clusive Interview with Alessio
Cavatore of Games Workshop
arl Cadfael recently managed to get an
exclusive interview with Alessio Cavatore,
the alleged future writer of the 6th edition
Bretonnian Army Book, concerning said book. The
interview took place between March 17 and March
19 2002 and was carried out through email. Special
thanks go to Abbot Rhoderic for his valued
assistance in preparing the questions.
Earl Cadfael: For the record I would like to
start by asking you what your involvement in
the new Bretonnian Army Book will be?
Alessio Cavatore: I will probably write the core
rules, army list and a few basic magic items. I don't
think I will have time for anything else because of my
increasing commitment to the Lord of the Rings
game system.
In your mind's eye, how do you picture the
Bretonnian army, and will you build on this when
writing the army book?
Well, the answer is easy. Knights and Chivalry! So
more of the Lady, of Honour, of Virtues and
certainly no increase in dishonourable missile
weapons (some people were asking about war
machines... ).
You mention in your Bretonnian army list article
in White Dwarf 261 that Bretonnia is one of your
favorite armies. Can you tell us about any
special memories you have from playing with or
against Bretonnia?
Well, I've won twice Games Workshop's
Warhammer Staff Tournament (1998-1999) and
both times it was with my Bretonnians. The army list
was published on White Dwarf 227. It was my first
article on the Dwarf too, so you can certainly
understand that Bretonnia has a special place in my
heart.
The question most Bretonnian generals are
asking right now is: "When will the new
Bretonnian Army Book be released?". Can you
give us a hint?
Well, it won't be tomorrow... Let's say more than
one year from now, but less than two...
We all liked what you did with the Skaven Army
Book. It looks like it was a lot of work. How
long does it really take to write and play test all
those rules, spells and items?
Thank you, it was fun to work on the Ratties! To
write the book you need about a month. Playtesting
it however is an entirely different matter. One feels
that the time available for playtesting is never enough
and thoughts like "if only I had an extra week..." are
very common. Eventually, after another month or so
of testing your manager will come and remove the
project from your hand so that the production
process can start. It's always difficult to let go, but
the next project is at this point always getting to
close for comfort!
The 5th edition Bretonnian models are some of
the most beautiful models ever made by GW.
Will you be able to top that for the new edition?
Can you tell us what new Bretonnian models
you are considering to produce?
We will certainly try our best, and if you've seen the
new Empire plastic Knights you know what I mean!
You will probably get new plastic Knights (Realm
and Errant more likely, but maybe even Questing
Knights). The detail has not been decided yet, but
I'm pretty confident that all the range will be re-done
and a few new units will be added.
Would you care to speculate over what new
units might be in the new Army Book?
Knights on Pegasi? Warrior monks? The
Jabberwocky? Penitent Knights armed with
two-handed swords? Knights who say "Ni"? a holy
reliquary? The Black Knight? who knows... As you
can guess, I'm being intentionally vague, to you the
quest of telling truth from lie...
In the 5th edition
Bretonnian Army
Book there were
some unique magic
spells that were
only usable by the
Morgiana special
character. Those
spells were always
thought of as very
characterful by
Bretonnian
generals, but they
were seldom used
since special
characters were
often disallowed.
What are the
chances of seeing
some new unique
Bretonnian spells?
Probably not, but I'd
like to work on the
relation between the
behaviour of the
player on the field and the Blessing of the Lady a bit
more... If you are chivalrous you get more
advantages and viceversa...
What about Bretonnian virtues? Will they make
a reappearance in the new book?
Bien sure!
Why is it that Bretonnian armies in 6th edition
so far are not allowed Dogs of War at all?
Because otherwise ruthless people would buy
crossbows and cannons. And the Lady wouldn't be
pleased!
Some of the Bretonnian generals have been
concerned about the Bretonnian inability to lay
siege to enemy fortresses. Do you think there
will be any rules in the new Bretonnian Army
Book to alleviate this situation?
Of course during sieges they will allowed to use
catapults. If the enemy is coward enough not to
come out and fight on the field, then the use of such
ugly machines is justified (provided that only
commoners touch them)!
Anything else you want to pass on to the noble
Bretonnian knights who visit Earl Cadfael's
court?
May the Lady watch over you!
