Rest in peace, John Blanche. You had a truly monolithic, formative impact on both Warhammer as an IP, and the lives of countless fans and artists around the world.
✨ Sign-up for the 2026 WH40K Summer Fest Exchange is now open! ✨
A quick recap of the sign-up rules:
You must be 18+ and have an AO3 account to participate in the exchange.
You need to request and offer at least 3 characters or platonic/romantic relationships to sign up; you are welcome to request/offer more.
You can choose to create and receive either fanfiction, fanart, or both, and works that are either Safe For Work (SFW), Not Safe For Work (NSFW), or both.
A Do Not Want (DNW) list is mandatory, containing things you don't want in a gift. DNWs should be phrased and understood to be value-neutral.
'No DNWs' is allowed but must be explicitly stated. Note that this opts you into all AO3 archive warnings, including Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death, Rape/Noncon, and Underage Sex.
Prompts, ideas, inspirations, vibes, and other details are optional (for both requesters and creators) but often helpful.
Helpful links:
Exchange AO3 profile with full rules/info.
Request Summary shows other participants' requests.
Overview of nominated characters and pairings by @psi-scribe.
The sign-up deadline is Sunday, June 14, at 3:59pm GMT | 5:59pm CEST | 11:59am EDT | 8:59am PDT (countdown).
Signing up: Important info and step-by-step guide 👇
If you do not have an AO3 account, you can request an invitation to join the Archive here.
Note: In case the mod team needs to reach out to you, AO3 shows us the e-mail address you use to log in.
If you end up unmatchable or if your creator sends us a question to forward to you, we will use this e-mail address. Be sure to be able to access it, check it regularly while the exchange is running – and, if your legal name is in it, change it if you don’t want the mod team to see it!
All e-mails from the mod team will be sent from [email protected] using the name Roboute Guilliman (he handles our paperwork) or through AO3.
How to sign up
Click on 'Sign Up'/'Sign-up Form' on the exchange's profile page (or click here) to fill out your requests and offers.
You must submit at least 3 requests for characters and/or relationships that you would like to receive fanfiction and/or fanart for.
Fill out Request 1, 2 and 3 with 1-20 characters or relationships from the exchange tag set. You can add extra request boxes, up to 10.
Choose whether you'd like to receive only fanfiction, only fanart, or both, and whether it should be Safe For Work (SFW), Not Safe For Work (NSFW), or both. You can choose different media and ratings for each request.
SFW works are rated for General Audiences (G) or Teen And Up Audiences (T).
NSFW works are rated Mature (M) or Explicit (E).
Linking to a 'dear creator' letter on an external website, i.e., a tumblr blog post, Google Doc, Dreamwidth page, etc. with further details about your preferences, is optional but welcome.
Note: The person assigned to you is not obligated to read your letter, but may find it helpful for inspiration. Please make sure your page is publicly available; some tumblr links can only be accessed by tumblr users and not all participants are on tumblr.
You MUST include a Do Not Want (DNW) list of anything you don't want in a gift, such as squicks and triggers.
The mods will check your gift to make sure it doesn't contain any of your DNWs, but we only check for those listed in this text box.
Your listed DNWs should, as a minimum, state whether you wish to avoid any of the four specific AO3 Archive Warnings: 1) Graphic depictions of violence, 2) Major Character Death, 3) Rape/Non-con, 4) Underage Sex.
You can have different DNWs for different requests.
In addition to your DNWs, you can use the text box for suggestions, optional prompts, and preferences.
Note: Non-DNW details are optional, so your creator is not required to stick to your suggestions.
But having a general idea of whether you like fluff/action/comedy/smut, the Great Crusade/Horus Heresy/M40/M42-era, your favourite tropes, art styles, etc. is very helpful to your creator.
If you are unsure about what to include in your DNWs or optional details, you can check out other participants' requests for ideas.
You must submit at least 3 offers for characters and/or relationships that you would like to create fanfiction and/or fanart about.
Your offered characters/relationships do not have to be the same as your requests.
Add 1-20 characters or relationships from the exchange tag set for each offer.
You have to fill out Offer 1, 2 and 3 with at least one character/relationship in each, but it doesn't matter how you group your offers otherwise. No one will see your offers except you and the mods.
You will only be matched with one other participant and required to create one gift regardless of how many offers you submit.
Choose whether you would like to create only fanfiction, only fanart, or both, and whether your work will be SFW or NSFW. You will only be required to make one gift for your assignment regardless of how many media and ratings you offer.
Please return to check before the sign-up deadline that your offers match at least one request by another participant in the exchange.
If your offers don't match anyone else's requests by the time of the deadline, the mods will e-mail you to ask if you would like to add additional offers. If you do not respond to this e-mail within 24 hours or decline to add additional offers, your sign-up will be deleted.
