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[Grim Portent]

I think Dwarves would make more sense to wield shortswords, akin to a gladius in design, one handed spears, compact ranged weapons, shields and long daggers. Properly swinging an axe takes a lot of space, properly wielding a polearm takes even more, and even a pike used for stabbing is of limited use in a tight space where you can't move it much. Small stabbing weapons would be ideal, small crossbows and guns you can aim between a shield wall.

Press up close, a wall of iron shields and armoured bodies thrusting with stout swords into the guts of the enemy, when receiving a charge rest crossbows and guns on the shoulder of the front rank to fire a few volleys, then switch to a spear to stab over the heads of your front rank at the enemy. Hope the enemy has no giants, because there's honestly not a lot dwarves could realistically do against a giant with some metal plates strapped to it's legs and feet.

Though I now wonder if any armies ever tried large scale use of skirmishing horsemen with grenades and firebombs against pike formations. Seems like the sort of thing they'd be good at, at least as long as it wasn't a pike&shot army.

[umiman]

I could see short swords, pikes, and short spears all work in cave conditions. Don't forget in real life, pikes and spear combat in formation was just "pull back, poke, pull back, poke" or "push forward until everything is dead". No fancy swings. Ideal for tight quarters. Short swords (ideally knives) would be great for less formation based combat and when things become a melee.

But yeah, under real circumstances, no way would hammers and axes be used. Like, there wouldn't even be a historical precedent for them to use those things if they primarily lived underground to begin with.

Seriously, what use would a race of underground midgets who use almost primarily stone have for an axe? They would never have invented it or adopted it for daily use, let alone to equip entire armies.

[TempAcc]

Dwarves don't exclusively fight in caves tho. Most of their battles against orks are often on the field. When things get really ugly (like when grimgor went around the mountains fucking shit up), THEN they retreat into the mountain holds, where they're mostly safe, except for skaven and night goblins :U

[Retropunch]

Seriously, what use would a race of underground midgets who use almost primarily stone have for an axe? They would never have invented it or adopted it for daily use, let alone to equip entire armies.

My understanding was always that a dwarves axe was a sort of...stone breaking axe which is similar in function to a pick axe. Whilst obviously the whole point of a pick axe is that you apply a lot of pressure to a very small point, I'm guessing that if they're mythically strong (and have mythically strong metal) an axe could work in a similar fashion.

That being said, axes are quite useful in combat against heavily armoured foes and allows the user to benefit from increased strength. Probably the reach with them also helps make up for size disadvantage as well, so I wouldn't put it past just being a general combat invention.

[Tack]

Someone made mention of dwarves being predominately mountain-dwellers in their history, hence why the beards, and as they moved into being underground dwellers, the beards became a cultural thing, which explains why they don't look like goblins.

Maybe axes are similar? The people who went down to the lowlands to find wood were regarded as the toughest of primitive dwarves, and therefore axes became symbols of bravery and fortitude, and kept cultural relevance long after losing practical relevance (like dwarves being terrifyingly hidebound isn't already a widespread trait).
Could maybe explain some things.

[umiman]

I'm guessing that if they're mythically strong (and have mythically strong metal) an axe could work in a similar fashion.

I don't really want to dispute your other statements, but I'd like to point something out.

If they had a mythically strong metal (which they do) with mythically strong bodies (which they do) then their mythically strong pickaxes would be better at breaking rock than their mythically strong axes. So they would still use pickaxes to break rock instead of an axe because it'd be way better at breaking rock than an axe, even if they were powered up compared to our real world versions.

It's kinda like saying if Adamantite existed in our world, we'd throw away our drill bits and use Adamantite forks to dig holes. No, we'd make Adamantite drill bits.

[Retropunch]

I'm guessing that if they're mythically strong (and have mythically strong metal) an axe could work in a similar fashion.

I don't really want to dispute your other statements, but I'd like to point something out.

If they had a mythically strong metal (which they do) with mythically strong bodies (which they do) then their mythically strong pickaxes would be better at breaking rock than their mythically strong axes. So they would still use pickaxes to break rock instead of an axe because it'd be way better at breaking rock than an axe, even if they were powered up compared to our real world versions.

It's kinda like saying if Adamantite existed in our world, we'd throw away our drill bits and use Adamantite forks to dig holes. No, we'd make Adamantite drill bits.

Of course, but my thought is that it'd be something a long the lines of what Tack has stated (in terms of a cultural thing) combined with them being usable for stone work. Yes, pragmatically it'd be sensible just to use a pick, but due to their immense stubbornness, they may use something not 100% efficient.

I'd imagine that the majority would be using picks (as we see miners in the game) for mining work, but that axes are a sort of cultural thing which they hold to.

[Mech#4]

The miners use pickaxes that can have both a pick head and a hammer head on either end. My reasoning for the axes are that they work well with dwarf strength as well as being used in carpentry. The dwarfs do use a lot of wood and have timber mills for processing trees into planks. Wood for shoring up mine shafts, minecart tracks, beer barrels, shields, fuel, tables and chairs, mugs and scaffolding.

