There’s a game called Warhammer.
It’s not just pictures, but a game played on a board made of models, where two armies clash using small miniatures.
It’s quite popular and considered a masterpiece of miniature board games, so I wanted to try it too, but…
“The entry barrier was just too high.”
To play Warhammer, you need a ton of stuff. First, you have to get the miniatures you’ll use. You choose a race, pick a faction, and then buy the soldiers you like from that faction.
And it’s not just buying soldiers. You also need to get the weapons they’ll use, the armor they’ll wear, and if they ride robots or summon special creatures, you’ll need those too.
Just buying the miniatures alone can easily cost hundreds of thousands of won.
“The rules are also pretty complicated.”
Warhammer has rulebooks, and they’re massive.
Even though there are common rules, each race or faction has its own stats and special abilities.
For example, Orcs are tough and take less damage from laser weapons. Humans, unless they have special equipment, are weaker in close combat.
With so many races, factions, special units, and special equipment, it’s no exaggeration to say you’ll encounter new rules every time you play with someone else.
“Each miniature has health, defense, accuracy when using ranged weapons, attack range, damage reduction when hit, regeneration, and so on.”
Keeping track of all that isn’t easy, and if you’re not experienced, you’ll constantly be flipping through the rulebook or making mistakes.
And even if you learn all that, you still need another player who’s equally familiar with the rules and all the elements.
If you don’t want to fight the same race every time, you’ll need more than one player.
“It’s complex and difficult, which makes it great for diving deep. No wonder it has a dedicated fanbase. But that also makes it hard for new players to get into.”
What if we brought Warhammer to another world as it is?
There would definitely be people who’d like it. But because the rules are complicated, because buying miniatures is expensive, and because some might not find it interesting, it would be hard to spread across the entire empire.
So, we simplified almost everything.
“We kept the strengths of Warhammer, like the 3D battles using miniatures and the terrain features.”
But we reduced unit stats to just health, attack power, attack range, and movement speed.
We drastically cut down on the number of special units, and changed equipment to a system where you prepare and buy it separately.
“Special units are the highlight of Warhammer, but having to prepare all those miniatures is also a burden for beginners.”
So we boldly cut them.
Originally, each turn had six phases: movement, psychic, shooting, charging, close combat, and morale. But we simplified it to rolling dice and choosing one or two actions.
And that’s how this miniature board game was temporarily created.
Not Warhammer, but “War’s Hammer.”
“First, I’ll show you how to play.”
“Alright. I guess I’ll let you go first.”
First, roll one die. The first die is the movement die.
You choose how many spaces to move your miniature, and if you’re riding a horse or some other means of transport, you roll another die.
The die showed a ‘4,’ so I moved my Dwarf miniature forward 4 spaces.
“This is how you move your miniatures based on the number rolled. After that, units with ranged weapons can shoot, or you can engage in close combat.”
“Hmm…”
“Of course, it’s not just about moving forward. You can also flank around hills or hide in bushes. As long as you don’t break the game board or rules, you can do pretty much anything.”
“Strategy is possible.”
“Interesting game. Did you make this all by yourself?”
“…That’s about right.”
“Good. It’s better to learn by doing rather than just listening.”
“Don’t worry, the first one is just a practice game.”
“Understood.”
Emperor Luquius rolls the dice. The result is a ‘5’.
If Emperor Luquius’s human miniature also moves forward 5 spaces, the vanguards could clash.
“Just move this one.”
“…Understood.”
The Emperor moved only one human miniature, not the vanguard.
It was a much smaller number compared to the four dwarves I moved simultaneously.
At that moment, I was momentarily stunned by his choice.
“I’ll take the first move. I’ll attack the central dwarf unit. The dice roll is… a 2.”
“I’ll defend. Dwarf warriors receive a dice bonus in close combat compared to humans. The dice roll is… a 1, but with a +2 bonus, it’s treated as a 3. The attack is blocked.”
“Indeed, I knew there was such a bonus.”
Seeing the Emperor smirk, I couldn’t help but feel a chill run down my spine.
