Ithy - Unleash the Chaos or Command the Empire? Your Next Warhammer Old World Project Decoded!

Key Insights for Your Next Army Project

Beastmen for Unbridled Aggression and Organic Aesthetics: Choose Beastmen if you seek a drastically different, fast-paced, and aggressive playstyle focused on overwhelming melee charges and ambush tactics. Their models offer unique painting opportunities with natural, textured, and less uniform aesthetics.
Empire for Strategic Versatility and Vibrant Uniforms: Opt for the Empire if you prefer a balanced, combined-arms approach, emphasizing disciplined formations, ranged firepower, and diverse unit synergies. Painting Empire units allows for vibrant, clean, and highly detailed uniforms with abundant heraldry.
Maximizing Novelty: While both provide distinct experiences, Beastmen generally offer a more radical departure from your existing Vampire Counts (magic-heavy, regenerating) and Dwarfs (resilient, slow, ranged-focused) in terms of both gameplay and visual style.

Embarking on a new army project for Warhammer: The Old World is a thrilling venture, especially when seeking to diversify your collection beyond your existing Vampire Counts and Dwarfs. The choice between Beastmen and Empire presents two fundamentally different paths, each offering unique challenges and rewards in both gameplay and painting. This comprehensive guide will delve into the intricacies of each faction, helping you determine which will provide the most refreshing and distinct experience for your next tabletop campaign.

Unveiling the Playstyles: A Strategic Divergence

Your current armies, Vampire Counts and Dwarfs, occupy specific strategic niches. Vampire Counts rely on magical endurance, relentless close combat, and unit regeneration, often presenting as a slow-grinding, attrition-based force. Dwarfs, conversely, are the epitome of resilient, defensive lines, bolstered by formidable ranged firepower and sturdy, slow advances. To truly diversify your collection, your next army should offer a substantial departure from these established playstyles.

Beastmen: The Primal Onslaught

The Beastmen Brayherds embody a chaotic and aggressive playstyle, prioritizing swift, brutal charges and overwhelming numerical superiority. They are a stark contrast to the methodical advances of Dwarfs or the ethereal movement of Vampire Counts.

Speed, Aggression, and Fragility

Beastmen troops are inherently fast, encouraging a proactive and aggressive strategy. Their gameplan revolves around leveraging this speed to initiate devastating charges and quickly dismantle enemy units before they can respond. While capable of dealing significant damage, Beastmen units are often described as "brittle" compared to heavily armored armies. This necessitates a hit-hard-and-fast approach rather than enduring prolonged engagements, a significant departure from the resilient Dwarf battle lines or the regenerating Vampire Counts.

Character-Driven Leadership and Ambush Tactics

A crucial aspect of Beastmen gameplay is their heavy reliance on characters for leadership and synergy. Given that most Beastmen troops have average or below-average Leadership and are susceptible to Fear, Panic, or Terror, strong characters are indispensable for maintaining unit cohesion and executing combat maneuvers. This emphasis on character-driven leadership will be a new dynamic. Furthermore, Beastmen are renowned for their "stalk" ability, allowing units like Ungor Raiders to move unseen, even on flat terrain, facilitating pincer attacks and outmaneuvering opponents. This tactical element of surprise and positional play is a key differentiator from your current armies.

Horde Mechanics and Magic

In various adaptations and lore, Beastmen often function with "horde" mechanics, gaining resources and upgrades by razing settlements and causing devastation. This concept translates to the tabletop as an army that thrives in large, swarming engagements. Additionally, Beastmen possess a strong magic phase, offering another avenue for offensive power that complements their melee focus.

The Empire: Organized Warfare and Combined Arms

The Empire of Man provides a more traditional, disciplined, and diverse army, representing the forces of order and civilization. This offers a highly structured and combined-arms approach, a significant departure from the raw power of your existing forces.

Combined Arms and Strategic Depth

The Empire excels at integrating various unit types—infantry, cavalry, artillery, and magic—to create a balanced and flexible force. This contrasts with the more specialized nature of Vampire Counts (melee and magic) and Dwarfs (resilient infantry and artillery). You will manage different unit roles and their complex interactions, requiring a more deliberate and thought-out approach compared to the Beastmen's aggressive rushes. Positioning and tactical maneuvering of diverse units are crucial for success.

