Is anyone actually going to play Empire?

[Dysfinn]

Compared to the other fantasy races, in my opinion, Empire has to be the most boring of the lot. I'm forecasting in my own mind that Empire will be the least played race, or am I wrong?

You tell me! I'm a noob to Warhammer.

[o0drown0o]

I plan on playing empire, but I am counting on it being underpopulated. I don't think theres much of anything boring about being on an underdog team and smoking a bunch of big badass looking chaos guys with a grizzled hard- human wizard.

Also, I've never really roleplayed before, but if it comes down to it, the idea of roleplaying a religious fanatic seems kinda fun to me. :p

You never know though, alot of people go with the boring type of character just because it's familiar, so I might end up playing a high elf or something else.

*edited a spelling error

[Dyeho]

ups voted wrong... lol

[Vegetta]

of all of the fantasy/mmorpgs & RpgsI have played so far Warhammer is the only one where humans are actually interesting.

Humans are - well, tbh a bit average and most other races (at least in a TT perspective) have better abilities, When it comes down to determination and smarts tho Humans don't take a backseat to anyone. I like the idea of being just average and having to stand firm against unimaginable odds/forces/etc.

Actually the empire will probably be the most populated realm - In WOW beta all you heard was "ZOMG HORDE FOR LIFE" and we all saw how the population balanced out there...

[Y'vess]

There are some players who prefer humans, generaly because of their unoffensive/normal appearence or their adaptability in online games. Empire couples this with being the "good guys" and thats always prefferable to average Joe who wants to be a hero more then a villain.

While I Plan to make a Destruction character as my main for guild activity I also plan at a later date to make one of each race probably a Priest of Sigmar for Empire. I suspect while a lot of Warhammer fans will chose their favourite tabletop race most of the mmo fans who come to the game will stay consistent with what mmo races they prefer and there are plenty of humans being played in other mmos.

Some people Say Dwarfs might be the most unpopular race to begin with however I wonder how many WoW refugees will chose Warhammer Dwarf because they liked dwarfs in WoW.

On Tabletop Dark Elves are pretty unpopular in my area of gaming however I can say without any doubt they will be one of the most popular races in WAR because its a proven fact a lot of online gamers like the Evil/Sexy appearence of Dark Elves.

So far I my mind set on making one of each race the only question for me is how soon I start making alts vs how long I enjoy playing my main continuously. I guess we could analyse this from mmo trends, GW games trends and general Good vs Evil opinions but truth be told until the day comes for WAR to be released we really don't know what will happen.

I would like to think There will be enough opponents for every race allied or enemy, It would suck to pick a race where the capital is always under siege because there are not enough defenders for their zones.

[Bluddsport]

I am absolutely new to the entire Warhammer experience. I've played WoW as Alliance and Horde and I find that my tastes are more towards a darker character. I started reading as much as I could of Warhammer races and so far my inclinations are toward Dark Elves. But again the game hasn't been released and there is still plenty of time to think on it and choose. No matter what I think that this game will absolutely blow away any and all competition in just the quality of characters that you have to choose from.

[Frostbite]

I will be going for empire, but i would expect that sadly it will become the most popular of all the races due to the fact they are a "pretty" race which is easy and varied to roleplay and most players will like them due to the ability to be a "knight in shining armour" hero, much like the human paladin or in warhammers case a warrior priest.

[zipfer]

I'm pretty sure it wont be underpopulated. However, the inhabitants might not...well..you know other mmo's where there is all these fantasy races and then humans.

[arthurfoxshot]

Am thinking of roleing a emipe char after dwarf, and i dont find them that boring.

But what could be more boring than a high elfling>?

[Dysfinn]

ups voted wrong... lol
I love tricking people who only look at the topic, see it's a poll, and don't look at the question of the pole :cool:
I will be going for empire, but i would expect that sadly it will become the most popular of all the races due to the fact they are a "pretty" race which is easy and varied to roleplay and most players will like them due to the ability to be a "knight in shining armour" hero, much like the human paladin or in warhammers case a warrior priest.
That's true, there are also a group of people (not to offend) that generally choose the way of a carebear (ie preferring "lawful good" aesthetics rather than "demon evil" aesthetics) and pick the most "pretty" race.
Although I am going order of destruction with good, I too like most people have a carebear side that I almost always fulfill in MMO's with an ALT. But my main character will almost always be a "baddie".

[Irakaz]

I don't think Empire will be underpopulated. Im playing chaos and Im a little worried it'll be overpopulated at the start, but give it a few weeks and I think the sides will be equal.

[Dagaron]

If there is a witch-hunter then Empire will be one of the more popular "races" in my opinion. There are too many people who think the gunslinging trenchcoat wearing persona is cool.

I'm playing Empire regardless, I'm actually hoping against witch-hunter being a beginning class and it being something added later down the road.

I'd much rather be on the underdog team. Just means more trophies for me to decorate my armor with.

[ConverseSC]

Hi, this is the first MMO I've ever intended on playing. I have no knowledge on what alignment and racial archetypes the majority of a playerbase normally steers toward. I decided to make a post today! It was fun!

;)

Just josin' you. It's really hard to tell with this game sometimes, because essentially...both sides have Elves..both sides have Humies..still, good is normally on top.

[Dysfinn]

Hi, this is the first MMO I've ever intended on playing. I have no knowledge on what alignment and racial archetypes the majority of a playerbase normally steers toward. I decided to make a post today! It was fun!

;)

Just josin' you. It's really hard to tell with this game sometimes, because essentially...both sides have Elves..both sides have Humies..still, good is normally on top.

Can I slap you? It was just a thought. :(

PS: This isn't my first MMO.

[Soybe]

cant see myself playing empire as in WoW i was a paladin and got sick to death of the skills... most of them anyway. They always seem like a good learning character to have so I hope i dont find myself gravitating towards them. But I doubt they will be underpopulated, well maybe.... fence sitting.

[Bear]

Humans will be the underdogs in this game, so I'll be human this time around. All this stuff about everyone wanting to play humans is soooo 3 years ago. Now all the kiddies want to be evil.

[ConverseSC]

What game has a higher population of evil characters in comparison to good ones then?

Hmm. Hmmm? HMMMMMM??!?!?!?!?!

[Bear]

Well there hasn't been any significant MMO released since WoW now has there?

If you take a look at the single player games released lately though, many of the big sellers are ones where they get to play bad- evil doers.

I might be wrong though, so by all means carry on being a tool. :)

[Shaggy]

It way too early to tell who be underpopluated.

[Festo]

im bettin order is going to be the larger population due to pretty looks :( im sick of dwarves allways being tied tot he good side i want to be a evil dwarf :twisted:

so even if the forums tend to lean against the humans i bet its going to be second only to elf tards in terms of population when the game is released

[ConverseSC]

Well there hasn't been any significant MMO released since WoW now has there?

If you take a look at the single player games released lately though, many of the big sellers are ones where they get to play bad- evil doers.

I might be wrong though, so by all means carry on being a tool. :)

No, there's is no "might" in question here, you simply are wrong.

If "tool" is your your way of refering to someone who actually knows what the hell they're talking about, then I accept the title gladly. :rolleyes:

[Bear]

ok, if you say so. :-)

[ConverseSC]

You're no fun. :(

[Cranmer]

I hope Empire will be overpopulated. That's how it should be. Dwarves & Elves are on the brink of extinction, Humans are the future. Playing my Dwarf in the underdog realm will get some additional layer of coolness that way ;) Especially if the Orks are overpopulated too ha ha ha...8-)

[Irakaz]

What game has a higher population of evil characters in comparison to good ones then?

Hmm. Hmmm? HMMMMMM??!?!?!?!?!
City of villains.

[Dabigbom]

Noes , noes ! No empire for me! ZOMG3 T3H CHAOZ WARYUR PWNED T3H HUM33! UNBALANICING GALOR3!

[Lakvar]

Also, I've never really roleplayed before, but if it comes down to it, the idea of roleplaying a religious fanatic seems kinda fun to me.

Paladins in WoW? Goldshire anyone? They were all fanatics and I don't want to hear about how a paladin hates undead and will Smite them one more time in my life.

Generally, what happened there is that people played around a bit and then boom, most rolled a human char because that's who they identified themselves with. A lot of kids were paladins, mighty noble knight from the bedtime stories that had filled their heads up to a few years prior.

One of the classes believed to be played by the youngest age-group was exactly Paladins (... i made one for a while too... :rolleyes: but that's beside the point as I was undead first! :p)

(And no offence Soybe, having your very own stripper gives you the status to be a paladin-without-judgement! ;) )

Anyway, as many of you have said, Empire will not be underpopulated because of above reasons. In a way they are the easiest ones to Roleplay.. because they are the only ones people have first hand experience at living. And from what I have seen, Sigmarites and Witch Hunters hold third or fourth place by popularity, after the Black Orc, the Slayer and chaos in general.

~Lakvar, on what humans do.

[Destro]

From my own limited observations, in MMO's that have distinct factions (WoW, DAOC, any others?) the faction percieved to be "good" generally has the most population. For that reason, I voted no.

[Scirrocco]

SOme people just want to make themselves in a game. A lot of people who don't know anything about Warhammer lore will role empire. That's why i'm avoiding empire (and probably high elves too). Like a lot of people have said, some people just like being pretty characters. WAR's learned from WOW's mistake and will have pretty races on both sides so there probably won't be a huge imbalance like in WOW, but empire will still outnumber chaos.

[KroqGar]

Empire can be underpopulated as much as anyone wants but it will still win. You know why?

Because it's got the First Legion, baby, that's why.

[Archon]

I will be playing an empire human person....



....That seems to be completely mutated and has spikey red and black chaos armor.

;)

[Finnblood]

Poofy sleeves.

Do I need to say more? :D

We've got one thing no-one else does...

poofy sleeves...

[Crooked]

I don't think I would want to play empire personally. They do have alot of flavour to make them more than "just humans" but no enough for me. :P

I think that alot of people will play empire at release though, as it is just alot of people's choice to play the "normal" races.

[Nerothos]

I didn't bother to vote, it's too early to tell. It depends, there will be variations from server to server.

I'd be betraying myself if I didn't at least try my High Elves from TT in WAR.

[Usd]

I will play the empire hoping that it'll be the first human race in any MMO(where race matters) that isn't completely gimped.

[Pendrako]

Oh, the Empire will be gimped, no question about it. Ultimately, Chaos always wins.

Nevertheless, I'll be playing an Empire character because I love the imagery and atmosphere of the Imperial armies. But my main will be Chaos ;)

[Quitochan]

I'll be Empire and I expect most of my guild will be too. thye elf will be the exception in our group.

[ConverseSC]

City of villains.

:P

Doesn't count when they release an entire game dedicated to being "bad".

[Snorri]

Empire are pretty cool in their own rights.
Will deffo make an alt for my dwarf ;)

[Breigh]

Let's see...Bright Wizards...hmmm...

The only race to have a class that likes to blow things all to hell...hmmm...

<ponder>

Yeah, I have a slight pyrotecnic streak in me. I think I'll give it a go.

Count me in for Empire. And if they have a heavy tank I'll give that a try also not to mention the Battle Pope...er...Priest. I do like to play the healer at times. ;)

As for a heavy tank I'd like to see the Templar career out of WFRP.

[Ouchy Dathurts]

I MAY play one as an alt. But i'm sure it'll be one of the more populated races. People would rather play something they're familiar with over some gnarled disfigured race (females especially). Just look at pretty much every MMO ever. Albion had 2x the other forces combined on my server, theres more alliance than horde, etc.

[checkthis5000]

A couple months ago I might have said yes, but after seeing the bright wizard and the warrior priest I'm going to go with a big No.

if empire is the least populated race, then I'll be surprised.

[Talic]

Well if they are as underpopulated as everyone is assuming then I'll most likely play empire. Bright Wizards sound fun, and if they do end up getting a gun slinging class or a dps Knight then i'm sold.

That being said I don't think they will be as underpopulated as your all thinking, in every MMO to date the 'human' races always have the highest population.

[Ruinx]

Well, if Bandit is really an Empire class, I will play Empire, going on what I've see so far.

