The Golden Order

	The Golden Order
	General data Type Major Faction Category The Empire Ruler Balthasar Gelt Campaigns Mortal Empires Territory Starting territory Mortal Empires Solland Distinct features The Wheel of Magic Suitable Climate: Mountain Armour: +10 for all units Hero capacity: +2 for Battle Wizards Upkeep: -50% for Battle Wizard Heroes

The Golden Order is a playable faction of The Empire introduced in Total War: Warhammer II. It is led by Balthasar Gelt and can be found in the southern parts of the Empire, close to the Dwarfs, Greenskins and Skaven.

The Wheel of Magic

Balthasar Gelt came to Altdorf from the city of Marienburg, having bought passage on a merchant ship with gold that he had transmuted from lead ingots. He left the seaport for the Colleges of Magic before the effects wore off, and now rumours abound that the swindled sea captain has placed a rich bounty on Balthasar's head - though few would dare attempt to collect it.

The transmutation of common artefacts into precious metal has always fascinated Balthasar. Driven by his obsession, he spent many years combining his knowledge of alchemy, learnt in far-off lands, with the magical Lore of Metal. Balthasar's fierce intelligence lent him a greater understanding of this branch of magic than any of his fellow students or tutors, and he rose quickly through the ranks of the Gold Order. Within a mere decade, Balthasar had become the Patriarch of the Golden College, the youngest wizard to ever hold the title.

Balthasar's research into new formulations of black powder even made him popular with the Imperial Engineers School, an organisation that often dismisses magic as superstitious nonsense. However, during these studies, a freak explosion almost ended Balthasar's quest for knowledge forever. Somehow he survived, and from that day on he has only ever been swathed in shimmering, metallic robes and wearing a golden face mask. Some say that beneath that mask his skin has turned to pure gold, while others whisper that he is horribly disfigured, though the truth of the matter is known only to Balthasar. One thing is certain: the accident only furthered his will to succeed, and this determination increased his powers to new heights. With a single gesture, Balthasar Gelt can transform his enemies into lifeless golden statues or turn their bones into molten iron. With such power at his command, Balthasar has secured victory for the Empire on numerous occasions.

Playstyle

• Colleges of Magic: Harness multiple Lores of Magic to bolster the Empire's strength and destroy its enemies.
• Imperial Authority: Develop authority within the Empire by engaging in internal politics and quelling problems to enforce confederation, vassalage or war.
• Summon the Elector Counts: Secure the fealty of the Empire's Lords to govern or take over by force, assigning new, more loyal Elector Counts.
• Well-rounded unit roster with a wide range of magical Lores and war machines.

Campaign

The powerful Gold Wizard, Balthasar Gelt, has been sent to the southern border by the newly-crowned Emperor, Karl Franz. Although he has recently fought Greenskins around Altdorf, a further Greenskins threat has emerged to the south, in the old, ruined province of Solland. The Golden Order will continue to show its superiority over its peers; while Franz strengthens his position in court, Gelt plans to stabilize the Empire through might and magic.

Starting Territory

Mortal Empires start position

Campaign	Territory	Region
Mortal Empires	Solland Pfeildorf Winter's Teeth Pass Fort Soll	The Old World

Legendary Lords

Name	Faction Effects	Lord Effects	Starting Units
Balthasar Gelt	The Wheel of Magic Balthasar Gelt is the Supreme Patriarch of the Colleges of Magic. He has only ever been seen swathed in shimmering, metallic robes and wearing a golden mask. Suitable Climate: Mountain Armour: +10 for all units Hero capacity: +2 for Battle Wizards Upkeep: -50% for Battle Wizard Heroes	Transmuter "The Wind of Chamon will rise and blast any who get in my way!" Winds of Magic cost: -20% for Lore of Metal Missile strength: +10% for artillery units (Lords army) Hero recruit rank: +2 for Battle Wizards (factionwide)	1 Greatswords 1 Swordsmen 1 Spearmen 1 Crossbowmen 1 Outriders 1 Mortars

Victory Conditions

The Empire Victory

Short Campaign Victory

• Control all provinces of the Empire either by direct ownership or through vassals and military allies:

Nordland	Ostland	Hochland	Middenland	Talabecland	Ostermark	Reikland	Stirland	Averland	Wissenland	The Wasteland

• Reclaim Sylvania either by direct ownership or through vassals and military allies:

Eastern Sylvania	Western Sylvania

• Destroy the following faction(s):

Grimgor's 'Ardboyz	Crooked Moon

• Ensure that any military presence belonging to the following factions exists only in the Chaos Wastes region:

Warriors of Chaos	Warherd of Chaos

• Continue to expand your territory, ready for the arrival of Archaon the Everchosen.
• Ensure that Archaon the Everchosen is in a wounded state.

Long Campaign Victory

Same as the short campaign victory but with the following additions:

• Control any 7 of the following settlements either by direct ownership or through vassals and military allies:

Couronne	Altdorf	Castle Drakenhof	The Oak of Ages	Miragliano	Skavenblight	Kislev	Hell Pit	Karaz-a-Karak	Karak Eight Peaks	Black Crag
Lahmia	Khemri	Itza	Hexoatl	Naggarond	Lothern	Gaen Vale	The Awakening	The Galleon's Graveyard	Sartosa

• Destroy the following faction(s):

Beastmen

Diplomacy

Diplomatic Traits

When controlled by the AI, The Golden Order will have the following diplomatic traits:

• Underdog - Instead of trying to get to the top of their food chain, this one prefers joining a worthy faction in confederation.

Starting Treaties

The Golden Order will start with the following treaties already in effect:

• War:
  • Black Venom
  • Skull-takerz

Strategy

• The Golden Order plays similarly to traditional Total War factions, with diplomacy playing a major role in the initial stages of the campaign (uniting the Elector Counts with the strength of their arguments or the argument of strength) and strengthening the realm against future threats. Late game focuses on frontline affairs more strongly, as the Empire comes under attack from Chaos.
• This faction starts with a fractured Empire, whereby the provinces of the Empire are ruled by Elector Counts over whom the Emperor has tenuous control at best. However, this same situation also allows for plentiful confederation options that allow other Empire factions to be merged via diplomacy. Dwarfs are a vital ally in any Empire game, as they have generally non-overlapping territorial interests and can provide a strong boost to trade. Bretonnia is an excellent ally as well, but can also be dismembered and annexed for special building chains and raw income (eg. Couronne), while Southern Realms can also play that role. Notably, the Southern Realms and Bretonnia can act as a buffer for Beastmen and the Wood Elves of Athel Loren, which have a habit of stomping neighbors into the ground thanks to the edge they have in low tier battles.
• Numerous enemies, dissatisfied Elector Counts to the north, Chaos looming even further up, belligerent Orcs to the south, sinister Vampire Counts in Sylvania, vengeful treemen to the east and Beastmen all around. Bretonnia, Tilea, Estalia and the Border Princes can become your enemies should relations turn sour. Lastly, the Dwarfs and their heavily armoured warriors will stop at nothing to settle any grudges with the other factions, try not to put yours on the list. Reikland has a challenging strategic situation, especially under an AI player.
• Overall, The Empire is a very strong race in both singleplayer and multiplayer games. Infantry, especially Halberdiers and Greatswords, can hold the line well, but their ace in the hole is their war machine and cavalry catalogue. Imperial commanders can snatch up Demigryph Knights for wiping out enemy beasts and dealing with large armored threats (though fielding them against Bretonnian massed cavalry charges is a good way to get them killed) together with the Reiksguard shock cavalry (excellent against weaker opponents). The Steam Tank shines among other war machines thanks to its versatility (ram and artillery), with Karl Franz being very powerful (though prohibitively expensive in multiplayer games). Other Lord choices are good, especially Balthasar Gelt after the Lore of Metal improvements. Heroes like the Witch Hunter, Jade Wizard, and Warrior Priests round out the roster for single models, though they might be more useful on the campaign map than in battle.
• No flying units other than high level characters mean the Empire is effectively hamstrung when dealing with factions that love flying units, like Bretonnia, Wood Elves, or Vampire Counts. They have to deal with them defensively, using units such as Handgunners (accurate, high AP), Lore of Light, or the Luminark of Hysh to deal damage to the enemy. Combined with a trapping spell like Net of Amyntok enemy flyers need to be wary of wandering into imperial fields of fire.