Leadership, Ranged Superiority, and Adaptability

Unlike the Beastmen's reliance on characters to bolster shaky leadership, Empire units generally possess more inherent discipline, embodying "uncorrupted cleanness of limb" and holding the line effectively. The Empire also has access to powerful artillery and missile troops that can decimate enemy formations from a distance, providing a strong ranged component that differs from Dwarf artillery, which is typically slower and focused on heavy damage. The Empire's broad roster allows for highly adaptable army lists, which can be tailored to counter various opponents, offering substantial strategic variety from game to game.

Visualizing Your Strategic Choices

To further illustrate the strategic differences and help you decide, here is a radar chart comparing the core attributes of Beastmen and Empire against your current armies. The values are conceptual, representing the relative emphasis on each strategic element.

This radar chart illustrates that Beastmen lean heavily into Aggression and Mobility, contrasting with the high Resilience and Ranged Power of your Dwarfs and the Magic Prowess and Resilience of your Vampire Counts. The Empire offers a more balanced profile across all categories, including strong Ranged Power and Combined Arms, making it a versatile alternative.

Painting Considerations: A Visual Feast

Beyond gameplay, the aesthetic and practical aspects of painting an army are crucial for a fulfilling project. Your Vampire Counts likely involve gothic, decayed themes with pale flesh and dark robes, while Dwarfs might feature earthy metals, intricate runes, and rugged details. Your new army should offer a distinct visual experience.

Beastmen: The Primal Palette

Painting Beastmen offers a unique artistic challenge due to their bestial, organic models, which emphasize fur, horns, and wild features. This aesthetic contrasts sharply with the metallic armor of Dwarfs or the pale, decaying flesh and dark robes of Vampire Counts.

Organic Textures and Natural Tones

Painting Beastmen will involve heavy reliance on organic and natural tones. Think fur, leather, twisted wood, and raw bone. This provides a stark contrast to the structured metallics and vibrant colors of other factions. The varied textures on Beastmen models—from coarse fur to rugged skin and jagged horns—offer ample opportunities to experiment with washes, drybrushing, and layering to create depth and realism.

Less Uniformity, More Character

Unlike the highly uniformed ranks of the Empire or the regimented Dwarf holds, Beastmen offer a chance to paint more individualistic models, reflecting their savage and chaotic nature. Their appearance, often described as a "sickening blend of horned beast and man," allows for creative freedom in depicting mutations and diverse creature features. This focus on individual character rather than strict uniformity can be a refreshing change.

A unit of Beastmen Gors, showcasing their raw, primal aesthetic and varied textures.

The Empire: A Canvas of Uniforms and Heraldry

The Empire of Man offers a painting experience focused on crisp lines, clean uniforms, and vibrant heraldry, drawing inspiration from historical European military aesthetics.

Bright Colors and Uniformity

Empire armies are renowned for their vibrant and varied color schemes, often incorporating two complementary bold colors (e.g., red and blue, blue and yellow) alongside metallics, browns, and creams. This provides a striking visual contrast to the more somber tones of Vampire Counts and the earthy/metallic palette of Dwarfs. Painting Empire units involves a focus on achieving a neat and disciplined appearance, a satisfying challenge for those who enjoy precision.

Provincial Variety and Detail Work

You can choose to paint your Empire army based on different provinces, each with its own distinct color scheme (e.g., Stirland, Ostermark, Ostland), allowing for considerable visual diversity within your army and providing multiple "mini-projects." Empire models also feature a good amount of armor and weaponry, offering opportunities to practice metallic painting techniques and add intricate details to uniforms, banners, and equipment.

A vibrant unit of Empire State Troops, demonstrating their uniformed and colorful aesthetic.

Faction Lore and Thematic Immersion

The lore and thematic elements of an army can significantly enhance your enjoyment of the project. Both Beastmen and Empire offer rich narratives that are distinct from your current Vampire Counts (undead horror) and Dwarfs (stoic craftsmanship).