If Warrior-Priests can be female (or have some female form which melees dangerously and heals well), then my wife will play Empire.

So I think it's a case of "if they build good classes people want to play, people will play it".

I expect Dwarves and Greenskins to be the lowest-pop sides. It's really silly, I think, to expect a the main HUMAN side to be underpopulated when in every single game that has given people the option of playing humans, they've either been the most popular or second most popular race, no matter what the competition.

[Smachaz]

Poeple then'd to play humans alot, especially if theres War priest: everyone whats to be the good guy, and Empire are whats looks like the nicess guys after High Elf, but not everyone wants a Fairie caracter.

Even if at first there wont be alot of Empire, there gonna come-in as the poeple with less lore expertise subscribe.

[Wulfhelm der Rote]

Since Bandit is no playable class I don't think so..:(

[FortheEmpire]

:empire: I'm going to play empire just beacuse its what i play in TT and i think that it will not be under populated

[toddex]

Compared to the other fantasy races, in my opinion, Empire has to be the most boring of the lot. I'm forecasting in my own mind that Empire will be the least played race, or am I wrong?

You tell me! I'm a noob to Warhammer.

Screw chaos, seriously how did the warhammer movie not get you pumped to be empire!?

Seeing that man just pick up his hammer, chanting his words, FIGHTING FOR IT ALL!

All or nothing baby, thats what he was doing, thats what Ill be doing.

Chaos can suck on their demons, eff that, I predict the same people who play Night elves in WoW, and name themselves Seppiiroth are going to be playing Chaos.

[Vikingkingq]

Screw chaos, seriously how did the warhammer movie not get you pumped to be empire!?

Seeing that man just pick up his hammer, chanting his words, FIGHTING FOR IT ALL!

All or nothing baby, thats what he was doing, thats what Ill be doing.

Chaos can suck on their demons, eff that, I predict the same people who play Night elves in WoW, and name themselves Seppiiroth are going to be playing Chaos.

Personally, I like the WAR: Mark of Chaos video better for the Warrior Priest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6v552xk4E

Now that Warrior Priest is an -kicking machine!

[Valrak]

I'm defferently going to creare a character for Empire, they kick .

[Crunchie]

Personally, I like the WAR: Mark of Chaos video better for the Warrior Priest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6v552xk4E

Now that Warrior Priest is an -kicking machine!

doubt he'd of done much to that bloodthirster though :lol:
he was impressive.. unlike the men he was leading !

[ConverseSC]

Uh, they never stood a chance. It's pretty impressive that they didn't wet their pants and flee.

[KroqGar]

Uh, they never stood a chance. It's pretty impressive that they didn't wet their pants and flee.

I would have. I'd have been like "F*** you guys!" and taken off running.

[Rammsoldat]

when i first heard about WAR i was totally into the idea of playing chaos but after the tzeench only revelation it was effectivly sank. SOOOOOOOOO the idea of playing empire until nurgle is avaidable is very apealing.

[Eldrik]

Dwarves will be the most unpopular race i think. Humans are generally quite popular in most games ive played including WoW, DAoC and AC2(R.I.P) The wow dwarf players i think are gonna miss their hunters and palas and may be generally interested in going Empire.

[1337mojo]

you'll see me on the front lines with my WP(Warrior Priest)

[drunkmime]

I think that this might be the game to break away from those stereotypes of people playing the 'pretty races' because I think that Warhammer appeals to a more 'die hard fan' core than most other mmos.

I Hope in Warhammer, if I see a Dark Elf or High Elf, I'll be able to assume he played on in TT or is just a fan of the lore on them. Not that he just chose the 'prettiest race'.

Back on topic: I have a feeling that Empire will be as populated as dwarfs. And elves will be the most populated.

Hopefully we will see the most of Dwarfs and Empire and very few elves though (unless those elf players are 'die hard' elf players :) )

[Belatucadros]

I Hope in Warhammer, if I see a Dark Elf or High Elf, I'll be able to assume he played on in TT or is just a fan of the lore on them. Not that he just chose the 'prettiest race'.

get ready for a big surprise, then...lol :/

other race selection reasons could be: guild and class choice, etc

[Ruinx]

I think that this might be the game to break away from those stereotypes of people playing the 'pretty races' because I think that Warhammer appeals to a more 'die hard fan' core than most other mmos.

I think what this will ultimately come down to is how "Elfy" they make the Elves, rather than anything else.

If they make the Elves into just "pretty humans" who walk like humans with good posture, talk like posh, smart humans, think like humans, and most importantly, simply look like tall, good-looking humans with pointy ears, then there will be a GIGANTIC High Elf section of the playerbase.

If, however, they stick to the source material, and make the High Elves more than a little wierd and creepy, making sure, particularly, to give them the inhuman faces of the High Elf models and art (with extremely slanted eyes and wierd face proportions), and don't make them "sexy" (unlike, for example, Night Elves /spit), we'll be fine, and most of the people who were considering High Elves will make Empire or Chaos or even Dark Elves instead.

It's hard to see any way around Dark Elves being one of the largest factions, but that's unlikely to a huge problem in my opinion, as I suspect Empire will be almost equal in size, or perhaps even greater, if they make the next two classes really cool (give us Captain and Witch Hunter, and you've just guaranteed Empire numerical supermacy, I'd argue - Not making Witch Hunter a base class, instead having Pistoleer or the like will probably still leave the Empire "on par" with the DEs, simply because most players prefer to play "the good guys").

I'm still leaning Empire myself, even with Bandits seeming an increasingly distant prospect.

[ConverseSC]

I think that this might be the game to break away from those stereotypes of people playing the 'pretty races' because I think that Warhammer appeals to a more 'die hard fan' core than most other mmos.

I Hope in Warhammer, if I see a Dark Elf or High Elf, I'll be able to assume he played on in TT or is just a fan of the lore on them. Not that he just chose the 'prettiest race'.

Back on topic: I have a feeling that Empire will be as populated as dwarfs. And elves will be the most populated.

Hopefully we will see the most of Dwarfs and Empire and very few elves though (unless those elf players are 'die hard' elf players :) )

Oh, for the loving...

Do you not realize how much press this game has been getting? I can pretty much assure you that the majority of the game's playerbase will have NEVER played the TT, and will have (at best) limited knowledge on the universe gained from the internet. Hell, look how popular the WC series is, and then look at the number of people playing WoW who STILL have never played it. If you don't want to play with the regular MMO gaming populace, who most likely will go for the "pretty, good races", then I would suggest finding a more underground game. Not one based on a 25 year old franchize. ;)

[3eeve]

Well, I voted "yes" without actually looking at the poll. So you can strike my stupid answer from the record.

I'm definitely playing Empire. I really have no idea if they'll be "least populated." It's possible, but who cares.

[Bluddsport]

There is no way in the world that the Empire will be the least populated group in this game. I would actually bother to think that they may be next to the most populated almost.

[Snorri]

I magine that on the Order side the population will go as follows:

<<MOST POPULATED>>
High Elfs
Empire
Dwarfs
<<LEAST POPULATED>>

The dwarfs are many on these boards, but when the game is released they will be few.

[Ruinx]

I magine that on the Order side the population will go as follows:

<<MOST POPULATED>>
High Elfs
Empire
Dwarfs
<<LEAST POPULATED>>

The dwarfs are many on these boards, but when the game is released they will be few.

I think it'll only go like that if the screw up the Empire to some degree AND overly humanize Warhammer's rather wierd elves.

Otherwise I'd expect to see

Humans 45%
Elves 35%
Dwarves 20%

vs.

Dark Elves 40%
Chaos 40%
Greenskins 20%

At least the two least popular Factions are facing off against each other.

I seriously don't think the whole "faction vs faction" concept is going to entirely fly at max level, though.

[Spleen]

I seriously don't think the whole "faction vs faction" concept is going to entirely fly at max level, though.

Yeah, I'd be willing to bet that at high levels, where is counts anyways, the number of elves will drop significantly. The dedicated players that will stick it out through all the content are probably more likely to be pretty big Warhammer fans, and most fans tend to lean Empire/Chaos. Low levels may still be full of people trying the game out or casually turtling their way through.

[Ruinx]

Yeah, I'd be willing to bet that at high levels, where is counts anyways, the number of elves will drop significantly. The dedicated players that will stick it out through all the content are probably more likely to be pretty big Warhammer fans, and most fans tend to lean Empire/Chaos. Low levels may still be full of people trying the game out or casually turtling their way through.

Well, I don't really share your reasoning, I suspect most endgame players will be people who enjoy RvR, not necessarily "big Warhammer fans". I expect the biggest Warhammer fans will never make it past the mid-levels, being more fascinated by the world than anything else, and eventually going back to the tabletop game, novels, and so on.

I don't think the number of Elves will drop significantly, either. What I do think is that we'll see (assuming, arbitarily, six-man groups), things like a Rune-priest, an Engineer, a Bright Wizard, an Elven Melee/Archer, an Elven Nuker, and an Empire melee all in a group together quite happily, all fighting against Chaos and ignoring their supposed "battle areas", happily switching to fighting Dark Elves when the find that that's more fun tonight, and so on.

(Or, even more bizarrely, how about Two Goblin Shamans, a Witch Elf, a couple of Chaos Warriors, and a Choppa)

I don't think we'll see many "one-race" groups unless Mythic gives out some sort of bonus for it, and I think giving out a bonus would be counter-productive to good grouping and fun with friends, so I doubt we'd see it.

[Neviskio]

i'm gonna play a priest of the empire just because i love melee characters that can buff and heal, altough i think that the empire will be a underpopulated race..

[Fiddiccan]

I got a feeling that Empire will be the underdog of WAR.
Either them, or elphies.

But anyways, I like playing the underdog of a game.
I liked playing hib in DAoC, because it was so challenging, and because we kicked even though we were outnumbered ;)

So being the underdog is not really a problem for me, it's more like a challenge.

[Witch_Hunter]

I plan on playing Empire. Absolutely!

[Amelung]

I will be Imperial player, thats true. And i hope the Empire will be realized like my 'known' Empire.

[Ruinx]

I liked playing hib in DAoC, because it was so challenging, and because we kicked even though we were outnumbered ;)

This gave me a little chuckle because Hib is now by far the most populated realm in DAoC, and also the most "easy-mode" Realm in most circumstances (particularly sieges).

I can see the appeal, but I think anyone who thinks Empire will be truly the "underdogs", except possibly in that they'll be "slightly less popular than Chaos" is going to be surprised. Look to Greenskins if you want the true underdogs.

[vehemoth]

Order will be the underdog in general. Thier careers and cities are in more danger and sound weaker in general. (the game will be balanced but the description and story is biast).

I think empire will have a good sized population, but it wont compare to the hordes of fans set on playing chaos and greenskins.

[Ruinx]

I think empire will have a good sized population, but it wont compare to the hordes of fans set on playing chaos and greenskins.

You're severely mistaken if you think a lot of people want to play Greenskins. Just check out any of the many polls on the subject.

[KroqGar]

How many times do we need to go through this on all the different threads?

Polls represent 1% of the total subscription base at this point of the game. Not many people are following the game this early and so have no idea what the game even is, let alone what races are the coolest. Polls will not tell anything until a day after release.

The majority of people want to play the awesome, kicking badass and so will go to either Chaos or Greenskins. I know for a fact that greenskins will be large in numbers because they have many, many fans.

[Kraus]

Did you know 76% of statistics are made up on the spot?

Regardless, I would still sign onto the less then 1% thing - how many active posters do we have in the ENTIRE WAR community... 1,000, 2,000? I know theres plenty of subscribed people across the sites, but very few them actually go and post and vote in the polls; hell then theres people like me that just dont bother voting in the polls... They mean nothing at this moment, we only know really any real info about 2 out of 6 races, and were polling very small groups of people that barely count into the overal picture.

[Ruinx]

The majority of people want to play the awesome, kicking badass and so will go to either Chaos or Greenskins. I know for a fact that greenskins will be large in numbers because they have many, many fans.

We need to go through as many times as it takes for you to realize that you're somewhat delusional, in my humble opinion.

If what you say was remotely true, WoW would be 75% Tauren and Orcs on every server.

