsters are fine.
No Vortex Grenades
No Virus Outbreak strategy card.
No fan Codexes.
No Daemon World Armies.
No race specific stratagy cards from the Citadel Journal
No Battle Bible. We acknowladge it can be a useful tool but we have found many issues and homebrew rules masquerading as core rules in it.
In future events we are open to thoughts and suggestions but for this first event we want to keep it as simple as possible.
Special Characters
Special characters are allowed. In 2nd Ed back in the day they were often frowned upon. But if somone wants to build a cool jump army around Dante or bring Valhallan Ice Warriors with Chenkov etc, go for it!
Wargear
Wargear follows the restrictions list printed in White Dwarf 195.
You can find a copy to download here: https://pdfcoffee.com/white-dwarf-195-pdf-free.html
Terrain
ARCFEST is built by gamers for gamers. We are expanding and adding new events (like this one) to the repertoire. Tables and terrrain are being provided for a staggering amount of players and games, which is awesome, but at this point, any help we can get is much appreciated.
If anybody can provide some terrain for the event we would be very greatful. As time goes on ARCFEST hopes to be able to provide full tables of terrain which cover all the wonderful realms and systems on show but until then we will take any help we can get!
Awards
At the end of the event we will be presenting awards for the following:
Champion of the Chaos Gods: Most victory points scored
Farseer: Most era appropriate
Lord Solar: Players choice
Mechaniac: Best painted.
ARMIES ON PARADE
At Lunch time on Day 1, each player will lay out their army on the table they are playing on and players will walk around and vote for their favourite army
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You will be provided with a link to access the score card
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Score your three favourite armies from the weekend
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You will be able to award a single army 3pts, a single army 2pts, and a single army 1pt. With 3pts being the highest.
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The winner will be revealed during the Awards presentation
What to bring...
What to Bring: To make the most of your games at ArcFest, please come prepared with everything you’ll need for smooth, fun, and fair play. Below is a handy checklist of what to bring along:
Fully Painted Miniatures (As per the ArcFest wide Rules)
An Official copy of Warhammer 40,000 2nd Ed Rules & Dark Millennium (If you have them)
Army Lists or Roster Sheets as specified above (A Master copy)
Dice, Tape Measures & Templates
A Notebook & Pen/Pencil for tracking results (If Required)
A Positive Attitude - Be ready to play, have fun, and support sportsmanship!