Rule Bretonnia: Total War - Warhammer
Chivalry isn't dead
Sega confirmed today that the chivalric knights of Bretonnia will be represented in Total War: Warhammer [official site] at launch. Although the faction won't be playable in the campaign, you'll be able to use Bretonnian armies in one-off battles, against either the AI or a human friend/foe. Those armies will include fearsome cavalry, including flying cavalry in the form of pegasus knights, as well as powerful artillery support in the form of trebuchets. Below, you'll find a full length video of a Bretonnian city besieged by an undead army.
If you do want to watch the battle, it's worth noting that there is a backstory here. It's one member of The Creative Assembly's community team playing as the undead versus a Youtuber playing as the Bretonnians. The last time we saw this particular Creative Assembler, Darren, he was playing as the Empire against an AI Chaos army. That did not go well for him. This is a chance for redemption, then. Redemption through the teeth and claws of winged nightmares.
This is the first time I've watched a full battle around a city, although I did catch the tail-end of the Rezzed talk about siege AI (I would have caught the whole thing but I was busy preparing for a panel of my own). We can watch it together now though. Here it is.
Here's the word on the Bretonnians:
"Characterised by a range of powerful armoured units, including the iconic barded warhorses and flying Pegasus Knights; Bretonnian battle tactics frequently revolve around shattering and unstoppable charges. Also of note is the devastating Trebuchet artillery, and the numerous massed ranks of archers, capable of filling the air with swarms of arrows. While Bretonnian armies might lack the huge monsters that other races can often employ, they can bring to bear powerful magic users in the guise of Enchantresses; capable not only of offensive spells but also powerful buffs to further enhance their knights to superhuman levels."
What that doesn't mention is that they are a much more enticingly Romantic prospect than the big ol' Empire. I've always had a soft spot for Bretonnia, even if the single 't' double 'n' spelling nearly trips me up every single time. I'm guessing - and it's no more than a guess - that we'll see a fleshed out version of the faction somewhere down the line so they can be played in the campaign, as the long-term plans suggested would be the case for at least one new faction.