Although I created War’s Hammer, I have almost no experience with this board game. Except for knowing all the stats and information, I’m practically a beginner.
So, I simply advanced the vanguard because dwarves are strong in close combat.
But the Emperor moved only one human forward, essentially using it as a sacrificial piece. In doing so, he figured out the dwarf’s close combat bonus.
‘I was planning to reveal it when the vanguards clashed.’
After all, the first game is just a practice. If both of us were beginners, I would naturally have the advantage with my knowledge.
But why?
Just the choice of a sacrificial piece made the Emperor’s competence and temperament evident.
“My turn ends here.”
“…Understood.”
I roll the dice to deal with the human soldier that became the sacrificial piece. No damage was taken, and the enemy’s numbers were reduced… but.
The Emperor was smiling as the number of soldiers decreased, while I was left frozen.
It seemed the game wasn’t going to go smoothly after all.
*
“Charrr.”
“The dice roll is 3. But since there’s cavalry, I’ll roll one more. Hmm… this time it’s 5, totaling 8.”
“…………”
“With this, I’ll ambush the flank of the dwarf unit. Since they can’t respond, the bonus is +2. Roll the dice.”
“…It’s 4.”
“Mine is 3. The ambush is successful, and I’ll retreat the cavalry with the remaining movement.”
“………”
‘Indeed, I see what kind of game this is.’
Despite being called a practice game, the first game had already easily surpassed an hour.
In the beginning, Kyle Byron had the upper hand by moving units in groups of 4-5.
But the Emperor, having gathered significant information with a few sacrificial pieces, was thoroughly exploiting him.
Since it’s hard to win against the dwarf’s close combat bonus in a head-on clash, he stalled with minimal troops while holding the units in place.
In the meantime, he bought horses and equipped the remaining soldiers as cavalry.
“I’ll move 4 spaces to ambush Your Majesty’s cavalry.”
“Are you aiming for the close combat bonus? Then I’ll discard the cavalry’s horse.”
“…What?”
“Special units under attack can avoid the attack by unequipping their gear, right? I believe the horse is part of the equipment. Am I wrong?”
“No… you’re not. Then my attack turns the cavalry into regular infantry.”
“Good, that’s just the right position. I’ll snipe the dwarf warrior with the archer I placed on the hill.”
“……!! When did you…?”
“When I first scattered the cavalry in all directions, I deliberately kept a few hidden and unmoved.”
“………….”
Moreover, by thoroughly exploiting the rules and intentionally discarding cards, I made it difficult to gauge how many soldiers remained.
In the face of the cavalry’s overwhelming number of moves, Kyle’s dwarf warriors were helplessly falling.
“Your gaze has been shifting for a while now. Are you eyeing the special equipment crafted by the dwarf blacksmith?”
“……!!”
“Unfortunately, just like when I bought the horses, equipping special gear takes one turn. I trust you know what happens if I charge all my cavalry in that time.”
“Impressive… insight you have.”
“The game is straightforward, yet boasts remarkable depth.”
Frankly, Lucius was impressed. Catan, which he had made for his third son, was already a profoundly deep game, but this miniature board game, War’s Hammer, offered a completely different yet equally captivating experience.
‘Changing the miniatures’ weapons, mounting them on horses, and moving them directly—it’s incredibly immersive.’
The miniatures aren’t uniform either; each has a unique posture, face, and armament, making it feel like you’re truly commanding soldiers.
You can buy horses to mount soldiers on, purchase special equipment to arm them, and when they enter the bushes, they become completely invisible, as if under a real magic spell.
All these minor details elevate the entire board game.
Moreover.
‘It makes you grow attached to these tiny figurines.’
Once you’ve played this board game, you can’t help but develop a special affection for your race, faction, and your own miniatures.
It fills you with a sense of attachment—they fought alongside you—and the satisfaction of having a unique combination that’s solely yours.
Even Lucius found himself vaguely wishing he had one of these miniatures.
And aside from that, the outcome of the practice game was already clear.
The difference in remaining troops was stark: the dwarf warriors numbered barely five, while the cavalry exceeded ten.
