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GW's refusal to move their settings forward aside, just how far is the Empire (arguably the most progressive faction in Warhammer) from beginning the Industrial Revolution, and how will this affect them (and the other factions) politically, militarily, and economically?

No where near. The only reason they have any steam technology is because the Dwarves shared it with them.

The main difference with the Dwarves that makes the Empire seem more progressive is that they're willing to experiment, but steam power isn't by any means a common thing in the Empire beyond the military and certain areas of Nuln and the capital.

And their gunpowder technology? The corresponding era IRL should be 15-16th Century, so two maybe three hundred years isn't all that far to me.

Well, it probably takes much more time to develop such technologies when only 1 or two countries are researching them instead of everyone
Oh and Europe sure had its share of conflict, but the guys invading didn't want to eat your children and erase you from the surface of the earth either. That's gotta keep anyone busy ...

 Admiral Valerian wrote:
And their gunpowder technology? The corresponding era IRL should be 15-16th Century, so two maybe three hundred years isn't all that far to me.

Empire guns are nearly the same as the start of the 17th century (when prototype Gatling cannons started showing up)

 Admiral Valerian wrote:
And their gunpowder technology? The corresponding era IRL should be 15-16th Century, so two maybe three hundred years isn't all that far to me.

They've had that same gunpowder tech for more than 300 years according to the fluff.

The major problem with determining when they'll enter something close to the Industrial revolution is that pretty much every major technological advancement they have was either given to/stolen by them from another civilization(steam power, gun powder, rockets) or are one time moments of brilliance whose methods to be mass produced are lost or non-existant(Steam Tanks, clockwork horses). Also, whilst the College of Engineers has the technology, it's far from wide spread. Most armies you see on the board may have black powder weapons, but fluffwise, they're relatively rare outside of the richest provinces. The poorer provinces can only afford a couple cannons and maybe 20 or so handguns for their most elite/favored regiment unless they get enough hunters bringing their own firearms to form a handgun regiment.

Ironically, the most progressive(in terms of developing new technology) are actually the Skaven, not the Empire. Sure, they steal technology from other races, but their rate of working to improve and experiment with those devices is at a much faster pace than humanity.

Yeah I would have always thought that the Skaven are closest to some kind of industrial revolution. They've basically already invented phones (the farsqueak) and have no problem with dangerous experiments to further their technological advances. Plus they have an economy based on slave labour, and have outposts all around the wold. Basically the British Empire exists in fantasy and it turns out that they are all rat people.

Skaven are more steampunk themed. Faaaar more interesting kind of technology. But what about Ogres? Where did they find the gunpowder? And why are their gunpowder weapons so reliable and strong?

KeyserSoze wrote:
Skaven are more steampunk themed. Faaaar more interesting kind of technology. But what about Ogres? Where did they find the gunpowder? And why are their gunpowder weapons so reliable and strong?

Ogres got gunpowder in Cathay, which is the same place the Helstorm Rocket Battery was taken from.

Empire are in the renaissance if you don't count the Helblaster. My army is Cromwells New Model army themed from the English Civil War.

The empire is meant to be a off shoot of the Holy Roman Empire during the renaissance.

So five or six centuries away then...not all that far.

The Holy Roman Empire would have been way cooler with Demi-Gryph Knights.

 Admiral Valerian wrote:
So five or six centuries away then...not all that far.

Again, not really. The time it took us is not equatable to the Fantasy world. The Empire has been at the same tech level for centuries without very many advancements.

They aren't earth. They will never have an Industrial Revolution. They have magic for one thing.

Their historical time line is SOOOO different from ours. Because like, they have gods. Real gods who do real stuff. Like turn their faces into butts.

Necessity is the mother of invention. But the Industrial Revolution was about trade and manufacture for the most part. Those are not what the Empire is focusing on. They could care less about making a train and laying tracks. Or putting down telegraph wires. I'm sure Orcs would be super impressed by all that and leave them alone...