Warhammer: the Old World

[Citizen Sade]

Although he didn't sculpt as many, I think Jes Goodwin deserves an honourable mention when discussing Oldhammer hobgoblins. Throg's Despoilers remain my favourite Regiment of Renown.

He does though they’re quite different to the others with their D&D roots. They’d make decent Half Orcs, I reckon. Nice daubing, BTW.

I do think Warhammer was at its best with the second-edition small-scale narrative scenarios: Orc's Drift, MacDeath, Vengeance of the Lichemaster, Dolgan Raiders, etc.

You’ll get no argument from me on that.

Redwake River Valley’s a new one on me. First was a bit before my time. I’ll have to do some research.

[Basementboy]

I only discovered fantasy a couple years ago when I grabbed some books of eBay for the Ian Miller art. Very interested to see what direction G-dubs takes this

[steders]

I'm really interested in this.
Me and my mate Steve went to the very first citadel open day in Newark, (1983/4ish?)
They had the 1st edition boxset and were demoing games
we were dyed in the wool D&D players and we sagely turned to each other and said 'this mass combat thing will never catch on'

We actually played 1st edition to 4th edition, then played loads of 6th.
Over the last few years I've been rebuilding and adding to my 3rd edition era armies.
I won't be rebasing, I can't see it will matter as long both sides are consistent anyway (plus, you know, who gives a shit)
It Would be nice to get them back on the table. (yes I'm aware I could use an old ruleset but the new ones 'should' be a well polished machine to play )

[peleset]

I wonder at the cover art, it would set the tone for what's ahead.

[Hobgoblin]

Although he didn't sculpt as many, I think Jes Goodwin deserves an honourable mention when discussing Oldhammer hobgoblins. Throg's Despoilers remain my favourite Regiment of Renown.
(Here's all three sculptors side-by-side, painted during lockdown).

Brilliant paintjobs - and they all look surprisingly congruent (though that boxed-set hobgoblin is slightly atypical for Aly's output, which helps here)!

I agree on Jez Goodwin - and his hobgoblins form a sort of continuum with his Asgard orcs, Citadel Uruk-hai (both small and large) and his Citadel ogres (again in two sizes). So you could get an entire Goodwin range of 'giant-class'/goblinoid monsters from the tiny Asgard slave orcs to hulking C23 ogres.

Back on topic; I discovered WHFB at the very tail end of 2nd ed. via White Dwarf, and 3rd ed. was the first wargame I ever bought or played (albeit with carboard squares). While I am nostalgic for the Old World, I can't see myself bothering with a new WHFB. IGO-UGO seems a bit old hat and, despite the rose-tinted glasses, I remember that the system could be quite stodgy.
That said, my buddy who plays 9th Age is dead excited.  I guess he's really the target audience?

Yes, 3rd was pretty stodgy. My main memory of it was that weekend games were never, ever finished - and often spanned only two or three turns!

[FramFramson]

I wonder at the cover art, it would set the tone for what's ahead.

Is that new art for the new book? If so, it's got an incredibly old-school vibe.

[Citizen Sade]

No, it’s the cover of the Warhammer 2nd edition Terror of the Lichemaster scenario booklet.

[Ozreth]

Me and my mate Steve went to the very first citadel open day in Newark, (1983/4ish?)
They had the 1st edition boxset and were demoing games
we were dyed in the wool D&D players and we sagely turned to each other and said 'this mass combat thing will never catch on'

Are you and/or Steve still big D&D players?

[steders]

Haven't played D&D for about 35 years unfortunately.
We got bitten hard by the Rogue trader and WFB bug, never looked back.

[zemjw]

There is some art on display in the most recent update - https://www.warhammer-community.com/2023/11/27/old-world-almanack-get-in-the-right-headspace-for-morale-and-psychology/

[Daeothar]

That second piece looks very familiar; might be from an older edition.

But they do all convey the Old World vibe, including the rather wooden first piece. Having to include two full armies in one overview shot makes it awefully 'posey' in my opinion. But that has always been part of the charm of the box-art since the first one came out (WHFB 4th?)

[area23]

It does make sense some 'foreign' armies are excluded for now. That way they will introduce them in the future combined with some mega-event and worldwide campaign.

[Daeothar]

It would be cool to finally see fully realized armies for Cathay and/or Araby. But I won't be holding my breath...

[Basementboy]

Honestly? I do still prefer the old art- nothing beats a bit of Miller or Blanche for me. The troop design do look spot on though, glad that they haven’t hammed it up so much, and very excited to see the full range once it comes out!

[Cubs]

Yeah, it would be nice if the troops are fairly generic - plain even - historical looking types with a bit of the old Warhammer twist, leaving the over-the-top SKULLLZZZZ!!! approach for rarer choices.