Instead, the majority population is Humans and NEs, followed very distantly by the other races. Orcs are not percieved as "awesome badasses" by Joe Gamer, and he's who will be playing this game, not Warhammer Expert 003874, they are seen as slightly silly big green guys. Chaos may indeed be seen as "awesome badasses" by most, but a HUGE section of players simply WILL NOT play the "bad guys", and impossible to see Chaos as anything else.

Just look at DAoC when it started. Albion was the biggest pop. Why? Because they had the best classes? God no, not even then. Because they were the "biggest badasses"? Nope, that was Midgard, quite clearly, with it's giant Trolls, Berzerkers, and so on. It was because they were the shiny, honorable humans with shiny knights and flashy wizards. They were simple, obvious and innately appealling to the Western mind-set.

WoW is similar. The most badass classes are not the most popular, even on PvP. Humans and Nightelves, despite the latter being distinctly girly, are what is popular. The reason the Alliance dominates so massively on PvP servers is quite clearly because of it's "shiny good guys and humans" factor. You fail to realize that there are lot of players who only play humans, and others who only play good guys.

When you add these groups up, you're going to see Order will be the side with more troops. It's always been thus, in every game where Light and Dark fight, more players choose Light.

As for poll being inaccurate. Did you know that most US election polls sample less than 0.001% of the population involved? Yet somehow they're usually pretty accurate. So claiming these polls are inaccurate because of the small sample size is a little dubious. Inaccurate because the sample is of people interested in playing WAR rather than players in general, that I'll buy, but the sample size? Nah.

I particularly love that you "know for a fact" that Greenskins will be very successful, when they're not even that popular in the tabletop game! Greenskins will be the 6th race for population, count on it.

[KroqGar]

What gaming group do you play at? The past three clubs I've been at have had at least 2-3 orc players. Although that was more 40k and I am in Canada.

Orcs in WoW were not that cool. They were definetely not interesting to me and I know a lot of people also thought the same.

In regards to polls being inaccurate, I never said that. I said these certain types were inaccurate because the majority of players aren't on the sites. US elections may be done but those are the majority on a smaller scale. It's something that many people are involved in. This isn't coming across like I wanted it to, but you misunderstood my meaning of my poll comment.

I don't want to argue over the internet (Too much typing :( ) So I will agree to disagree with you. One of us will be proven wrong when the game comes out so we'll have to wait until then.

[Mordresh]

Greenskins will smash da empire Waaagh!!!

(btw I voted no :D )

[Excommunicate]

Empire will be the second least popular side. Dwarfs will definitely be less popular. Greenskins might be third last, then high elves, then dark elves (or dark elves and then high elves) and Chaos will without a doubt be the most popular side.

[Vedruk]

I'll probably have an orc as my main, and an Empire or dwarf character as my primary alt.

[Amelung]

Its clear, Chaos will be the most popular Realm here in warhammer. But so its the most common.
The results for such facts? Balancing in RvR is most important. If there will be few dwarves or Imperial fighters then their stats must be better.
WAR will not function if one side will never have a chance to win.

I cannot imagine Chaosplayers are satisfied if there is no challenge in the game, or the fact the only challenge is to 'find' one imperial warrior in the huge empire ;).
So there is one 'must be' especially in such a RvR game. Every side/faction must be able to win a campaign.
Means if one side is overpopulated they will get stats, resources and equipment really of less qualitiy. Or there will be no balance for funny, challenging gaming. So best balancing is really if ther wil be enough players, its not important absolutely equal numbers but enough for a good planing for successfull campaigns.
I have really nothing against the fact, the largest, most poulated Realm in told warhammerword is 'normally' the Empire, but here in WAR not, but sure if i play Empire and see there is no single chance for winning (because empire will have to few fighters), then the whole game will be soon underpopulated.

If there will be to much Chaosplayers then i think also Orcs or Darkelfs will be able to beat them. Chaos as standalone faction ;), but sure only if they will be really to numerous.

But there must be thoughts about because there is a chance Chaos will be more than only a large community.

[Ruinx]

Empire will be the second least popular side. Dwarfs will definitely be less popular. Greenskins might be third last, then high elves, then dark elves (or dark elves and then high elves) and Chaos will without a doubt be the most popular side.

We need a betting thread on this, because you are so wrong it makes my head spin.

[Excommunicate]

We need a betting thread on this, because you are so wrong it makes my head spin.

Hopefully it spins some sense into you. Let's take a look.

Dwarfs - Traditionally the least played race in virtually every fantasy MMO. Only ever eclipsed as least played by other short races, like gnomes and such. Warhammer dwarfs are about and standard fantasy as you can get. They offer nothing new, and will therefore attract very few people.

Empire - Humans tend to be about average on players playing them. In Warhammer they're not only pretty average and boring, but their clothing is flamboyant and poofy. They don't look cool at all. Their coolest guys are their knights, who look pretty much like any other knight from any other fantasy game. Again, they're very traditional fantasy humans.

Greenskins - Goblins are stupid but orcs have a pretty good following from what I've seen. They could go either way, but they've become more known as a funny/badass race that loves to get "stuck in". They'll probably be less popular than elves, but mainly because goblins are dumb and comprise 1/2 of the greenskin race.

Elves - Elves have always been very popular and while Warhammer's elves are very standard and generic on the surface, I suspect they'll still be pretty popular.

Chaos - Easily set to be the most popular race. In a game filled to the brim with generic fantasy races (talking WAR here, they picked the most traditional and vanilla of the lot) they're the one race that will be truly unique to a lot of people. Plus, they look really cool. Who would rather be a totally average looking human soldier in regular steel armor, when you could be a mutated Chaos guy in evil, spikey, badass armor? People who like to play human will likely choose Chaos over Empire, which is why I think Empire will be especially unpopular. It'll be in direct competition with the coolest race in WAR.

[Avathos]

The Empire has send their call for help!

The Enclave has answered the call

[KroqGar]

They don't delete posts as a matter of policy. Just leave it as it is. :D

[Ruinx]

Excom - I'll go through it for you:

Dwarfs - Generally not very played, exactly as you say. They're actually just barely the least popular Alliance race in WoW, for example, and are unpopular in just about every MMO ever.

Empire - Now this is where you're incredibly wrong. Humans are NEVER "about average" in terms of population in MMOs. They are ALWAYS extremely popular, and often the most popular single race. In WoW, contrary to what you might think, they are the most popular race by a fairly significant margin. Night Elves are less popular than them. In every other MMO I've seen population surveys for, too, humans were the most popular race.

Not only that, but "good guys" are popular in MMOs. Just look at the HvA ratios on WoW servers, even on the PvP servers these days, the Alliance outnumbers the Horde. The same story has been told in every PvP MMO that I'm aware of (and I'm sure there are many I'm not aware of that tell a different story, please list them though, I'm not psychic).

The Empire, for all their flaws, are at least quite clearly "good guys", and being humans, will be immensely popular. I challenge you to find even ONE major MMO where the main "human" race was not amongst the top three races in popularity. Even in FFXI they're the most popular! So stick that in your "average" pipe and smoke it, mister!

http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/guide/development/census/06/04racial.html

http://www.warcraftrealms.com/census.php?serverid=-1&factionid=3&minlevel=10&maxlevel=60&servertypeid=-1

Greenskins - Contrary to people's continual suggestions that "Orcs have a large fanbase", I will suggest that lots of people love the CONCEPT of Orcs, thus creating this impression, including myself, but few people are particularly interested in playing one, even in games where they're traditionally a dominant race and portrayed in a very positive light, such as WoW.

They're the second-least popular race on the Horde side in WoW, very close to Trolls in their unpopularity, despite being at least as iconic in Warcraft as they are in Warhammer. People just don't tend to want to be a dumb barbarian. The lack of female characters will hurt them too, because the "cross-dresser" brigade will shun them, and the actual female players will in some cases be discouraged (and they make up typically 15% of an MMO's playerbase, with the "cross-dresser" brigade being far larger, typically 30-60% depending on the game). Generally, "ugly" races in games tend to be somewhat shunned, and Orcs are definately ugly, however cool.

I see no logical reason why they should be magically more popular in WAR than in previous MMOs. They're cool, but they're not astoundingly cool, at least at this point, not when you've got competition in the form of Chaos Warriors, Dark Elves, and so on.

Elves - What can I say? I agree, they'll be very popular. Elves are often the second-most popular race in a game.

Chaos - I don't think they'll be as dominant as you think.

Uniqueness is a NEGATIVE trait when it comes to population. You've clearly never looked at game-pop figures if you don't know that. Wierd and unusual races universally have LOW populations, the one possible exception being the Undead in WoW, and they're a pretty well-established concept, unlike Chaos. However, Chaos is basically "badass evil humans", so they do stand to be pretty popular, both amongst human-lovers and those who like their whole "death-metal" look.

You're also NUTS IN THE HEAD if you think it's going to be "Chaos Warrios vs Normal-looking dude in simple armour". FFS, do any of the pictures you've seen indicate such a thing? Chaos Warrior vs Warrior Priest does NOT have a clear victor is "I want to play that one!" factor, and there's no reason to believe that the next two Empire classes will be super-dull, especially as you need to remember Chaos Warrior is likely to be one of FOUR Chaos classes, and I have serious doubts about how popular the likely Chaos Marauders and Sorcerors are likely to be, compared to Bright Wizards and the like.

We'll see, but I think you give Chaos too much credit in it's appeal. It is appealling, but so is the Empire, and some people will ONLY play good guys.

In the end, I predict:

Chaos and Empire as most popular - followed closely by High and Dark Elves - Followed very distantly by Dwarves and Greenskins, with fairly even pops in each match up.

Overall I expect Order to have a slight (1-5%) population edge.

[Ralzar]

Ruinix might require some lessons in posting less offensively, but I can't really fault his reasoning :p

[Ruinx]

Ruinix might require some lessons in posting less offensively, but I can't really fault his reasoning :p

I do, but everyone any time anyone tries to give me them, they're really offensive, which only encourages me to behave similarly. I blame society! <is sent to jail to 30 years>

I will always provide evidence if evidence is available, though, unlike most posters, and the evidence here is extremely, extremely clear. Humans are the most popular race in fantasy MMOs, and Orcs are pretty unpopular (to actually be played).

[Grumbles]

Humans are the best race. I don't have anything otherwise useful to contribute to this thread, ttyl

[Accipiter]

I agree with Ruinex.

But I think some of the imbalance that WoW suffered will be corrected in WAR by having the dark elves. Even guys that want to play as greenskins will be able to convince their girlfriends to play on the side of destruction due to the DE option.

That said, I think Greenskins will be the least populated of all, followed by dwarfs, chaos, elves both flavors, leaving the Empire with the highest population.

*edit - well, some guys will be able to....

[Ruinx]

I agree with Ruinex.

But I think some of the imbalance that WoW suffered will be corrected in WAR by having the dark elves. Even guys that want to play as greenskins will be able to convince their girlfriends to play on the side of destruction due to the DE option.

I dunno if it's gfs were the problem as much as teenage boys who refuse to play anything but female characters they can jerk it to, as many more of the Hordies I knew were couples irl than the Alliance, and my wife was always keen on the Horde. So I'm going to go with the hormonal teenage boys who always claim "I don't want to see some dude's facing me all the time!" when they make some semi-clad femme called something like "Sexininia" as the many problem there, that and an entire generation tragically damaged by an obsession with androgynous anime characters and unable to play males who aren't underweight with long flowing hair and gender-ambiguous faces.

Whatever the reasons, "no hot chicks" = less people on that side, so yeah, I think DEs are going to help Destruction a lot in regards to balance with Order.

[vehemoth]

Now I will seek bravery in repetition and noise!

Empire is all about pushing to the extremes. I beleive once the character models are released empire is going to be rather popular. They are a very 3 demensional army and I look forward to seeing more from them

[Amelung]

Now I will seek bravery in repetition and noise!