Factions in Eye of the Vortex Playable Factions High Elves Eataine Order of Loremasters Nagarythe Avelorn Knights of Caledor Yvresse Dark Elves Naggarond Cult of Pleasure The Blessed Dread Har Ganeth Hag Graef Lizardmen Hexoatl Last Defenders Tlaqua Cult of Sotek Itza Spirit of the Jungle Skaven Clan Mors Clan Pestilens Clan Rictus Clan Skryre Clan Eshin Clan Moulder Tomb Kings Khemri Court of Lybaras Exiles of Nehek Followers of Nagash Vampire Coast The Awakened The Dreadfleet Pirates of Sartosa The Drowned The Empire The Huntsmarshal's Expedition Bretonnia Chevaliers de Lyonesse Greenskins Broken Axe Wood Elves Heralds of Ariel Minor Factions High Elves Caledor Chrace Citadel of Dusk Cothique Ellyrion Fortress of Dawn Saphery Tiranoc Tor Elasor Dark Elves Bleak Holds Blood Hall Coven Clar Karond Cult of Excess Deadwood Sentinels Drackla Coven The Forgebound Ghrond Karond Kar Scourge of Khaine Ss'ildra Tor Lizardmen Sentinels of Xeti Southern Sentinels Tlaxtlan Xlanhuapec Zlatlan Skaven Clan Fester Clan Gnaw Clan Mange Clan Mordkin Clan Septik Clan Spittel Tomb Kings Dune Kingdoms Numas Rakaph Dynasty The Sentinels Vampire Coast Vampire Coast Mutineers The Empire and Southern Realms New World Colonies Sudenburg Dwarfs Greybeard's Prospectors Karak Zorn Spine of Sotek Dwarfs Greenskins Arachnos Blue Vipers Leaf-Cutterz Tribe Top Knotz Vampire Counts Necrarch Brotherhood Bretonnia Knights of the Flame Knights of Origo Thegan's Errantry Beastmen Warherds Blooded-Axe Tribe Manblight Tribe Ripper-Horn Tribe Shadowgor Warherd Stone-Horn Tribe Wood Elves Bowmen of Oreon Norsca Aghol Mung Skeggi Skaeling Rogue Armies Abominations Beastcatchas Bernhoff's Brigands Black Spider Tribe Boneclubbers Tribe Celestial Storm College of Pyrotechnics Doomseekers Gerhardt's Mercenaries Heirs of Mourkain Hung Warband Hunters of Kurnous Jerrod's Errantry Army Mangy Houndz Mengil's Manflayers Morrslieb's Howlers Pirates of the Far Sea Pirates of the Southern Ocean Pirates of Trantio Remnants of Bregonne Scions of Tesseninck Stuff-Snatchers Tor Elithis Refugees Troll-Skullz Vashnaar's Conquest Vaul's Expedition The Wandering Dead Worldroot Rangers Wrath of Nature Rogue Pirates Bleak Coast Buccaneers The Boyz of the Forbidden Coast The Churning Gulf Raiders Freebooters of Port Royale Grey Point Scuttlers The Terrors of the Dark Straits The Tyrants of the Black Ocean Factions that only appear under certain circumstances The Final Battle Grey Seer Clan Ritual Interventions High Elf Intervention Dark Elf Intervention Lizardmen Intervention Skaven Intervention Ritual Interventions (Non-Player Factions) Unknown Skaven Clan Followers of Chaos Puppets of Chaos Servants to Chaos Vessels of Chaos Warband of the Crow Warband of the Eagle Warband of the Hound Warband of the Serpent Separatists Naggarond Cult of Pleasure The Blessed Dread Har Ganeth Clan Mors Clan Pestilens Clan Rictus Clan Skryre Vampire Coast The Dreadfleet Pirates of Sartosa The Drowned Har Ganeth Campaign Blood Voyage The Huntsmarshal's Expedition Campaign Children of the Old Ones Spirit of the Jungle's Vassal Defenders of the Great Plan Tomb Kings Campaign Black Creek Raiders Dwellers of Zardok Eyes of the Jungle Pilgrims of Myrmidia Vampire Coast Campaign The Sunken Land Corsairs Dragon Spine Privateers Middle Sea Brigands Shark Strait Seadogs Bretonnian Merchants Dark Elf Slavers Exotic Goods Hauler Norscan Raiders Chevaliers de Lyonesse Campaign Strygos Empire Rebels The Empire Dwarfs Greenskins Vampires Bretonnians Chaos Wood Elves Norscan High Elves Dark Elves Lizardmen Skaven Tomb Kings Vampire Coast

