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Hey guys,

I will be honest I am struggling to get my head into AoS lore, and am now in the place of building my first army, with little understanding of the game universe that my force will be fighting in. Is there a good source of content that someone can recommend to me that can give a succinct synopsis on what the hell is going on? So far I have tried the main rulebook, but found it overloaded with overly descriptive images that I am struggling to comprehend. Am I just missing the right edibles or otherwise correct level of inebriation?

I built a Warcry warband and, again, not really knowing what was going on I posted the bit of background below on one of the Facebook groups. Hilariously, considering it is absolute bollocks, no-one really corrected me which makes me think I am not the only one in this boat! Listening to the Legends of the Painty men podcast again has not helped. Confusing descriptions of lizardmen living only within their own dreams and giant demonic nut-sacks teleporting infront of a renaissance-era pikeman again has not helped me get to grips

Here is the piece that no doubt has ADB quaking in his boots:

“The year was 1985 and the Fernandez brothers were both working as Stuntmen during the filming of the action movie Commando. Playing the henchmen that are gunned down and blown up by Colonel John Matrix during the film, the brothers were both stood on special steam-powered platforms that fired them through the air to simulate death by grenade launcher. Meanwhile, across the globe, renowned Royal British sorcerer Russell Grant was preparing to cast a teleportation spell. However, he had slightly miscalculated the alignment of Venus, and the spell miscast with drastic consequences. Rather than opening directly into the Waitrose on Tottenham Court road instead the portal opened above the Pacific and San Nicolas island, precisely at the moment when the Fernandez brothers took flight…

Both the brothers assumed they had died. Too much pressure in the launcher platforms and they had exploded perhaps? For sure, waking up to see the faces of ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan and Grace Jones looking down on them, they thought that surely this must be heaven. Jim quickly inducted them into the Bronzed-Torso Golems, the experience that both had gained working on the set of both Conan the Barbarian films meaning they could happily wield weapons and join the rest of the warband with caving in skulls around the 8-points.”

This followed an earlier story of Jim Duggan forming the Warband with the help of a true-scale Space Marine (the ogre miniature) who had stepped through a portal and into the wrong game universe. Again this was not challenged

Any pointers (or corrections for that matter ) greatfully received!

I would say the content of the core book is the best overall view of the setting. Avoid going back to things written in first edition as they were still figuring things out and some of the ideas were rather out there.

As for making sense, the content doesn't need to be read in order so maybe skipping ahead and reading army profiles before going back would help?

I'll second the core rulebook, it's pretty much 3/4 lore, and a really good read.

You could also look up the realm gate wars books on warhammer vault, as a lot of what happened in those, is a foundation of the current lore.

To supplement the main rule book, the RPG books from Cubicle 7(Soulbound) are pretty good as well. The main book for the RPG actually goes into greater detail about certain places, history and cultures then the main rulebook for the AoS game.

Thanks a lot for the replies guys, really appreciated.

I have the Tzeentch armies book so will start with that, and then the main rulebook sounds like a good next step. Reading the RPG at this point feels a bit like taking an acid trip and going headfirst down the rabbit hole at this point, but I may come to that
It will mean no more Grace Jones or Hacksaw Jim Duggan, but will hopefully bring my stuff a bit more inline with canon!

If you want to listen to 2+ tough, he has a lot of older videos about AOS lore. His newer videos delve more into Conquest... but he still has a passion for AOS.

In terms of core gubbins?

1st Ed AoS had a short series of background books released to build up the world.

The long and short is as follows…

Age of Myth

Sigmar finds the Mortal Realms, and gathers his pantheon, consisting of Malerion, Morathi, Gorkamorka, Grungni, Nagash, Tyrion, Teclis, and Grimnir.

For unspoken aeons, peace more or less reigned. But as is it’s wont, Chaos made its presence known.

Age of Chaos

The Realms are overrun. Sigmar seals off Azyr, and alongside Grungni and with assistance from other Gods, begins crafting the Stormcast.

Chaos fulfils its nature, and on the cusp of ultimate victory falls to in-fighting. Slaanesh is kidnapped by the Elven Gods. The remaining four (Horned Rat having been elevated to proper status) are each determined to be the final victor.

The loss of focus allows some uncorrupted civilisations to survive (Fyreslayers, various Undead, etc etc), albeit always with the threat of extinction. Certainly none had the strength of arms to defeat the forces of Chaos alone.

Age of Sigmar

Daddy is back, his Stormcast forces now assembled. Inch by inch, Chaos is pushed back, civilisation once again emerging and flourishing.

Whilst Sigmar’s pantheon remains in a state of disunity, they’re at least speaking to each other again, and not lamping each other for the sake of it. Except Gorkamorka of course.