Empire is all about pushing to the extremes. I beleive once the character models are released empire is going to be rather popular. They are a very 3 demensional army and I look forward to seeing more from them
I think also empire is yet the underestimated faction (for population). Sure there are lots of Chaos fans, but they (so i think) would also never play 'highelfs' ;) and those 'fans' are very loud in forums, very present, but really as numerous as common, coming players?
And the common player, not only the warhammerfan will play more 'human' means empire.
So sure, many warhammerfans will play most Chaos, but such fans are not the only customers of coming WAR.

[Accipiter]

I dunno if it's gfs were the problem as much as teenage boys who refuse to play anything but female characters they can jerk it to, as many more of the Hordies I knew were couples irl than the Alliance, and my wife was always keen on the Horde. So I'm going to go with the hormonal teenage boys who always claim "I don't want to see some dude's facing me all the time!" when they make some semi-clad femme called something like "Sexininia" as the many problem there, that and an entire generation tragically damaged by an obsession with androgynous anime characters and unable to play males who aren't underweight with long flowing hair and gender-ambiguous faces.

Whatever the reasons, "no hot chicks" = less people on that side, so yeah, I think DEs are going to help Destruction a lot in regards to balance with Order.

That may be part of it. I played on a PvP server for the first year as Alliance and far and away most of the female avatars were guys. You're probably right that they wanted to have unnatural relations with their toons. Later I played on a RP server and there seemed to be tons of women playing Alliance avatars. At least some of them were fleeing their Horde characters on PvP servers that their boyfriends had wanted them to play. They were tired of playing 7 foot tall cows and wanted to play something that was easier to identify with. Meh. Who knows. People are complicated and there are, no doubt, different reasons for the popularity of pretty races.

As a side note, I agree that Anime is the center of all evil in the universe. With those big eyes and non-existent noses, the characters all look like babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome.

[Axxar]

I'm looking forward to my Bright Wizard alt, he'll be blowing things up left and right, as he should.

[Brother Volker]

Hello all...

I just thought I'd chime in here to support a lot of what others have been predicting - the Empire will be FAR from the least played race.

In order from most played to least, I give you:

1. Empire 23%
2. Chaos 20%
3. High Elves 19%
4. Dark Elves 16%
5. Orcs 13%
6. Dwarfs 9%

Order = 51%
Destruction = 49%

There might be a surprise or two, but I highly doubt it. Elves would be higher, but Mythic, in its wisdom, split the Drizzts from the Legolases... Orcs also might score a bit higher, this would be the MMORPG to do it being the coolest Orcs of all, but again, I doubt it.

[Ruinx]

Hello all...

I just thought I'd chime in here to support a lot of what others have been predicting - the Empire will be FAR from the least played race.

In order from most played to least, I give you:

1. Empire 23%
2. Chaos 20%
3. High Elves 19%
4. Dark Elves 16%
5. Orcs 13%
6. Dwarfs 9%

Order = 51%
Destruction = 49%

There might be a surprise or two, but I highly doubt it. Elves would be higher, but Mythic, in its wisdom, split the Drizzts from the Legolases... Orcs also might score a bit higher, this would be the MMORPG to do it being the coolest Orcs of all, but again, I doubt it.

Whilst you're pulling those figures out of hyperspace, I'd say that, based on other MMOs, you're probably pretty close.

[Brother Volker]

Whilst you're pulling those figures out of hyperspace, I'd say that, based on other MMOs, you're probably pretty close.
:mrgreen:

My nose is the gateway to hyperspace...

[Instant_Karma]

I personallly from the beginning have been dead set on playing as a High Elf. However, the Empire on the TT has always had a certain appeal to me; the more fanatical and religious aspects of it. Also guns; I like guns. So I'm probably going to make my first alt a Witch Hunter (fingers crossed) or whatever ranged unit the Empire gets. I think what appeal the empire has it that while it is familiar in being that it is Human, it is very unlike how our society exists today; thats the appeal they have. I don't know if it will be underpopulated, though I think in the first enitial rush once the game comes out they will be.

[Smachaz]

Although i would of preferred Bretonnia,:( I'm sure alot of poeple will play Empire, there cool, they look though and they got Warrior-Priest (predictably the most played empire class there will be). Anyway im sure Bretonnia would of caused some serious population imbalance.

[War Weasel]

I'll most likely be playing a gobbo shammy from the start, but knowing me I'll be bouncing around from character to character, and I'm deffinately going to have an Empire character. The Warrior-Priest and Bright Wizard look like fantastic and fun classes and I'll be giving them a try. Plus, whatever the other two classes are coming to the Empire, too.

[Varangarian]

Hello all...

I just thought I'd chime in here to support a lot of what others have been predicting - the Empire will be FAR from the least played race.

In order from most played to least, I give you:

1. Empire 23%
2. Chaos 20%
3. High Elves 19%
4. Dark Elves 16%
5. Orcs 13%
6. Dwarfs 9%

Order = 51%
Destruction = 49%

There might be a surprise or two, but I highly doubt it. Elves would be higher, but Mythic, in its wisdom, split the Drizzts from the Legolases... Orcs also might score a bit higher, this would be the MMORPG to do it being the coolest Orcs of all, but again, I doubt it.

Orcs will beat DE IMO. HE will beat Empire. Though Warrior Priest is going to be insanely popular.

The Empire is not a bunch of do gooders in shiny armor, High Elves are. The Empire is full of rot and corruption along with constant war and blood. This is dark Germanic kingdom that hangs togther because the things outside of it are realy scarry, unlike the guys running it who are just scary. Heretics along with the majority of the general populace are killed by inquistioners, and the Cult of Sigmar typically kills first, then converts the survivors.

There's no King Arthur boys and girls, the mean Emperor had his head put on a pike right next to the skull of a Bloodthirster and a Dragon.

The Imperial sigil is a Skull and Nazi like cross....and they're the good guys.

[ImperialSaint]

i do not care what people have to say. i will be an Imp from now to the end. tabletop or RPG games, i will always fight for the Emperor

[Gharok]

Humans 45%
Elves 35%
Dwarves 20%

vs.

Dark Elves 40%
Chaos 40%
Greenskins 20%



I'm thinking more like

Humans 40%
High Elves 30%
Dwarves 30% (I think more people will play dwarves than every ones expecting)

vs.

Dark Elves 20% (You said 40% but I haven't seen hardly any people who plan to play dark elves... and I doubt WAR players will choose them simply cause their sexy, or at least i hope :sad: )
Chaos 60% (Yeah im serious...)
Orcs 20%

[Accipiter]

I'm thinking more like

Humans 40%
High Elves 30%
Dwarves 30% (I think more people will play dwarves than every ones expecting)

vs.

Dark Elves 20% (You said 40% but I haven't seen hardly any people who plan to play dark elves... and I doubt WAR players will choose them simply cause their sexy, or at least i hope :sad: )
Chaos 60% (Yeah im serious...)
Orcs 20%

/me pats Gharok and gives him a lolly.

[Gharok]

/me pats Gharok and gives him a lolly.

/me eats lolly

Boy didn't your mother ever tell you not to feed the orc? Now I'll think when ever I post a random and meaningless post I'll get a lolly... you've created a monster :D

[Smachaz]

I'm thinking more like

Humans 40%
High Elves 30%
Dwarves 30% (I think more people will play dwarves than every ones expecting)

vs.

Dark Elves 20% (You said 40% but I haven't seen hardly any people who plan to play dark elves... and I doubt WAR players will choose them simply cause their sexy, or at least i hope :sad: )
Chaos 60% (Yeah im serious...)
Orcs 20%

If Dark Elves get Assassins, you'll be sure too see ALOT of them, ninja fans are everywhere.

[spirit]

Witch hunters have been announced. The Empire population just rose 10%.

[Boffum]

Witch hunters have been announced. The Empire population just rose 10%.
Make that 20%. Knights of the Blazing Sun? Unless the High Elves get Silver Helms or Dragon Princes 50% of the l33t-kiddies are gonna go "Knights!? Just like my legos! AWSUM!"

[spirit]

Make that 20%. Knights of the Blazing Sun? Unless the High Elves get Silver Helms or Dragon Princes 50% of the l33t-kiddies are gonna go "Knights!? Just like my legos! AWSUM!"

KoBS have nothing on witch hunters on cool-factor I'm afraid. Listen to Paul in the video. He knows all, and says it very loudly. "they are the coolest class we have done!"

[Boffum]

KoBS have nothing on witch hunters on cool-factor I'm afraid. Listen to Paul in the video. He knows all, and says it very loudly. "they are the coolest class we have done!"
The raving exhortations of a drunken Britt does not make Witchhunters cooler than a properly mutated Chaos Warrior. Although since they're in control of content they could make the Witchhunters the coolest by skimping on the coolness for other classes, making them less cool than they should be. Which would be very sneaking and dastardly and such.

I still think the l33t-kiddies are gonna go "I wanna be a big of a knight because he could beat up Billy in 7th grade who's mean to me :-("

[Coltaine]

Another WoW burnout / Warhammer newbie here...and yes. I will most definitely play Empire.


That is..until we finally get Skaven. ;)



But I don't think Empire will be underpopulated...only prob I can see with Empire is that it will be overpopulated with Witch Hunters.

[Amelung]

Another WoW burnout / Warhammer newbie here...and yes. I will most definitely play Empire.
That is..until we finally get Skaven. ;)

But I don't think Empire will be underpopulated...only prob I can see with Empire is that it will be overpopulated with Witch Hunters.
You are surely right, witch hunters are most popular for empire; im glad i played warhammer tabletop and witchhunters were never a real option for my armies :).
So i dont want to play it here.

[Promenius]

Well, although it might not be the most populated faction, it wont be the least populated either.

I keep seeing this in my mind:

Witchhunters on a big hill, along with knights of the blazing sun and a warrior priest, fending off the chaos invaders until the dwarven reinforcements arrive.

Empire will be great for roleplaying atleast.

If you're empire, you can be good, or by roleplaying, be slooooowly tempted by chaos. Not actually joining them, but gradually sinking into a great depression.

With chaos, you have to be evil and follow the commands your god gives you.

I believe HIGH ELVES will be the least populated faction, and chaos the MOST populated faction. however, a lot of people will just pick chaos cause "THEY LOOK KEWL, LOLZ!", and as such we'll probably see a lot of chaos newbs out on the battlefield.

Then again, they're chaos, can't blame em for being popular.

[spirit]

The raving exhortations of a drunken Britt does not make Witchhunters cooler than a properly mutated Chaos Warrior. Although since they're in control of content they could make the Witchhunters the coolest by skimping on the coolness for other classes, making them less cool than they should be. Which would be very sneaking and dastardly and such.

I still think the l33t-kiddies are gonna go "I wanna be a big of a knight because he could beat up Billy in 7th grade who's mean to me :-("

Well yeah, I wasn't comparing them to Chaos though. I mean, being the leader of the first Chaos guild around these parts, it wouldn't exactly inspire confidence if I didn't think Chaos was the coolest race of them all...but witch hunters come close.

Oh and I'm a drunken Brit too.


With chaos, you have to be evil and follow the commands your god gives you.

Unless you play the "misguided" card, or the "Empire are the evil ones really" card, or just, yknow, that the Chaos Gods don't control every action of each and every one of their followers at every point in time, they merely give them general overall goals and leave them to it.

[Kharlene]

lmao I'm going to be playing every class and every race at one point or another as I do in every MMO I play, so eventually - yes - I will be playing Empire at one point or another ;)

[King_Froman]

I'm thinking of being a KotBS, of course, this can change.

Also, I highly doubt The Empire will be underpopulated. Most of the time, I've seen Elves be the most populated, followed by humans, followed by anything that is short or "ugly". Thus, I may be a Dwarf to help the race's population.

[Smachaz]

Now that they announced Witch Hunters as a playable class it wouldn't surprise me if they were more populated then the Chaos.

[Crusader V]

The question is no longer "Should I play the Empire?", it's "Should I play a Knight, a Witch Hunter, or a Warrior Priest??" :)

[Amelung]

The question is no longer "Should I play the Empire?", it's "Should I play a Knight, a Witch Hunter, or a Warrior Priest??" :)
Thats a point im still a bit sad about, the fact we will not play really 'classes', we will be able to play very specialists of four chosen of dozends possible warhammer classes.