Kyle Byron seemed to be aiming for a comeback with the special equipment only dwarves could craft, but…
“I’ll snipe the dwarf blacksmith with the archers on the hill. Being on the hill grants a +2 bonus to range and accuracy. However, shooting from horseback imposes a -1 accuracy penalty.”
“Ah……….”
“The dice roll… a 4. Roll your evasion dice.”
“……It’s a 4.”
“With the accuracy adjustment, that’s a 5, so no evasion. The blacksmith is dead, and special equipment production halts.”
“I’ve… lost.”
“Clearing out those pesky dwarf shield bearers early was a good move.”
The creator of the board game had just lost to a first-time beginner.
Yet, Lucius didn’t feel any particular sense of superiority.
‘The gameplay is excellent. There’s plenty of depth to explore, and if this board game becomes popular, producing and selling miniatures could be a long-term revenue stream.’
However.
“Just one question.”
“Please, command me.”
“You said this board game is called ‘War’s Hammer,’ correct?”
“That’s correct.”
“And in this game, humans and dwarves appear. Judging by the other miniatures over there, orcs, dragons, and elves also seem to be present.”
“……That’s correct.”
“To my knowledge, the only time all those now-extinct races coexisted was… during the era of turmoil when the Empire was founded.”
“Your words are wise.”
“Why did you choose the era of turmoil instead of one of the Empire’s many glorious ages? Was it to emphasize the dwarves?”
“………….”
The Empire’s history is long, and there were many eras suitable for the backdrop of this board game. Immediately…
The war that unified the continent was like that, and dealing with the monsters of the northern mountain range for generations must have been part of it too.
But why did Kyle Byron choose the era of war, of all times? The only period in the empire’s history when dwarves appeared, out of all the countless eras.
Just like the board game “War’s Hammer,” the answer to this question determined so many things.
And Kyle Byron must have known that too.
Luquius wanted to hear it. The answer from the board game creator who made Lugrick enter the race for the throne.
‘No matter what answer you give, I won’t kill you.’
But you could still be greatly disappointed.
After pondering for a moment, Kyle Byron said:
“On the contrary, it’s valuable precisely because it’s the era of war.”
“Go on.”
“In ‘War’s Hammer,’ set in the era of war, various races appear. Dwarves, orcs, elves, dragons, and even humans. All races except humans have bonuses for specific actions, but only humans start with no bonuses at all.”
“………….”
“This makes the players think. That humans are weaker compared to other races. That without special equipment or units, they’ll just be pushed around.”
“Are you saying there’s intent behind this?”
“In the era of war, where superior non-human races ran rampant, it was ultimately humans and the empire that claimed victory.”
“…………….”
“To prove that, humans, though disadvantaged early on, show their strength in the later stages.”
The beginning of the empire, the greatness of humanity.
To show that.
“That’s exactly what ‘War’s Hammer’ is. That’s why I chose the era of war as the setting.”
After finishing his words, Kyle Byron bowed his head quietly, as if waiting for Luquius’s judgment.
So Luquius couldn’t help but laugh.
“A splendid reason. As the great emperor of the empire, I can only accept it.”
“It’s an honor.”
“But it’s strange. To me… it seems like a well-crafted justification, and the true intent lies elsewhere.”
“………….”
“However, it was quite amusing, so I’ll let it slide. Do you plan to spread this board game throughout the empire?”
“If Your Majesty permits.”
“I permit it. This board game has been recognized by Luquius Severus, so do your best.”
“Long live the Emperor!”
The emperor still smiled, and Kyle’s expression remained stiff.
But both of them hid their true feelings.
“Ah, to spread ‘War’s Hammer’… we’ll have to keep making these miniatures.”
“………….”
“Have you thought about how to make them?”
“…Yes.”
That answer seemed to be enough.
The emperor stood up.
“I’ll be back in an hour. If you have anything else to say, come find me.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“If not, that would be surprising.”
Only Luquius, sly as a fox.
With a chilling smile, he simply stared at Kyle Byron.
