Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat

Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat cover art

Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat is a real-time, tactical PC game published by Games Workshop in conjunction with Mindscape that was released in 1995. It features medieval warfare and fantasy battles between military units at the squad and company/squadron level in the Known World.^[1]

In Shadow of the Horned Rat players take control of Commander Morgan Bernhardt as he leads a mercenary army called the "Grudgebringers", named after his magical flaming sword, the Grudgebringer, as they act to stop a plot driven by Grey Seer Thanquol of the Skaven and his Greenskin allies to destroy the realms of Men in the Old World.

The music score of Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat was composed by James Hannigan and Mark Knight.

Game Play

Paymaster Dietrich's caravan is an interactive menu from which the player has access to all the essential information to play the game.^[1]

Paymaster Dietrich's caravan serves as an interactive menu, allowing the player to access the books detailing the Grudgebringers' troops, magic and encountered enemies, select the next mission or learn about new regiments willing to join the mercenary army.^[1]

The player must defeat a variety of foes in pitched battles using traditional fantasy battle methods such as shooting and close combat as well as the use of magical spells. The finances of the mercenary army are handled by Paymaster Dietrich.^[1]

The player is frequently given a choice of missions to accept, which provide multiple paths through the game's story, some of which result in different mercenary units being available to the player. Losses incurred in previous battles are persistent, and combined with the steeply increasing difficulties of the battles the game grows very difficult relatively quickly.^[1]

The army's losses are offset by the reinforcements that can be bought in most towns between missions. These reinforcements were bought with gold gained from combat, but this gold was generally less than the replacement value of the lost troops. Only when the game is played with great skill do these reinforcements cover all the losses. Units gain experience and become more experienced and more potent through use, but this in turn increases the cost of their replacement. ^[1]

Another difficulty with the gameplay was that a fallen soldier could be merely wounded, which would leave them out of the action for the next battle, after which they'd be healed for free. While this reduced the strain on the player's resources, it could result in the player having plenty of gold, but being unable to reinforce their army sufficiently to stand a chance in the next mission.^[1]

Plot

Game Plot

The storyline focuses on the mercenary general Morgan Bernhardt's quest to stop a Skaven plot led by Grey Seer Thanquol and his pawn, the possessed Orc Warboss Urgat Rip-Eye to use ancient Elven magical stones to destroy the realms of Men.^[1]

The Tilean's Talisman

In the events described in The Tilean's Talisman, a short story by David Guymer, the story of the game is continued when Grey Seer Thanquol plots to unleash an Orc invasion on Tilea from the Badlands. Most Tileans of an age to fight were sent out into the Badlands in the hope of repelling the supposed marauders.^[2]

While the Orcs and Tileans slaughtered each other in the Badlands for months, Lesskreep, the leader of the Skaven in Under-Sartosa led an assault on the city of Sartosa in search of a powerful talisman. After a bloody battle, the Skaven were finally defeated and forced to flee without having gained the talisman. The defence of Sartosa had been greatly aided by the efforts of the two adventurers Gotrek and Felix.^[2]

Factions

Below is a list of mercenary companies and important inviduals involved in the Shadow of the Horned Rat. They become involved either because of a plot event or because they are hired by Morgan Bernhardt for a fee to join his mercenary army.^[1]

Grudgebringers

Name after their commander's powerful magical sword Grudgebringer, the Grudgebringers have enjoyed a prosperous first year of operation, commanding an unsullied respect on their home territory in the Imperial province of the Reikland. The Grudgebringers have since marched to the troubled Border Princes where they hope to join a major campaign to prove themselves worthy of greater fortunes. The Grudgebringers are composed primarily of both cavalry, led by Bernhardt, and heavy infantry led by Lieutenant Schepke.^[1]

Notable Grudgebringers

• Commander Morgan Bernhardt^[1], High Commander of the Grudgebringers and the Leader of the Namesake Cavalry.

• Paymaster Dietrich^[1], the elderly quartermaster who hires, fires, pays mercenaries, and brings forth the contracts.

• Lieutenant Schepke^[1], Commanding officer of the Namesake Infantry Unit.

Units

This troop roster includes background information on the player's army regiments as well as their combat statistics and accumulated experience.^[1]

• Mercenary Crossbows - These mercenaries, all expert crossbowmen, have a disreputable past. They originally formed part of a small bandit army working in the forests of Talabecland. After a crackdown which was aided by elite Imperial forces they fled south to evade capture. Currently residing in the Border Princes town of Wissenheim, and still on the Empire's wanted list, they seek anonymity by joining a legitimate mercenary army.
  Notable characters: Corporal Fletcher^[1]

• Vannheim's 75th - Siegfried Vannheim is a well-known mercenary captain and has worked all through the Old World and beyond during his years leading the 75th. Reputed to be a staunch disciplinarian, Vannheim is followed by his cavalry troops with faithful loyalty and a respect for his veteran experience in the trade.^[1]
  Notable characters: Siegfried Vannheim

