¿What is Warhammer: The Old World? (ING)

Warhammer: The Old World is a tabletop miniatures game from Games Workshop, released in January 2024. It serves as a reimagining of the classic Warhammer Fantasy Battle, taking place in the same dark, medieval fantasy universe. The setting, however, is established approximately 250 years before the events of Warhammer Fantasy's final edition (8th Edition) and around 25 years prior to the Great War Against Chaos. The specific year is 2276 in the Imperial Calendar (IC), during a period known as 'the Anarchy'.
 

Context and Setting

The Old World is a region within the fictional Warhammer universe, a continent reminiscent of medieval and Renaissance Europe, populated by humans, elves, dwarfs, orcs, the undead, and other fantastical races. This world, known as Mallus, is rife with conflict, magic, and supernatural creatures, defined by a "grim and perilous" aesthetic inspired by the works of Tolkien and Michael Moorcock, as well as European history, such as the Holy Roman Empire, medieval France, and Renaissance Italy.

Geographically, the Old World encompasses the lands west of the World's Edge Mountains, north of the River Blood, and south of Troll Country. It includes human nations such as the Empire (based on the Holy Roman Empire), Bretonnia (inspired by medieval France and Arthurian legends), Kislev (akin to Tsarist Russia), the city-states of Tilea and Estalia, and the chaotic Border Princes. It is also home to the dwarfs of Karaz Ankor, the wood elves of Athel Loren, and various non-human factions, including orcs, beastmen, and the undead.

In this era, the Empire is politically fractured and divided amongst warring Elector Counts. Meanwhile, the forces of Chaos are beginning to gather strength in the north, and to the south, the Tomb Kings of Khemri, inspired by Ancient Egypt, seek to expand their own empire.

The Game

Warhammer: The Old World is a "rank and flank" game of mass battles, where players command armies of miniatures on square bases, organised into blocks of units. Unlike Warhammer Age of Sigmar, which focuses on individual skirmishes, this game emphasises the tactics of formation-based warfare, featuring detailed rules for manoeuvring, protecting flanks, and exploiting enemy weaknesses. The rules combine elements from previous editions of Warhammer Fantasy (primarily 5th, 6th, and 7th) but with modern updates, such as the removal of a dedicated magic phase and a morale system that allows units to fall back in good order rather than fleeing automatically.

The game launched with nine core factions, divided between two rulebooks:

• Forces of Fantasy: Empire of Man, Dwarfen Mountain Holds, Kingdom of Bretonnia, Wood Elf Realms, and High Elf Realms.

• Ravening Hordes: Orc & Goblin Tribes, Warriors of Chaos, Beastmen Hordes, and Tomb Kings of Khemri.

Other legacy factions, such as Dark Elves, Skaven, Vampire Counts, Daemons of Chaos, Ogre Kingdoms, and Chaos Dwarfs, have been provided with free PDF rules but will not receive further support in the initial launch phase.

Why did Warhammer: The Old World return?

The game's return is a direct response to a renewed interest in the Warhammer Fantasy universe. This resurgence was largely driven by the success of video games like Total War: Warhammer and Vermintide, which rekindled the popularity of the Old World following the discontinuation of Warhammer Fantasy Battle in 2015, when Games Workshop replaced it with Age of Sigmar. Fan nostalgia and a clear demand for a mass-battle game focused on tactical formations prompted Games Workshop to relaunch the universe, albeit set in an earlier period to avoid contradicting the apocalyptic narrative of 'The End Times'.

Conclusion

Warhammer: The Old World is both a homage to the classic Warhammer Fantasy Battle and a revitalisation of the Old World setting, designed to appeal to veteran players and new enthusiasts of the medieval fantasy genre alike. Its focus on tactical battles and its rich, immersive setting make for a compelling experience, although it requires significant time and dedication to master its rules and collect its armies.

If you would like more details on specific factions, rules, or the background lore, please feel free to ask!