"Which Warhammer "Fluffiest"?" Topic

I think (though I'm not an 'Oldhammer' player) that you're right, since those were the editions that came out before the world got really nailed down. However, some of the later editions (5th/6th/7th), when I started playing also had a quite a bit of interesting material, like campaigns, the siege rules, etc.

-Will

The later versions of the game really expanded on the warhammer world and went into more depth about the armies. The earlier versions had more information about non-army creatures and rules for oddball troops.

For example, the 3rd edition Rulebook has rules for mammoths, temple dogs, and the like. The armies are fairly generic but some if them have diversity. There really aren't any 'special characters' that would eventually become a big part of the game. That started in 4th edition. If you want creature lists, spell lists, and a brief history of the world, 3rd edition is a good option. You can also buy the RPG to get into more detail.

The current version of the game provides information about key figures, important places, and probably more dynamic troop lists. If you want army organization type fluff, I'd use this stuff.

1st had no "fluff" at all really.
2nd, again other then a map and few paragraphs there wasn't much in the main box itself. The fluff really came with the scenario books. (Orcs Drift, MacDeath, etc.)
3rd is were the background started to fill in.
4th with it's army books allowed even more space for background fluff.

I have to say that for all its problems the army books of 8th edition are really rich in fluff information.

For bang for your buck, getting the 5th or 6th edition army books is your best bet. Right now you can get these cheap on Ebay, and they have a ton of race-specific fluff in each one. The 5th edition books are also good, and wackier, but they have started selling for a premium it seems, while the 6th edition soft overs are still cheap.

I'd also recommend you get a copy of "The General's Compendium". It was put out for 6th edition. I don't play Warhammer, but I thought this book was so good I bought a copy.

It has a lot of great idea for campaigning, terrain, nation building and links Warhammer, Battlemaster and Warhammer Skirmish together.

If nothing else it's just inspirational to look at.

3rd edition is the Proper Edition. It's the LAW.

3rd edition combined with had the Mighty Empires campaign system, Man O'war sea battles game, the Relams of Chaos books (the fluffiest Warhammer things ever IMO) and the Warhammer roleplaying game that provided a lot of fluff.

The warhammer role playing game was a great source of background fluff not directly rated to mass battles.

The Felix and Gortek novels are also good for fluff

Wouldn't the RPG be a better source of fluff?

3rd edition is the Proper Edition. It's the LAW.

Rules-wise, perhaps. But it's pretty thin, fluff-wise, compared to the later editions.

2nd/3rdedition had the regiments of renown that were pretty cool fluff wise including named characters like Skarloc, Harborth and Grom.

Though I don't play Warhammer, I'll second the suggestions above about the RPG. The Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay book from the 80s was FULL of great background information, which somehow felt fresher than the stuff put out today (though I admit this may simply be an age thing).

If you can find it, the Old World Bestiary from the later incarnation of the RPG is an excellent source on the different races of that world. The presentation is very cleverly done. Good luck in your search!

" But it's pretty thin, fluff-wise, compared to the later editions."

That's in the FRP book. And ~50 issues of the decent era of WD.

And in the army book that goes with it.

Right now on Ebay there is an auction for almost the entire lot of 6th/7th edition books, plus another auction for some of those books along with several cool supplements. Search for "Warhammer army books"