In Total War: Warhammer 2, players can destroy towns to create ruins, which can be explored to find various puzzles.
Total War is a series of games developed by Creative Assembly for personal computers (PC). The games are based on historical events. They incorporate different time periods of Europe, Japan, the Roman Empire, Napoleon’s battels and the war of the Three Kingdoms in China.
The games combine turn-based strategy and resource management with real-time tactical control of battles. Quite unique for real-time strategy games, flanking manoeuvres and formations factor heavily into gameplay.
The first of the series, Shogun: Total War was released in 2000. Since then, the developers have created 15 additional games. One of the latest releases is Total War: Warhammer II or Warhammer 2.
The game focuses on the conflicts in the New World and Ulthuan between the classes, as they seek to control the Vortex, while the Tomb King seeks to reclaim the Nine Books of Nagash, which is a series of necromantic tomes.
Total War: Warhammer
The first Warhammer changed the rules of the series, as it takes place in a setting of high fantasy. The setting is based on Games Workshop’s Warhammer Fantasy. However, the turn-based sandbox campaigns and the real-time battles, which is a staple of the series, returned.
The races in Total War: Warhammer include the men of the Empire and Bretonnia. Additionally, players can discover the Orcs, Goblins, Dwarves, Vampire Counts and Wood Elves among others.
Total War: Warhammer II
Total War: Warhammer II is very similar to the rest of the series. It is also a turn-based strategy game, developed and published by Creative Assembly and Sega respectively.
The game is the sequel to Total War: Warhammer and was initially released for Microsoft Windows in 2017. It was later released for the Mac operating system and Linux. It is important to note that players need to have a Steam account to play.
The game takes place in Games Workshop’s Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe. It invites players to move armies around the map and manage settlements in a turn-based manner. Players participate in diplomacy with, and fight against artificial intelligence (AI) controlled factions.
It is important to note that when armies meet, they battle in real-time. Warhammer II also features a custom battle mode. This enables players to create customized real-time battles and online multiplayer battles.
As mentioned above, it is a high fantasy game. It is set in the Old World and it resembles pre-historic Earth. However, Warhammer 40K is set in the year 40 000. It features a science fiction setting, with space battle between the races for control of solar systems and planets.
Background
Some time ago, surrounded by a chaos invasion, a conclave of High Elf mages forged a vast, hidden vortex. Its purpose was to draw the Winds of Magic from the universe, as a sinkhole drains an ocean and blast the Daemonic hordes back to the Realm of Chaos.
Now, the vortex falters and the world, once again, stand at the brink of ruin. However, powerful forces move to heal the maelstrom and avert a disaster, while others seek to harness its energies for their own evil purpose. Subsequently, the fate of the world lies in the hands of the victor.
Prince Tyrion guides the High Elves in their desperate efforts to stabilize the vortex, as it roils over their continent, while the Slann Mage-Priest, Mazdamundi directs the Lizardmen war-hosts as they surge northward.
The Witch King, Malekith, and his Dark Elf hordes move forth from Naggaroth, and their labyrinthine Black Arks. Meanwhile, a fourth, secretive race stirs, and their motives obscured by sinister plots and machinations.
The time for revelation is now. Four races. Four outcomes. A single goal: control of the great vortex.
Gameplay
Total War: Warhammer 2 brings players a new narrative campaign, which is set across the continents of Ulthuan, Lustria, Naggaroth and The Southlands.
Playing as a Lord from the Warhammer Fantasy Battles, players must form a series of rituals to stabilize or disrupt the Vortex. Additionally, players need to stall the progress of the other races.
It is important to note that every Lord has a unique geographical starting position, while each race offers a distinctive new playstyle with unique campaign mechanics, armies and methods.
It also features its own narratives, characters, monsters, Lores of Magic and new battlefield abilities.
Campaign
The main campaign of Warhammer 2 is called Eye of the Vortex. It is a narrative-focused campaign, this means that each of the playable races have their own cutscenes. Additionally, they have their own unique story.
It is important to note that players who own both Total War: Warhammer and Total War: Warhammer II have access to a huge combined campaign called Mortal Empires.
However, this campaign is more of a sandbox experience. It must be downloaded from Steam, but it is free for players who own both games.
Mortal Engines participants can also be players online with another player. Players can either participate in a head-to-head mode, or in co-operative mode.
It is important to note that there will be a slight change to Mortal Engines when Total War: Warhammer III releases. Only players who own all three Warhammer games will be able to enter the Mortal Empires.
It is thus recommended that players purchase the third game if they wish to enter the Mortal Engines. Total War: Warhammer III is scheduled to release in early 2022.
