NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Warhammer Fantasy (setting)

Warhammer Fantasy is a fantasy setting (with Steampunk elements) created by Games Workshop, in which many games of that company are set, the best known ones being Warhammer Fantasy Battle, a table top wargame, and the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay pen-and-paper role-playing game. Fantasy is a genre of art that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. ... A rocket lands on the moon in Le Voyage dans la Lune, the film adaptation of Jules Vernes From the Earth to the Moon. ... Games Workshop Group PLC (often abbreviated to GW) is a British game production and retailing company. ... It has been suggested that Armies of warhammer be merged into this article or section. ... Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (WFRP or WHFRP) is a role-playing game set in the Warhammer Fantasy setting. ... A role-playing game (RPG, often roleplaying game) is a type of game in which the participants assume the roles of fictional characters and collaboratively create or follow stories. ...

Warhammer is notable for its "dark and gritty" background world, which features a culture similar in appearance to Renaissance Germany crossed with Tolkien's Middle-earth. Chaos is central to the setting, as the forces of Chaos are attempting unceasingly to tear the mortal world asunder. The world itself is populated with a variety of races such as humans, dark elves, high elves, dwarfs, undead, orcs, lizardmen, ogres, and other creatures familiar to many settings. Raphael was famous for depicting illustrious figures of the Classical past with the features of his Renaissance contemporaries. ... J. R. R. Tolkien in 1916, wearing his British Army uniform in a photograph from the middle years of WW1. ... A map of the Northwestern part of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age, courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda. ... In Games Workshops Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy fictional universes, Chaos refers to the often malevolent entities which live in some sort of parallel universe, known as the Warp in Warhammer 40,000 and as the Realm of Chaos in Warhammer Fantasy. ... Trinomial name Homo sapiens sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 Humans, or human beings, are bipedal primates belonging to the mammalian species Homo sapiens (Latin: wise man or knowing man) under the family Hominidae (the great apes). ... In the world of Warhammer Fantasy, the Dark Elves are a race of harsh, warlike and vicious elves. ... High elves are distinguished from other fantasy elves by their place of living, as they usually dwell in stone cities, instead of woods, like wood-elves. ... It has been suggested that Khazalid be merged into this article or section. ... Vampire Counts are one of the forces playable in the tabletop wargame Warhammer Fantasy. ... Orcs are one of the races of Games Workshops Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe. ... The Lizardmen are fictional reptilian humanoids from the Warhammer Fantasy setting. ... An Ogre is a large humanoid creature in the Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe. ...

History

The first edition of Warhammer Fantasy Battle (WFB) was released by Games Workshop in early 1983. Prior to this release, the company dealt primarily with the importing of American Role-playing games, as well as support and review of gaming products through their periodical, White Dwarf magazine. The game was a mix of a simple rule system with a background that was drawn from standard fantasy themes. The dedication was, in part, "to Michael Moorcock....whose fault it all is". The game thrived and subsequent supplements added the particular background to the game. Each "Army List" included a partial history of the some related aspects such as notable figures or short illustrative stories. With the publication of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay in 1987 the setting had moved from background to the game to a full-fledged fantasy setting. It has been suggested that Armies of warhammer be merged into this article or section. ... A role-playing game (RPG, often roleplaying game) is a type of game in which the participants assume the roles of fictional characters and collaboratively create or follow stories. ... White Dwarf is a magazine published by British games manufacturer Games Workshop. ... Michael John Moorcock (born December 18, 1939) is a prolific English writer primarily of science fiction and fantasy who has also published a number of literary novels. ... Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (WFRP or WHFRP) is a role-playing game set in the Warhammer Fantasy setting. ...

Besides Warhammer Fantasy Battle, now in its seventh edition, and WFRP, there have been novels set in the same background. Material published in White Dwarf (some of it subsequently republished in the game itself), the Citadel Journal and a number of other games using the same setting have all added to the background.

