Warhammer?

[jumptheshadow]

We're going to try Warhammer when it comes out next year. Has anybody played either the tabletop or computer version? What do you think of it? Could you fill me in on the races and backstory? Everything I have read so far is so complicated. We have decided to start our research early.

Does anybody have thoughts on the impact of the EA purchase of Mythic, which is licensed to produce the Warhammer MMORPG? Mythic had high quality standards and produced a deep and satisfying game. EA seems to have more of an Arby's mentality. What are your experiences with their games?

I have been playing DAOC for 2.5 years and will be coming over with 15 to 20 regular players.

[NewJeffCT]

1. Races/factions

I assume you mean Warhammer Fantasy? I started nearly 30 years ago playing D&D, but have gotten into Warhammer fantasy over the past 5-6, though more as a collector/painter than an actual gamer. I enjoy a lot of the backstory, however. Where D&D is more Middle Ages, Warhammer is more like Renaissance era with cannon, guns, mortar, etc.

Here are the major factions:
1) Human/Empire. The equivalent of the Holy Roman Empire, a powerful human nation ruled by an elected Emperor. Extensive use of guns & cannon, with standing state armies.
2) Human/Bretonnia. A bit of a throwback in that they are more like a chivalric nation of the Middle Ages - disdain the use of guns, but is more feudal like (army is centered on knights, with peasants in support)
3) High Elves. An island nation (Atlantis) of good elves that are very magical in nature and very skilled at combat.
4) Wood Elves. Based in central Europe, the wood elves are skirmishers & loners who are determined to protect their forests.
5) Dark Elves. The evil, corrupt version of the high elves.
6) Dwarves. Short, stout warriors, very tough in combat, disdain magic, but are also resistant to it. Good with guns & cannon as well.
7) Orcs & Goblins. Evil & love to fight, but just as likely to fight each other as they are to fight the good guys or bad guys. Very versatile army that can be a lot of fun to play, but also very frustrating.
8) Chaos. Corrupt humans & beast men who constantly assault the good humans in the Empire and beyond from the Chaos Wastes of the North (think Russians or Viking raiders). very tough, but brutal in hand to hand combat, but not very good from a distance. Can be unpredictable due to the nature of Chaos.
9) Lizard Men. The oldest of the races, very magical. Led by great mage-priests, they also feature tough Saurus warriors & quick little skink lizards.
10) Undead. Divided into Vampire Counts (think Transylvania) armies led by, (duh) vampires and other powerful undead. The other ones are Tomb Kings, which is an Egyptian tomb desert themed army led by a Tomb King/lich type and features a lot of skeletons.
11) Ogre Kingdoms. The newest army in the WH world. Short on numbers, but each ogre is worth several core troops in any other army. Brutal in hand to hand, like Chaos. They come from the mountains between the deserts of the Middle East & China.

[YOY]

2. Chaos is not 'Russian'

Perhaps Norse raiders, but the Kislevites are the Russians.

I prefer 40K at any rate. The minis are more fun to paint.

Also what computer game is the original poster talking about? Shadow of the Horned Rat? That was eons ago!

[Kellanved]

3. I guess "Warhammer Online"

But don't forget "Dark Omen" - that one was quite playable.

[YOY]

4. Once again, though Eons ago for Dark Omen

I thought WHO got cancelled. Didn't it?

[malmapus]

5. Experiece with EA thus far is

Oh god they bought another game company!!???

For real I hate EA with a passion, they bought Kesmai Studios and Gamestorm which I had played a game called Legends of Kesmai for a good 6 or 7 years on and practically over night shut it down.

If they bought Mythic out I don't see anything good in the future.

[jumptheshadow]

6. Warhammer the MMO

It will be coming out next year. Its graphics look a bit like World of Warcraft (cartoonish). :(. DAOC has been a good game, so we are hopeful that War will be as well, but the fear is that EA will make Mythic dumb it down for teenage boys. Apparently EA wants to cut into WoW's huge market share, thus its merger with Mythic, which is known for very good PvP. Maybe the forces of creativity will override the capitalists on this one and they will jointly publish something worth playing? Can a huge, souless corporate leopard change its spots?

Thanks for the information, which was fun to read. The dark side sounds more appealing than the good guys so far. I have ordered some of the old War computer games so we can start doing our research on races/backstories for the new game.