Once you have filled out at least 3 requests and offers, hit 'Submit' at the bottom of the page. You have now signed up to participate in the exchange and your requests will be visible to other participants in the Request Summary.
You can edit/add to your requests and offers by clicking 'My Sign-up' on the exchange profile page. Note: After the sign-up deadline, only the mods will be able to edit your sign-up details.
"What if there is someone participating that I don't want to be matched with?"
The best way to ensure a fun and enjoyable exchange experience is to keep an eye on the Request Summary and adjust your offers based on other participants' requests.
Maybe you'll see something that inspires you to offer characters or relationships you didn't consider before — or maybe someone requests something for one of your offers that you would rather not create, in which case it's perfectly fine to edit your offers so you won't match on that particular character/relationship.
If there is another participant that you very strongly do not want to be matched with, please e-mail us at [email protected] before the sign-up deadline and let us know:
Your AO3 username
The AO3 username of the participant you do not want to be matched with
Whether your Do Not Match request is for creating, receiving, or both
Thank you! We look forward to seeing you in the sign-ups! ❤
Phew, took me a bit but I finally updated the spreadsheet to have all 800+ nominations and double checked it! Now go forth and find all the characters and pairings you adore for your sign-ups!
The tag set for the Summer Fest Exchange is now open for nominations!
Nominations close on May 31 at 3:59pm GMT | 5:59pm CEST | 11:59am EDT | 8:59am PDT (countdown).
If you are new to gift exchanges on AO3, here is a guide on how to submit character/relationship nominations to the WH40K Summer Fest Exchange tag set. 👇
What is the tag set for?
Put shortly, the tag set is our shared wishlist for characters and relationships we'd like to include in this exchange.
Like most exchanges on AO3, the WH40K Summer Fest begins with a two-step setup period:
During the nomination period (May 15–May 31), anyone can submit characters and relationships to the tag set created for the exchange.
During the sign-up period (June 1–June 14), participants submit requests and offers for characters/relationships from the tag set they would like to create or receive fanfic/fanart for. At the end of the sign-up period, the exchange mods will match participants based on their requests and offers.
You can only sign up to request or offer the characters and relationships contained in the tag set, so make sure to submit your nominations before Sunday May 31, 3:59pm GMT | 5:59pm CEST | 11:59am EDT | 8:59am PDT (countdown). After this time, the tag set will close and additional nominations cannot be added.
How to nominate
You'll need an AO3 account to participate in this exchange. If you do not have an account, you can request an invitation to join the Archive here – the wait time is currently around 8 days.
Find the link to the tag set in the info box at the top of the exchange's profile page (or click here).
On the tag set page, click 'nominate' in the top right corner.
Choose 'Warhammer 40.000' for the fandom.
All nominations go in the 'Warhammer 40.000' fandom category, even if they belong to other media, e.g., the Horus Heresy series, the Rogue Trader computer game, etc. Nominations are only used for matching participants; when you upload your gift to AO3, you can use the fandom tag(s) of your choice.
Both characters and relationships go in the 'relationship' box for matching purposes.
Add characters to the tagset by writing: Character: Name and finishing with a comma.
Add pairings by writing Name/Name (for romantic or sexual pairings) or Name & Name (for platonic pairings/friendships/enemyships – any specific characters you want interacting in a non-romantic/non-sexual way). If the tag has been used on AO3 before, you can choose it from the dropdown menu, otherwise finish with a comma.
You can nominate Original Characters as characters or in relationships. HOWEVER, note that it will be the creator's choice which OC to use; e.g., if you request "Saint Celestine/Original Female Character," the creator can use an OC you suggest in your sign-up but can also use their own idea. You may nominate original characters that specify an OC's faction ("Original Ultramarine & Original Tau Fire Warrior") and/or gender ("Original Transfem Sister of Battle/Original Nonbinary Imperial Guard").
You can also nominate 'Any' characters, e.g., "Sanguinius & Any Blood Angel(s)", "Ciaphas Cain/Any Canon Female Character", to give the creator freedom to choose which character(s) to include.
You can nominate up to 20 characters or pairings.
Once you are done, click 'submit' at the bottom of the page.
You can add more characters and pairings, up to 20, by clicking 'My nominations' on the tag set page, but once your nominations have been approved by the mods they can't be deleted.
If you nominate something that has already been nominated by someone else, or if the mods change the wording/order of names to match archive conventions (e.g., "Ulfar of the Space Wolves" ➡ "Ulfar Redmane"), it may continue to appear on your 'My nominations' page as unapproved. Click 'Expand All' on the tag set page to see a full list of all nominated characters/relationships and check if your nominations are included, possibly under a slightly different name.
It may take up to 24+ hours for nominations to be approved, so please don't delete your unapproved nominations.
If you have any questions about your nominations, contact the mods at [email protected] or here on tumblr.
Remember to follow this page for updates on nomination clarifications and more.