Downloadable content
It is important to note that players first need to purchase the base game before purchasing the downloadable content (DLCs). Purchasing additional content can be quite expensive, as players can only purchase it with real-life money.
The following table indicates the name, release date and a description of each DLC for Total War: Warhammer II:
| Name of DLC | Release date | Description of the DLC |
| Blood for the Blood God II | October 2017 | The DLC adds various blood and gore effects in battle. It is free for players who own the Blood for the Blood God in the first Warhammer. |
| Rise of the Tomb Kings | January 2018 | It adds the Tomb Kings as a playable race in the campaign. Additionally, it adds a multiplayer mode with four legendary lords. |
| The Queen and the Crone | May 2018 | When purchased, it adds Crone Hellebron as a new Dark Elf legendary lord, while Alarielle the Radiant is the new High Elf legendary lord. Additionally, this DLC introduces new units, mechanics and Regiments of Renown. |
| Curse of the Vampire Coast | November 2018 | The DLC adds the Vampire Coast as a playable race in the campaign. It also adds a multiplayer mode with four legendary lords. These lords include Count Noctilus, Aranesse Saltspite and Cylostra Direfin. |
| The Prophet and the Warlock | April 2019 | Players are now able to use Tehehauin as the new legendary lord. Additionally, the DLC introduced Ikit Claw. |
| The Hunter and the Beast | September 2019 | When purchased, it adds Markus Wulfhart, Nakai the Wanderer, as well as new units and mechanics. |
| The Shadow and the Blade | December 2019 | It introduces Deathmaster Snikch and Malus Darkblade. Similar to the previous DLCs, it adds mechanics Regiments of Renown and new units. |
| The Warden and the Paunch | May 2020 | The DLC adds Grom the Paunch and Elthorion the Grim as legendary lords. |
| The Twisted and the Twilight | December 2020 | With this DLC, Throt the Unclean, a Skaven Legendary lord and Sisters of Twilight join the game. Additionally, it adds new units, mechanics and Regiments of Renown. |
| The Silence and the Fury | July 2021 | The latest DLC introduces Oxyolt as a new Lizardmen legendary lord. He leads the Ghosts of Pahuax faction. It also adds Taurox the Brass Bull as a new Beastmen legendary lord. He leads the Slaughterhon Tribe faction. |
Please note that the above-mentioned DLCs are available for purchase with real life money. It is believed that the game’s developer often sells the DLC’s for up to 50 percent off. It is thus recommended that players keep an eye out for specials.
However, the game has introduced free DLCs in the past. The free DLCS include but are not limited to:
- Steps of Isha
- Gor-Rok
- Festag Update
- Imnik
- Catchweb Spidershrine
- Skaven Chieftain
The latest free DLC is Orge Mercs. It was released in July 2021, and it allows all factions to recruit a small variety of Orge units as mercenaries.
Races
Before players can start the game, they need to create a digital avatar. Players can choose one of the four available classes. The game’s races announced in the campaign include the High Elves, Skaven, Lizardmen and Sark Elves.
It is important to note that each class has their own unique skills and abilities. The following table indicates the name of the classes and a short description of each:
| Name of race | Description of race |
| Skaven | They are a race of vicious mutant rat-men who lurk in a vast Under-Empire below the world. |
| Lizardmen | It is important to note that the Lizardmen are not a single race. Instead, they are a society of different cold-blooded creatures. They dwell in temple cities that tower over the southern jungles. |
| High Elves | The High Elves of Ulthuan are a proud and mighty nation. They are noble and compassionate in nature. |
| Dark Elves | Dark Elves are a sadistic and ancient race of Elves. They are particularly interested in claiming the Vortex for their dark and twisted agenda. |
Once players have created a character, they can solve various puzzles and participate in random number generator (RNG) events. By solving these puzzles, players will receive rewards in the form of magical items, or special campaign map statistical buffs.
Warhammer II puzzles
It is important to note that puzzles in Total War: Warhammer II are found in the ruins of settlements. They are scattered around the map of both the Mortal Empires and Vortex campaigns. However, players can destroy a town to create a ruin. They can also settle the ruins to create towns.
Once players win a battle against the armies defending these towns, they have multiple options available. However, these options depend on the players’ race and factions.
They can occupy the town to take control. Additionally, players can loot and occupy the town. For this choice, players will be in control of the town and gain additional money but have lower loyalty.
However, players can choose not to take control of the town and just loot it. Players will thus obtain extra gold while the enemy faction controlling the town loses loyalty. The last option is to destroy the town to create ruins. The ruins offer players some puzzles to complete.
