“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.”
— Haldir, The Fellowship of the Ring

Right, let’s talk about Warmaster Revolution—or WMR as everyone calls it. This represents one of the most successful examples of community-driven game development I’ve seen. When Games Workshop discontinued the original Warmaster in 2012, passionate fans didn’t let it die—they kept it alive, refined it, and created something even better.

What is Warmaster Revolution?

Warmaster Revolution (WMR) is a fan-maintained second edition of Games Workshop’s Warmaster rules. It preserves the sweeping tactical vision of the original while modernizing its mechanics for smoother, fairer, and more immersive play—which is exactly what the original needed.

The Original Warmaster

The original Warmaster was revolutionary for its time, focusing on epic mass battles with hundreds of miniatures. The focus was on command and control, positioning, and reserves rather than individual unit tactics. Despite the massive scale, games were surprisingly fast-playing, which was a revelation in the early 2000s. It was themed around Warhammer Fantasy’s Old World, but the mechanics were so good they transcended the setting.

The Revolution

The Revolution is community-driven, maintained by passionate fans who actually play the game rather than just theorize about it. It’s balanced through years of playtesting and refinement from people who know what they’re doing. The rules have been modernized with streamlined procedures and clarifications that eliminate the ambiguities that plagued the original. It’s also been expanded with new armies and scenarios that keep the game fresh.

Core Mechanics

Command System

Warmaster’s signature feature is its command system, which creates a completely different tactical experience from other wargames. Units must pass tests to follow orders, and leaders can only command nearby units. When command fails, units may not do what you want, creating realistic battlefield chaos that feels authentic to the fog of war.

Scale and Abstraction

The scale is impressive—units represent hundreds of warriors, not individual soldiers. Bases are 40mm x 20mm for infantry and 40mm x 40mm for cavalry, with movement measured in centimeters. Combat is resolved with dice rolls and modifiers, but the abstraction works because you’re thinking about formations and tactics, not individual warriors.

Fast Play

Despite the epic scale, games are surprisingly fast. A 2000-point battle takes about 2-3 hours, which is remarkable given the number of miniatures involved. The mechanics are simple to learn but hard to master, with streamlined combat that resolves quickly. There’s minimal bookkeeping, so you can focus on tactics rather than administration.

Why Warmaster Revolution?

Community Excellence

WMR represents the best of community-driven development—and that’s saying something:

• Passionate maintainers: People who love the game and actually play it
• Regular updates: Active development and errata that actually matter
• Balanced design: Years of playtesting from people who know what they’re doing
• Open communication: Responsive to player feedback in ways that big companies aren’t

Mechanical Refinements

The community has made thoughtful improvements—the kind that only come from years of actual play:

• Combat rounds: Limited to prevent endless grinding
• Stat rebalances: More balanced unit profiles that actually work
• Rule clarifications: Eliminated ambiguities that caused arguments
• Quality of life: Streamlined procedures that make the game flow better

Preserved Vision

WMR maintains what made Warmaster special—which is harder than it sounds:

• Command focus: Leadership matters
• Tactical depth: Positioning and reserves crucial
• Narrative moments: Command failures create drama
• Epic scale: Hundreds of miniatures on the table

Middle-earth Applications

Why Warmaster for Middle-earth?

Warmaster’s mechanics align perfectly with Tolkien’s battle descriptions:

• Command failures: “The orcs broke,” “reinforcements failed to arrive”
• Epic scale: Pelennor Fields, Helm’s Deep, Dagor Bragollach
• Narrative focus: Individual heroes matter but don’t dominate
• Tactical abstraction: Matches Tolkien’s narrative style

Existing Adaptations

Several attempts to adapt Warmaster to Middle-earth:

• Battle of Five Armies: Official GW adaptation
• Tolkienmaster: Fan-made conversion
• Little Wars TV: YouTube adaptation
• War of the Ring: Board game inspiration

Design Philosophy

Creating Middle-earth army lists requires:

• Thematic accuracy: Armies should feel right
• Mechanical balance: Competitive with other lists
• Narrative focus: Story over optimization
• Proxy-friendly: Use available miniatures

Army Design Guidelines

Playstyle Over Catalog

• Focus on feel: How does the army play?
• Abstract details: Don’t over-granularize
• Thematic accuracy: Capture the essence
• Mechanical balance: Fair and competitive

Command Values

• Reflect discipline: Well-trained armies have better command
• Cultural differences: Orcs are unreliable, Elves are disciplined
• Leadership matters: Heroes improve nearby units
• Narrative moments: Command failures create drama

Special Rules

• Characterization: Rules that reflect the army’s nature
• Tactical depth: Add interesting decisions
• Narrative moments: Create memorable events
• Balance: Don’t make armies overpowered

The Warmaster Community

Online Presence

• Website: wm-revolution.com
• Forums: Active discussion and support
• Tournaments: Regular competitive play
• Resources: Army lists, scenarios, painting guides

Support and Development

• Regular updates: New content and errata
• Community input: Player feedback incorporated
• Tournament support: Organized play events
• New armies: Expanding the game’s scope

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

Warmaster Revolution delivers epic scale with hundreds of miniatures on the table, yet maintains fast play despite the massive scope. The tactical depth comes from command and positioning rather than complex rules, while command failures create dramatic narrative moments. The active community provides ongoing development and tournaments, and the system is proxy-friendly, allowing players to use any appropriate miniatures.

Weaknesses

The system requires a significant model count, which means substantial investment in miniatures and storage space. The command system has a learning curve that takes practice to master, while some models can be hard to find. The scale commitment means it’s not suitable for casual players who want quick games.

Getting Started

What You Need

• Rulebook: Available from wm-revolution.com
• Miniatures: 10mm scale (or proxy with other sizes)
• Bases: 40mm x 20mm for infantry, 40mm x 40mm for cavalry
• Terrain: Hills, woods, buildings
• Dice: Standard d6s

First Army

• Start small: 1000-1500 points
• Choose theme: Pick an army you love
• Proxy initially: Use available miniatures
• Learn basics: Focus on command and movement

Finding Players

• Local clubs: Check gaming stores
• Online communities: Forums and social media
• Tournaments: Meet other players
• Conventions: Large events often have Warmaster

Verdict: A Community Triumph

Warmaster Revolution proves that passionate communities can not only preserve great games but improve them. It’s a testament to what happens when people who love a game take ownership of its development—and it’s bloody brilliant.

For Mass Battle Fans: This is the gold standard for epic fantasy warfare. The command system creates unique tactical challenges that other games can’t match.

For Middle-earth Gamers: Warmaster’s mechanics align perfectly with Tolkien’s battle descriptions. The command failures, epic scale, and narrative focus make it ideal for Middle-earth adaptations.

For Community Gaming: WMR shows how fan communities can create something better than the original. It’s a model for how to keep great games alive.

The game succeeds because it preserves what made Warmaster special while addressing its weaknesses. It’s not just a preservation project—it’s an evolution that makes the game better than ever.

Next up: Detailed Middle-earth army lists for Warmaster Revolution, starting with Gondor and Isengard.