[Heno]

I like the fact everyone has different opinions, just goes to show the spread will be much wider than you think!

I'd say Humans, ELves and Dark Elves will be the most popular (Because they are in every other MMO ever) and that Dwarves will be least popular (No love for the short races :( )

[Smachaz]

I like the fact everyone has different opinions, just goes to show the spread will be much wider than you think!

I'd say Humans, ELves and Dark Elves will be the most popular (Because they are in every other MMO ever) and that Dwarves will be least popular (No love for the short races :( )

So true about Dwarfs never being popular, but they might be more popular then we think since they are getting Dwarf-looking-badass armor. But ill suspect them still being the least popular race. High Elves and Dark Elves will certainly be the super races, Dark elves being number one, thwen the High Elves, the only cool high elves in any fantasy univers, (being second coolest in all after wood elves)

[Y'vess]

I wouldn't discount the WoW "Dwarf factor" Quite a few dwarfs have run about the lands of Azeroth while they may not all be main characters I think you'll find the stunties growing in popularity. I'd also hasten to add if they are planning a Slayer Elite class you'll get quite a few dwarfs rolled just for that. Who knows with those two factors Dwarfs might even outnumber the greenskins.

[Amelung]

I like the fact everyone has different opinions, just goes to show the spread will be much wider than you think!

I'd say Humans, ELves and Dark Elves will be the most popular (Because they are in every other MMO ever) and that Dwarves will be least popular (No love for the short races :( )
You are right, there are different tastes also only for dicussion of Empire and thats more than good :) Reasoned by that not unimportant fact i hope really in many addons there will be more and more choices later for the player. Then its not toooo important there will be 'only' the Knight of the Blazing Sun as 'warrior' first. And he will come first thats clear.

[DannyBoy]

Depends on what side my clan votes to join but as far as i see it i go by what classes interest me the most not race. warrior priest just sounds awsome to me.

[Aramyn]

In most cases, especially in the case of WoW, the Alliance seemed to be very much more populated then the Horde, because of the large number of casual players on Alliance. There seemed to be less Horde players, but a higher hardcore/casual ratio among the Horde than the alliance. The alliance was populated with more younger players and as well casual players, since it's appealing to the young kids who want to be the "good guys", and appealing to the older casual players who do not know the lore.
I think the polls are skewed at the moment, because the vast majority of us are experienced with MMO's and Warhammer, and pre-beta this forum is more likely to have more hardcore MMO'ers here. Therefore, the more hardcore WAR players will more often probably choose to go to Destruction, while the casual players and younger players who still do not know much of this game, or don't care about it until it's released I believe will lean towards Order.
I dont believe there's any reason to worry about faction imbalance yet, not many people know about the game yet compared to how many will know upon release, and I believe upon release the faction balance will even out. Time works wonders :D

[Axxar]

I don't see how Empire isn't going to be one of the most populated armies. I think people that believe the evil-looking races will be the most popular haven't seen the current trends in MMOs :)

[Ripple]

The Warhammer world is doomed. Eventually the world will be conquered by Chaos, and become part of the Chaos Realm. (no, I am not a Chaos fanatic that is the lore) I think playing a character fighting against the end of the world without any real hope of winning in the end is interesting. I will be playing a Empire alt for sure.

[Darlos]

I DON'T think they'll be underpopulated because

A) They are n the 'good guys' side.

B) Humans look like the most 'normal' so people will role them if they want their Online character to look 'like' them.

[Bull]

If there is a witch-hunter then Empire will be one of the more popular "races" in my opinion. There are too many people who think the gunslinging trenchcoat wearing persona is cool.

13 year old, bees to a honey pot class. :sad:

Im still not sure what race to choose but as iv said before I will make my decision on looks and feel and the most important factor, FUN!

Also you have to remember, ill use wow here due to it being the most widely played MMO, that the alliance side is usualy the most populated side and in the early months servers had real problems with Alliance out numbering Horde.

[Vitorio]

I magine that on the Order side the population will go as follows:

<<MOST POPULATED>>
High Elfs
Empire
Dwarfs
<<LEAST POPULATED>>

The dwarfs are many on these boards, but when the game is released they will be few.

Thats because they are spread out over many a 'realm'. One thing that Irked me about WoW (my, unfortunate, only MMORPG experience) was the number of realms.... low populated.

[Smachaz]

Thats because they are spread out over many a 'realm'. One thing that Irked me about WoW (my, unfortunate, only MMORPG experience) was the number of realms.... low populated.

Low populated servers? You definitely got ''unlucky''.

[Black Razor]

MMO historically speaking .. people gravitate towards the beautiful races.. with the hard core fans going for things like orcs and dwarves. I really think it depends how much of a non-warhammer fan draw the game becomes as to how populace the humans will be. But I think if they arnt the most populated ..they will certainly be in the top three.

[Psyker]

I plan on playing Empire because they are the closest to what i play in 40k, IG and Tau.

Especially IG, for obvious reasons.

Also, I played horde a ton in WoW and barely even dabbled in the alliance much, so I want a bit of a change.

AND the warrior priest just looks awesome.

[Krulltak]

I plan on playing Empire because they are the closest to what i play in 40k, IG and Tau.

Especially IG, for obvious reasons.

AND the warrior priest just looks awesome.

Yes, and burning uber hammers o' Sigmar.

But like I've always said, The Wrath of God is cancelled by a knee to the rib.

[Rabbit Fylgja]

Well, some of us are contrarian; if there's an underplayed race, we tend to go there; same with underplayed classes. Just because.

Also, Jeff said in an interview that there would be actual advantages (in-game) to playing a lower-pop group. So I'm definitely on that bandwagon.

[Romple-WHA]

I'm gonna play a gnome... <ducks>

[Ruinx]

Well, some of us are contrarian; if there's an underplayed race, we tend to go there; same with underplayed classes. Just because.

Also, Jeff said in an interview that there would be actual advantages (in-game) to playing a lower-pop group. So I'm definitely on that bandwagon.

It's the Dwarfs for you then! Humans are NEVER unpopular (evidence: all currently played MMOs have humans as the most played or second-most played race). The other race that's seemingly never unpopular is Dark Elves, so if Humans and DEs aren't the two most played races, I'll be verrrrrrrry surprised.

There definately need to be some advantages for under-played races/realms, I'm glad to hear that, it really does attract people, especially those who are bored with their current race/realm and not sure which to try next. I think the system DAoC had worked well for DAoC, and hopefully they can come up with a similarly effective one for WAR (though it'll probably be a bit of a process of trial and error before they get the system entirely right).

[Vail]

i wasn't going to play empire until i saw bright wizards.

Now i will have a dwarf engineer, ironbreaker, runepriest and a Bright Wizard on my order server...when i bother to play order.

[Meatshield]

I'm very interested in playing a witch hunter on the empire side, however i will quickly switch to a Chaos Magus, black Orc, Iron-breaker, etc if i find out that the class i chose is the one that all the little kids play...For Example, in WoW i played a Pally as my first character, and i hated seeing 15+ pallies just sitting outside major cities dueling, and when it came time for battle, they didn't know how to play thier class...I love being the minority and will play something i feel is challenging or underpowered, i guess cuz the challenge keeps me involved in the game, instead of always winning...any thoughts?

~Patrick

P.S. Meatshield will be an awesome name for a black orc, or Ironbreaker tank lol

[Saucon21]

Seeing as it is the Human race, it normally pulls alot of players in. For me i am right now favoring the Dwarf race, Ironbreaker, Hammerer, and even the Eng. If i was going to make a Empire Char it would be a Warrior Priest for sure.

All of it really depands on the skills and the feel of the class for me to really pick a main.

[Astner]

Seeing as it is the Human race, it normally pulls alot of players in. For me i am right now favoring the Dwarf race, Ironbreaker, Hammerer, and even the Eng. If i was going to make a Empire Char it would be a Warrior Priest for sure.

All of it really depands on the skills and the feel of the class for me to really pick a main.
What happend to the Warrior Priest? -- Be a Warrior Priest like the rest of us.

[EngraDeathsword]

Playing Chaos but I might make a Witch-Hunter
GOTTA LOVE THE HATS
forgot who said this on this forum but he/she said that Chaos will be over populated and will go down within weeks
I agree but to end overpopulation go outside of the main area (like in WoW with the Dwarfs) they were sooooooo overpopulated I went into the mountains and noone else was there
Just a little tip for the followers of Chaos:chaos:

[Joeydevil]

Humans are ALWAYS popular. Every game. Its the middle ground.

[Veilside]

I'm probably going to play as a chaos chosen just because i play as chaos on the TT game but i'm very interested in the witchhunter and the KotBS. Witchhunters were an incredibly fun class in Wolfenburg and have a great storyline behind them, they also look very, very mean and nasty.

[Flamingwonky]

(Yet another WoW-burnout. Mostly stuck to Horde on an Alliance-dominated PvP server, and it was great fun to be in the largely elite minority)

I agree that the Empire/High Elf proportion will depend on how teh awesome/sexy HE's will be. We've yet to see any information on that army, though.

Dwarfs look to be the least populated, followed by Greenskins.

Empire, Chaos, DE and HE should be split somewhat evenly.

I'm currently leaning towards KotBS, though Hammerer is a serious option for me. I really enjoy roleplaying short, fat, angry, drunk men, as well as being in the minority.

These forums are currently populated by hardcore players however, and we've seen nothing on the elf armies, so it may be a little early to tell the demographics for sure. Everyone, Paul included, touts the witch hunter as a "cool" class, but surely elves have gobs to attract the masses with.

[Astner]

The thing with this tread is that the question of the poll and the question of the thread is exactly the opposite--so the results are messed up, just give it a thought before making an other poll.

[Dd2725]

it will be second least played like how likes dwafs the eat too much the the fat short and ugly

[arthurfoxshot]

it will be second least played like how likes dwafs the eat too much the the fat short and ugly

Oh really elflling? And dwarfs eat to much, well the elflings don't eat enough thats why
there all weaklins and fragile and crap.
And ugly? Atleast dwarfs can tell the difference between there males and there females.
And no wounder the elfllings faces are so.......unspolit because they have never done
a days work in there lives they just sit around all day up in there trees sniffing flowers and
stroking bunnies.

[Firann]

I think empire will be one of the most played. Three reasons for this in my opinion:

1) Its humans, lots of people prefer to play humans in MMOs
2) Witchhunters = Lots of Van Helsing wannabes will flock to empire
3) KoBS and WP = A knight in shining armor always attracts lots of players

As to the other populated realm? I think its chaos. Why? Though 50% like the hero type the other 50% like to be the big badass in the dark spiky armor tearing through the enemies. Thats why i fear my beloved chosen one will be most played unfortunately :(

Hopefully High Elves and Dark Elves will provide some "shining knights" and "dark knights" so that empire and chaos are not that overpopulated.

Sadly i think orcs are gonna be the least played followed by dwarfs :(

[Stuntie]

But what could be more boring than a high elfling>?

Two high elflings?

Will be playing Empire probably as the Witchhunter jsut looks such a fun character.
Finaly humans in a game that aren't cookie cutter hack fantasy happy smily boring dorks.

[Caramada]

Well, I intend to play Empire; I am already looking forward to a zealos, fundamentalist warrior priest:p I am a roleplayer, so I look to the general style of the character before the attributes (or at least, so I am fooling myself; In wow, I like to roleplay as a priest or a paladin, but they are boring to level).

Frankly, I don't think the Order side will be underpopulated, quite the opposite: Everyone wants to be the "good guy" - or what they believe to be the good guy - and stick to familiar concepts when first rolling a character. Of course, which of the Order races will be most popular is an entirely different question. I don't want to guess at that just yet.

[Memnos]

Sadly, no. Though my friends are tearing me between the Lower Mainland All GW staff Greenskin guild and some Order guild, I've realized that I'm excited only about the Elves on the side of order: Dwarfs are just too stunty for me to get excited about and, despite the fact that the Warrior Priest -is- cool, I'm not certain if I have the skill required to constantly be in battle, monitoring my rage -and- my spells -and- my allies -and- my enemies. I'd like to eventually join the Empire when I get a better feel for the system, but to begin with I'm gonna go for something simpler: An Elf. I'm going to be an Elf with a ridiculously phallic sword, leaping through enemy lines to take out backline support fighters.

