With the nine core factions now being released for the Old World and uncharted territories finally explored with Grand Cathay, we return to parts of the Old World which have been mysteriously clouded during the initial phase of the game. But as the fog of war begins to thin to the east of the World’s Edge Mountains, all it reveals is black smoke rising from infernal industry. We’ve climbed the highest tower in the design studio to talk to the scryers of fate to interpret these dark omens.
Jasko: Let’s be quick about this – the rumours you’ve heard are true, the Chaos Dwarf return to the Old World! A brand-new Arcane Journal is just beyond the horizon.
Justus: Chaos Dwarfs have been a part of Warhammer Fantasy since the very beginning. But somehow we were never able …
Jasko: … or willing! (chuckles) …
Justus: … to turn them into a proper faction. They had a series of White Dwarf articles turned into a pseudo army book for 4th edition, an index army list in the infamous Ravening Hordes for 6th and of course were reincarnated as the Legion of Azgorh in Tamurkhan: The Throne of Chaos for 8th. Still, Chaos Dwarfs were always beloved by their very dedicated fanbase, who we consider among the finest hobbyists of all time.
Jasko: We knew that we would have to make this right! And so we’ve combed through each and every bit of information there is about the Chaos Dwarfs, we dug through our existing model ranges and we gave a lot of thought about how Chaos Dwarfs should be played on the battlefields of Warhammer: The Old World.
Justus: There are a few units we knew right away would have to make a comeback. We don’t want to say too much at this point, but there is a certain very angry fiery daemon construct which was suspiciously absent in the Grand Army list despite being prominently featured in the fantastic Total War: Warhammer III DLC ‘Forge of the Chaos Dwarfs’. I’m sure everyone will be delighted to learn that this formidable beast will dominate the battlefields of the Old World once again.
Jasko: Well, not really everyone, actually only Chaos Dwarf players! (chuckles again)
Justus: Oh yes, very true (also chuckles). But we didn’t only have a look at the recent stuff, we also have something for the players of a more distinguished vintage. We will be bringing back models from the beloved Big Hat era of the mid 90’s and even from the fabled time of ye olden days that is Warhammer 3rd edition!
Jasko: It was important for us to not just pay any lip service here. All the units we brought back fit together with the Armies of Infamy as well. There will be army lists for two in the Arcane Journal: The terrible Dark Lands Subjugation Force and the classic Chaos Dwarf trope of the Slave Army.
Justus: Ooooooh, I don’t know, that’s a term we haven’t used in a while, even though the concept is of course still very much engrained in many of our products, both in the fantasy as well as 40k realms.
Jasko: That is true, we’re still workshopping some names in the Arcane Journal. But the core of it has been part of the Chaos Dwarfs for a long time and was not really present in the Grand Army list: Chaos Dwarf armies with Orcs and Goblins and Humans and Ogres, all pressed into service by their Chaos Dwarf overlords. You will finally be able to field such a force again!
Justus: The mercenary mechanic in Warhammer: The Old World was the perfect framework for us to realise this concept – just that we’re talking about involuntary mercenaries…
Jasko: … who are also not getting paid (more chuckling) …
Justus: … here. And like we did in other Arcane Journals too, like the Dwarven Royal Host, you can even use the Slave Army to field an all Hobgoblin army!
Jasko: We’re huge fans of the Hobgoblin Khanate and have big plans for them! They are a classic antagonist for Grand Cathay and we’ll want to tell fantastic stories there. But for the time being, we still focus on the Old World. We will return to the Hobgoblin Khanate in due time and really give them the attention they deserve. Until then, you can build a small force of Hobgoblins under the Chaos Dwarf umbrella. We also must not forget that the noble Hobgoblin Khanate and the treacherous greenskins in service to the Chaos Dwarfs are very different things!
Justus: With the other Army of Infamy we wanted to go a different route: How would a Chaos Dwarf force look if it were not relying on Slaves or even Hobgoblins? Chaos Dwarfs are few in number and tend to stay within the Dark Lands, unless they’re out on a raiding party. But within the Dark Lands you would indeed meet forces of Chaos Dwarfs traversing this large piece of desolate and barren landscape, unyielding and unforgiving as the very bedrock they mine for its riches.
Jasko: And also this Army of Infamy houses the option to be built as a very special kind of Chaos Dwarf army…
Justus: Indeed, that would be contingent on one of the special characters we’re introducing in the Arcane Journal – one of the three in total! The first will be very familiar to long time Chaos Dwarf players, one has been reimagined from his previous 4th edition incarnation and one is brand new – well, almost, he was a special character for Age of Sigmar before…
Jasko: Hush now! Haha, Hush-oot! (barely controlled chuckling)
Hush indeed, that shall be all for today. We will be back soon to talk more with the designers about the upcoming Arcane Journal Chaos Dwarfs and what will change for Chaos Dwarfs in Warhammer: The Old World.