Ancient History:
It’s a good time to be a Chaos Dwarf fan. I’ve been mostly out of it these last few months, writing and researching, but when I stick my head in on occasion it makes me feel good to see all the new threads and excitement. In the past year or so Chaos Dwarfs have gotten new models, new rules, and new fans. Our armylist, mostly static since Ravening Hordes has been renewed and much more dynamic with the Dwarfs of Chaos Indy GT book and the Throne of Chaos supplement.
Perhaps more importantly, the background and concept of Chaos Dwarfs has continued to evolve, grow deeper and more pervasive in the Warhammer Fantasy universe. That is a distinction other armies, some of them quite popular and better-supported, do not share. Brettonians and Ogre Kingdoms haven’t had the same love shown on them as Chaos Dwarfs. Many armies/races have grown very little over the decades of Warhammer’s existence - but Chaos Dwarfs continue to develop new little twists and details on their culture, revealed in Storm of Magic and other supplements.
I appreciate that. I like that the creators write new material for the Chaos Dwarfs, who think highly enough of it to make new models and rules available; it speaks well of us as fans that they think this is a viable commercial choice. I appreciate you, the fans, who have made this possible. There are some old grognards who remember trying to fit rules for mortars and bazookas and boar chariots into Sixth Edition CD armies, and people that painted Hellcannons and used them as Earthshakers, and now we have new converts that want to find out more about their stubby little Chaotic friends.
It’s a good time to be a Chaos Dwarf fan, and we owe it all to each other. Cheers mates! :cheers
Admiral:
Yes, it’s certainly good to be a Chaos Dwarf player these days. The hobbyist enthusiasm for this peripheral army has certainly played a great part in this current state of events.
However, we also owe this great state of the Dawi Zharr in part to GW. I’m thinking here of Rick Priestley (who helped start Warhammer Forge) and the new direction of GW to reimplement old background and model material into WHFB mainly through Storm of Magic, with the Lammasu och Bull Centaur re-release for CD.
Also, an honourable mention goes to the Hellcannon released back in Storm of Chaos, the kit that helped shape a new image for the Chaos Dwarfs, and another mention to the BFSP kit, which saw loads of cheap, sub-standard plastic Dwarf models released, ready for conversion into nasty Chaos Dwarfs. Without BFSP, I guess there might not even have been a Chaos Dwarf Online website, or at least a much smaller one.
Of course, in the end the success of CDs rests primarily on the stubborn hobbyists who have kept the spirit of this fine old army alive for a long time. I for one am thankful for the veterans’ efforts as torch bearers. They are really inspiring.
Cheers! :cheers
Kera foehunter:
Yes it great to see that the chaos dwarf have came back to be ! but that was never the problem…
The problem as always ,some company decides what we should like or not like…
I have to disagree about the ogre kingdom !! They seam to have a great following
as hobbyist and players
Baggronor:
That is a distinction other armies, some of them quite popular and better-supported, do not share. Brettonians and Ogre Kingdoms haven't had the same love shown on them as Chaos Dwarfs.
That's because Chaos Dwarfs are just cool. Its that simple.
Its a travesty that they never got given a proper chance to evolve as an army, they were hamstrung from day 1 by that half-hearted WD presents article collection instead of a full-on army book. Poor support led to poor sales which led to poor support.
And then CDO came along ;)
Admiral:
That is probably right, but would there have been a big enough appeal to the Chaos Dwarfs even with a proper army book? Whilst definitely cool, I have a hard time seeing them faring anywhere near as fine as more “classic” Fantasy armies do. It’s easy to see why elves, knights, orcs and evil armoured men would sell well. Perhaps I underestimate the wide potential appeal of the ol’ Mesopotamian big hats back in 5th edition, but I have a far easier time seeing the more recent look (established with the Hellcannon) breaking through to a larger base of hobbyists.
Speaking of appearances, I’m glad FW used both 5th ed. and Hellcannon crew looks for their range. It is a succesful design result, as several fellow hobbyists of mine have noted. Whilst I’d be happy to see a proper CD army book, I still think it is more realistic but sufficiently gratifying to see a FW-driven range with perhaps some GW miniature releases and unit slots in the Warriors of Chaos army book (which would do that one a favour, mind). For one thing, GW should be well aware that there is a roof to the number of full-on armies they can produce and maintain. I may not hold my thumbs for a CD army book, but I do have hopes for some future “contingent” CD stuff and maybe even a plastic box of Dawi Zharr warriors.
Baggronor:
Perhaps I underestimate the wide potential appeal of the ol' Mesopotamian big hats back in 5th edition, but I have a far easier time seeing the more recent look (established with the Hellcannon) breaking through to a larger base of hobbyists.
Well, the recent look is actually something of a throwback to the original 3rd ed Chaos Dwarfs, but yeah I know what you mean. The whole 5th ed era was just a letdown for CDs really. You can probably tell I'm not a hat fan :)
Whilst I'd be happy to see a proper CD army book, I still think it is more realistic but sufficiently gratifying to see a FW-driven range with perhaps some GW miniature releases and unit slots in the Warriors of Chaos army book (which would do that one a favour, mind).
Don't get me wrong, no one loved the DIY era of CDs more than me ;) I'm happy with the way things turned out overall too. Its kinda nice to be that super-rare army that everyone knows about but few encounter.