[Journ]

No.

Humans FTW!

[Oasis]

yea im most likely going to be empire but will probably go to dwarf place or something(if you can) if the beginning place is boring

[Der_Eisenhans]

There's only one choice for me: Empire War Priest.

I fell in love with those guys since I first laid eyes on WH lore. I also love the Empire's fluff - yeah we can't do anything right, but we pull through with sheer madness and determination and somehow manage to at least not lose.

Darn, I just love it almost up to the point of being a fanboi.

Anyway, looking at German and other forums, it would seem like almost anyone will play Destruction, also RP-wise. Boggles my mind somehow (in WoW, they could always rationalize that the evilside isn't evil at all, but in WAR? Who the hell would like to live in a chaos world??).

Doesn't matter, though. We will send them back from where they come from. ;)

[Scirrocco]

If i were empire, i'd be a warrior priest. I'd only be empire if dwarf enginneer wasn't that interesting.

[Rarduzi]

I'm a sort of newbie to the warhammer world (so cut me some slack on this :rolleyes:) but from the many articles, video interveiws, and in game video Mythic has released empire isn't all that pretty. Paul Barnett has ranted countless times about a race on the edge of extinction with evidce of it all around. Specifically in the many skulls, iron crosses and morbid architecture.

This can be seen on TT like these generals (http://store.us.games-workshop.com/storefront/store.us?do=List_Models&code=305831&orignav=300943&ParentID=258882&GameNav=13)

Doesn't seem to me that the empire will act as the pretty human archetype WOW gave us. Nor will it be underpopulated either IMO.

I mean take a look at the conecpt art (http://www.warhammeronline.com/english/media/conceptArt/full/12192006_06.jpg) for the empire's 'Knight in Shining Armor' of Mythic's site.Granted, this Knight of the Blazing Sun is a knight in shinning armor, however, there is a almost sinister not at all 'pretty' undertone to him. He is also covered in skulls and the artwork on the sheild probably isn't going to appeal to the 'carebears' people have described as wanting to play empire.

Another example is the production video of the Warrior Priest in action. To me he doesn't look all that attractive or cartoonish, but of course, that is relative so I could be completly wrong in that aspect all together.

[Krulltak]

Rarduzi, you are correct in your guess. NO ONE in Warhammer is a good guy. All faction of elves, Wood, High or Dark, keep human slaves, not to mention they are incredibly arrogant, which has lead to many past evils within both Uluthan and Naggoroth.


The Empire, along with it's allies the Dwarfs and the Brettonians (Warhammer's French and Camelot with Grail Knights and the like) are desperate to survive against forces such as the Ruinous Powers, or the unstoppable horde of the Greenskins. The Empire especially, are religious fanatics, with supersticious civilians afraid of witches (hence the Witch Hunters with their big Salem Witch Trail Pilgrim hats, and their system of work being so similair to the Spanish Inquisition), and daemons, and they fear their life might end at any moment. They are oppressed by the corrupted Imperial government, as well as the Church of Sigmar and it's Witch Hunters killing hundreds of innocent just to make sure one mutant dies. They are a morbid people, and remind the nation that death is everywhere by raising their symbols of skulls and Iron Crosses.

The Empire takes everything to the extreme to survive, from massive cannons and unstable magic (whom the majority of the populous do not trust, especially Witch Hunters).


P.S. Your avatar represents the Ruinous powers of Chaos..........BURN THE HERETIC!

[Scion]

Rarduzi, you are correct in your guess. NO ONE in Warhammer is a good guy. All faction of elves, Wood, High or Dark, keep human slaves, not to mention they are incredibly arrogant, which has lead to many past evils within both Uluthan and Naggoroth.


The Empire, along with it's allies the Dwarfs and the Brettonians (Warhammer's French and Camelot with Grail Knights and the like) are desperate to survive against forces such as the Ruinous Powers, or the unstoppable horde of the Greenskins. The Empire especially, are religious fanatics, with supersticious civilians afraid of witches (hence the Witch Hunters with their big Salem Witch Trail Pilgrim hats, and their system of work being so similair to the Spanish Inquisition), and daemons, and they fear their life might end at any moment. They are oppressed by the corrupted Imperial government, as well as the Church of Sigmar and it's Witch Hunters killing hundreds of innocent just to make sure one mutant dies. They are a morbid people, and remind the nation that death is everywhere by raising their symbols of skulls and Iron Crosses.

The Empire takes everything to the extreme to survive, from massive cannons and unstable magic (whom the majority of the populous do not trust, especially Witch Hunters).


P.S. Your avatar represents the Ruinous powers of Chaos..........BURN THE HERETIC!

Ok really, who is REALLY good? Is there ever truly something that is absolutely good or absolutely evil?...Ok granted there may be some who are absolutely evil, but there are so many of them that evil literally has no moral boundaries. I mean, even the Jedi know they arent ABSOLUTELY good, Obi-Wan said only the Sith deal in absolutes, they just do what they have to to keep peace and civilization at it's possible best. That being said, a fantasy draws lines in the sand that say, "This side is evil. This side is good." and expect it to be left there. Granted witch hunters may not be good, but they are doing what they think is right, the ends justify the means when there ARE actually freakin' daemons, heretics (like Rarduzi!!!) and witches out there.

[Rarduzi]

Hey! I'm no heretic!!!!:-o

[Dendro]

Witchhunters will prolly be the most played class (or atleast thats what the poll said)until they are nerfed.

I see the high elves being the lowest population in the game.

Thems are good eat'n but to eats to manys they upset yur guts, too sweet.

WAAAAAAAGH!

[Primarch Lobo]

Frankly I'll play my warrior priest no matter how populated the servers are. I can definetely relate to the WP and his ridiculous amounts of determination, fighting against all odds is what I'm all about. And the empire is all about fighting insane odds. When a greater daemon comes up to a village, you can count on some nutty priest yelling and screaming at the top of his lungs and peasants trying to kill the thing with pitchforks...so what if the priest gets mauled as he's screaming towards the beast, or the village gets smoked to a dusty ruin? To me its the act of standing up for what you believe in, victorious or not.

Now that thats done with, It also finally comes down to play style...If 90% of the gamer audience that plays empire goes for either the warrior priest or the witch hunter for sheer badassedness, then odds are 80% of those people are going to completely suck and use 2 or 3 different moves...It's exactly what happens to me in WoW..most people think what a noob...he's a pally...and then they shut up when I destroy them in a duel. So people that want to play as empire, don't get discouraged by the thought that a lot of players are playing your class...IT's all about quality and not quantity.

[Karl van Drak]

I'm going to play Empire because I like the dark, gothic side to them. If most people play the 'good guys', High Elves will probably be the most populated race (most people I introduce to Warhammer leap towards High Elves).

[Dabigbom]

And people forget to mention the grim regions of Kislev, Cathay or Araby....

Kislev - Winter hardened Russian-like warriors who are located near the lands of the Chaos Hordes.

Cathay - The Warhammer version of the Jade Empire in it's all-mighty glory! Too bad that Cathay doesn't have a TT army....

Araby - Cunning nomadic people of the desert lands threatened by the ever growing Tomb King and Vampiric menaces...

[Krulltak]

Cathay - The Warhammer version of the Jade Empire in it's all-mighty glory! Too bad that Cathay doesn't have a TT army....


Kick (http://us.games-workshop.com/games/warhammer/bretonnians/painting/wd314_davetaylor/default.htm) arse.

[Karl van Drak]

I never forget Kislev! I love the Kislevites!

[mad_caddie]

they are by far the coolest order faction, so no.

however, i will have more respect for dwarf players when i'm actually playing the game as destruction.

[Joebonanza]

I will probably play as Empire, I don't usually play as the humans in games so it would make a nice change. The witch hunter class looks most appealing atm but im not sure what i will choose to play as yet.

And dare i say it im interested in seeing what the High Elf classes will be.... even though Elves have a bad reputation, alot of people will play them.... and i might just be one of them ;)

[Bazerk]

I come from a WoW background. In the realms i played, horde were pathetically underpopulated, however they nearly always won in the battlegrounds. My original main was alliance cuz i was like "yay im a hero and im pritty huzzah!" But after seeing how terrible most of the alliance was in group PvP (unless in an organized pvp guild) I grew to respect and fear the horde. There are a lot of speculations as to WHY horde pwnt alliance in most BGs, but it can't be denied that they had a much higher win ratio in PvP (AV doesnt count, cuz it's more PvE, but i dont want to discuss that).

When i heard about WAR (and promptly stopped playing WoW) I assumed for some reason that the realm populations would be similar to historical population levels of WoW; 5:2 ratio alliance, elves and humans tied for first, dwarves and gnomes least played. I am now realizing that WAR is appealing to a much different (and in my mind superior) audience than WoW did, and i am in fact seeing polls that show Greenskins are so far the most popular choice for race!

To sum up, if MMO history repeats itself, Empire will be one of the top two most populace realms. If current popularity trends continue, they will be in the middle somewhere.
But they're all going to die anyways, because they're too small and their skin isn't green enough.

[KroqGar]

I come from a WoW background. In the realms i played, horde were pathetically underpopulated, however they nearly always won in the battlegrounds. My original main was alliance cuz i was like "yay im a hero and im pritty huzzah!" But after seeing how terrible most of the alliance was in group PvP (unless in an organized pvp guild) I grew to respect and fear the horde. There are a lot of speculations as to WHY horde pwnt alliance in most BGs, but it can't be denied that they had a much higher win ratio in PvP (AV doesnt count, cuz it's more PvE, but i dont want to discuss that).

The reason the Horde won all the time was that they became very good at holding of gank groups of 5-6 Alliance players while grinding. They gained skill a lot faster than Alliance and were capable of destroying Alliance one vs. one when in Battlegrounds.

[TaurenMoo]

I suspect a number of rather pissed off Paladins coming over from WoW are gonna find the class they wanted to play in the warrior priest. Expect to see them, as well as good guy warriors playing the Knights of the Sun.

[Blitzkrieg]

Empire won't be the least played race just due to the newer players that naturally gravitate to a race of their own. When I first started playing World of Warcraft I played Human for the first few months because that's what felt natural. One of the Elf races will probably be the least played, in my opinion.

EDIT - I plan on playing a Chaos Chosen at release and then an Empire Witch Hunter after I reach level cap with my main.

[Fritzofgalatia]

I think 60-70% of all human players are going to be disgruntled wow Paladins trying out a warrior priest. But yes, I think they will be the least popular of all the races. They certainly are in the tabletop game.

[Sven]

Hell yea.


*Woot first post*

Anyways..

I never had any interest in WHFB.
Are WarriorPriests anything like Spacemarines?

[Gorlak]

Hell yea.


*Woot first post*

Anyways..

I never had any interest in WHFB.
Are WarriorPriests anything like Spacemarines?

erhm no. Warrior priest is an armored bald guy runing with hammers and killing stuff in the name of Sigmar.

Check this out (http://www.warhammeronline.com/english/gameInfo/armiesofWAR/Empire/Careers/warriorpriest.php)

[Flegler]

Are WarriorPriests anything like Spacemarines?
Kind of, yeah, in that they're fanatically devoted to their god and tireless enemies of Chaos.

Also I suspect the look of the Warrior Priest's armour is due to one of the artists at Games Workshop doing the Space Marine aesthetic in a mediaeval style. No hair, big shoulders, that sort of thing.

[Scion]

Chaplains

The Chaplains are the spiritual leaders of a Chapter, warrior-priests that minister to the spiritual well-being of the Space Marines, instilling in them the values and beliefs of the Chapter along with promoting the worship of the Emperor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Marines_%28Warhammer_40%2C000%29#Chaplains


Space Marines are soldiers, they give their lives and souls to the Emperor, but they let their own wills govern them in battle. Warrior Priests are more fanatical in their worship, the 40k equivalent is the Chaplain, but theres only 1 per chapter, so far less numerous.

[KroqGar]

Space Marines are soldiers, they give their lives and souls to the Emperor, but they let their own wills govern them in battle. Warrior Priests are more fanatical in their worship, the 40k equivalent is the Chaplain, but theres only 1 per chapter, so far less numerous.