Background

To many players, the story or background of Warhammer is just as important as games and miniatures. Alongside Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer is among the oldest of commercial fantasy worlds, a direct descendant of both that game and Tolkien's Middle-earth though the 1st edition cited Robert E Howard (Conan) alongside Moorcock and Tolkien as influencing fantasy table top games. What is currently recognizable as the Warhammer World began with the first edition of the game, but took off as its own setting with the release of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay and the 3rd edition in 1987. This article is about the role-playing game. ... J. R. R. Tolkien in 1916, wearing his British Army uniform in a photograph from the middle years of WW1. ... A map of the Northwestern part of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age, courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda. ... Robert Ervin Howard (January 22, 1906 â€“ June 11, 1936) was a writer of fantasy and historical adventure pulp stories published mainly in Weird Tales magazine in the 1930s. ... Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled feet. ... Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (WFRP or WHFRP) is a role-playing game set in the Warhammer Fantasy setting. ...

Warhammer has developed a very recognizable stylistic image set which has allegedly influenced other works, like Warcraft. Skulls feature prominently, as well as gothic architecture, absurdly large weapons and shoulder-armor, and bizarre imagery reminiscent of director Terry Gilliam's work, as well as a strong dose of black comedy. From its inspiration from Michael Moorcock's novels, the Warhammer World is centred around the classic Man vs. Himself literary theme. The Chaos Gods are the flaws of humankind personified; the inner literal daemons of living things come back through a magic medium to torment and kill. The ultimate victory of these forces is often hinted at, highlighting a strong assumption that sentient beings are fundamentally flawed and will eventually bring about their own destruction via the forces of Chaos. This is especially tragic in light of the outside, non-Chaotic forces that threaten civilized beings; rampaging Orcs, political strife, and general warfare. Warcraft: Orcs & Humans is a real-time strategy computer game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment in 1994. ... Terry Gilliam at Karlovy Vary 2006. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Michael John Moorcock (born December 18, 1939) is a prolific English writer primarily of science fiction and fantasy who has also published a number of literary novels. ... Man versus Himself is the theme in literature that places a character against his own will, his own confusion, or his own fears, man versus himself can also be where a character tries to find out who they are or comes to a realization or a change in character. ... In Games Workshops Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy fictional universes, Chaos refers to the often malevolent entities which live in some sort of parallel universe, known as the Warp in Warhammer 40,000 and as the Realm of Chaos in Warhammer Fantasy. ...

Chaos was introduced into the Warhammer World by the "Old Ones"; star-travelling gods responsible for the creation of most of the setting's sentient races. These Old Ones were brought low by the daemonic forces inadvertently unleashed by the collapse of their Warp Gates (one at either pole), leaving their creations to fend for themselves. This backstory also provides an easy explanation for the variety of familiar fantasy races, and provides a logical framework for them to fit in. Ogres and Halflings, for example, are closely related. Both are resistant to the mutating effects of Chaos energies (fuelled by hearty appetites and efficient metabolisms), but have opposite physical templates.

The Warhammer world borrows considerably from historical events and other fantasy fiction settings. The Old World is recognisably Europe approximating to the Renaissance period - the Empire being sat over what is modern Germany. Many events are lifted and modified directly from real-world history, including the Black Plague and the Moorish invasion of Spain, and others from original fantasy sources. Like Middle-earth, Warhammer's Elves are declining in population, and a Great Necromancer is reborn after defeats in his Southern stronghold. Illustration of the Black Death from the Toggenburg Bible (1411). ... Moorish Ambassador to Queen Elizabeth I of England The Moors were the medieval Muslim inhabitants of al-Andalus (the Iberian Peninsula including present day Gibraltar, Spain and Portugal) as well as the Maghreb and western Africa, whose culture is often called Moorish. ... A map of the Northwestern part of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age, courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda. ... Stian Arnesen aka Nagash or Lex Icon is a Norwegian black metal musician. ...

