Warmaster is a set of fantasy miniatures wargame rules developed by the same company as produced Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000 and Lord of the Rings miniatures rules. This is not a complete game; players are required to independantly purchase miniatures and construct a playing surface (wargames terrain). The game is scaled for 10mm miniatures (1:144, N Scale), and is designed to represent combat at the regiment and brigade level set in a fantasy/renaissance techology world.
In Warmaster, combat and casualty calculations occur at the stand level. That is, for every stand in a unit, a number of dice are rolled in combat. As whole stands are removed by sustaining casualties, the number of dice similalry decreases.
The command mechanism in Warmaster is simple but evocative. Each leader model has a Command factor. To issue a command, such as 'move forward' to a unit, two dice must be rolled against that target command factor. For every subsequent order attempted the target number becomes more difficult to achieve. As a consequence, despite being on the surface a move-counter move system, the turns are variable length and each player may not have the full opportunity to achieve everything they may want to. This simple mechanism introduces enjoyable tension into what is otherwise a largely conventional set of wargame rules.
Expanded by:
Warmaster Annual 2002
Warmaster Annual 2003
Warmaster Armies
Re-implemented by:
Warmaster Ancients
The Battle of Five Armies
Supported by the Warmaster magazine.
- Small-scale (10mm) battles fit in limited space and allow dense tabletop action
- High-quality STL prints with varied poses
- Good detailing on faces, armor, and clothing
- Easy cleanup of supports after printing
- Active community and ongoing support for the scale
- Requires access to a 3D printer or printed STL purchases
- Post-processing and assembly can be time-consuming
- Quality and consistency depend on the printer and resin/filament quality
- Official support for 10mm scale may be less comprehensive than mainstream scales
- Empire and Chaos clashing in epic fantasy warfare
- Fantasy battlefield settings across multiple realms, massed 10mm scale battles
- epic, strategic mass-battle warfare with focus on formations and large-scale engagements
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Command and activation system — Players use a token/command mechanism to activate units and coordinate orders across the field.
- Formation-based combat and resolution — Combat outcomes depend on unit formations and morale in a large-scale engagement.
- Massed unit deployment and movement — Players maneuver large blocks of miniatures to form lines and engage in scaled battles.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- warmaster seemed like a pretty safe bit
- the details on these are absolutely sensational
- i'm super impressed with his 3d printer
- the supports came off easy
- i honestly thought i'd just get a front rank of individual minis and then five ranks all the same