Skip original Total Warhammer for sequel?

[Spike Badguy]

I was just wondering what everyone recommends. Is there significant story in the first game to get both? Or should I just jump straight into a new and improved TWH2?

As an added note, I know near to nothing of the Warhammer universe and this is one of the games/series I am interested to play to get into it.

[Wh♂♂par]

Hardly any missable story.

[THEDOSSBOSS]

Both is recommended due to both games being able to combine into one massive one. Warhammer 2 improves on the races in warhammer 1 significantly as well in this combined version, and the warhammer 2 races are far more fleshed out than the ones left in warhammer 1.

Warhammer 1 and 2 are free this weekend I believe, meaning you can install warhammer 2, get both in your library, and try out the combined campaign called "Mortal Empires". Warhammer 1 is also 75% off and warhammer 2 is 66% off so you can get both right now if you so choose

[THEDOSSBOSS]

If you just choose one, warhammer 2 is better

[TTVV88]

If you plan on playing the Empire (which is the defacto main faction of the series), you're necessarily going to need Warhammer 1. However, if you plan on getting the most of your campaign experience, you're going to find it in Warhammer 2. Warhammer 2 has a feature called "Mortal Empires" which requires Warhammer 1 on your account to activate. Mortal Empires is basically both games integrated in one campaign map, and that's really where all the fun is happening.

But if you plan on playing it for the storyline, I'm afraid that's a poor choice. Most characters don't have much character development/lore outside of the few animated cutscenes. I pretty much have to read the Warhammer fan wiki articles to get acquainted with every character or unit's background as I play.

[Flying Fish]

you rly need both becuase warhammer 2 makes warhammer 1 much much better the 1st game is kinda meh imo

[THEDOSSBOSS]

The games basically act as strategy sandboxes using the characters as leaders of the races. There is about as much story as you could expect from a Civ game. Rather than a progressing story, characters have quest battles that basically reveal elements of the lore about them. The development comes with their backstory being enlightened, rather than their character being progressed.

Once again, warhammer 2 wins in the story element though, since its main campaign focuses around a goal (with cinematics and progression) that your opposing races are also trying to achieve. Many DLC factions have other progressive elements that assist in writing a story and mechanics built around that. The Vampire Coast especially, as its main leader, Luthor Harkon, is actively trying to heal his mind in order to solidify his infamy and power

Warhammer 2 is just generally significantly better, to the point where warhammer 1 acts as a massive expansion to warhammer 2, rather than the other way around

[THE_RaBiD_CanuK]

You will probably want both eventually, since Warhammer 1 functions like a big expansion to #2.Now is the best time to get them, since there's a sale. If I had to pick, I'd get #2. But try it out, and see if you like it.
These aren't really story heavy games. It's a great fantasy setting, and has awesome real time battles. The grand strategy isn't super deep, but it does the job.
Anyway, I find it a lot of fun! Probably one of my favourite games ever, and certainly the best fantasy RTS ever made.

[Spike Badguy]

Great replies and information from everyone. Thank you.
So I think the best is to get both, prioritizing the sequel.

So if I use the first game to expand on the second, can I safely ignore the DLC for the first game? Or does it also add to the experience of Total Warhammer 2?

[Ogami]

Originally posted by Spike Badguy:

Great replies and information from everyone. Thank you.
So I think the best is to get both, prioritizing the sequel.

So if I use the first game to expand on the second, can I safely ignore the DLC for the first game? Or does it also add to the experience of Total Warhammer 2?

DLC from the first game unlock those factions in the second.
So for example, if you want to play Wood Elves,Norsca, Beast Man or Chaos in Warhammer 2 you need to buy those DLC for Warhammer 1.
Warhammer 2 will recognize them and unlock those factions in the " Mortal Empires" mode which combines the world maps of both games into one in Warhammer 2.

[Starcret]

buying the DLCs (and the first game in gerneral) DOES add to your experience in TWWH2. If you own the first game and the second one as well, you´ be able to unlock the campaign mortal empires, which combines the maps of the first and the second game and all it´s factions and leaders, which you can play in the firs t and second game. YOu can imagine it as a fusion of all content that belongs into TWWH1 and 2 (DLCs as well, since you´ll be able to play all the DLC factions)

[Starcret]

I´d beign with the first game in order to find out if you like the franchise or not, sicne it´ s the cheaper one and since it requires more than 2 hours to get an overview (little spoiler: both games are fookin good)

[Ysthrall]

In order to cautiously and cheaply buy only what you really want:

Buy game 1. See if it runs on your system, see if you like the UI, see how the first battle and few turns go. Make sure you stop before 2 hours....

If it's not for you, refund it then.

If you like it, play through an Old World campaign (Empire is a good easy starting point). Note who you fought against. Note interesting strategies.

Buy any DLC for buffing or unlocking your favourite races.

Play another campaign or two, as you like.

Then buy game 2.

Play through the Vortex campaign. Try out every race, if you've the patience. This campaign actually has a rudimentary storyline beyond the usual TW "carve out an Empire to dominate the world" set-up.

Then, as with game 1, buy any DLC you like the look of.

With both game 1 and 2 purchased, you can then get the free Mortal Empires campaign. This allows you to play as any race purchased in 1 or 2, with any DLC you bought for 1 or 2.

Note 1 : DLC from game 1 carries over to the Mortal Empires campaign, not to the Vortex Campaign.

Note 2: You can play as 9 races in Mortal Empires, loads of different lords and starts and playstyles, without ever buying any DLC. There is quite a bit of free stuff, worth looking at.

Note 3: It looks expensive. If you buy everything at full price, it is expensive. Both games combined is likely to be over 1000 hours of play. That might be worth it at full price (I think so). It's certainly worth it at any sale price.

[Andrewbh2003]

if you want the "full" i say full in " cause its not necessary but if you want the "complete" package then both games and all dlc for both are necessary

every dlc you own gets translated in to mortal empires that in turn is only acessible if you own both games

obviously thats overkill AF as warhammer 2s vortex map and the base game is perfectly playable

[Spike Badguy]

That pretty much answers all the questions I had. Thank you all.
I've downloaded the free weekend and will be giving it a try before purchasing the content I want.
Cheers.

[Starcret]

try lizardmen if you start with twwh2, i think it´s the easiest race (besides high elves, but they´re boring af lmao) for the beginning