Warhammer, owned by Games Workshop, is a sci-fi mega-franchise that spans tabletop roleplaying games, strategy war games with miniatures, books, audiobooks, magazines, and more. The Warhammer franchise is vast, constantly evolving, and utterly overwhelming for someone just starting to pick up the hobby. As someone interested in learning more and wanting to teach others, I'm happy to show you where to start with Warhammer!
To begin, Warhammer is split into two major settings: Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar. I will note that the first setting has more extensive (and, arguably, deeper) lore than the second. I'll try to break down both.
The Imperium of Mankind
Warhammer 40,000 (also referred to as Warhammer 40k) is a grimdark science fiction universe. It's the 41st millennium. Humanity, led by the Emperor of Mankind, has evolved at tremendous speeds and delved deep into space. They discovered the Warp, which allows incredibly quick travel across the galaxy and results in the colonization of other parts of the universe. However, in a “fuck around and find out” moment, humanity finds that there are malevolent, dangerous forces dwelling within the dark, previously unexplored cosmos. The four Great Gods of Chaos and their daemonic forces are unleashed, set on devouring and possessing every soul. There's Khorne (god of war and murder), Nurgle (god of decay and disease), Tzeentch (god of change and mystery) and Slaanesh (god of excess and pleasure).
The Imperium of Mankind resist these threats under the Emperor, an essentially catatonic man-god with immense psychic power. On Earth (known as Terra), he is kept alive by technology and a ridiculous number of human souls that are sacrificed daily out of dedication to him. Over a hundred centuries ago, the Emperor was active in commanding the Imperium. However, a calamity ensued when one of his Warmasters betrayed him, after which he was put on the Golden Throne and plugged into all kinds of machines that keep him alive alive. The God-Emperor is now worshiped as humanity’s sole protector. So long as he survives, his psychic powers will help humanity and act as a light in the neverending darkness.
In Warhammer 40k, there is no hope for peace, little hope for survival, and no foreseeable end to conflict. There is no safety, no mercy, and there are no “good guys.” There are only war, battle, sacrifice, and power.
Human factions and aliens in Warhammer 40k
Warhammer 40,000 heavily revolves around wargaming and the creation of armies, each of which a role to play. The Imperium has developed a hierarchy and each faction creates its own army to send into combat. This is a simple overview of all of this; you can find tons of stories, history, and lore associated with each faction.
Genetically modified super-soldiers known as Space Marines (also known as Adeptus Astartes) defend the Imperium of Mankind from various alien and demonic incursions. There are many, many Space Marine chapters, all with their unique histories, backgrounds, roles, and specialties.
Female warriors known as the Adepta Sororitas are distinguished by their incredible faith in the God-Emperor. They consist of six Orders that have different attributes and features.
The Adeptus Mechanicus worship technology and the spirits of machines more than they do the Emperor. However, their work with technology aids the Imperium in its ceaseless struggles.
The last of the more common Imperial fighters I’ll mention are the Astra Militarum. Basically the military of the Imperium, the Astra Militarum it is composed of trained soldiers and divided into regiments that have their own special features and functions. There are other organizations that aid the Imperium and the Emperor’s efforts that are not mentioned here, but for a basic primer you get the picture.
Aside from humans, Warhammer 40k has a variety of species and races the Imperium of Mankind deals with, included:
- The T’au, the youngest alien race, specializes in technological skills and knowledge (like flying giant mechs). They try to assimilate people into their culture under the guise of the “greater good.” Those that fail to comply are eliminated.
- Orcs are alien mushroom giants that typically lack intelligence but make up for that with brute force.
- Necrons are the oldest race in the game. They sacrificed their bodies to free themselves from gods that were trying to devour them and have combined their consciousness with liquid metal-like technology; think of them like the T-1000 from Terminator 2.
- Tyranids are bug-like aliens that thrive on the single-minded desire to devour the universe under the direction of their hive mind.
- Aeldari are the second-oldest race in the game and are pretty much space elves. When Slaanesh came into existence, half of the Aeldari split into their own faction known as Drukari (or Dark elves) and chose to worship under the rule of Chaos.
