Warhammer: The Old World - Rulebook - Fantasy Battles in the World of Legend

Ah, Warhammer: The Old World! It’s like bumping into an old friend at a bar who hasn’t aged a day but has suddenly developed a taste for artisan craft beers and hipster glasses. After years of waiting—almost ten—we finally have this long-awaited return to the realm of rank-and-file battles, and let me tell you, nostalgia is serving us well. It’s almost like Games Workshop set up a time machine, whisked us back to the golden days of Warhammer Fantasy Battle (WFB), and added a sprinkle of fresh paint to everything. Who could resist that if you started gaming in the mid-eighties with the old WFB and D&D?For all you WFB veterans, this book/game is basically a warm hug from the past, minus the awkwardness of your high school prom. The mechanics? Oh, they’ll feel delightfully familiar—think of it as a loving homage to the glory days before the Age of Sigmar blew the Old World up like a poorly timed firework (by the way, AoS is also a really good game). Sure, the rules have seen some necessary updates—goodbye, cumbersome magic phase; hello, spells that actually make sense in the context of the current turn! And yes, we now have a plethora of unit types to differentiate our beloved cavalry from, well, other types of cavalry. GW really leaned into the rank-and-flank experience, showing that they know we love our units lined up like obedient little soldiers.It’s hard to ignore the impact of the Warhammer Total War games on this project. Clearly, GW saw the love for the setting and rank-and-file gameplay and decided to give the fans what they’ve been clamoring for. They even nod to history with titles like “Forces of Fantasy,” reminiscent of the first edition’s boxed set. It’s a clever move that shows they respect their roots while still pushing forward into a new era.About this book – the RULEBOOK. It’s a stunning piece, hardcover and clocking in at over 350 pages of eye candy. The art is breathtaking—truly a treat for the senses, although it’s mostly recycled and improved. But let’s be real for a second: it's about as practical as trying to use a coffee table book during a heated game. You’ll need a crane to haul that beauty around and, good luck flipping through it while the dice are rolling!Now, let’s talk models. The beauty of The Old World is that you can dust off your old miniatures and bring them back to the table. Yes, those vintage pieces that have been hiding in your closet can finally bask in the glow of battle once more! It’s almost like GW is saying, “Hey, remember that money you spent? We’re giving you an excuse to spend it all over again!” And if you thought they’d stop there, think again. New models are hitting the shelves, and they are just as beautiful as the artwork in the rulebook—artwork that, let’s be honest, has a lot of nostalgia baked right in, being mostly recycled from previous WFB tomes. But who can complain? We love a good throwback!So, is Warhammer: The Old World worth it? Absolutely! If you’re a fan of the classic rank-and-file style and enjoy tactical maneuvering over just rolling a mountain of dice, this is the game for you. It’s a brilliant blend of nostalgia and innovation that aims to satisfy both long-time fans and new players alike.