It is important to note that some races and factions, also known as horde factions, cannot occupy a town. These races and factions are the Chaos Warriors, Beast Men and the Spirit of the Jungle faction from the Lizardmen. Players should also be aware that each race and faction have preferred terrain and environments.
This means that if players occupy towns in terrains that are hostile to their factions, it will increase penalties on loyalty. Additionally, it will make building and recruiting enemies slower and more expensive.
How to solve the Cypher of the Old Ones puzzle
In order to solve the Cypher of the Old Ones puzzle, players have to figure out both the number and the colour of dots that belong in the title indicated by a question mark. They can do this by narrowing down the options one at a time.
Players should note that when it comes to these puzzles in both columns and rows, they cannot have the same number of dots. Additionally, they cannot have dots of the same colour.
It is important to know that each tile can have up to four dots of any colour. With regard to this specific case, players can start with the tile in the top-right corner. Players can see that the row that tile is in, already has a single dot in it.
Additionally, the column has tiles with both two and three dots on them. This means that the tile in the top right corner must have four dots. Players can also see that it must have four blue or red dots, as it shares a column with tiles that have yellow and purple dots on them.
This will give players enough information to solve the puzzle. Players can see that the row with the question mark tile on it has a tile with one dot and a tile with four dots, while its column has a tile with two dots, so the question mark tile has to have three dots on it. With regard to the dot colours, the question mark tile has to have purple dots on it.
Solutions for the Cypher of the Old Ones puzzle
It is important to note that this puzzle can have various solutions, as the puzzle changes for each person. However, players can look at the following images to discover some of the solutions:
How to solve the Cuboid of the Old Ones puzzle
To solve this puzzle, players have to identify the symbol that should appear on the face of one of the cubes. The face that needs to me identified is marked with a question mark.
It is recommended that players first look at the cube with the question mark on one of its faces. Then, they should identify the positions of one of the faces with a visible symbol. In this case, they should look at the symbol that is indicated with the yellow exclamation mark.
Players should then find another cube on which the symbol is on the face, that would have the question mark on it is visible.
Solutions for the Cuboid of the Old Ones puzzle
Similar to the previous puzzle, the solutions can be different, as the puzzle changes for each player. The following images indicate some of the possible solutions:
How to solve the Dial of the Old Ones puzzle
To solve this puzzle, players have to picture how the inner lines, on both the inner circle and the middle, would point if they were to turn them in a clockwise rotation.
It is important to note that players cannot rotate the disc or the ring inside of the game. The pictures thus illustrate how the puzzles are solved.
Players should be aware that the inner disc is always correctly oriented if the face is right side up.
The middle ring is correctly oriented if the lines of a single colour on the middle ring line up with the lines of the same colour on the inner disc. The solution is thus the set of symbols that complete lines connected to the middle.
Solutions for the Dial of the Old Ones puzzle
Players should be aware that this puzzle features multiple solutions, and the following images indicate some of the solutions:
How to solve the Rubric of the Old Ones puzzle
This is a fairly easy puzzle, as it requires players to identify the symbol that is not repeated.
It Is recommended that players first find all the symbols that are repeated. Players should be aware that the colour of the symbols can be different, however the symbol will stay the same.
After identifying all the symbols that repeat, players can easily find the one that is not repeated.
Solutions for the Rubric of the Old Ones puzzle
Even though the Rubric of the Old Ones puzzle is easier than the other puzzles, it still has multiple solutions. The following images indicate some of the possible solutions:
Conclusion
Total War is a popular series of games developed by Creative Assembly. It is believed that the games in the series are based on historical events, as they incorporate different time periods of various countries.
One of the latest introductions to the Total War series, is Total War: Warhammer II or Warhammer 2. It focuses on the conflicts between the races in the New World and Ulthaun.
These races are fighting for the control of the Great Vortex. However, the Tomb King seeks to reclaim the Nine Books of Nagash. During the game, players will come across varies towns.
Players can choose what they want to do with the towns. This means that they can either occupy the towns or loot and occupy them, however, players will lose loyalty.
Additionally, they can choose to not occupy the town and loot everything. However, players can destroy the town to ruins for a chance to find a puzzle.
Total War: Warhammer II currently features four distinct puzzles: Cypher of the Old Ones, Dial of the Old Ones, Rubric of the Old Ones and Cuboid of the Old Ones. If players successfully solve a puzzle, they will receive various rewards.
It is important to note that some of the puzzles can be difficult to solve. Luckily, solving the puzzles will go faster if players follow certain mechanics.