Throughout the campaign, the player can recruit numerous mercenary regiments. During battle, troops are represented by 2D sprites while the terrain is rendered in full 3D.^[1]

• Black Avengers - Ramon Black formed the Black Avengers after a Skaven raiding party burned their homes and killed their families during an attack on their town of Wissenheim. They are sworn to hunt down and kill Skaven wherever they can find them. Made up from little more than untrained peasants, Black's band displays a gritty determination deserving of any mercenary army.^[1]
  Notable characters: Ramon Black^[1]

• Ceridan - After many years in the Black Mountains, Ceridan, a lone Elf Ranger, has learned of valuable information which has fallen by chance into Skaven possession. Troubled by recent Skaven efforts to capture him he changed his identity and now seeks assistance on a quest handed down through generations of his family.^[1]

The Battle Bestiary is an extensive source of information regarding various races and units encountered on the battlefields in Shadow of The Horned Rat.^[1]

• Dwarf Crossbowmen - Gromdal Orcbane's Dwarfen crossbow regiment provide excellent ranged support for any unit in the field. Dwarfs are not physically suited to using ordinary bows, so they use powerful crossbows instead. Although these are ranged weapsons, this unit is still effective in close combat as they eagerly bash away with the weapon's fearsome studded metal butt.^[1]
  Notable characters: Gromdal Orcbane^[1]

• Amber Wizard Allor - The Wind of Ghur is the magic of wild places and bestial minds, of dark forests and untamed places. Consequently, the Amber Wizard Allor despises the supernatural properties of warpstone and uses his powers to destroy it wherever he finds it.^[1]

• 1st Dwarf Iron Breakers and 2nd Dwarf Iron Breakers - Dwarf Ironbreakers from the Dwarf hold of Zhufbar.^[1]
  Notable characters: Grunti Bigfoot^[1]

• Dwarf Envoy Engrol Goldtongue - Engrol Goldtongue is the official Dwarf envoy from the hold of Zhufbar to the Empire. His skills in diplomacy are unnaturally proficient for a Dwarf and he has resolved many quarrels with the Empire in his career which spans over two centuries. His bodyguard of fierce Dwarf warriors are completely loyal and will protect him in battle to the last.^[1]
  Notable characters: Engrol Goldtongue^[1]

• Carroburg Greatswords - This Reikland regiment of Empire Greatswords traces its history back to the Siege of Carroburg in 1885 IC. In their valiant defence of the town from the Elector Count of Middenland, their white uniforms were stained red with blood as they continued the fight despite the many wounds inflicted upon them. From that day on, the regiment has worn dark red uniforms.^[1]
  Notable characters: Captain Schaeffer^[1]

• Dwarf Hammerers - Notable characters: Furgus Fragman^[1]

• Dwarf Warriors - Notable characters: Harkon Skullsplitter, Azguz Bloodfist^[1]

• Keeler's Longbows - Johann Keeler's longbows have gained a reputation throughout Averland as skilled archers, competing in many provincial tournaments. They also hold field experience from previous mercenary campaigns.^[1]
  Notable characters: Johann Keeler^[1]

• Nuln Halberdiers - The eighth son of Valmir von Raukov, the Elector Count of Ostland, Boris von Raukov left his homeland for Nuln seeking glory and distinction as an officer in the forces of the Empire. No doubt assisted by his noble bloodline, his youthful enthusiasm has secured him a position of command over this regiment of Halberdiers.^[1]
  Notable characters: Captain Boris von Raukov^[1]

• Empire Great Cannon Crew - Top of his marksmanship class at the Nuln Artillery College for a record three years running, Wolfgang "Sureshot" Swartzkopf instills a winning confidence in the rest of his crew. After proving himself in the field he had a short stint as a lecturer in ballistics before being offered service with the mighty Great Cannon regiment.^[1]
  Notable characters: Wolfgang "Sureshot" Swartzkopf^[1]

• Bright Wizard Luther Flamestrike - Stubborn and egotistical, Luther Flamestrike also has a fiery temper to complement his magical abilities. He was exiled from the Bright College in Nuln after an argument with a colleague caused a firestorm which destroyed a tavern and set the surrounding buildings ablaze. Luther is a competent wizard but prone to instability.^[1]

• Celestial Wizard Marius Ubersbrom - Since leaving the Celestial College twelve years ago, Marius Ubersbrom has dwelt in the remote peaks of the Grey Mountains. From this vantage point he has devoted his life to the divination of the stars. Divining a great calamilty that would befall the Empire should the Grudgebringers fail in their task, he convinced Morgan Bernhardt to allow him to join his army.^[1]

• Reiksguard Knights - Notable characters: Captain Todbringer^[1]

• Wood Elf Archers - Notable characters: Galed^[1]

• Gnarl Fist Treeman^[1]

Sources

• 1: Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat (PC Game)
• 2: The Tilean's Talisman (Short Story) by David Guymer