Beastmen Lore: The Wild's Fury

Born from the primal chaos of the Old World, Beastmen are savage, corrupted beings—part-human, part-beast—embodying the untamed wilderness and raw chaos of nature. They are hated by mankind and feared for their brutality and ferocity. Their story contrasts heavily with the necromantic horror of Vampire Counts, as Beastmen bring a raw, feral, and bestial chaos theme. They live on the fringes of civilization, constantly raiding and destroying human settlements, a true boogeyman faction.

Empire Lore: The Bastion of Order

The Empire is the human heartland, a bastion of civilization, law, and order. It embodies knightly chivalry and disciplined militarism, standing as a heroic human faction against the encroaching chaos and darkness. This faction is very different from your Dwarfs, who focus on stoic craftsmanship, and Vampire Counts, who are masters of necromancy. The Empire offers a "good guy" flavor with complex political and military lore, providing a relatable human perspective in a world of monsters and magic.

A Comprehensive Comparison: Beastmen vs. Empire

To summarize the key distinctions across gameplay, painting, and lore, refer to the table below. This will help you weigh the pros and cons based on your desired level of divergence from your existing armies.

Aspect	Beastmen	Empire	How it Differs from Vampire Counts & Dwarfs
Playstyle	Fast, aggressive, melee-focused horde tactics; relies on ambush and overwhelming charges. Characters are crucial for unit cohesion.	Balanced combined arms; disciplined formations of infantry, cavalry, artillery, and magic; emphasizes strategic positioning and ranged support.	Beastmen offer high mobility and raw aggression unlike the methodical Dwarfs or magic-heavy Vampire Counts. Empire provides versatile combined arms, distinct from the specialized nature of your current forces.
Magic	Strong offensive magic, complements melee focus.	Strong and flexible magic arsenal with battlefield control and offensive support spells.	Both have strong magic phases, but Beastmen's magic is more chaotic, while Empire's is more structured. Vampire Counts are primarily magic-dependent, Dwarfs are magic-resistant.
Painting Style	Natural, savage, earthy palette; organic textures (fur, horns, leather); less uniform, more individualistic models.	Bright, structured, heraldic; clean uniforms with bold, contrasting colors (red/blue, yellow/blue); opportunities for intricate detail and provincial variations.	Beastmen offer a dramatic shift to organic, wild textures, moving away from the gothic/decayed Vampire Counts and metallic/rune-heavy Dwarfs. Empire provides a vibrant, uniformed aesthetic, different from both.
Model Diversity	Beasts, monstrous creatures (Minotaurs, Ghorgons), savage infantry (Gors, Bestigors).	Humans (State Troops, Handgunners), knights, cavalry (Pistoliers, Knights), artillery, diverse wizards.	Beastmen offer unique beast-hybrid models and large monsters. Empire provides classic human military units with varied roles, distinct from undead or dwarven archetypes.
Lore/Themes	Primal chaos, untamed wilderness, savage raids, corruption of nature.	Human civilization, law and order, knightly chivalry, bastion against darkness.	Beastmen introduce a raw, feral chaos theme, contrasting with the necromantic horror of Vampire Counts. Empire offers a heroic human faction, providing a distinct "good guy" perspective compared to your current forces.
Overall Difference	Provides the most drastic gameplay and painting contrast to Vampire Counts and Dwarfs.	Offers significant contrast but remains grounded in structured military fantasy, potentially less "wild" than Beastmen.	Beastmen offer maximum novelty in both visual and tactical aspects. Empire provides a different, versatile experience but might feel less of a radical departure than Beastmen.

Unleashing Your Inner Artist: A Look at Empire Painting Techniques

If you're leaning towards the Empire, you'll find a wealth of resources on painting their vibrant uniforms. Many artists focus on achieving crisp lines and bold colors, often using techniques like base coating, washing, and edge highlighting to bring out the details of their disciplined soldiers. The video below provides an excellent starting point for painting Empire State Troops, a core unit for any Empire army, showcasing techniques for their iconic uniforms.

A detailed tutorial on painting Empire State Troops for Warhammer: The Old World.

This tutorial is relevant as it directly addresses the painting aspect of the Empire army, which is a key consideration for your project. It demonstrates how to achieve the clean, uniformed look that is characteristic of the Empire, offering practical steps that contrast with the more organic, textured approach one would take with Beastmen. Such resources can significantly guide your painting journey, helping you master the distinct aesthetic of the Empire.

