The Empire

Lore & Background

The Empire was born from the unification of disparate human tribes under Sigmar's banner, establishing order where chaos once reigned. Its heartland lies in Reikland, a central province centered around the mighty city of Altdorf, which sits upon the banks of the River Reik controlling trade and movement across the continent. Over centuries, the realm has fractured into provinces ruled by powerful Elector Counts who pledge loyalty to the Emperor, though internal strife often threatens stability as much as external enemies. Faith is woven deeply into Imperial society, with the Cult of Sigmar acting as both church and state in many regions. The Witch Hunters roam the lands, rooting out sorcery and heresy to protect the populace from dark magic. Despite its technological advancements in gunpowder and steel, the Empire constantly struggles against superior numbers from Skaven tunnels beneath their feet or Undead armies rising from ancient tombs, making survival a daily victory rather than an assured state.

In Their Own Story

Rain slicked the cobblestones of the checkpoint near Nuln as Sergeant Kaelen tightened his grip on the halberd. The fog rolled in off the river Reik, hiding shapes that moved too quietly for men. A merchant cart rattled forward, wheels groaning under the weight of timber and salt. Behind him, a Witch Hunter adjusted his goggles, sniffing the damp air for the scent of sulfur or rot. "Move along," Kaelen grunted, though his eyes never left the treeline where shadows seemed to lengthen against the moonlight. In the Empire, peace was merely the time between battles.

Reader's Guide

The Empire represents humanity's desperate struggle for civilization amidst a world filled with monsters and magic. Governed by an Emperor chosen by powerful regional lords known as Elector Counts, it is a patchwork of independent provinces unified only by shared faith and defense needs. There is no standing army; instead, local militias and hired mercenaries form the bulk of military strength when threats arise. The people are hardy and industrious, relying on gunpowder weapons like arquebuses alongside traditional swords and shields to fight back against overwhelming odds. Their goal is simple: survival and the preservation of order in a realm where Chaos seeks to consume all life. They face constant threats from Greenskin tribes, Skaven vermin, Vampire Counts, and the forces of the Dark Gods. Ultimately, the Empire serves as the central hub of human activity in the Old World, acting as both a beacon of hope and a crumbling fortress. Its citizens value law, tradition, and religious devotion, believing that their divine patron Sigmar watches over them even as the world slowly descends into madness.

Did You Know?

• The Imperial capital of Altdorf is located within Reikland, the central province and heartland of the Empire.
• Sigmar is worshipped by many as both a historical king and a living god within the Empire.
• The Empire relies heavily on regional levies rather than maintaining a large permanent standing army.
• Witch Hunters are specialized agents dedicated to rooting out sorcery and heresy across the provinces.

Origins and Industry Impact

Warhammer Fantasy Battle emerged in 1983 as a groundbreaking British tabletop miniature wargame crafted by Bryan Ansell, Richard Halliwell, and Rick Priestley for Games Workshop. This release marked a pivotal shift in the hobbyist landscape, becoming the first commercial ruleset explicitly designed to utilize proprietary models rather than generic figures available from various manufacturers. The game established a medieval fantasy theme where players commanded armies of miniature warriors across detailed battlefields featuring terrain like hills, trees, and buildings. Combat outcomes were determined through a blend of dice rolls and simple arithmetic, introducing magical elements such as wizards and dragons alongside traditional warfare.

Gameplay Mechanics and Structure

Matches typically occur on a standard six-by-four-foot tabletop adorned with scale-appropriate scenery, though any suitable surface suffices. The rules, detailed in specific books and army texts, govern unit movement measured in inches and combat resolution driven by six-sided dice rolls. Specialized scatter dice often dictate direction for artillery pieces like cannons or stone-throwers. This system allows for flexible army sizes while maintaining fairness through rigorous statistical balancing within the rulebooks.

Cosmology and Ancient History

The fictional universe is defined by a dark, gritty atmosphere heavily influenced by the works of Michael Moorcock and historical precedents. Its geography mirrors Earth due to ancient interventions by the Old Ones, a mysterious spacefaring race that manipulated the planet's orbit and continents with the aid of Slann servants. These entities constructed warp gates at the poles for interdimensional travel, but their eventual collapse unleashed raw magical energy and daemonic forces into the world before the Old Ones vanished. They left behind Lizardmen as stewards and created races like Elves, Dwarfs, Humans, and Halflings, while Ogres were likely an unfinished attempt at a superior race. Creatures such as Orcs and Goblins existed outside this plan, whereas Beastmen and Skaven arose from mutations caused by the leaking magical energy.

Racial Evolution and Decline

Following the Old Ones' departure, Elves and Dwarfs initially flourished but eventually entered long periods of decline marked by internal strife and external threats. The Elven race fractured into malicious Dark Elves and righteous High Elves due to civil wars, while a subsequent conflict with Dwarfs forced the High Elves to abandon their colonies; some colonists remained in a magical forest, evolving into isolationist Wood Elves. Meanwhile, seismic activity orchestrated by Slann devastated Dwarf underground holds, which were further compromised by breaches from Skaven and Goblins. Humans developed more slowly but eventually established strong nations capable of defense. The Nehekharan Empire, modeled after Ancient Egypt, fell to a curse by Nagash, the first necromancer, transforming its people into the undead Tomb Kings who now inhabit the Land of the Dead.