So, you want to know how to play Warhammer Fantasy? It’s a grand adventure of strategy, tactics, and epic battles! You’ll command armies of brave soldiers, fearsome monsters, and powerful wizards as you fight for glory, survival, or even the fate of the world. This guide is your starting point, helping you navigate the initial steps into this rich and rewarding hobby.
Getting Started: What You Need
Before you can march your brave knights into battle or unleash devastating spells, you’ll need a few things. The easiest way to jump in is with a Warhammer Fantasy core set. These boxes often contain two small armies, the essential rules, dice, and measuring tools, giving you everything you need for your very first games. If you’re looking for a more focused approach, you can also buy individual Warhammer Fantasy miniatures and build your army from scratch.
Choosing Your First Warhammer Fantasy Army
One of the most exciting parts of Warhammer Fantasy is choosing your Warhammer Fantasy army. The Old World, as it’s known, is filled with diverse factions, each with unique strengths, weaknesses, and playstyles. Think about the kind of army that appeals to you visually and thematically.
- The Empire: The defenders of humanity, they are a versatile force with well-trained soldiers, brave knights, and powerful artillery. They represent a classic fantasy army.
- The High Elves: Proud and ancient, they command disciplined warriors, swift cavalry, and potent magic. They are known for their skill and finesse.
- The Dwarfs: Stout and resilient, they are masters of engineering and close combat. Their armies feature heavily armored warriors and devastating bolt throwers.
- Greenskins (Orcs & Goblins): Savage and brutal, they rely on overwhelming numbers and ferocity. Expect lots of charging and smashing!
- The Skaven: Ratmen from below the earth, they are cunning and numerous, employing sneaky tactics, foul warpstone magic, and hordes of warriors.
- Vampire Counts: Masters of the undead, they raise armies of skeletons and zombies, led by powerful vampires and monstrous creatures.
- Chaos: Followers of dark gods, they field mighty warriors, demonic beasts, and sorcerers who wield terrifying magic.
This is just a brief overview; there are many more factions to discover! As a Warhammer Fantasy beginner guide, we recommend picking an army that excites you first and foremost. The lore and aesthetics are a huge part of the fun.
Building Your Warhammer Fantasy Army
Once you’ve chosen your army, you’ll start collecting Warhammer Fantasy units. Each unit is a group of models that fight together. You’ll need to decide how many of each unit to include in your army, which is determined by a points system.
Points System and Army Composition
Every unit and character in Warhammer Fantasy has a points value. When you build your army, you’ll agree on a total points limit with your opponent. Your entire army must not exceed this limit. This ensures balanced games.
Example of Unit Points:
| Unit | Points Per Model | Minimum Models | Maximum Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire State Troops | 7 | 10 | 20 |
| Empire Knights | 25 | 5 | 10 |
| Greatsword | 15 | 5 | 10 |
Warhammer Fantasy Units: Core, Special, and Rare
Armies are typically composed of three types of units:
- Core Units: These are the backbone of your army. You usually need to take a certain percentage of your army points in Core units. They are often the most basic soldiers but can be very effective in numbers.
- Special Units: These units offer more specialized roles, such as elite troops, monstrous cavalry, or war machines. They provide tactical advantages.
- Rare Units: These are the most powerful and often the most expensive units in terms of points. They might be gigantic monsters, powerful wizards, or unique characters. You are usually limited in how many Rare units you can take.
Your army’s composition is crucial for its Warhammer Fantasy strategy. Do you want a fast-moving army with lots of cavalry, a slow but powerful army with lots of big monsters, or a balanced force with good infantry and ranged support?
Deciphering the Warhammer Fantasy Rules
The Warhammer Fantasy rules can seem daunting at first, but they are quite logical once you get into them. The game is played over a series of turns, with players taking it in turns to activate their units.
The Phases of a Warhammer Fantasy Turn
Each player’s turn is divided into several phases. These phases are always completed in the same order:
- Movement Phase: You move your units across the battlefield. This phase involves careful positioning and planning.
- Shooting Phase: Units with ranged weapons can fire at enemy units.
- Charge Phase: You can declare charges with your units into enemy units that are within range.
- Combat Phase: Units that have charged or are already engaged in close combat fight.
- Psychology Phase: Units test their nerve based on morale, casualties, or proximity to frightening enemies.
- Magic Phase: Wizards cast spells.
Key Concepts in the Warhammer Fantasy Rules
- Movement: Units have a movement stat that dictates how far they can move. Terrain can affect movement.
- To Hit: When attacking, you roll dice to see if your attack hits. This is based on the attacker’s Ballistic Skill (for shooting) or Weapon Skill (for combat).
- To Wound: If you hit, you roll again to see if you wound the enemy. This depends on the attacker’s Strength and the defender’s Toughness.
- Armour Saves: If you wound, the defender rolls a die to see if their armour can stop the wound.
- Wounds: If an attack is not saved, the target takes a wound. When a model takes its maximum number of wounds, it is removed from play.
- Leadership: This stat determines a unit’s ability to stand firm in battle. If a unit suffers heavy casualties or faces terrifying foes, it may have to take a Leadership test.