Thanks a lot for your time and hope to meet you
on the
Cavatore of Games Workshop
arl Cadfael recently managed to get an
exclusive interview with Alessio Cavatore,
the alleged future writer of the 6th edition
Bretonnian Army Book, concerning said book. The
interview took place between March 17 and March
19 2002 and was carried out through email. Special
thanks go to Abbot Rhoderic for his valued
assistance in preparing the questions.
Earl Cadfael: For the record I would like to
start by asking you what your involvement in
the new Bretonnian Army Book will be?
Alessio Cavatore: I will probably write the core
rules, army list and a few basic magic items. I don't
think I will have time for anything else because of my
increasing commitment to the Lord of the Rings
game system.
In your mind's eye, how do you picture the
Bretonnian army, and will you build on this when
writing the army book?
Well, the answer is easy. Knights and Chivalry! So
more of the Lady, of Honour, of Virtues and
certainly no increase in dishonourable missile
weapons (some people were asking about war
machines... ).
You mention in your Bretonnian army list article
in White Dwarf 261 that Bretonnia is one of your
favorite armies. Can you tell us about any
special memories you have from playing with or
against Bretonnia?
Well, I've won twice Games Workshop's
Warhammer Staff Tournament (1998-1999) and
both times it was with my Bretonnians. The army list
was published on White Dwarf 227. It was my first
article on the Dwarf too, so you can certainly
understand that Bretonnia has a special place in my
heart.
The question most Bretonnian generals are
asking right now is: "When will the new
Bretonnian Army Book be released?". Can you
give us a hint?
Well, it won't be tomorrow... Let's say more than
one year from now, but less than two...
We all liked what you did with the Skaven Army
Book. It looks like it was a lot of work. How
long does it really take to write and play test all
those rules, spells and items?
Thank you, it was fun to work on the Ratties! To
write the book you need about a month. Playtesting
it however is an entirely different matter. One feels
that the time available for playtesting is never enough
and thoughts like "if only I had an extra week..." are
very common. Eventually, after another month or so
of testing your manager will come and remove the
project from your hand so that the production
process can start. It's always difficult to let go, but
the next project is at this point always getting to
close for comfort!
The 5th edition Bretonnian models are some of
the most beautiful models ever made by GW.
Will you be able to top that for the new edition?
Can you tell us what new Bretonnian models
you are considering to produce?
We will certainly try our best, and if you've seen the
new Empire plastic Knights you know what I mean!
You will probably get new plastic Knights (Realm
and Errant more likely, but maybe even Questing
Knights). The detail has not been decided yet, but
I'm pretty confident that all the range will be re-done
and a few new units will be added.
Would you care to speculate over what new
units might be in the new Army Book?
Knights on Pegasi? Warrior monks? The
Jabberwocky? Penitent Knights armed with
two-handed swords? Knights who say "Ni"? a holy
reliquary? The Black Knight? who knows... As you
can guess, I'm being intentionally vague, to you the
quest of telling truth from lie...
In the 5th edition
Bretonnian Army
Book there were
some unique magic
spells that were
only usable by the
Morgiana special
character. Those
spells were always
thought of as very
characterful by
Bretonnian
generals, but they
were seldom used
since special
characters were
often disallowed.
What are the
chances of seeing
some new unique
Bretonnian spells?
Probably not, but I'd
like to work on the
relation between the
behaviour of the
player on the field and the Blessing of the Lady a bit
more... If you are chivalrous you get more
advantages and viceversa...
What about Bretonnian virtues? Will they make
a reappearance in the new book?
Bien sure!
Why is it that Bretonnian armies in 6th edition
so far are not allowed Dogs of War at all?
Because otherwise ruthless people would buy
crossbows and cannons. And the Lady wouldn't be
pleased!
Some of the Bretonnian generals have been
concerned about the Bretonnian inability to lay
siege to enemy fortresses. Do you think there
will be any rules in the new Bretonnian Army
Book to alleviate this situation?
Of course during sieges they will allowed to use
catapults. If the enemy is coward enough not to
come out and fight on the field, then the use of such
ugly machines is justified (provided that only
commoners touch them)!
Anything else you want to pass on to the noble
Bretonnian knights who visit Earl Cadfael's
court?
May the Lady watch over you!
Thanks a lot for your time and hope to meet you
on the