Hello, this is MakiwoG.
While I was busy with the store's relocation, I finally got to play the revamped Underworlds during Golden Week.
Although some of the cards I had collected can no longer be used, the miniatures are still usable, and it remains as
・Easy to play
・Yet interesting
It was a relief to find that it was the same old Underworlds.
Many people probably haven't played since the new edition came out, so I've rolled up my sleeves a bit, thinking, "Alright, I'll write another blog post and spread the word!"
Having played a little recently, the general rules don't seem to have changed much, so in this article, I will cover:
・What is Underworlds?
・What has changed in the new edition?
Please bear with me until the end.
*Underworlds is easy to get into, but as mentioned, the player base might have shrunk since the edition change.
While buying 40K might be expensive, many people play it, so you might find yourself thinking, "I'm glad I bought 40K, even though it was expensive, because there are more opportunities to play it."
・Underworlds → Can only play with close friends
・40K → Can play even at a game meet-up for the first time
On the other hand, it is a recommended way to play for those who want to "start small with a few friends."
5/22 (Thursday) NEW!
We received Underworlds supplies from Games Workshop.
The cards feature limited-edition artwork, and the tokens and sleeves are also exclusive items that can only be obtained here.
For more details, please check the images on the product pages on BASE and Mercari Shops.
Introduction: What is Underworlds?
Underworlds is one way to play like 40K or AOS, where
・Each game finishes in about 1-2 hours
・You only need to prepare 3-7 miniatures
・You can play by just buying a ¥6,000 product (+ a rival deck for about ¥4,000)
It's a product that allows you to easily start playing Warhammer.
What I personally like most about Underworlds is its simplicity: you can play with a minimum of 3 miniatures, so you can start a game right away without having to prepare dozens of miniatures like in 40K or AOS.
The official rules and data for using old miniatures are available for free, so if you're interested, check out the Warhammer Community downloads (link below).
https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/downloads/warhammer-underworlds/
This is an old story of mine, but when I first started Warhammer, I thought I had painted about 1000 points, but when I calculated it, I didn't even have 500 points. At that time, I was almost discouraged, thinking, "Do I really have to make twice as much?" lol
Change ①: Now playable with one board
Now, let's talk about what's new and what has changed.
Before, each player had to prepare one board and connect them, but now, only one board is needed for two players.
This has two implications:
・Beginners can play by preparing a warband (and a rival deck)
・It's no longer possible to play with 3 or more players
These are the two points.
*Regarding "no longer playable with 3 or more players":
I haven't tried it yet, but when I played Underworlds the other day, the topic came up: "Couldn't we play with 3 or more people using old boards?"
I'll try it next time.
It would be great if products were released that allowed multiple people to play, as Underworlds used to be playable even when three people gathered for a game session.
Change ②: Warband-specific cards have been removed
Old products included miniatures and cards, but the new products only contain miniatures.
It feels a bit like a loss that the price remains the same but there are fewer cards, but I've always liked the miniatures created specifically for Underworlds.
I really like how detailed the bases are.
In the past, Japanese version cards quickly went out of print, but thankfully, since the edition change, they seem to be producing them in abundance.
The new Seraphon spearhead (the four in front) are from Underworlds, aren't they...?
Perhaps they're no longer exclusive Underworlds miniatures?
Summary
Underworlds is a product recommended for first-time Warhammer players because:
・Game time is short, so you can play quickly.
・Fewer miniatures to build means you can play right away and won't get discouraged halfway through.
For the reasons above, the barrier to starting Warhammer is low, the rules are simple, and the game is also fun.
Also, if you have an old warband, you'll need to buy a rival deck, but the fighter cards (cards with unit abilities) are available for free from the official website, so you can download them and use them as is.
I'm happy that there were fewer changes than I expected, so I can play without feeling uncomfortable.
The previous edition of Underworlds had complex rules and out-of-print items were highly inflated in price.
The edition change around January 2025 brought reprints of out-of-print warbands, making it a game that is now easily accessible to many people.
The starter set below includes not only miniatures and rival decks, but also dice, a game board, and tokens – a complete set for two players. If you're thinking of starting Underworlds, this is highly recommended.
It's a bit pricey at 15,600 yen, but if two people buy it together, it's 7,800 yen per person.
Just by buying this, you can enjoy Underworlds with your friends!
In the next article, I'll introduce "Embergard," so please check it out again 😊
That's all for this time.
Wishing everyone a great gaming life! 👋
You can find previous Underworlds articles here.
https://www.makiwog.com/category/warhammer/%e3%82%a2%e3%83%b3%e3%83%80%e3%83%bc%e3%83%af%e3%83%bc%e3%83%ab%e3%83%89/