Of the races that inhabit the world, Rick Priestly identified their origins as being based on British themes, the dwarfs like blunt-spoken Yorkshiremen, Elves having a touch of Southern England and received pronunciation about them, the Orcs speaking with a working class London accent. Look up Yorkshire in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Races and Nations

There are numerous nations and races in the Warhammer World. 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. 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, High Elves and Wood Elves. Dwarfs are 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 a skill largely matched by the Chaos Dwarfs who split from their brothers after being corrupted by chaos. In the fictional Warhammer Fantasy setting by Games Workshop there are a number of different races and nations. ... In the fictional world of Warhammer Fantasy, the Old World refers to the main European setting where most Human nations are based. ... In the world of Warhammer Fantasy, the Dark Elves are a race of harsh, warlike and vicious elves. ... In Games Workshops Warhammer Fantasy setting, the High Elves are a race of Elves who live on the Isle of Ulthuan, analogous to Atlantis. ... For more general description of Wood Elves, see Wood-elves, and for other meanings, see Wood Elves (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Khazalid be merged into this article or section. ... Chaos Dwarfs are an off-shoot of the Dwarfs of the Warhammer Fantasy setting who have been corrupted by Chaos. ...

In the jungles of Lustria are the Lizardmen who were 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. In Games Workshops Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe, Lustria is a region located to the south of the Naggaroth, modelled in many ways on medieveal South America. ... The Lizardmen are fictional reptilian humanoids from the Warhammer Fantasy setting. ... The Aztecs were a Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican people of central Mexico in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries who built an extensive empire in the late Postclassic period of Mesoamerican chronology. ... // Maya may refer to: The Maya, Native American peoples of southern Mexico and northern Central America Maya peoples, the contemporary indigenous peoples Maya civilization, their historical pre-Columbian civilization Mayan languages, the family of languages spoken by the Maya Yucatec Maya language, specific and most widespread Mayan language, frequently referred...

Orcs and Goblins and their kin are relatively primitive and disorganized but threaten the various nations. They are found in the forests and mountains of the Old World, in the jungles to the south and in service to the Chaos Dwarfs and stretched across the steppes to the East. Orcs are one of the races of Games Workshops Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe. ... In the game worlds of Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000, Goblins (or Gretchin or Grotz in Warhammer 40K) are basically smaller Goblinoids (Orkoids), which are more cowardly than Orcs and are usually used as living shields, to clear mine fields, are stepped on to get through difficult terrain, and...

Those who have been corrupted by and fallen under the influence of the Chaos gods are found in the Warhammer world. Their hordes are found far to the north where the Northen Warp Gate lets daemonic powers into this world. Beastmen, the half-men half-beast products of chaos are found in the dark forests of the old Worlds of Chaos. Also a product of Chaos are the Skaven; inventive and insane ratmen creatures who live in a vast network of tunnels beneath all the Warhammer world called the Under-empire and have their own great city "Skavenblight". In Games Workshops Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy fictional universes, Chaos refers to the often malevolent entities which live in some sort of parallel universe, known as the Warp in Warhammer 40,000 and as the Realm of Chaos in Warhammer Fantasy. ... The Skaven are an evil, sentient race of rat-like creatures in Games Workshops Warhammer Fantasy setting. ...

Besides these there are the Undead who are a result of the black sorceries devised by the first necromancer, Nagash in the long distant past. His legacy has left the Tomb Kings in the hot desert lands of Nehekhara to the south of the old World, the Vampire Counts in the Old world itself and Nagash in his own city of undead. Vampire Counts are one of the forces playable in the tabletop wargame Warhammer Fantasy. ... Nagash is a fictional character from Games Workshops Warhammer Fantasy setting. ... Tomb Kings are one of the forces in Games Workshops Warhammer Fantasy setting and also the specific army for the Warhammer Fantasy Battle game. ... The 6th Edition vampire Counts army Book Vampire Counts are one of the forces playable in the tabletop wargame Warhammer Fantasy. ...