Apologies that it took me a few days to get this fest's spreadsheet up and going! As always I'll try my best to keep up with the nominations and adding them as they come along!
If you aren't sure if one of your fave characters or ships has been put up, check here ✨
The agony, I like the idea of the tree and the windows on the ceiling however it does not fit right for the vibe of the room I'm going for so alas I have to remove. Which is easy! Getting them into those positions again is tedious!!
I've returned to my roots with my first MMO, World of Warcraft, after breaking away from it during Warlords of Draenor and while I have literally so much to catch up on, I am instead drawn in by the shiny, jiggling toy that is in-game housing.
I may not be making the most complex or fancy homes but its mine and thats all that matters!
I return after a long accidental haitus slumber and I feel like a farmer checking her fields, ah I see the Blood Angel and World Eater crops are in season!
The Warhammer 40,000 Summer Fest Exchange is back for 2026!
This fandom event is a Warhammer 40,000/Horus Heresy-focused gift exchange for fanart and fanfiction, hosted on AO3 – you can see previous years' gift collections here: 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025.
Sign up to write a fanfic or create a piece of fanart, and receive a story or artwork in return!
Schedule:
May 15–May 31: Nominate your favourite characters and pairings
June 1–June 14: Sign up for the exchange
June 14–June 15: Matching and assignments go out
August 2: Assignments due – deadline countdown
August 15: Works go live (unless delayed for pinch hits)
August 22: Creators are revealed; the collection will remain open for treats
All deadlines are 3:59pm GMT | 5:59pm CEST | 11:59am EDT | 8:59am PDT.
👉 You must be 18+ and have an AO3 account to participate.
For information on how to sign up and participate, see the AO3 exchange profile.
Annddd I need to make sure I note down all these dates! 👀✍️
As per my usual, I'll be trying my best to maintain a helpful spreadsheet so everyone can see everything easier since Ao3's drop-down system with nomination lists is so...bad.
It's seemed to be useful in previous events or at least I hope it has been!
Been a fan of world of warcraft since I was a wee kiddo learning from my older sister that cataclysm was adding in playable werewolves, proceeded to lose my mind over it and we managed to convince our folks to let us get the game and sub.
I now return many years later, with my own sub after keeping up with the lore on and off.
I am fully prepared to lose my mind over housing now.
One of the things I really like about Tumblr is there seems to be a healthy appreciation for invertebrate biology here, which I don’t always see as much on other social media websites. Tumblr users overall seem to love bugs, and it’s important to me that every person who loves bugs knows the name Charles Henry Turner. If you’re not yet familiar with this man, I’m delighted to introduce you to one of the most remarkable minds ever born of this earth, and a true pioneer in the field of entomology and animal behavior.
Charles Turner was born in the United States just a few years after the end of the civil war. His brilliance was evident from the start, and after graduating valedictorian of his high school class he quickly went on to earn his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in short order. While in school, Turner’s relentless curiosity became his greatest advantage. He was drawn to and fascinated by topics that were largely ignored by modern science at the time, namely the cognitive behaviors of insects and other invertebrates. While many of his colleagues believed insects to be mindless automata acting on instinct alone, Turner felt deeply that the brains of these oft overlooked animals were far more complex than the scientific community suspected. He performed extensive experiments to test his theories and found overwhelming evidence of problem solving and individualism among organisms as small as ants and spiders.
By the time Turner earned his zoology pHD in 1907 he had published dozens of papers in highly esteemed journals and had even co-authored a book. It is likely that Turner was the first African American to earn a pHD from the University of Chicago. With such a sparkling academic reputation and enormous body of research, one would expect this candidate to have no issues obtaining a professorship at a prestigious school. Though by every right Turner should have been head of science department at a top university, the systemic racism that permeated academia meant that doors a white man would have walked through were locked and bolted shut for Charles Henry Turner.
Turner did not allow this prejudice to dim in any way his blindingly bright passion for knowledge. He took a job as a high school teacher, and continued to perform and publish research on his own all while he instilled his students with a love for zoology. He published more than 70 papers in extremely respected journals and he remained passionately curious for the entirety of his life. If I tried to list here all of the incredible discoveries Turner made in his lifetime it would take me days to sufficiently express the impact he had on the field of invertebrate behavior. His experiments were so ahead of their time that entomologists today marvel at his research and wonder how much more we would know if Turner’s work had been given the attention and respect of other scientists working at the time. Turner’s mind was about a century ahead of those entomological contemporaries who had no interest in giving him a seat at the table. His tombstone simply reads “scientist”
Like many people of color throughout history, Turner’s exceptional contributions to our world have been unfairly overlooked by many. His name has historically been left out of entomology textbooks and courses, despite laying down groundwork that is still used today. I really recommend that anyone interested in entomology or even biology in general read up on Charles Henry Turner and his works. This is an excellent article that discusses his many challenges and triumphs in the field.
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