Races and nations of Warhammer Fantasy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the fictional Warhammer Fantasy setting by Games Workshop there are a number of different races and nations.
The most improtant of these feature as individual armies in the Warhammer Fantasy Battle table top game. The lesser may contribute individual units within one or other of the various main armies eg featuring as the origins of mercenary units.
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[edit] Realms of Men
Mankind has a strong foothold in the Warhammer World, and of all races can prove to be the most resistant or most susceptible to Chaos. Most of the featured human nations are based in the Old World.
- Bretonnia — A throwback feudal nation that relies on its haughty knights, heraldry, and their mysterious patron for military strength. Some consider it to be similar to the French armies before the Hundred Years' War, combined with a heavy dose of Arthurian Myth. Bretonnian armies rely on powerful charges from their many heavily armed and armored knights in order to achieve victory. Bretonnian knights are arguably the best heavy cavalry in the game, along with being the most varied. Bretonnian armies can also contain cheap and expendable units of unskilled peasants to serve as fodder.
- The Empire — Mightiest nation of the Old World; as strong in its military might as it is increasingly corrupt from within. The Empire is based upon the real-world Holy Roman Empire, especially during the Renaissance. The Empire benefits from a great diversity of units and magic. They also field an extensive variety of black powder missile weapons. Although, as humans, they lack the strength of other races.
- The Wasteland — Akin to the Netherlands, this low-lying land at the mouth of the River Reik is home to Marienburg, the largest city in the Old World. This region used to belong to the Empire — when it was referred to as Westerland — but is now fiercely independent. Marienburg is single city-state and is not covered by its own army book for Warhammer Fantasy Battle, though the latest edition of Empire Army book contains a listing for a Marienburg army.
- Tilea — South of the Irrana Mountains and the Vaults, the fractious city-states of Tilea embrace trade, exploration and internecine warfare with equal passion. Mercenary companies form the bulk of armies in these lands, often fighting on behalf of the wealthy rulers of the many republics and principalities or further north in the service of the Empire. Tilean armies can be represented by the Dogs of War army list. Tilea has been likened to renaissance Italy.
- Estalia — A peninsula southwest of Bretonnia, far from the threat of Chaos, this land is home to a number of rival kingdoms, akin to the Iberian peninsula prior to the Reconquista along with some Renaissance Italy influences - The name "Estalia" is a mix-up of the names España (Spain) and Italia (Italy). Estalia was once occupied by forces from Araby but these were driven out by a combined effort by other Old World human realms. There is no Estalian army book or list published by Games Workshop at this time, though one could use a Dogs of War army list as a basis for a royal or mercenary force from the peninsula. Estalia 's position in the old world mirrors that of Spain in Europe.
- Kislev — A hardy northern nation, ally of the Empire, who bears the burden of a close physical proximity to the maddening Realm of Chaos, reminiscent of a mixture of medieval Muscovy, Mongolia and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In the most recent incarnation the Kislevits are remarkably similar to the medieval Russians, with Boyars, Kossars and the Tsar and Tsarina all being very similar adaptations of Russian creations. Kislevites can be taken as allies by some armies, and can be fielded as their own army through an Army Book published as a supplement with White Dwarf (in 2004) [1].
[edit] The Elven Nations
The Elves were the second civilised race to walk the world. Brought from creation by the Old Ones, the Elves showed an adeptness at magic. Torn asunder many thousands of years ago by a great civil war, there are three major nations of Elves.
- Dark Elves — The relentless and bitter elves of Naggaroth still follow Malekith, who was exiled but still claims to be the rightful heir to the throne of the Elven Kingdoms of Ulthuan. The dark elves are sworn enemies of the high elves and try incessantly to invade Ulthuan. Dark elves enjoy nothing more than inflicting pain and suffering on others and frequently launch raids throughout the Old World in order to capture more slaves to feed their hunger for cruelty. The Witch elves of Khaine perform blood rituals to rejuvinate their youth.
- High Elves — The Asur carry on the ancient traditions of the Elven people on the Atlantis-like island continent of Ulthuan, as well as the burdens of many millennia of arrogance and warfare.
- Wood Elves — The ruthless Asrai abandoned their kin to both protect and restrain the strange sentient forest of Athel Loren in the Old World. They resemble the Elves of Tolkien's Lothlorien. They appear to be neither good nor bad, as likely to kill lost travellers as to aid them. They are mortal enemies to the Beasts of Chaos, and wage a silent war against them.
In the first edition of the game, there were two other Elven armies noted: the "Sea Elves" and the "Night Elves". Sea Elves are now seen as part of the High Elves, and the Night Elves are now considered part of the Dark Elves.
[edit] Dwarfish Kingdoms
The "good" Dwarfs live in various city fortresses dug into the mountains of the Old World. Their Chaos brethren occupy one huge towering city in the lands to the south east of the Old World.
- Dwarfs — An ancient, grim, and determined race integral in the founding of the Empire, the Dwarfs spend their days avenging grudges and counting gold. Dwarfs are the greatest craftsmen in the Warhammer World and in addition to enjoying fine arms and armor they have the best heavy infantry and artillery in the game. Dwarf armies are well suited to defensive warfare, however due to their lack of mobility they do not do well when forced to go on the offensive. Dwarves are legendary for their ability to never forget nor forgive a wrong against them, their finely crafted weapons and armor, ability to consume large quantities of ale, extreme stubbornness, mistrust of elves, and hatred of greenskins. Dwarfs are the closest ally to Humanity, although the Elves of Ulthuan have united with the Humans as well in the last few hundred years. Due to the horrid War of Vengeance, Dwarfs hold a grudge against the Elves of Ulthuan, yet Dwarfen and High Elf armies have fought valiantly side-by-side together in the last few hundred years, as recently as the Storm of Chaos.