Conceptualizing Your New Army: A Mindmap of Key Considerations

To help visualize the decision-making process and the core attributes of each faction, here is a mindmap summarizing the various aspects to consider when choosing between Beastmen and Empire. This diagram will help you connect the different facets of each army, from gameplay mechanics to aesthetic appeal.

mindmap root["Choosing Your Next Warhammer Old World Army"] Beastmen["Beastmen Brayherds"] id1["Playstyle: Aggressive, Fast-Paced"] id1_1["Melee-Focused Horde"] id1_2["Ambush & Flanking Tactics"] id1_3["Character-Dependent Leadership"] id2["Painting: Organic, Natural"] id2_1["Fur, Horns, Twisted Wood"] id2_2["Less Uniformity, More Individualism"] id2_3["Focus on Textures"] id3["Lore: Primal Chaos, Untamed Wilds"] id3_1["Children of Chaos"] id3_2["Raid & Destroy Settlements"] Empire["The Empire of Man"] id4["Playstyle: Balanced, Versatile"] id4_1["Combined Arms (Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Magic)"] id4_2["Disciplined Formations"] id4_3["Strategic Depth & Positioning"] id5["Painting: Structured, Colorful"] id5_1["Vibrant Uniforms & Heraldry"] id5_2["Clean Lines & Defined Details"] id5_3["Provincial Variations"] id6["Lore: Order, Civilization, Humanity"] id6_1["Bastion Against Chaos"] id6_2["Knightly Chivalry"]

This mindmap serves as a visual guide, allowing you to quickly grasp the core identity of each faction and how their various elements intertwine. It emphasizes that Beastmen offer a raw, chaotic experience, while the Empire provides a structured, orderly one, making the decision clearer based on your preferences for gameplay and aesthetics.

Conclusion: Making Your Final Choice

Given your existing Vampire Counts and Dwarfs armies, both Beastmen and Empire offer distinct experiences. However, if your primary goal is to achieve the most drastic gameplay and painting contrast, the Beastmen would likely be your better bet. Their wild, aggressive, and unpredictable style—both visually and tactically—is fundamentally different from your magic-heavy undead and highly disciplined, armored forces.

Conversely, if you prefer a classic, lore-rich human army with extensive customization potential, strong thematic appeal, and a solid balance of shooting, cavalry, and infantry, the Empire will provide ample enjoyment. While still a distinct contrast, the Empire's structured military fantasy might feel less radical than the untamed chaos of the Beastmen.

Ultimately, the choice depends on which aspect appeals most to your desired new project: the primal, unpredictable charge of the Beastmen or the ordered, versatile ranks of the Empire. Both options promise a fulfilling and unique Warhammer: The Old World experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the primary differences in playstyle between Beastmen and Empire?

Beastmen focus on aggressive, fast-paced melee charges and ambush tactics, relying on speed and brute force. Empire armies are more balanced, combining infantry, cavalry, artillery, and magic for a versatile, combined-arms approach that emphasizes disciplined formations and strategic depth.

How do the painting experiences for Beastmen and Empire differ?

Beastmen models feature organic textures like fur, horns, and leather, allowing for natural, earthy tones and less uniform painting. Empire models are characterized by vibrant, contrasting colors, clean uniforms, and heraldry, offering opportunities for detailed work on armor and banners.

Which army would provide a greater contrast to Vampire Counts and Dwarfs?

Beastmen generally offer a more significant contrast in both gameplay and painting. Their aggressive, mobile, and chaotic playstyle, along with their organic, wild aesthetic, diverges more sharply from the resilient, magic-heavy Vampire Counts and the slow, durable, ranged-focused Dwarfs than the more structured Empire.

Are Beastmen considered strong in the current Old World meta?

Yes, Beastmen are considered very strong in Warhammer: The Old World, offering flexible army list options and a dynamic playstyle that rewards aggressive maneuvering and leveraging their unique abilities.

What are some unique units for each faction?

For Beastmen, key units include Minotaurs, Bestigors, Ghorgons, and various chariot units. For the Empire, iconic units are State Troops, Handgunners, Knights (such as Knights Panther), Pistoliers, and powerful artillery like cannons and mortars, including the Steam Tank.