Something promised yesterday, something due: after the announcement of the postponement of Total War: Warhammer III in early 2022, Creative Assembly today unveiled Grand Cathay, one of six playable factions at launch, through a stunning trailer and a long blog post.
It is a preponderant nation in the Warhammer universe, and one of the oldest and most powerful in the Old World, guardian of its eastern borders. Clearly inspired by Chinese folklore, this faction should delight fans of dragons, chu ko nu and clay statues.
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Cathay is
As ancient and even powerful as the gods of Warhammer themselves, Grand Cathay derives its power from its two rulers, the ancient dragons. They had two children, Zhao Ming, the Iron Dragon, and his sister Miao Ying, the Storm Dragon. Rivals, they will also be the Legendary Lords that we can choose in the campaign. A faction that only surreptitiously emerged in the Warhammer board game, but has recently been further developed at Games Workshop, like Kislev.
Creative Assembly is therefore working hand in hand with the creators of the universe to offer a video game adaptation that is as faithful as possible. On the battlefield, Grand Cathay will be able to count on a heavy infantry focused on the defense, supported by hosts of peasants. It will also benefit from a certain expertise in siege weapons, with powerful cannons, both on the ground and in the air.
Chinese folklore obliges, Grand Cathay will have many fantastic creatures such as dragons, clay giants or reptilian horses. The faction's two unique magics, on the other hand, follow the well-known Yin and Yang philosophies. Creative Assembly still has a few surprises in store regarding the list of armies, which the British studio will not fail to communicate to us in due course.
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The Silk Road… of Ivory
If the battle part of a Total War is preponderant, and all the more so for a Warhammer game, the management mechanics on the campaign map are just as important. As such, Grand Cathay will benefit from mechanics that are very specific to it. Its financial power will for example be linked to the Route de l'Ivoire, which will have to be kept in order to raise the funds necessary for the war effort.
The other unique element of the faction is on the side of its Great Strongholds. Over the millennia, Grand Cathay has been able to found gigantic cities, protected by immense and impregnable walls against the invasions of Chaos. It will thus be imperative to defend them, but it will also be possible to launch assaults from them.
However, this is only a brief glimpse of what the mythical faction of Grand Cathay has in store for us. We should learn more over the coming days and weeks. Creative Assembly also has to tell us more about three Chaos factions, represented by Slaanesh, Tzeentch, and Nurgle.
The British studio therefore still has a lot to do before the release of Total War: Warhammer III, scheduled until further notice on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store in early 2022.
