The Warhammer: The Old World setting is entering a fascinating period called the Anarchy—the Era of the Three Emperors has ended, alliances are shifting constantly, and Elector Counts vie for power while darker threats loom to the north. In the midst of this chaos, two new ‘Armies of Infamy’—the City-state of Nuln and the Knightly Orders—are emerging, led by two compelling new characters: Hans von Löwenhacke and Harald Gemunsen. Here’s what we’ve learned from the Warhammer team.
Hans von Löwenhacke: A General for Hire
- A Self-Made Soldier: Rising from modest origins, Hans steadily climbed the ranks to become an exceptional Imperial general.
- Mercenary Nature: Because the Empire is fractured, Hans has served under multiple lords in different provinces, adapting to shifting politics like a well-paid mercenary.
- Ally of Nuln: Currently, Hans is fighting for the independent City-state of Nuln—an economic powerhouse that can’t be easily bossed around by its neighbors. Nuln is known for its advanced gunnery and is the focus of the Artillery Train (or “Army of Infamy”) theme returning from classic Warhammer Fantasy Battle.
- Nuln Army Style:
- Far from a “pure gunline”: features halberdiers supported by handgunners and lots of cannons.
- Road Wardens: A new outrider upgrade that acts like a police force patrolling roads for bandits. They use the same base models as Pistoliers, but can be kitbashed to appear more rugged.
- Command Options: Sergeants in detachments, improved discipline, more cannons than you’ll find in a typical Empire army, plus unique benefits to highlight Nuln’s love for black powder.
Harald Gemunsen: Grand Master of the Knights Panther
- A Noble Commander: Gemunsen embodies chivalry, humility, and unity—respected by all sides for his lack of political bias.
- Leader of the Knightly Orders: He spearheads the second Army of Infamy, representing the Empire’s many mounted orders, from the prominent Knights Panther to lesser-known groups you can invent yourself.
- Unit Synergy:
- Special rules let you build forces of predominantly mounted knights, with thematic bonuses depending on which order you choose.
- The Knights Panther can field White Wolves or vice versa, while more devout orders might not allow certain units like Witch Hunters or Priests of Sigmar.
- Cross-Order Camaraderie: The Empire is fractured, but knightly brotherhoods often transcend regional divisions, uniting behind noble figures like Gemunsen when external threats arrive.
Factions & Themes in the Empire
- Nuln as an Independent Power: Historically part of Wissenland, it’s currently a free state. Neither Reikland nor Talabecland can strong-arm Nuln, because they rely on its gun shipments.
- Knightly Orders: There are numerous orders scattered across the Empire, and they’re not all the same size or devotion level. You can customize them how you wish—some are more pious, others are more secular, and you’re free to kitbash (e.g., Knights of Manaan with tridents).
- The Cult of Sigmar: While Reikland is firmly Sigmarite, other provinces revere different gods or have differing traditions, but Sigmar’s importance is undeniable—especially for “fanatic” orders like the Fiery Heart.
Why Now?
The Warhammer design team wants to focus on smaller slices of the Empire’s forces rather than produce one enormous book. By highlighting Nuln and the Knightly Orders, they’re showing unique ways to theme your armies with both lore and tabletop rules. You can represent the chaotic political situation (armies of Nuln), or the unifying ideal (knightly camaraderie under Gemunsen).
Key Takeaways
- Nuln Army of Infamy: Emphasizes black powder, disciplined infantry, and specialized cavalry upgrades (Road Wardens).
- Knightly Orders Army of Infamy: Primarily cavalry, with unique limitations and benefits based on each order’s identity.
- Characters:
- Hans von Löwenhacke (exemplifies a flexible, masterful general).
- Harald Gemunsen (represents noble leadership and cross-province unity).
- User Creativity Encouraged: The Old World’s timeline is fluid, and you can invent your own lesser-known orders or tinker with existing ones.
- Political Strife: The Anarchy era is perfect for forging alliances and wars at the drop of a hat. Armies can shift from friend to foe quickly—giving plenty of narrative options.
What’s Next?
An Old World Almanack update is coming on the 26th of December to delve deeper into Imperial politics, wizards’ familiars, and more. Plus, the first wave of the new Empire of Man range arrives for pre-order on Saturday—perfect timing to start your Nuln artillery train or an unstoppable cavalcade of Knightly Orders.
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