Actually, there are quite a few chaplains per chapter. One chaplain would have to deal with spiritual guidance, prayers, cleansing rituals and searching out new recruits. Would be pretty tiresome for one guy to do. That's why there's several ranks of chaplains and two able to be accessed through the codex.

[Scion]

No wait, I think I have it mixed around. I meant 1 per company, not chapter, my bad. :( So 1 per company, theres 10 companies in a chapter, thats what I thought. I'll have to read up.

A Chaplain can handle all that work anyway though, the loyal subjects of the Emperor will never tire, which is pretty much literal with all those augmentations. Chaplains are my favourite 40k unit, aside from the Inquisitors.

[Engel]

I had two level sixty Paladins in World of Warcraft and was damn good at it, but hopefully I'll find what I was looking for in the Warrior-Priest. I have a fetish with playing as a religious fanatic.

I doubt the Empire will be the most populated, but I'm sure it'll have it's number of people. I can't stand Elves, Dwarves are beloved to me but I rather not play them so Empire seems to be my thing. Though, I may play a different class to fit my characters persona in here. But, I'll be sure to secretely play as Chaos. *cough*

[Horus]

Humans in warhammer/40k are awsome. fanatics and great survivors. they are the underdog in here. Love it.

to me , the dwarves are the worse possible race to play.

[The Mad Fiddler]

Depends on how many of us table top gamers get into the MMO, IMO. The Empire is sort of central to the warhammer world [in the table top game] and so a lot of people will play it because the Empire or people from the Empire serve as the protagonist in many of the tales about the world.

[JD_Brett]

The raving exhortations of a drunken Britt does not make Witchhunters cooler than a properly mutated Chaos Warrior. Although since they're in control of content they could make the Witchhunters the coolest by skimping on the coolness for other classes, making them less cool than they should be. Which would be very sneaking and dastardly and such.

I still think the l33t-kiddies are gonna go "I wanna be a big of a knight because he could beat up Billy in 7th grade who's mean to me :-("

That’s a rather stereotypical generalization.
Not all “knights in shining armor” are “L33t kiddies” and visa-versa. Every individual person ((even kiddies)) have their own play style and taste.
I think we’ll find an equal amount of mature players and “l33t kiddies” on every race and class.

But heck, this is my own opinion and I've been wrong before ;) .

[Myst]

Tossing up between a Empire Witch Hunter and a Dwarf Engineer.

As interesting as Witch Hunters are, I highly suspect they are going to be the "Night Elf Hunters" of WAR though... (Overpopulated and highly attractive to kids due to their "OMG they look cool!" factor)

[Montague]

Tossing up between a Empire Witch Hunter and a Dwarf Engineer.

As interesting as Witch Hunters are, I highly suspect they are going to be the "Night Elf Hunters" of WAR though... (Overpopulated and highly attractive to kids due to their "OMG they look cool!" factor)

I'm of the opinion that the Chaos Chosen will fill that role more. At least one can hope... :grin:

[Maxmus]

actully i think that it will be the most played race.
And dwarfs will be the very least played race.
as u can see on this forum there are already many more topics from the empire then other races.
And just in every game the ''normal'' humans always doing good
And the most played charachter will be a chaos chosen because much like him because of the look and armor.

[Qilius33]

I'm gonna roll Empire on the basis that I get to be a Witch Hunter. It looks to good of a class to pass up!

[Maxmus]

I think 60-70% of all human players are going to be disgruntled wow Paladins trying out a warrior priest. But yes, I think they will be the least popular of all the races. They certainly are in the tabletop game.

u gotto be kiddin that empire is least popular on tabletop u dont wanna know how many people in my city playing them.
But i never see skaven or tomb kings that are least popular

[Seventh Child]

Humans in warhammer/40k are awsome. fanatics and great survivors. they are the underdog in here. Love it.

to me , the dwarves are the worse possible race to play.

Space Marines, attaaaack!
For the Emperor!

Retreat again and I'll shoot you myself!
I'll give my life if that's what it takes!

I actually found the Humans more interesting than Chaos in 40k. But I prefer Chaos.

[Ravana]

Even IF the empire are underpopulated, thats generally symbolic of how they are. People think they are a weak race. This couldn't be further from the truth. They have fought against every single other race in Warhammer and still they thrive. Have chaos fought skaven or lizardmen? No. Chaos only fight empire (and maybe orcs...hell orcs pick a fight with everyone.)

Point is, Empire have beaten back all other races. That should say something about their strength and valor.

I look forward to roaring out the name of the emporer alongside many warrior priests , knights and wizards as we wade into hords of orcs, or storm down into darkness of chaos to smash the shadow apart with the light of sigmar.

[Warboz]

I think it kind of suits empire to be underpopulated:D But I think they are not boring, they are NOT the humans of other games (The ones that have no disadvantages or advantages = mind numbingly boring)

[KroqGar]

Even IF the empire are underpopulated, thats generally symbolic of how they are. People think they are a weak race. This couldn't be further from the truth. They have fought against every single other race in Warhammer and still they thrive. Have chaos fought skaven or lizardmen? No. Chaos only fight empire (and maybe orcs...hell orcs pick a fight with everyone.)

Actually, Chaos do fight Lizardmen. Ever heard of the Great War? Lizardmen vs. Chaos before any of the fledgling races were sentient enough to fend for themselves. Massive Chaos explosion across the world with the Slann fighting to just stay alive.

Every race in warhammer fights against every other race at some point in time. And they haven't exactly 'beaten back' all other races. They have defended their homeland sure, but beaten back would imply an invasion and only Chaos has invaded the Empire.

[Krulltak]

Actually Kroqgar, Greenskins have invaded the Empire on numerous occasions.

Gorbad Ironclaw destroyed and sacked multiple Imperial cities and went on to kill the emperor. He was wounded severely and had to pull his army back, never to be seen again, but the damage he caused was so severe it led the Empire into civil war.

The Empire manages to prevail, but just barely.

[KroqGar]

Actually Kroqgar, Greenskins have invaded the Empire on numerous occasions.

Gorbad Ironclaw destroyed and sacked multiple Imperial cities and went on to kill the emperor. He was wounded severely and had to pull his army back, never to be seen again, but the damage he caused was so severe it led the Empire into civil war.

The Empire manages to prevail, but just barely.

Yeah, you're right. I had completely forgotten about Gorbad. And Grom the Paunch too (hehe, Paunch). There are some armies that have invaded the Empire, but Chaos is a more universally hated enemy than any other army so Chaos has fought basically everyone at some point or another. That's what I was trying to say.

[Krulltak]

Yeah, you're right. I had completely forgotten about Gorbad. And Grom the Paunch too (hehe, Paunch). There are some armies that have invaded the Empire, but Chaos is a more universally hated enemy than any other army so Chaos has fought basically everyone at some point or another. That's what I was trying to say.


Yep. Infact Chaos is "hated" so much, the Empire was once even desperate enough to call for help from the freakin' Vampire Counts!

Morr indeed did not enjoy that war.

[KroqGar]

Morr indeed did not enjoy that war.

*Looks at own signature*

You don't need to tell me. :D

[Krulltak]

Wait, there are non-Sigmarite Witch Hunters, too?

[KroqGar]

*Gets into character*

My brothers and I, companions all, are a part of the Fellowship of the Shroud. We work towards eliminating Necromancy and Vampirism in all of its forms. Wherever one of the foul machinations of Undeath arise, we are there to return it to our Lord. Wherever a Necromancer practices his dark arts, we are there to bring him to justice. Wherever a Vampire sucks on the lifeblood of the living, we are there to end its unholy feast. We are the Fellowship, we are the Warriors of Morr.

*Gets out of character*

The Fellowship of the Shroud is an unofficial Cult of Morr based in Tilea. It's members have all survived encounters with the Undead and have taken it as a sign from Morr. Any race is allowed into the Fellowship and all travel the Old World defeating Undeath. This is all explained in the Sons of Sigmar book for WHFRP. You should get it.

[Vikingkingq]

Wait, there are non-Sigmarite Witch Hunters, too?

Yes and no. Yes, there are other Witch Hunter-like organizations. The Fellowship of the Shroud, also called Vampire Hunters, are one organization. The Cult of Ulric also has its own group of Hunters who primarily focus on were-beasts and beastmen. The Solkanite Inquisition (Solkan being the Tilean God of Vengeance and Retribution) also is known to have its Inquisitors sport the hat and cloak, and they're so extreme that they make the Sigmarites look merciful by comparison.

The difference is that only the Order of the Templars of Sigmar is the official organization of Witch Hunters for the Empire. Descending from the original Order of the Silver Hammer founded by Wolfgart Krieger under orders from Sigmar himself, and created as a distinct Order by Grand Theogonist Siebold the II in 1681 IC, the Witch Hunters of Sigmar stand as the Arm Militant of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal. Ever since the proclamation of Magnus the Pious in 2304 IC, the Templars have been the official secular arm of the state as well as the arm militant of the Church. As such, only the Witch Hunters of Sigmar have the authority to "accuse, dispense judgement, declare anathema, and excommunicate" in all matters dealing with heretics, mutants, and witches.

However, the different Witch Hunter orders do find ways of cooperating, despite fields of mutual overlap (the prosecution of Necromancers and the Undead is a task that both the Witch Hunters of Sigmar and Morr claim, those of Sigmar pointing to the victory of Sigmar over Nagash and his commandment to Krieger to safeguard the Empire from black magic, those of Morr pointing to Morr's overriding concern with the sanctity of his gardens). The Raven Council is an institution that brings together the heads of the various Orders to negotiate over such issues, and publishes Decrees from time to time to settle disputes. For example, the Raven Decree of 2345 IC mandates that "no Templar is to violate the sanctity of any field of Morr [ed - presumably in pursuit of a necromancer, body-snatcher, or vampire or other such undead thing] without first notifying his priesthood."

[Ravana]

There won't be any female characters. Has anyone seen a female dwarf fighting? or a female goblin?

Not in Warhammer. The World of Warhammer is a place for men and monsters of all nature to do battle. Women have no place in the field of battle. I'm not sexist, it's just a fact of Warhammer.

[evanjellyman]

There won't be any female characters. Has anyone seen a female dwarf fighting? or a female goblin?

Not in Warhammer. The World of Warhammer is a place for men and monsters of all nature to do battle. Women have no place in the field of battle. I'm not sexist, it's just a fact of Warhammer.



well thats not exactly true, there is a place, a small one eg. witch elves.

But also im certain that I have seen many screen shots and art of female characters dwarf and human alike, so ur wrong there too, even though i must say i think it is a bit "unloreish".
The only race to NOT have females is going to be orcs, thats all.


http://mythicmktg.fileburst.com/media/images/screenshots/full/0307_SS_003.jpg -chaos

http://mythicmktg.fileburst.com/media/images/screenshots/full/0307_SS_022.jpg -empire

http://www.warhammeronline.com/english/media/screenshots/full/01172007_SS09.jpg -dwarf


*edit* screenshot

[Krulltak]

There won't be any female characters. Has anyone seen a female dwarf fighting? or a female goblin?

Not in Warhammer. The World of Warhammer is a place for men and monsters of all nature to do battle. Women have no place in the field of battle. I'm not sexist, it's just a fact of Warhammer.


Ignorant one. There is much you need to learn about Warhammer.

And female Greenskins don't even exist, nor are goblins good fighters in the first place.

And female dwarfs DO exist in Warhammer, and they are just as tough as the men. I've read about it.

And female warriors will be in this game.

That is not a fact of Warhammer. I recall one novel where a Khorne warband was being led by a woman.

[Lord Semaj]

If this were World of Warcraft and Empire = Human, then I'd pick Empire. I like being human or closest fit in any game I play, but given a choice between holy humans and dark humans, it's always the dark guys. I'm an Asura in Rappelz, will be Stygian in Age of Conan, was Human Warlock in WoW, and will be Chaos in WAR. Sorry, but with Chaos around for those of us who want to be normalish, Empire seems the weaker choice.

[Cybaster]

There will indeed be formidable empire forces.