- Chaos Dwarfs — Tireless overseers of soulless industry, the Chaos Dwarfs worship their own Chaos God; Hashut, the Father of Darkness. Their braided beards and Lamassu monsters are drawn from Mesopotamian art and mythology. As of 2006, the Chaos Dwarfs have no published, up-to-date army list in Warhammer Fantasy Battle, although they do make an appearance as the crew for the Chaos "Hellcannon".
[edit] Servants of the Old Ones
- Lizardmen — First created by the Old Ones to aid in their great genetic works, the Slann now lead the Lizardmen blindly via prophesies containing incomprehensible and ancient instructions from their fallen gods, who may or may not some day return, depending on science and the technological advancements of the lizardmen. Lizardmen are also heavily based on the Aztec and Mayan cultures and are in the New World of gold(Lustria) corresponding to South America.
[edit] Greenskins
The tribes of Orcs Goblins and their kin are spread across the Old World and into the east.
- Orcs, — Amoral raiders who love a good scrap, Orcs and Goblins are as intrinsic to the Old World as death and taxes.
- Goblins
The Orcs and Goblins use a magic power called Waaagh! magic. The magic is drawn from the power and energy of fighting Orcs and Goblins. A horde of Orcs and/or Goblins is called a Waaagh!
Another type of greenskin related to the Common Goblin, the diminutive Gnoblar, is found living as the obsessive sycophants to the Ogre Hordes in the Mountains of Mourn. East of the Mountains of Mourn, upon the borders of Cathay, live the Hobgoblins; a race of greenskins somewhere between the size of a Goblin and an Orc, but more cunning than both. Hobgoblins can also be found as slaves under the dominion of the Chaos Dwarfs. Smallest in size of all the Greenskin races is the Snotling. They are considered the lowliest of greenskins and are most often bullied around by their larger, greener cousins.
[edit] The Followers of Chaos
Under the name Slaves to Darkness is covered all those who have fallen under the control of or pledged themselves to the Forces of the Chaos gods. While the energies of chaos touch all things magical, there are those who fully give themselves to the deities of this realm, and seek to conquer not just the works of the Old Ones, but the very fabric of reality itself.
There used to be a combined Chaos Army in the early 1990s, which was later split into the Beasts of Chaos and Hordes of Chaos army books. These books dilute the armies of Chaos further, dividing them into Bestial, Mortal (humans), and Daemonic armies.
- Beasts of Chaos — Whether born bestial to human parents or raised among mutants, these Beastmen hate all that is civilized and untouched by the glories of chaos.
- Hordes of Chaos — Primarily humans who are favoured by the Four Great Gods of chaos, these marauders emerge from the areas below the Northern Warp Gate with the support of Man's fears given form by the winds of magic; the daemons of chaos.
[edit] Skaven
- Skaven or "Children of the Horned Rat" are a Chaotic mockery of Man's nations. Inventive and insane, the ratmen live in a vast network of tunnels beneath all the Warhammer World called the Under-empire. Many human denizens of the Old World do not believe the Skaven exist, much to their detriment. The crazed mechanics of Clan Skyre create powerful yet unreliable weapons to aid their rampages and it is said that one day the grey seers will unite them and take over the old world.
[edit] The Undead
All undead in the Warhammer world are a result of the black sorceries devised by the first necromancer, Nagash in the long distant past. The Undead are effectively split into two distinct armies: that of the Tomb Kings which has a strong ancient Egyptian feel with mummies and chariots driven by skeletons; and the army of the Vampire Counts which features vampires, zombies and so forth. These have been referred to as "dry" and "wet" armies.
- Vampire Counts — Disciples of Nagash who stole his secrets of eternal life, the Vampires and their minions have spread across the Old World, furthering their own aims. There are five playable vampire families, each with different ambitions, habits and powers: Von Carsteins, Necrarchs, Blood Dragons, Lahmians and Strigoi. Their armies consist mainly of classic undead, such as zombies, skeletons, vampires, bats, and ghosts.
- Tomb Kings — In the hot desert lands of Nehekhara to the south of the old world a race was once ruled by the necromancer Nagash. After a successful rebellion against his rule, he killed every mortal being in order to raise an unassailable army of the undead to conquer the world. He was stopped by the last king of Khemri. The aftermath of Nagash's great spell awakened several thousand years worth of the buried dead and their Kings as an undead army. Their armies consist mainly of Egyptian-style units, such as bowmen, light infantry and many chariots.
[edit] The Ogres
- Ogre Kingdoms — Massive Eastern barbarians who will do any work for gold and eat anything (and anyone!) to fill their bellies. Some consider the ogres to be based largely on the Siberian tribes including Mongols, Turks, Tungusic, Merkits and Tatars, although they also have many bonds to cavemen, with large pre-historic beasts like mammoths and the large, feline sabre-tusks. As ogres are guided solely by their stomachs, they spread devastation and destruction wherever they go. They are resistant to chaos, and were created by the old ones. Ogres are often considered to be a "neutral" army and can end up fighting for any side in a battle as their lust for food and fighting often causes them to be hired as mercenaries by other races.
| Warhammer Fantasy | |
|---|---|
| Major Games: | Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Warmaster, Mordheim, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Man O' War |
| Nations and races: | Bretonnia, Chaos, Chaos Dwarfs, Dark Elves, Dogs of War, Dwarfs, The Empire, High Elves, Lizardmen, Ogres, Orcs and Goblins, Skaven, Tomb Kings, Vampire Counts, Wood Elves |
| Places: | The Old World, Araby, Cathay, Lustria, Ulthuan, Southlands |
| "People" | List of major Warhammer characters |
| More | Warhammer Fantasy creatures, Warhammer Fantasy deities |