Getting Your Miniatures Ready: Warhammer Fantasy Painting
While not strictly required to play, Warhammer Fantasy painting is a core part of the hobby for many. It brings your army to life on the tabletop and is incredibly rewarding. Don’t worry if you’re a complete beginner; there are tons of resources available to help you.
Basic Painting Steps
- Assembly: Put your Warhammer Fantasy miniatures together using hobby glue.
- Priming: Apply a primer coat. This helps the paint adhere to the plastic or metal. Black, white, or grey primers are common.
- Base Coats: Apply the main colours to your models.
- Washes: Use thin, dark paints (washes) to flow into the recesses of the model, adding depth and shading.
- Layering/Highlighting: Apply lighter shades of your base colours to the raised areas to make them pop.
- Details: Paint smaller details like eyes, belts, and weapons.
- Basing: Decorate the base of your miniatures to match the battlefield.
Many starter sets come with simple Warhammer Fantasy miniatures that are easy to paint. There are also techniques like drybrushing that are very forgiving for beginners.
Your First Game: Playing Warhammer Fantasy
The best way to learn Warhammer Fantasy Battle is to play! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
Setting Up Your First Game
- Agree on Points: Decide on a points limit for your armies (e.g., 500 points for a small introductory game).
- Choose Armies: Select your Warhammer Fantasy army and build it according to the points limit.
- Terrain: Set up the battlefield with terrain pieces like forests, hills, and buildings. Terrain affects movement and line of sight.
- Deployment: Players take turns placing their units on their side of the battlefield.
- Determine Objectives: Decide what you are trying to achieve in the game – perhaps defeating the enemy army or capturing specific objectives.
Playing the Game
Follow the phases of the turn as described in the Warhammer Fantasy rules. Don’t hesitate to ask your opponent questions. Most players are happy to help new players learn.
Warhammer Fantasy Strategy: Initial Thoughts
For your first few games, focus on the basics:
- Move and Shoot: Get your units into good positions.
- Charge Carefully: Don’t charge into overwhelming odds.
- Protect Your Characters: Your heroes are often key to your army.
- Flank Your Enemies: Attacking the side or rear of an enemy unit often gives you an advantage.
As you play more, you’ll naturally develop your own Warhammer Fantasy strategy.
Beyond the First Game: Warhammer Fantasy Campaign and Progression
Once you’ve played a few games, you might want to explore more. A Warhammer Fantasy campaign is a series of linked games where the outcomes of one game affect the next. Characters can gain experience, armies can suffer losses, and a grand narrative unfolds.
Expanding Your Army
As you get more comfortable, you can expand your Warhammer Fantasy army. This might involve:
- Buying new Warhammer Fantasy units that complement your existing forces.
- Collecting more Warhammer Fantasy miniatures to make your existing units larger and more powerful.
- Trying out new Warhammer Fantasy army choices to experience different playstyles.
Advanced Warhammer Fantasy Rules and Tactics
There are advanced rules covering magic, war machines, and special character abilities. As you progress, you can delve deeper into these. The Warhammer Fantasy rules are comprehensive, offering a lot of depth for strategic play.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Do I need to paint my miniatures to play Warhammer Fantasy?
A: No, you don’t have to paint your miniatures to play. Many players use unpainted or “grey” miniatures when they are first starting out or when they are testing out new army builds. However, painting is a significant part of the hobby for many.
Q: Where can I find the Warhammer Fantasy rules?
A: The core Warhammer Fantasy rules were traditionally found in the rulebook that came with Warhammer Fantasy Battle editions. While Warhammer Fantasy Battle is no longer in active production by Games Workshop, the rules are still widely available online through fan communities and archives. Many of the core mechanics are also present in the current Warhammer Age of Sigmar game, though the specific rules differ.
Q: How much does it cost to get started with Warhammer Fantasy?
A: The cost can vary significantly. A Warhammer Fantasy core set is a good starting point, but even then, it can be an investment. Building a full army over time is more manageable. Consider looking for used Warhammer Fantasy miniatures or starter sets from previous editions to save money.
Q: Can I play Warhammer Fantasy with friends who have different armies?
A: Absolutely! The beauty of Warhammer Fantasy is that you can play with any two or more armies. The points system is designed to allow for balanced games between most factions.
Q: What is the best Warhammer Fantasy army for beginners?
A: There isn’t one definitive “best” army, as playstyle preference is subjective. However, armies like the Empire, High Elves, or Dwarfs are often recommended for beginners due to their straightforward playstyles and well-rounded units. They have clear strengths and weaknesses that are easy to grasp.
Q: Is Warhammer Fantasy still supported by Games Workshop?
A: Warhammer Fantasy Battle was replaced by Warhammer Age of Sigmar several years ago. While new models and rules for Warhammer Fantasy Battle are not produced, the game has a very active fan community, and many people still play it. The core concepts and many of the Warhammer Fantasy units have been re-imagined or exist in Age of Sigmar or other related games.
Warhammer Fantasy is a deep and rewarding game that offers countless hours of enjoyment. Take your first steps, choose an army that speaks to you, learn the Warhammer Fantasy rules, and get those Warhammer Fantasy miniatures onto the table. The Old World awaits your command!