Is Total War: Warhammer 3 a Prequel? Unraveling the Timeline of Chaos
The question of whether Total War: Warhammer 3 (WH3) serves as a prequel to Total War: Warhammer 2 (WH2) is a common point of confusion for fans of the series. The short, definitive answer is: no, Total War: Warhammer 3 is not a prequel to Total War: Warhammer 2. While some narrative elements might suggest a temporal shift, the game is explicitly a sequel, continuing the storyline of the Warhammer Fantasy setting and building upon the foundations laid by the first two titles. The confusion stems from specific in-game events and a community discussion highlighting changes occurring between the narrative arcs of WH3 and WH2. Let’s unpack this further to fully understand the timeline.
Understanding the Warhammer Timeline
The Total War: Warhammer series is set in the Warhammer Fantasy universe, a rich and intricate world created by Games Workshop. The games depict various events within a roughly concurrent timeframe, centered around the reign of Emperor Karl Franz in the early 26th century IC.
- Total War: Warhammer (WH1) laid the groundwork, introducing the primary races and conflicts of the Old World.
- Total War: Warhammer 2 (WH2) expanded the setting, shifting focus to the New World and introducing new factions with their own distinct goals and storylines.
- Total War: Warhammer 3 (WH3) focuses on the eastern realms and the forces of Chaos, delving into the very heart of the warp and the realms of the Chaos Gods.
While the events of each game might seem to build linearly, the overall timeline is not perfectly progressive. They can be considered overlapping and interconnected, rather than a strict prequel/sequel structure in terms of the core narrative.
WH3 is a Sequel, Not a Prequel
The misconception arises from the fact that the narrative in WH3 explores the height of the Chaos incursions. The main campaign sees the player dealing with the direct influences of the Four Chaos Gods – Khorne, Nurgle, Tzeentch, and Slaanesh – as they make direct incursions into the mortal world. The storyline involves a desperate attempt to contain and ultimately control the chaotic energy that threatens to consume the world. The “transition” from WH3 to WH2, as some players discuss, refers not to the game’s temporal placement in the broader timeline but instead to the state of the world after the events depicted in WH3’s narrative arc.
The events of WH3 lead into a period where the specific influences of each Chaos God wane, and daemons generally return to their chaotic realms. Many of those who previously were aligned with one Chaos God turn to Chaos Undivided, as the direct power of each specific God recedes. This is a story beat that is referenced and implied as the world settles after the events of the Realm of Chaos campaign in WH3. This is not a shift in the timeline that makes WH3 a prequel; it’s a consequence of the events depicted within the game itself. It is similar to how WH2 depicted how it was influenced by what occurred in WH1, where certain factions have been affected by the chaos that arose in the Old World.
The Grand Campaign and Immortal Empires
The confusion is further compounded when considering Immortal Empires, the grand campaign mode that combines the content of all three games. This mode allows you to play on a massive map featuring the factions and locations from all three titles. The nature of the mode lends itself more to a sandbox style of play where factions are all at different points in their own stories. When you play an old world faction it will still behave as if the events of WH1 are occurring. Conversely, when playing as Cathay, the player will still be tackling the issues arising in the WH3 storyline. This makes the overall timeline less rigid and more of an emergent story driven by the players.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Total War: Warhammer 3 set in the Age of Sigmar?
No. Total War: Warhammer 3, like the previous two titles, is set in the Warhammer Fantasy setting, specifically around the time of Karl Franz. It is not set in the Age of Sigmar.
Is Total War: Warhammer 3 set in the 40k universe?
No. Total War: Warhammer 3 is set in the Warhammer Fantasy universe. While both Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy are owned by Games Workshop and share thematic similarities, they are distinct and separate universes.
Should I play Total War: Warhammer 1 before 3?
While playing Total War: Warhammer 1 provides context, it isn’t necessary to enjoy Total War: Warhammer 3. However, new players should generally not start with the original game. The third game introduces significant improvements in mechanics and is the current focus of development and support.
Which race should I start with in Warhammer 3?
Daemons of Chaos are often recommended for beginners due to their flexible playstyle. However, their campaign can be quite difficult due to their starting position. Exiles of Khorne are another strong option, known for their devastating melee capabilities.
Do I need all DLC for Warhammer 3?
No. DLC is not essential to enjoy the base game. While DLC adds new races, Lords, units, and mechanics, everything is still present in the game regardless of DLC ownership. You only need the DLC to play the new content yourself, but you will encounter it in the world of the game.
Should I start with Total War: Warhammer 2 or 3?
It is generally recommended to start with Total War: Warhammer 3. It features significant mechanical improvements and is the current focus of developer support. Plus, with Immortal Empires, the base game content is far more robust and offers access to the full combined content of all three titles, even if you don’t own the first two games.
Is Total War: Warhammer a prequel to 40k?
No, not directly. They are both intellectual properties of Games Workshop but are set in separate universes. While they share some themes and tropes, they are not connected in a linear timeline.
Is Warhammer 3 a prequel, according to reddit discussions?
No. As highlighted by community discussions, while there are shifts in the narrative between the events of WH3 and the implied state of the world at the start of WH2, these are not indicative of WH3 being a prequel. It’s more accurately described as a story taking place before a future implied by the world of WH2.
Does Earth still exist in Warhammer 40k?
Yes. In Warhammer 40k, Earth is known as Terra, the homeworld of mankind, and the resting place of the Emperor.
Are Warhammer 3 and Warhammer 40k connected?
They are connected through the warp, but they are separate universes. They share themes and some races but are not part of the same narrative continuity.
Why is the Warhammer 40k universe so dark?
The darkness of the Warhammer 40k universe is partly due to the vastness of space and the distances from stars. It is also part of the tone of the universe, where humanity is caught in a perpetual war against threats both internal and external.
Can I play Warhammer 3 without 1 and 2? Do I need to install them?
Yes, you can play Total War: Warhammer 3 without having the other two installed. As long as you own the older games, you only need WH3 installed to access Immortal Empires. You’ll access content from the older titles regardless of owning those particular games
Can I play all races from the previous games in Total War Warhammer 3?
Yes. If you own Total War: WARHAMMER I and II you can access all of the playable factions in the Immortal Empires campaign in Total War: WARHAMMER III.
Should I play Total War in order?
No. The games have separate stories with interlinking themes. While owning the previous games will unlock additional content for the Immortal Empires mode, this is a mode independent of any story being told across the other campaigns.
Who killed Sigmar?
Sigmar did not die in the world of Warhammer Fantasy, he simply disappeared into the world to become a god. In the Age of Sigmar, Sigmar is a God. He was badly hurt by Gerreon who poisoned him after murdering his sister, who was Sigmar’s lover. The poison caused Sigmar to fall into a river.
In Conclusion, Total War: Warhammer 3 is a sequel that takes place before the world as we understand it in Total War: Warhammer 2. The series is a story that is told across all three games, building on themes and characters, but not in a direct narrative that would make WH3 a prequel to WH2. The story depicted is more about the grand machinations of chaos that occur during the height of WH3 that settle and lead to a more stable, less chaotic, world in WH2. Hopefully, this clears up the confusion surrounding the game’s timeline and provides you with a better understanding of the Warhammer Fantasy setting.