[scriver]

Someone made mention of dwarves being predominately mountain-dwellers in their history, hence why the beards, and as they moved into being underground dwellers, the beards became a cultural thing, which explains why they don't look like goblins.

Maybe axes are similar? The people who went down to the lowlands to find wood were regarded as the toughest of primitive dwarves, and therefore axes became symbols of bravery and fortitude, and kept cultural relevance long after losing practical relevance (like dwarves being terrifyingly hidebound isn't already a widespread trait).
Could maybe explain some things.

Mountain dweller means beard?

[Tack]

Afaik cold temperatures means beard and mountains are high and cold.
Unfortunately I can't explain it as well as the fan who first gave the posit.

[Mech#4]

While not new if you watched the EGX Rezzed stream or saw the footage from another YouTubers video, Creative Assembly have put up a video that covers some of their ideas and plans behind Warhammer 2: Total War. It shows off some animations, campaign map as well as concept art.

[Teneb]

Had to abandon my Empire campaign, but it was for a good cause: I changed my mod list. And, after some testing, I am pretty happy with it.

Spoiler: Here it is, with links and comments because turns out I got a lot of time right now. IS HUGE (click to show/hide)

As a foreword, I try to make sure mods I pick both fit into the lore (doesn't need to strictly adhere to it as long as it looks like it belongs) and be balanced (to a certain extent).

Crynsos' Faction Unlocker+ - This mod is actually a framework that splits various lords (so Ungrim to Karak Kadrin, for instance) to various factions, adds some interesting stuff and allows for certain mods that would be otherwise mutually-exclusive due to startpos to actually work together. The only thing I dislike about it is that it makes Isabella into a hero. Despite the name, to actually unlock the factions, you need a host of submods. This one is for the vanilla factions, and in its description links to the rest can be found. Don't use too many at once because it can clutter the interface.

Cataph's The Southern Realms - Pretty much a classic at this point. The unlockers above let you play as them. Anything made by Cataph is pretty much guaranteed to be good.

Cataph's Southern Realms Regiments of Renown - Requires both the Southern Realms mod AND the Faction Unlocker. Adds the Regiments of Renown from the old Dogs of War tabletop armybook.

Cataph's Wizard Lord Campaign Buffs - Makes Gelt and Kemmler stronger.

Cataph's Bretonnian Character Skills Tweaks - Your lords start being able to recruit regular knights, horses (except for damsels and the enchantress) unlock on level 2, lance formation is forcewide instead of just the character, Alberic is better, Fay Enchantress has two lores like Manny.

Cataph's Closer to Tabletop - It should be clear at this point I'll grab pretty much every mod by Cataph.

Cataph's Bretonnian Foot Knights

Cataph's Kraka Drak: The Norse Dwarfs - New faction with a bunch of goodness, and a really hard start.

Cataph's Magic: Closer to Tabletop - Magic is good.

Cataph's Lance Formation - Just gives it to Bretonnia units that didn't have it.

Cataph's Greenskins Teef Currency - Just a little bit of fluff.

Cataph's Chaos Steeds Resized - No Chaos ponies.

Ultimate Chaos - I took this for a spin and frankly like it better than Chaos Divided. The point is pretty much the same, but it allows and encourages themed armies.

Sleepy's Southern Hordes - Updated - More units for Greenskins. Not much to say.

Mixu's Mousillon Unit Pack - Crynsos Edition - Adds some units, and Krell!, to the ol' city of the damned.

Empire of Man - Crynsos edition by Mixu - Fleshes out the various counties of the Empire with unique units, and especially Middenland. Keep in mind that a special barracks is added to each province that allows using the units from it.

Empire of Man - Additional units mod by Mixu - A few more units, some of them RoRs for the empire factions.

Legendary Boris Todbringer - Overhaul's Comrade Boris' skill trees a bit, mostly adding items.

Heroes of the Empire - Adds three heroes: the Amethyst Wizard, the Gold Wizard, and the Imperial Engineer. And it is awesome.

Norsca Overhaul - Crynsos Edition by Mixu - Fleshes out Norsca a bit.

Raze and Revel - New Settlement Occupation Options for Chaos - Makes Chaos fun to play, or at least more fun. It adds beastmen-like conquest options. Raze and get loot, or raze and get replenishment.

Better Black Orcs - Just makes black orcs look black with various white patterns on them.

Better Night Goblins - Another visual change to make them more diverse.

The Tomb Kings - Custom battle pack - Adds the Tomb Kings to custom battles. Really well made. No idea why the author chose the Hierotitan to be the sole lord.

Numas - A pretty battle map to go along with the above. Has actual pyramids.

Grand Campaign Custom Maps - A compilation of custom maps to appear in the campaign. It has links to the various required sub-packs.

Starting Traits Remastered - Lords are no longer blind, lame and so forth on recruitment, instead having more appropriate traits (some of them negative still).

