Warhammer: The Old World

WARHAMMER: THE OLD WORLD is GAMES WORKSHOP'S 2024 RELAUNCH of WARHAMMER FANTASY BATTLE (WHFB), the mass-battle fantasy wargame that GW discontinued in 2015 (End Times → Age of Sigmar transition). After years of fan demand, GW brought back the OLD WORLD SETTING via a new game system — WARHAMMER: THE OLD WORLD (WTOW) — released Jan 2024. Set in a period ~200 YEARS BEFORE the End Times that destroyed the world, featuring the CLASSIC FACTIONS (Empire of Man, Bretonnia, Dwarfen Mountain Holds, High Elves of Ulthuan, Wood Elves of Athel Loren, Warriors of Chaos, Beasts of Chaos, Orc & Goblin Tribes, Tomb Kings of Khemri) fighting for the OLD WORLD (the primary continent of the Warhammer setting — Empire is analogue of Holy Roman Empire; Bretonnia = Arthurian France; Dwarfen Holds = Norse mountains). GAMEPLAY (rank-and-file mass battles): 2 players field ARMIES of 1000-2000 POINTS composed of REGIMENTS of 10-30 rank-and-file infantry, CAVALRY, MONSTERS + CHARACTERS. Uses 28mm miniatures on RANK-AND-FILE UNIT BASES (blocks of soldiers) — 6×4 foot table for standard games. TURN STRUCTURE (unlike Age of Sigmar): (1) STRATEGY PHASE — priority + magic winds; (2) MOVEMENT PHASE — declare charges + move units; (3) SHOOTING PHASE — arrows, cannons, war machines; (4) MAGIC PHASE — wizards cast spells (winds of magic + dispels); (5) COMBAT PHASE — hand-to-hand combat resolved. Combat uses INITIATIVE + WEAPON SKILL + STRENGTH + TOUGHNESS + WOUNDS + SAVES matrix. GAME LENGTH: 2-3 hours typical for 1500-2000 pt game; larger apocalypse-scale 4+ hours. RELEASE: (a) WARHAMMER: THE OLD WORLD CORE RULEBOOK (2024); (b) Initial faction books for Empire, Dwarfen Holds, Orc & Goblin Tribes, Tomb Kings, Kislev + more; (c) FORGE WORLD does the mini-manufacturing. Considered a MASSIVE SUCCESS — sold out multiple print runs; revitalized WHFB veteran community; complements (not replaces) Age of Sigmar. COMPETITIVE + NARRATIVE: (a) GW STORE + INDEPENDENT tournaments launching 2024+; (b) TALES OF THE OLD WORLD narrative campaign community; (c) Grand Tournament circuit forming globally. Considered the RETURN OF THE KING for classic fantasy mass-battle gaming.

Score VP from destroyed enemy units + captured objectives + battlefield control based on scenario. Common tournament missions Meeting Engagement, Battleground.

Win condition · Highest VP total after 6 rounds (or scenario end trigger).

Classic mass-battle terrain: hills, forests, ruins, rivers, villages. Rank-and-file movement requires open ranks + charge lanes.

• Warhammer: The Old World Core Rulebook (2024)

  £45 GBP; 300+ page hardback

• Arcane Journals (faction rulebooks)

  £25 each; per-faction rules + army lists

• 28mm plastic + resin miniatures

  £30-50 per regiment box (10-20 minis)

• Rank-and-file unit bases

  Included with minis

• Movement trays + ruler + templates

  Essential for mass-battle handling

• Terrain (hills, ruins, forests)

  £40-100 per set

• Dice (D6)

  Buckets — need 30-50 dice

• Faction expansion kits (chariots, war altars, dragons)

  £40-80 per premium unit

• Deep ranks give steadfast

  Units with 3+ ranks are Steadfast (won't break from combat resolution).

• Charge > receive charge

  Charging gains impact hits + fights first initiative — always try to charge.

• Magic phase = swing factor

  Good magic + dispel dice pool can devastate enemy units.

• Cavalry + monsters for hammer units

  Hard-hitting units break enemy blocks.

• Terrain = protection + choke points

  Force enemy through terrain to slow charges.

Rank-and-file

Rows of infantry in a regiment; deep ranks give bonuses.

Steadfast

Rule preventing break when outnumbered but deep-ranked.

Break test

Morale test after losing combat; failure = flee.

Winds of magic

D6 dice pool casting fuel for wizards.

Impact hits

Damage dealt on charge from unit momentum.

Battle Standard Bearer (BSB)

Character with unit-wide re-roll aura.

• GW Warhammer World tournaments

  quarterly · UK / worldwide · since 2024

• Old World Grand Tournament Circuit (independent)

  ongoing · worldwide · since 2024

• Local GW store tournaments

  monthly · worldwide · since 2024

• 🇬🇧United Kingdom
• 🇺🇸United States
• 🇩🇪Germany
• 🇫🇷France
• 🇮🇹Italy
• 🇪🇸Spain
• 🇵🇱Poland
• 🇦🇺Australia
• 🇨🇦Canada
• 🇸🇪Sweden

• Games Workshop (publisher)

  Founded 1975 · Nottingham, UK

• Forge World (specialist manufacturing)

  Founded 2000 · Nottingham, UK

• Warhammer Community — The Old World— GW Community
• Games Workshop — Warhammer: The Old World— Games Workshop
• Wikipedia — Warhammer: The Old World— Wikipedia