Warhammer games

Wargames

It has been suggested that Armies of warhammer be merged into this article or section. ... Warmaster is a tabletop wargame created by Rick Priestley, published by Games Workshop, and set in the Warhammer Fantasy setting. ... Mordheim is a tabletop wargame set in the Warhammer Fantasy world, produced by Games Workshop. ... Man OWar (also known as Manowar) is a now out-of-print table top war game by Games Workshop. ...

Role-playing games

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (WFRP or WHFRP) is a role-playing game set in the Warhammer Fantasy setting. ...

Board games

HeroQuest, sometimes also written as Hero Quest, is an adventure board game created by Milton Bradley in conjunction with the British company Games Workshop and set in the latters Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe. ... The Original Board Game Released in 1989 HeroQuest, sometimes also written as Hero Quest, is an adventure board game created by Milton Bradley in conjunction with Games Workshop and, set in the Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe. ... Warhammer Quest is a board game created by Games Workshop and set in the Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe. ... Battlemasters game by Milton Bradley is based on the Warhammer world by Games Workshop The playing pieces are 30 mm citadel style (though of lesser quality) minatures which are mounted between 1 and 5 figures to an approximately 8 cm square base. ... The Talisman 2nd edition game cover featured a striking fantasy image. ... Blood Bowl is a board game created by Jervis Johnson for the British games company Games Workshop as a parody of American Football. ...

Collectible card games

Computer games

There have been several computer games set in the Warhammer Fantasy setting. ... There have been several computer games set in the Warhammer Fantasy setting. ...

Fiction

Outside of games, there have also been numerous novels and short stories by various authors set in the Warhammer world, the most famous of which are the Gotrek and Felix novels by William King. Gotrek and Felix Gotrek and Felix are a pair of characters in the Warhammer Fantasy setting; appearing in a series of novels written primarily by William King. ... William King (b. ...

Early in his career, Kim Newman wrote several Warhammer novels under the name 'Jack Yeovil'. Some elements from these books (in particular his heroine Genevieve Dieudonné) later reappeared in the award-winning Anno Dracula series. Early novels were published as "GW Books" by Boxtree Ltd, but more recently novels have been under Games Workshop's publishing arm, the Black Library. Kim Newman (born July 31, 1959) is an English journalist, film critic, and fiction writer. ... The Anno Dracula series by Kim Newman is a work of fantasy depicting an alternate history in which vampires are a common and more-or-less accepted part of society (as a result of Draculas successful conquest of England, depicted in Anno Dracula, the first in the series). ... The Black Library is a section of BL Publishing (itself a division of Games Workshop) devoted to publishing novels, art books, background books and graphic novels set in the Warhammer Fantasy world and the Warhammer 40,000 universe. ...

Warhammer Monthly was a comic book, published by Black Library, which ran for over 5 years. As well as the fantasy settings it also included strips set in the other areas of the Warhammer Universe. Warhammer Monthly was a comic book published by Games Workshops publishing arm, The Black Library, from March 1998 to December 2004, running to 86 issues in total. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... The Black Library is a section of BL Publishing (itself a division of Games Workshop) devoted to publishing novels, art books, background books and graphic novels set in the Warhammer Fantasy world and the Warhammer 40,000 universe. ...

Generally running concurrently with Warhammer Monthly was INFERNO! — also published by Black Library — a magazine which compiled short stories and occasional unconnected illustrations set in the various fictional backgrounds of Games Workshop. INFERNO! was a magazine published by Games Workshop and later the Black Library from 1997 to 2005, presenting fiction, artwork and comics set in the fictional worlds that had grown up around Games Workshops fantasy and science fiction games. ...

Recently Games Workshop licensed out the rights for comic books, Boom! Studios are currently working on a series of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 comics, written by Dan Abnett and Ian Edginton. The first was the Warhammer 40k strip Damnation Crusade, but this was followed by one in the fantasy universe: Forge of War. Boom! Studios is a new independent comic book company. ... Dan Abnett is a British writer, mainly of comic books and gaming fiction. ... Ian Edginton is the co-creator (with DIsraeli) of Scarlet Traces and the War of the Worlds comic. ...

References

Encyclopedia > Warhammer Fantasy (setting)

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