Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition: Dwarfs - Stone and Steel, an example of the works of Alfred Nuñez, Jr.
Hi, I'm Federico da Remas and today I'll have the joy of interviewing Alfred Nuñez Jr. (in art MadAlfred) a man who has shaped greatly the way the fans perceive the world of Warhammer Fantasy since the first steps taken by the game in the far 1985.
Every time you read about the stoic Dwarf race lore or every time you look at a detailed map of the southern nations of the Old World know that behind it there is a writer who has worked officially for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay as a freelancer, but whose works have shaped the game even when producing non-official material for his campaign for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. Said works somehow ended in official material, like manuals and even videogames of Warhammer such as the famous series of Warhammer Total War, and also the recent edition of Warhammer The Old World.
This represents just how pure dedication and fantasy can shape the background of an immense universe such as Warhammer, just like an Architect of Fate, Alfred keeps molding its lore with his official works, and from the shadows with his maps.
ABOUT YOU[]
Alfred Nuñez Jr.
Anyone who had the pleasure of reading the early editions of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay knows that you were already present at the inception of the first edition. The landscape of publishing must have undergone significant changes since you commenced your work until today.
How did your collaboration with the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay development team come about?
MadAlfred: I came into first edition through my friend, Anthony Ragan. Through Anthony, I met Ken Rolston at a local convention in the early 1990s when he was working on a proposed “Realms of Divine Magic” and “Realms of Sorcery” for GW and started to develop cults for those WFRP deities that he did not. In 1997, I met James Wallis at GenCon and worked at the Hogshead booth. Writing WFRP scenarios for convention play and an article on Slayers for Pyramid magazine eventually led to the first edition sourcebook Dwarfs: Stone and Steel.
I got involved with Green Ronin in 2nd edition through a contest they held for an introductory adventure to go with their GM screen. The adventure, “Pretty Things,” changed a few of the grimmer elements in the original submission (which I titled “Roadkill”). Though I did provide provincial gazetteers to the author of “Sigmar’s Heirs,” I was not invited to contribute to any other 2nd edition publication.
I met Jay North at GenCon to talk about the Empire, WFRP background, and 3rd edition. Nothing came from that meeting.
Andy Law offered me an opportunity to work on 4th edition, which I happily and gratefully accepted. My first efforts appeared in Archives of the Empire, volume one.
What have you primarily focused on in your work over the years? Is there a specific project or theme that holds particular significance for you?
MadAlfred: My primary focus is on adding depth to the Warhammer world, whether it is creating more detailed maps, developing religion and associated myths, or developing descriptions of settlements in a given region.
Are you currently engaged in other projects related to Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay? Can you provide a glimpse into what you will be working on in the future?
MadAlfred: I am not at liberty to talk about any work I may or may not be doing for Cubicle 7.
I can talk about unofficial WFRP material I am writing. As a result of my recently concluded WFRP campaign, I am developing descriptions of settlements, landholdings, and points of interest on both sides of River Stir from Wurtbad to Stirfähre. This effort will include revising the maps on my website, of which the Hundsheimer Wald region was the first, and new maps of some of the settlements. Updates to the Gazetteers will also occur.
If you could choose to publish an adventure or background book, what subject matter would you prefer it to cover?
MadAlfred: Most of the recent (unofficial) work on my website is based on Empire in the immediate period following the Enemy Within campaign, which in first edition would be 2515. Official WFRP 1st edition material did not really cover this period, though Cubicle 7 is now officially detailing this period.
What are your impressions of the fourth edition of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay? Do you believe it has preserved the essence of the previous editions?
MadAlfred: In my opinion, neither 2nd or 3rd edition were adequate in preserving the essence of 1st edition. Both were needlessly adhering to the changed Warhammer Fantasy Battle narrative which had a strong Emperor and unified Empire, rather than a weak Emperor and fragmented Empire of 1st edition. In my view, 4th edition has done a great service by bringing back the 1st edition background to organically and reasonably change it to a much better take on the later Battle version (before End Times).
The first edition of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay was undoubtedly captivating but somewhat raw and in search of its own identity in terms of background. What aspects of the fourth edition do you believe have been refined more fascinatingly? And where do you think it may have lost its original charm?
MadAlfred: I am not sure I would use the word “refine.” 4th edition has done a very good job going deeper into the Warhammer lore than 1st edition was able to with far fewer publications. I especially like the tension with the Imperial ruling nobles, both within the various factions (houses) and with their subjects.
I do not think 4th edition has lost any of WFRP’s original charm. I have not read most of the material. Where I may not see eye to eye with some of the approaches taken, it is mostly a difference of style.
YOUR MAPS[]
On the left, the Warhammer: The Old World map of the Old World published on 20/01/2025, with the fan-made cities of MadAlfred, made many years ago.
There is likely not a single Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay fan who hasn't come across one of your maps and thought it was official.
Were the maps you created for leisure, or was their publication planned?
MadAlfred: I created the maps for my game use and to share with a close circle of friends. One of my friends, who hosts a server, provided me with a place to put my website (MadAlfred.com). So, I posted my maps there for anyone to use.
Is there an official publication of your maps planned?
MadAlfred: Other than at my website? No. I would not put them in a book format as I would not want to do anything which could be misconstrued as violating GW’s IP.
Are the cities in them entirely products of imagination, or are there cases where you inserted names of settlements mentioned in Warhammer Fantasy lore without a specific official location?
MadAlfred: Initially, I took the cities shown on the maps published in the 1st edition rulebook and official WFRP material. Later, I added some of those named in the Black Library novels. I eventually stopped the later practice when I learned that there was not a line editor at Black Library keeping any sense of continuity between its various writers. I started adding my own settlements where I thought they made sense. I also added settlements developed by some of my collaborators at Warpstone fanzine. The new settlements appearing in my more recent maps are my own creation.