[Lowen]

I believe that the Empire will be the under dogs but new Order guilds come into the game each month. However based on what I see on the Warhammer forums and on the various guild web hosting sites...it looks like Order Guilds are outnumbered 5 to 1

Jut the opposite of how it was in WoW. I played an Orc Hunter with plenty of success despite being outnumbered. If you see the glass as half full then being outnumbered simply means that you have an abundant amount of targets to choose from.

[Fiendish]

Don't take any polls done prior to launch seriously. Horde outnumbered Alliance in WoW's Beta and look how that turned out.

Nope I firmly believe that once release comes Order will outnumber Destruction and Empire WILL be the most populous faction in the game. Humans are always the most played faction in any MMO. Some may say Elves, but I don't think so, the Elves in Wow were only made more popular (on some servers) becasue humans couldn't be Hunters, the most populous class in the game.

In WAR the Empire has some really great iconic classes that will draw tons of people to thier side. Witch Hunter, Warrior Priest of Sigmar, Bright Wizards, and Knights of the Blazing Sun, they all sound great. Yes Empire will be the most populous. In the end the weirdness and ugliness of Chaos will turn off too many average players for them to have a majority. The people like us who hang on the message boards a year before the game comes out don't represent the average player of MMOs at all.

[Darlos]

Yes but only as a Alt (making whatever the 'Tank' for Dark elves my main)

[Ojike]

i dont know what im gonna play just yet. will see if my friends are going to play and what and will go from there :P Probably destruction to.

[Van]

Well, the Empire look to be fairly interesting as they are not the typical MMO take on humans. But all that aside, I think it will actually be highly populated...

... By Witch Hunters...

*sigh*

[Kazek Ironfist]

And warrior priests... Order looks outnumbered now, but our the race of Dwarfs has stood for ages fighting a foe with numbers vastly larger than ours, order will still win this War.

[Krulltak]

And warrior priests... Order looks outnumbered now, but our the race of Dwarfs has stood for ages fighting a foe with numbers vastly larger than ours, order will still win this War.


Order will be not be outnumbered. It will be as in every other MMO. The "good guys" looking side, especially the "Holy humans" will outnumber the hell out of everyone else, and the "Bad" or "ugly" side, will be ridiculously outnumbered.

This board is less then 1% of the WAR pop that will be expected. Therefore, it has no significance in determining future popoulation balance.

The majority of the people on fansites before a game's release are hardcore fans of it, thus showing most hardcore and skiled veterans prefer the "ugly" sides or "dark" sides.

Trust me. Don't make me repeat myself. Order will not be outnumbered.

Dwarfs however, will.

[Smachaz]

Order will be not be outnumbered. It will be as in every other MMO. The "good guys" looking side, especially the "Holy humans" will outnumber the hell out of everyone else, and the "Bad" or "ugly" side, will be ridiculously outnumbered.

This board is less then 1% of the WAR pop that will be expected. Therefore, it has no significance in determining future popoulation balance.

The majority of the people on fansites before a game's release are hardcore fans of it, thus showing most hardcore and skiled veterans prefer the "ugly" sides or "dark" sides.

Trust me. Don't make me repeat myself. Order will not be outnumbered.

Dwarfs however, will.

Em, as much as I'm sure Order will outnumber Destruction, i don't believe it will be of that great numbers, first of all, Destruction is not based on ''Ugly'' races like some other MMOs, but rather an evil looking badass side.

Seeing how this game looks grimmer then most, it will probably attract a different crowd.

Not to mention that, on a esthetic point of view, each race having there own looking armour makes ''ugly'' races more appealing to ''Casual Gamers''.

Anyways, that the way i feel it is.

[Fusko]

Stop making assumptions! Before I have to raise my voice! ... err... typing...

[Volcano Mentality]

im bettin order is going to be the larger population due to pretty looks :( im sick of dwarves allways being tied tot he good side i want to be a evil dwarf :twisted:

so even if the forums tend to lean against the humans i bet its going to be second only to elf tards in terms of population when the game is released

I know what you're saying; I wonder why nobody's ever thought of adding the Duergar, aka the evil Gray Dwarves.

[Volcano Mentality]

I'll state it right now that I've never played Table-Top Warhammer, have never read any Warhammer novels, and have only played two prior MMO's (FFXI and WoW, both of which I liked at first but got tired of after I spotted their fatal flaws, though I still play WoW because it's the best so far). I read and write Forgotten Realms though (currently unpublished but I'm working on it) and so I've got a good picture of how things work in the general fantasy realm I'd think.

I intend to play an Empire Warrior Priest. I'm doing so for a number of reasons such as; 1) I feel I relate best with the WP, which is what I imagine a Paladin/Crusader to be, and which is obviously quite different from the WoW version. 2) I do like to be "pretty," and I don't like how elves look (they're too skinny and fragile). I also feel like the other races simply don't fit with my own personality, though Dwarves do have my "volcano mentality" with their stoic faces belying their mounting rage. 3) I'm a good guy through and through, and I've actually felt guilty for killing innocents in games like Fable (sounds dumb I know, but it's true; I'm a softie). I'm going to roll a Chaos Chosen likely, but it will be an alt and will only be there so I can be a greataxe/greatsword, heavy armored bad- when I'm in a bad mood.;)

I think the Empire will be overpopulated due to the Witch-Hunter, which is hailed as the coolest class in the game, drawing in hordes of little kids, and because he's got a rogue-esque or, though it pains me to say it, ninja-esque feel, drawing in even more little kids. Thus the side of Destruction will be forever flooded by solo-happy runts at all times.:(

Conversely, the side of Destruction will also be heavily populated by little kids, sadistic and hormone-charged middle-school teens, and quite a few older people who all want to be hard-core killers.:cool:

So, all in all, I think the sides will be very close to balanced, with a slight tilt to Order and the Empire.:neutral:

Long live the Empire! FOR SIGMAR!!!:D

[Volcano Mentality]

Haha, accidentally double posted.

[murrgh]

i think the Order will be the most populated by the time the game goes live. reason being, the people that hear (be it word of mouth, ads, internet reviews) will just pick the good guys because most people want to be the "hero".

at the moment i plan on going Order just, but really depends on how the classes develop and which one I enjoy playing the most.

[Varangarian]

Order probably will be the most populated, but not nearly as bad as the Alliance in WoW. The Horde suffered because all there toons were ugly as hell, sorry but they were. Destruction though has a hardcore badass look to it. Also I think people underestimate the lure of Chaos, a lot of little kids are gona love being a huge badass Chaos Chosen, as well as the Dark Elves and all their dritz du orden (spelling?) wanabees.

For the OP: Empire is probably the coolest most badass human faction in any MMO I've ever seen. Finally something different from the whole King Arthur genre. That's saved for Brentonia.

60% Order 40% Destruction, give or take 5%.

[Volcano Mentality]

Order probably will be the most populated, but not nearly as bad as the Alliance in WoW. The Horde suffered because all there toons were ugly as hell, sorry but they were. Destruction though has a hardcore badass look to it. Also I think people underestimate the lure of Chaos, a lot of little kids are gona love being a huge badass Chaos Chosen, as well as the Dark Elves and all their dritz du orden (spelling?) wanabees.

For the OP: Empire is probably the coolest most badass human faction in any MMO I've ever seen. Finally something different from the whole King Arthur genre. That's saved for Brentonia.

60% Order 40% Destruction, give or take 5%.

EXACTLY!!!

"dritz du orden" will be SO INSANELY POPULAR IT WONT EVEN BE FUNNY!!! As well as all forms of "Llegolaz."

Agreed, Empire IS the coolest/most badass human faction in any MMO. NEVER have they been any more than generic, but Warhammer seems to be changing that for the better!

[PallyofAwesome]

Hey all, this is my first post. Though I've been following Warhammer Online since its early stages, this is my first Warhammer related forum experience.

I really don't think Empire is going to be the most underpopulated of the races. I'm going to play a Warrior Priest (mainly because I am so inclined to play any character that resembles a Paladin that it is unavoidable). When I showed the game to my friends, who are also very excited for its release. They all found something they liked in the Empire (most of them want to play a Witch Hunter). Really, I think most of the ex-WoW, ex-Rogue players are going to come to this game and play Witch Hunters or Black Orcs. Not that I mean to compare the two games, because I know Warhammer isn't ripping ANYTHING from WoW (if anything, it's WoW that's ripping things from the older fantasy games).

So that's my 2 cents. :)

[Lord Dobo]

I know what you're saying; I wonder why nobody's ever thought of adding the Duergar, aka the evil Gray Dwarves.

I understand that many will want to play an evil dwarf, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that nobody's ever thought of adding evil Dwarves. Games Workshop actually does have evil Dwarfs <== correct way of saying it in the Warhammer Universe (it's a race, not a term for height). They are called Chaos Dwarfs and are quite interesting. They live well to the east of the orcs we will be encountering in the orc vs. dwarf campaign. They are hardcore slavers and big on fire and destructive technologies. They just never got very popular on the table tops (weren't supported well actually) and so we may never see them. Thinking of them in D&D terms is kinda the wrong way to go though, the warhammer universe is far darker than anything I've seen in any official D&D product. As reference, I've played D&D as a DM for about 20 years now and I'm coming up on 13 years in Warhammer.

The people looking to recreate Drizzt Do'Urden or Legolas are in for a shock as well. Dark elves are pale skinned elves who simply went down an evil path, not Drow. They worship a god of murder and are masters of the darkest magics, as well as having the best assassins in the table top game. They don't have wayward sons who are misunderstood because of their dark skin, the High Elves and Dark Elves are truely kin. High Elves, by the way, are Masters of magic all around and use a pure form of magic while human casters must specialize in one of the eight winds of magic. They actually protect the world's magic, and were they to fall, things would be very bad...

Legolas is far more like the Wood Elves of Warhammer, but a wood elf in Warhammer is more likely to shoot you in the face. I bet we see them and their War Dancers in an expansion.

Also, thinking of a Warrior Priest of Sigmar as a paladin isn't quite the right way to go. A paladin in a game like D&D is a paragon of virtue and is there to fight for truth and goodness. He is truely a knight in shining armor putting aside all self to help any good creature in need. Sigmar is first and formeost a god of humans. His priests are interested in keeping humanity going in what is a constant stuggle for survival against a sea of hostile races. Even the elves and dwarfs have cause to fight them time and again. This game may be set up to ally the races, but a warrior priest of sigmar first watches the backs of the humans he leads into battle.

Hey, don't take my post wrong, I'm not trying to dump on you or anything. I totally know where people are coming from when the want things that they see in familiar product like the Forgotten Realms, but this game already has a rich history (White Dwarf, the magazine that covers the table top game just hit 30 years) and I just want to put a couple things into perspective. Hope to see you in the Beta. I plan on going Bright Wizard as a main toon becuase I come from Guild Wars and have an elementalist I've played from launch that is almost exclusivly fire.

On topic : I'm a bit afraid that amoungst they old warhammer players, empire will be the least played, based soley on what I see at my local shop, but I have absolutly no clue what migrants from other game will want to play. The Dark Elves will draw people in for the sexiness, the High elves because there are so many people used to elves already, dwarfs for the toughness, orcs for the ability to play a huge and humorous monster, Chaos for the massive spikiness of it all, and the empire because it's easy to relate to. But the number one factor in the descision making will be the character creation screen. It will all come down to what you see on that screen and what the descriptions say for the first few weeks.

[RockpapperWaagh]

Lord Dobo-

I wouldnt worry to much about what you see in the local shops vs what you will see in game.

At the shops i tend to play Greenskins skaven or Tomb Kings.

However in MMO's and hell any other computer game i tend to play the "paladin" archatype first, mage/rogue tied for second and heavy arms warrior fourth.

So what people like in their TT armies is not always what they like in their computer game characters.


My All goblin army is currently undefeated >_> No one expects an all artillery greenskin army

[Okrot]

The might of the witchunters hat WILL save the empire!

[bLAZEDkanG]

Empire will probably be the second most played race behind chaos. Because of that I am sure both faction's populations will be balanced really well

[Jorbek]

High elfs will be the least populated I think.