Trident for Alberic with vanilla helmet - Just gives him his quest weapon. There is a version without the vanilla hat, but I like it.

Prometheus Skill Points Renewed - Lords get double points starting from level 10, heroes get double points every 5 levels.

Gargoyle - Adds a HeroQuest monster to the Warriors of Chaos.

Skeleton Warriors (Scythes) - Another HeroQuest unit.

Guv's Knights of Sigmar's Blood - Unit for the Empire. Sigmar Vult.

Guv's Chaos Dwarf Warriors unit - What it says on the tin, for Chaos.

Guv's Chaos Dwarf units Add-on - Adds two more Chaos Stunties to the WoC.

Guv's Chaos Feral Manticore/Harpy lord skill fix - Turns out the Freakish Mutation lord skill doesn't affect these two. Now it does.

Guv's Free Company Archers unit - Requires the Grim and the Grave, take regular free company, trades armour piercing for range and firing arcs.

Guv's Gor Great Weapons Herd unit - What it sounds like.

Guv's Dual Wielding Black Orcs unit - Unfortunately not affected by the black orc visual mod.

Guv's Shielded Big 'Uns

Guv's Grave Guard Halberdiers unit

Guv's Black Knight Hellsteeds unit

Guv's Shielded Halberdiers unit

Guv's Dual wield Bestigor Herd unit

Better Trade - Changes how trade cap works. In vanilla, it is a flat 12. With this, for every region up to 5, you get 4 more exports allowed. After 5 you get diminishing returns up to 50 exports at 20 regions.

Mousillon City of the Damned: No Lords - While there are several versions, this is the only one that doesn't touch the other VC factions. Makes Mousillon very pretty.

Awaken fro mthe Grave spell for Kemmler - Show Ghorst who is the real necromancer here.

No Aggressive AI Agents! - Even if you ignore everything else, grab this.

Coven Throne - Coven Throne for VCs. Needs G&G.

Resized Lords and Heroes - No more giant Karl Franz.

All Tabletop Lords - I really, really like this mod. Only factions without lords from this are Chaos and the WElves.

All Tabletop Lords - Resized Lords - As with the normal resized lords.

Regiments of Renown! - Adds more RoRs to Dwarfs, Greenskins and VCs.

AI colonises more often - What the name says. Be careful, though, since the AI will rush to colonise if they are close to a ruin... even if it used to be your city a turn ago!

Dem Orkz! - Makes orcs more colourful.

Skip Intro Logos

Better Combat Camera - Up Close and Personal! - It also lets you zoom out more.

More Board Variation

Varied Generals

Building Progression Icons

Diplomatic Affinity Overhaul -Changes AI personalities around, making them more interesting.

Tier 4 Minor Settlements - Extremely nice, and the AI can use it too.

Heinrich Kemmler - Corpse Cart of Omen Mount - More Kemmler buffs! More!

Dark Water

Better Campaign Map - This and the above make the map even more good looking.

Adds heroes to level 2 garrison buildings.

Kiselv Withstands - Unfortunately just a reskin.

Realistic Climate Battle Change - It's pretty.

Improved Loading Screen Artwork - Pretty, I say!

Better Auto Resolve

Home Region Movement Bonus - This is really nice, gives armies more movement in their owned territory. Helps chase down norscan stacks.

Storm of Chaos Mini Campaign - Yes, you read that right. Keep in mind that you need Call of the Beastmen to run it (it replaces that campaign) and, very importantly, while it does work with the rest of this list you really should run it on its own.

What is this "vanilla" you speak of.

[Mech#4]

The only mod I'm using at the moment is the "Grand Campaign Custom Maps 80+" pack. I'm enjoying the variety it brings and having maps with large chokepoints allows for some very fun "hold the line" battles. Playing as the dwarfs; High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer defended Karak Ungor from the forces of Chaos over four turns involving duel stack assaults each turn.


My only issue with the map pack is one I knew I would have; some of the maps could do with touchups. Gaps in mountains, terrain or buildings, wonky camera movements where bridges pass over terrain (there's an odd one in the middle of the bridge of Karak Kadrin), Ctrl G grouping units sometimes has issues with rotating the grouping on some maps. I've also seen a map where several bridges seemed to be missing.

One of my favorite maps is a dwarf settlement (Varenka Hills) where both attacker and defender start on either side. You can attack either around the top or bottom of the settlement, but going through the settlement involves narrow roads with lots of overlooking plateaus for quarrellers and artillery and side streets for flanking. The varied terrain heights also limits line of sight so advanced scouting using rangers and gyrocopters becomes really useful.

[Neonivek]

I think I'll wait for Total War: Warhammer 2

Err sorry... I mean the actual Total War: Warhammer 2... Total War: Warhammer 3

[Retropunch]

I think I'll wait for Total War: Warhammer 2

Err sorry... I mean the actual Total War: Warhammer 2... Total War: Warhammer 3

You mean Total War: Warhammer 4, as there's going to be another money grab in another year.