The project began in 2017 when the local Warhammer shop asked me and my friend if we would like to translate the Core Rules for Warhammer 40,000, 8^th edition to Malay. Of course, we said yes.

My friend has a strong grasp of Malay literature and I like systems. Together it took us four weekends, working at the back of the shop, under the oath of secrecy, to complete the project.

We took pride in finding fitting definitions and pleasure in turning the flavour text on every page into poetry. It was hard work.

I admit it was not perfect, but it was the best we could have done.  The rules were written in the theme and setting of the world of Warhammer 40,000 as it was in the 8^th edition. You can still find it on the Games Workshop page.

So recently with the release of the 9th edition of Warhammer 40,000, we were called upon to translate the Core Rules once more. And again, I answered the call. And this time I had to do it all alone. My friend was too busy with work, but I was working from home.

It took me roughly one hour to translate a double column page. There were 25 pages, and the last page was a battlefield map. In total I estimated that I used roughly 29 hours, including editing formatting and research, to complete the 9^th edition Core Rules.

It was a lot more than the 15 pages of 3 to 2 columns of text that made up the 8^th edition Core Rules.

While the 8^th edition Core Rules was written within the Warhammer 40,000 universe, the 9^th edition Core Rules was written without it. It read like a rulebook; each section was contained but also read like it was written by someone else.

The 9^th edition Core Rules lacked the flow and flavour of the Battle Primer.

The project was made easier thanks to the foundation my friend and I made in 2017. We figured out most of the definitions, I only had to make up a few on my own. There was also no flavour text, which was my friend’s specialization, something that I lack.

I did change a few things, unified some terms, made up new ones. The contained nature of every section in the 9^th edition Core Rules made it repetitive, monotonous, and long. It was tedious.

I’d like to think that I did my best. It won’t be perfect; I am just a lone amateur. Still, I feel that the project is not over until I see the Warhammer 40,000 9^th edition Core Rules officially published in Malay.