A canonized map of the Border Princes, used as a reference in Total War: Warhammer, Warhammer: The Old World, and Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition.
Were you aware that the maps you created as a hobby were later used by Warhammer Fantasy dedicated video games such as Total War Warhammer, Warhammer End Times Vermintide, and Warhammer Man O' War?
MadAlfred: I was unaware that some of my creations were appearing in Warhammer Fantasy video games under you told me.
Were you informed about this by the developers of those games?
MadAlfred: I was not contacted by any of the developers. I suspect they may have stumbled upon my maps through a simple Google search for whatever particular area they were considering.
Given that my maps are derivatives of GW’s IP, I do not believe there is any reason for these developers to seek my permission. It would be nice to have an acknowledgement, but I am good without it. Quite frankly, I am pleased that they would make my locations “official” by including these in sanctioned Warhammer products.
Many of your maps have explored areas often overlooked by Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay lore. What is your opinion on Cubicle 7's recent commitment to shifting some focus to territories outside the Empire, such as Tilea and Lustria? Do you see it as a breath of fresh air, or do you believe the primary focus should remain on the lands of Sigmar?
MadAlfred: I am good with Cubicle 7 shifting the focus outside the Empire. I contributed to both the Sea of Claws and Lustria books and believe that many fans would like to explore places not previously covered by WFRP. If nothing else, the shift to looking outside the Empire allows me a window to unofficially develop specific areas within the Empire without fear of being contradicted in the (hopefully) immediate future. Of course, Cubicle 7 may have plans of which I am unaware.
Do you also think the same could be done with long-ignored areas like Araby and the Southlands? Recently, many fantasy universes have embraced a broader audience and demonstrated greater consideration for underrepresented ethnicities. Given that the world of Warhammer Fantasy is strongly inspired by the real world, do you think this trend could influence its future development?
MadAlfred: Unless GW has restrictions (of which I am unaware), I see no reason Cubicle 7 could not explore other lands. Of course, this presumes that Warhammer fans are interested to in running campaigns in these lands. I do not think it is reasonable to write about these places if there is not enough interest.
Personally, I thing more should be written about the Old World. In my experience, part of the charm of WFRP for its European fans is that they can identify with some part of the is not Warhammer Old World. I believe such sourcebooks would be more popular than foreign realms (other than Lustria).
THE CREATIVE PROCESS[]
.jpg){kind=link}
The same map of the Border Princes, edited by a fan.
These particular questions are of great interest to me. I've always wondered how various artists approached the world of Warhammer Fantasy, a game that has evolved significantly over the four decades since its release.
How does it feel to have played a role in shaping the aesthetic of such a complex game that, at the same time, has left many areas unexplored?
MadAlfred: Great, to be honest. I am particularly proud of the work I did in Dwarfs: Stone and Steel. While the book covered obligatory Fantasy Battle areas, I like to think that I created greater depth and some complexity to Warhammer Dwarf culture. There are areas I would have liked to expanded upon, but the page count forced one to make choices.
I am also pleased that many WFRP fans found my maps, adventures, and source material worthwhile. The insidious seepage of my unofficial material makes me feel like a Tzeentchian Magister Magestri.
Once within a development team, how do you coordinate to avoid canon conflicts? Are you provided with manuals, or do you have to source them privately or rely on a collective database? (It would also be interesting to know if this process has changed since you first worked on GW-branded products until today.)
MadAlfred: I keep tossing this question around my head for some time. Truth is, I do not really think I should say anything about the internal process when it comes to writing for Cubicle 7. It does not feel right.
With respect to the process with Hogshead, Warhammer canon was much easier to track in those days and I had a very good handle on it. James Wallis encouraged his writers to communicate with each other, sometimes with mixed openness and much discussion. I also had the pleasure of working with good editors at Hogshead.
My experience with Green Ronin was more limited. My one piece of work was simply writing an adventure and turn it in by its deadline. I had no input to (or even knowledge of) the changes made to the scenario. I did provide a map detailing one portion of the Talabeclander side of the River Stir. Without my knowledge (until it printed), Green Ronin filled in the Stirlander side from a map on my website. In hindsight, I appreciate the move as that made just another creation of mine official.
What is your opinion on the various multimedia encyclopedias that have emerged online? Have you ever used these sites for your work, and if so, how do you believe they can further improve?
MadAlfred: I had stopped following Warhammer lore after 7th edition Battle and stopped reading Black Library sometime before that. My unofficial work was focused on the 1st edition world and I could get away ignoring any new changes to the canon by GW.
Once I became one of the Cubicle 7 freelance writers, I felt I had to learn more about the more recent changes to the Warhammer lore. So, I use Warhammer Wiki to bring me up to speed. It is a pretty good site, thorough with citations to the information. I really have no thoughts on how the site can improve since I only read the portions that gives me the information I seek.
Greetings[]
I must thank you for the time you gave me, this interview was born from the desire to do justice to your immense work. I found it unfair that your works were so well known but at the same time surrounded by an aura of mystery about their provenance, and having had the opportunity to unravel those doubts at least a little gave me great pleasure. I greet you and I really hope to see you again working on the world of Warhammer, be it with official publications or with fan-made material that enrich the sessions of all Game Masters of the role-playing game. -- Federico da Remas
MadAlfred: It was a great pleasure for me to have this interview. I really appreciate the opportunity to discuss my work. I still have plans to create more detailed maps, focusing on smaller areas of the Old World, and writing up unofficial background of the lands, settlements, and other pertinent information as a sort of sandbox for GMs to run their own scenarios. With respect to official material, I hope that I can continue to get work as a freelancer for Cubicle 7.