The Old World
Generic / Universal Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (1st Edition) Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (2nd Edition) Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (3rd Edition) Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition) Warhammer: The Old World Roleplaying Game
Fantasy (High Fantasy) Fantasy (Sword & Sorcery) Fantasy (Low Fantasy) Fantasy Horror (Supernatural) Fantasy (Arthurian) Fantasy (Science Fantasy)
The Warhammer World is the Setting of Games Workshops "Warhammer Fantasy" line of games. This includes, amongst others, Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Warhammer Quest, Mordheim, Man o'War and Blood Bowl.
The Warhammer World is known as the Old World and it bears many geographical and cultural similarities to our own, particularly in and around the Empire, which is very similar to medieval Germany. The medieval tone is garnished with some rennaisance flavour, most notably in the inclusion of firearms and explosive weapons, but also noticeable in clothes. Fantastical elements - including greenskins, chaos, skaven and undead - are added to the mix and have become more prevalent with successive incarnations of the Warhammer Fantasy Battle game.
The overall tone of the setting, at least when focused on the Empire, is grim and gritty, with a tinge of dark humour. Heroism is not necessarily rewarded and corruption is the norm. Magic is a dangerous toy that can bring madness and mutation to its users.
