The trailer for Total War: Warhammer 3 has finally been dropped, pitching the Daemons of Chaos against Kislev with a few hidden treats. Fans of the Total War: Warhammer (TW:WH) series have been waiting for this moment for over three years, and finally in a storm of ice and rage the teaser was released indicating a release towards the end of 2021.
Conquer Your Daemons
It was almost certain that Daemon of Chaos would be the main feature of the third installment of the series. Excluded from the previous games, the great powers of Nurgle, Tzeentch, Slaanesh and Khorne will play the central role in what is expected to be a campaign focused in the Chaos Wastes. Creative Assembly (CA) has said that there will be nine playable Legendary Lords upon release and many commentators think we will see a Daemon Prince commanding each of the dark powers and a fifth lord for Chaos Undivided.
The video shows close-ups of the four Greater Daemons, and they look incredible, and they will undoubtedly be a powerhouse on the battlefield – The Great Unclean One was particularly disgusting! The battle scene shows us some of the units belonging to the Blood God: Khorne, Juggernauts and Bloodletters tearing through the ranks of men overshadowed by the most jaw-dropping of them all: a Bloodthirster Greater Daemon.
A Song of Ice and More Ice
We also see Tzarina Katarin of Kislev. The Ice Queen of the northern state of Kislev is a highly-hyped fan favourite and calls for their inclusion have been loud since Warhammer 1. Heavily themed on medieval Russia, Poland, Hungary, the Baltics and some Steppe horse-tribes, the trailer reveals the units that everyone has been asking for. Winged Lancers, ice magic, the Ice Guard and, more importantly, Ice Bear cavalry!
It is highly likely that Kislev will form the first part of the “Order” factions in their desperate attempt to defend their homeland bordering the Chaos Wastes. With the campaign likely set for control of these northern lands, the state of Kislev is in for a tough fight.
The Jade Dragon
For those attentive viewers (or if you’ve read anything about the trailer) you would have seen the jade dragon army counter sitting on a map of Grand Cathay. This has been a shock to most observers, who thought that the armies of the Dragon Emperor would never be created in TW:WH3. With no tabletop models, army book or even that much background, CA have chosen to design a new race from almost nothing as the lead for their new game.
This may seem like a gamble for the pure-hearted Warhammer fans, but with the enormous success of Total War: Three Kingdoms set in medieval China, it is entirely logical to keep access to that growing market of players. They may lack the wealth of source material that a race like the High Elves had, but with TW:WH, the most successful franchise of the game, it is highly likely that game three will be an instant purchase for thousands of players.
Into the wastes…
Much like TW:WH2, we can expect to have a separate campaign. The Vortex Campaign from game two saw the major races vie for control of the great vortex of Ulthuan and was always considered a greater improvement on the mechanics of game one. It is also almost certain that these new lands will be merged into the Mortal Empires map that will see players able to fight for control of not only the Old & New World, but of the Chaos Wastes as well.
The Keeper of Secrets
There is also hope that the new game will see a revamp of the siege mechanics, which have been long considered the weakness of the Warhammer series of games. Previous titles, including Rome & Attila, have allowed us to attack towns and cities from multiple sides and in some cases from the sea. Warhammer has stuck by a very linear frontal assault mode with maps lacking variety, so we can hope for changes with the new release.
The trailer’s release sees many questions answered, but so many more questions have emerged. The pre-order gives access to another playable race, but who will that be? The favourite has always been Chaos Dwarfs or maybe the Ogre Kingdoms, but that is still unknown. Who will be the nine legendary lords? Will the campaign be focused on The End Times and the destruction of the world? We will have to wait and see.