Warhammer: Age of Sigmar
Shifting gears, we now venture into our second setting: Warhammer: Age of Sigmar (formerly known as Warhammer Fantasy until 2015). This setting has some similarities to Warhammer 40,000 but is canonically considered a different universe.
The four Chaos Gods are in Age of Sigmar. However, in this setting, the science fiction of technology of 40k is replaced with magic and medieval fantasy elements. Players participate in the constant battles happening between factions and gods vying for control.
Age of Sigmar doesn't have an over-arching God-Emperor like 40k, but there is the titular Sigmar, who was the first Emperor of Mankind and ascended to become a god. With Sigmar’s help, civilization spreads. However, Sigmar is only one of a pantheon of gods at war.
In this universe, all of the various races are typically sorted into one of four Grand Alliances: Order, Chaos, Death and Destruction. Age of Sigmar has more playable factions than 40k, which allows for a lot of interesting fighting combinations. Here are a few of the races that are typically aligned with each Alliance:
- The Grand Alliance of Order includes Aelves and Dwarves (referred to as Duardin), each of which are broken into separate subgroups and races with unique specializations. There are also Stormcast Eternals, which are warriors that serve Sigmar and are in a constant loop of rebirth after death. (They lose a piece of their humanity after every reincarnation, so that sucks for them.) Finally, the Cities of Sigmar protect the cities from threats.
- The Grand Alliance of Chaos consists of all of the cultists that worship any of the Chaos Gods. This includes ratlike creatures known as Skaven who are set on ruling the world with the help of their deity, the Great Horned Rat.
- Under the Grand Alliance of Death there are a variety of creatures focusing on death and the undead. They consist of vampires, zombies, spectral ghosts, and even reanimated skeletons.
- The Grand Alliance of Destruction has races that are large in size and prioritize (you guessed it) destruction by way of violence. Orruks have clans that each function differently on the battlefield, and Ogors travel in tribes, led by ceaseless hunger.
Playing Warhammer
The basic ideas behind both settings now explained, you may wonder: How can you engage with Warhammer? Well, the people behind the franchise try to lead you towards “the hobby,” which is the assembling and painting of the vast array of Games Workshop’s selection of miniatures and terrains. These are often used for in-person play, but can also be displayed or even entered in painting contests.
There are a lot of options for in-person wargaming. From narrative play (where stories and conflicts are fleshed out to span campaigns of battle, including using thought-out color schemes and detailed terrain) to open gaming (where two players go head to head against one another with their armies), there’s an option for anyone interested in getting involved.
Several tabletop roleplaying versions of Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Fantasy/Age of Sigmar have been released. The stories on the roleplaying side of things can be unique and thrilling (especially if you have a game master who is well-versed in the lore and history), and there is room for variety in the adventures you encounter. Without a doubt, you’re bound to get involved in conflicts which resolve themselves via battle. Miniatures and terrain are, of course, used to detail the fight.
If you prefer to go it alone, Warhammer+ is a subscription service with a number of series, hobby tutorials, lore drops, and more. There’s even a Warhammer 40,000 TV series in the works at Prime Video, led by hardcore Warhammer fan Henry Cavill. A massive (and growing) number of books, eBooks, and audiobooks have been produced under Games Workshop’s publisher, Black Library. There are even graphic novels!
Many Warhammer video games have been released over the last several decades. These games span different play styles from co-op, shooters, and tactical turn-based play. There’s even a DLC pack in Power Wash Simulator where you can clean war machines!
Games Workshop has developed a prevalent and successful franchise that shows no signs of slowing down. If you decide to dabble in the destruction and chaos, the Warhammer website offers free basic rules and other information if you sign up for their newsletter. Otherwise, I hope that this super-brief overview has given you some insight and background for when/if you take your first steps into the hobby!
Sources consulted:
- Allen, Dave, et al. Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay : A Grim World of Perilous Adventure. Swindon, Uk, Cubicle 7; Games Workshop, 2018.
- Thorpe, Gavin, and Guy Haley. Warhammer 40,000 the Ultimate Guide. Penguin, 2024.
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account, sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel.