Square Based: A Warhammer Fantasy in the Old World

Rob and Val are back in action, and today we are breaking down the Pros and Cons of EVERY single army in the game! Looking for the best army for starting Warhammer: The Old World, or wondering how your favorite Core and Legacy factions stack up? Whether you're deciding between shiny new plastics for Grand Cathay or throwing down with Renegade armies like Skaven and Vampire Counts, this is the ultimate tabletop wargaming faction guide for you. 

If you are looking to start a brand new army in 2026, trying to figure out which faction fits your tabletop playstyle, or you just want to listen to Val ruthlessly dunk on the Empire and Dwarfs for three hours, this is the episode for you.

We are weighing all Core and Legacy (Renegade) factions looking at:

The Models & Hobby Threshold: How hard is it to actually get this army painted and on the tabletop? Are the sculpts elite, or are you going to be painting a hundred tired, shoeless state troops?

Phase Effectiveness: Does the army actually play the game across the Movement, Magic, Shooting, and Combat phases, or are you just skipping half your turn?

Stability & Psychology: How well does the army handle panic and terror? 

The "Hero Hammer" Dependency: Can your faction function without a Lord on a Dragon hard-carrying your entire list?

Core Tax & Armies of Infamy: Are you forced into bringing bad units, and do you actually have fun, thematic lists to build around?

CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro & Val's Return
3:25 - Warriors of Chaos
30:54 - Lizardmen
52:40 - Grand Cathay
1:08:01 - Ogre Kingdoms
1:21:28 - Empire of Man
1:40:57 - Wood Elf Realms
1:54:34 - Dwarfen Mountain Holds
2:11:30 - Orc & Goblin Tribes
2:30:08 - Tomb Kings of Khemri
2:44:00 - Dark Elves
2:51:21 - Chaos Dwarfs
3:00:36 - High Elf Realms
3:10:16 - Daemons of Chaos
3:18:52 - Kingdom of Bretonnia
3:27:41 - Skaven
3:35:35 - Beastmen Brayherds
3:43:00 - Vampire Counts
3:50:18 - Final Thoughts & Outro

► *Join us at the Square Based Open Toronto October 24 and 25! *
https://oldworldrankings.com/ca/tournaments/square-based-open-toronto-2026-sbc

MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

► *Links to all current Renegade Drafts*
https://docs.google.com/document/d/16kAE-p_CWbsH0XatDPuRao6TngSw-KSweUnJa81kOXE/edit?usp=sharing

► *Rob's Old World EVENTS in Nottingham!* https://tsnarena.com/events/category/the-old-world/

► *Check out Rob's Event Recaps here!*
https://thehonestwargamer.com/

►  Support us on *PATREON* and join us on Discord: https://www.patreon.com/Squarebased

*OLD WORLD RESOURCES*

► *Square Based Comp AND Tournament Packs*   
https://thehonestwargamer.com/warhammer-the-old-world/square-based-comp/

► *The Square Based FAQ:* https://www.squarebased.com/faqs

► *The Renegade Legacy Pack:*  https://www.squarebased.com/

► *Our 500pt Foray Pack:* https://thehonestwargamer.com/warhammer-the-old-world-500-point-foray/

► *Old World Army Builder:* https://old-world-builder.com/

► *Old World Rules Wiki:* https://tow.whfb.app/

► *Old World Rankings (Past and Upcoming Old World Events:* https://oldworldrankings.com/
*MERCH*  
https://thehonestwargamer.com/product-category/square-based/

Youtube Music Playlist for Audio Only: 
https://tinyurl.com/SB-YouTube-Music-Playlist

Podcast on all other Platforms: 
https://squarebasedpodcast.podbean.com/

#squarebased #warhammertheoldworld #warhammerfantasy

The original Square Based Podcast where Rob and Val discuss everything Warhammer the Old World. Always be Bassed. 

► *Join us at the Square Based Open Toronto October 24 and 25! *
https://oldworldrankings.com/ca/tournaments/square-based-open-toronto-2026-sbc

Chapters:

MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

► *Links to all current Renegade Drafts*
https://docs.google.com/document/d/16kAE-p_CWbsH0XatDPuRao6TngSw-KSweUnJa81kOXE/edit?usp=sharing

► *Rob's Old World EVENTS in Nottingham!* https://tsnarena.com/events/category/the-old-world/

► *Check out Rob's Event Recaps here!*
https://thehonestwargamer.com/

►  Support us on *PATREON* and join us on Discord: https://www.patreon.com/Squarebased

*OLD WORLD RESOURCES*

► *Square Based Comp AND Tournament Packs*   
https://thehonestwargamer.com/warhammer-the-old-world/square-based-comp/

► *The Square Based FAQ:* https://www.squarebased.com/faqs

► *The Renegade Legacy Pack:*  https://www.squarebased.com/

► *Our 500pt Foray Pack:* https://thehonestwargamer.com/warhammer-the-old-world-500-point-foray/

► *Old World Army Builder:* https://old-world-builder.com/

► *Old World Rules Wiki:* https://tow.whfb.app/

► *Old World Rankings (Past and Upcoming Old World Events:* https://oldworldrankings.com/
*MERCH*  
https://thehonestwargamer.com/product-category/square-based/

Youtube Music Playlist for Audio Only: 
https://tinyurl.com/SB-YouTube-Music-Playlist

Podcast on all other Platforms: 
https://squarebasedpodcast.podbean.com/

#squarebased #warhammertheoldworld #warhammerfantasy

The original Square Based Podcast where Rob and Val discuss everything Warhammer the Old World. Always be Bassed. 

► *Join us at the Square Based Open Toronto October 24 and 25! *
https://oldworldrankings.com/ca/tournaments/square-based-open-toronto-2026-sbc

Chapters:

MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

► *Links to all current Renegade Drafts*
https://docs.google.com/document/d/16kAE-p_CWbsH0XatDPuRao6TngSw-KSweUnJa81kOXE/edit?usp=sharing

► *Rob's Old World EVENTS in Nottingham!* https://tsnarena.com/events/category/the-old-world/

► *Check out Rob's Event Recaps here!*
https://thehonestwargamer.com/

►  Support us on *PATREON* and join us on Discord: https://www.patreon.com/Squarebased

*OLD WORLD RESOURCES*

► *Square Based Comp AND Tournament Packs*   
https://thehonestwargamer.com/warhammer-the-old-world/square-based-comp/

► *The Square Based FAQ:* https://www.squarebased.com/faqs

► *The Renegade Legacy Pack:*  https://www.squarebased.com/

► *Our 500pt Foray Pack:* https://thehonestwargamer.com/warhammer-the-old-world-500-point-foray/

► *Old World Army Builder:* https://old-world-builder.com/

► *Old World Rules Wiki:* https://tow.whfb.app/

► *Old World Rankings (Past and Upcoming Old World Events:* https://oldworldrankings.com/
*MERCH*  
https://thehonestwargamer.com/product-category/square-based/

Youtube Music Playlist for Audio Only: 
https://tinyurl.com/SB-YouTube-Music-Playlist

Podcast on all other Platforms: 
https://squarebasedpodcast.podbean.com/

#squarebased #warhammertheoldworld #warhammerfantasy

The original Square Based Podcast where Rob and Val discuss everything Warhammer the Old World. Always be Bassed. 

► *Join us at the Square Based Open Toronto October 24 and 25! *
https://oldworldrankings.com/ca/tournaments/square-based-open-toronto-2026-sbc

Chapters:

MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

► *Links to all current Renegade Drafts*
https://docs.google.com/document/d/16kAE-p_CWbsH0XatDPuRao6TngSw-KSweUnJa81kOXE/edit?usp=sharing

► *Rob's Old World EVENTS in Nottingham!* https://tsnarena.com/events/category/the-old-world/

► *Check out Rob's Event Recaps here!*
https://thehonestwargamer.com/

►  Support us on *PATREON* and join us on Discord: https://www.patreon.com/Squarebased

*OLD WORLD RESOURCES*

► *Square Based Comp AND Tournament Packs*   
https://thehonestwargamer.com/warhammer-the-old-world/square-based-comp/

► *The Square Based FAQ:* https://www.squarebased.com/faqs

► *The Renegade Legacy Pack:*  https://www.squarebased.com/

► *Our 500pt Foray Pack:* https://thehonestwargamer.com/warhammer-the-old-world-500-point-foray/

► *Old World Army Builder:* https://old-world-builder.com/

► *Old World Rules Wiki:* https://tow.whfb.app/

► *Old World Rankings (Past and Upcoming Old World Events:* https://oldworldrankings.com/
*MERCH*  
https://thehonestwargamer.com/product-category/square-based/

Youtube Music Playlist for Audio Only: 
https://tinyurl.com/SB-YouTube-Music-Playlist

Podcast on all other Platforms: 
https://squarebasedpodcast.podbean.com/

#squarebased #warhammertheoldworld #warhammerfantasy

Rob and Val are braving the Storms of Magic to review the brand new Arcane Journal: The March of Chaos for Warhammer: The Old World! The Ruinous Powers are uniting in the Shard Lands, and we are breaking down absolutely everything this packed supplement brings to the tabletop. Tune in to learn about the new modes of play for Magic with Channeling Dice, Arcane Magic, and SORCEROUS RUSES (and a much scarier miscast table). After that we examine the return of the Hordes of Chaos Grand Army and have a look at the new units you can field with it. Finally, we have a look at the massive new list of common magic items that allow you to bring a little bit of wacky chaos energy to any army in Old World. 

► *Join us at the Square Based Open Toronto October 24 and 25! *
https://oldworldrankings.com/ca/tournaments/square-based-open-toronto-2026-sbc

Chapters: TBD

MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

► *Links to all current Renegade Drafts*
https://docs.google.com/document/d/16kAE-p_CWbsH0XatDPuRao6TngSw-KSweUnJa81kOXE/edit?usp=sharing

► *Rob's Old World EVENTS in Nottingham!* https://tsnarena.com/events/category/the-old-world/

► *Check out Rob's Event Recaps here!*
https://thehonestwargamer.com/

►  Support us on *PATREON* and join us on Discord: https://www.patreon.com/Squarebased

*OLD WORLD RESOURCES*

► *Square Based Comp AND Tournament Packs*   
https://thehonestwargamer.com/warhammer-the-old-world/square-based-comp/

► *The Square Based FAQ:* https://www.squarebased.com/faqs

► *The Renegade Legacy Pack:*  https://www.squarebased.com/

► *Our 500pt Foray Pack:* https://thehonestwargamer.com/warhammer-the-old-world-500-point-foray/

► *Old World Army Builder:* https://old-world-builder.com/

► *Old World Rules Wiki:* https://tow.whfb.app/

► *Old World Rankings (Past and Upcoming Old World Events:* https://oldworldrankings.com/
*MERCH*  
https://thehonestwargamer.com/product-category/square-based/

Youtube Music Playlist for Audio Only: 
https://tinyurl.com/SB-YouTube-Music-Playlist

Podcast on all other Platforms: 
https://squarebasedpodcast.podbean.com/

#squarebased #warhammertheoldworld #warhammerfantasy