Factions in Mortal Empires Playable Factions High Elves Eataine Order of Loremasters Nagarythe Avelorn Knights of Caledor Yvresse Dark Elves Naggarond Cult of Pleasure The Blessed Dread Har Ganeth Hag Graef Lizardmen Hexoatl Last Defenders Tlaqua Cult of Sotek Itza Spirit of the Jungle Skaven Clan Mors Clan Pestilens Clan Rictus Clan Skryre Clan Eshin Clan Moulder Tomb Kings Khemri Court of Lybaras Exiles of Nehek Followers of Nagash Vampire Coast The Awakened The Dreadfleet Pirates of Sartosa The Drowned The Empire Reikland The Golden Order The Huntsmarshal's Expedition Dwarfs Karaz-a-Karak Karak Kadrin Clan Angrund Greenskins Grimgor's 'Ardboyz Bonerattlaz The Bloody Handz Crooked Moon Broken Axe Vampire Counts Sylvania Von Carstein The Barrow Legion Bretonnia Couronne Bordeleaux Carcassonne Chevaliers de Lyonesse Chaos Warriors of Chaos Beastmen Warherds Beastmen Wood Elves Talsyn Argwylon Heralds of Ariel Wargrove of Woe Norsca World Walkers Wintertooth Minor Factions High Elves Caledor Chrace Cothique Ellyrion Saphery Tiranoc Dark Elves Bleak Holds Clar Karond Cult of Excess Deadwood Sentinels The Forgebound Ghrond Karond Kar Scourge of Khaine Ss'ildra Tor Lizardmen Itz-Itza Tribe Sentinels of Xeti Teotiqua Tlaxtlan Wardens of the Living Pools Skaven Clan Ferrik Clan Fester Clan Gnaw Clan Gritus Clan Gritus Clan Kreepus Clan Mange Clan Mordkin Clan Septik Clan Spittel Clan Volkn Rictus Clan-Nest Tomb Kings Dune Kingdoms Numas Rakaph Dynasty The Sentinels Vampire Coast Vampire Coast Mutineers The Empire Averland Hochland Marienburg Middenland Nordland Ostland Ostermark Sudenburg Stirland Talabecland Wissenland Dwarfs Barak Varr Clan Helhein Greybeard's Prospectors Karak Azul Karak Hirn Karak Norn Karak Ziflin Karak Zorn Kraka Drak Spine of Sotek Dwarfs Zhufbar Greenskins Arachnos Black Venom Bloody Spearz Broken Chainz Broken Nose Creeping Death Crooked Moon Mutinous Gits Leaf-Cutterz Tribe Red Eye Red Fangs Scabby Eye Skull-takerz Teef Snatchaz Red Cloud Skull Crag Vampire Counts Lahmian Sisterhood Lahmian Sisterhood Mousillon Necrarch Brotherhood The Silver Host Strygos Empire Templehof Bretonnia Artois Bastonne Knights of the Flame Knights of Origo Lyonesse Parravon Thegan's Errantry Beastmen Warherds Blooded-Axe Tribe Jagged-Horn Tribe Manblight Tribe Redhorn Tribe Ripper-Horn Tribe Shadowgor Warherd Wood Elves Bowmen of Oreon Laurelorn Forest Torgovann Wydrioth Norsca Aghol Goromadny Tribe Helspire Tribe Mung Naglfarlings Skaeling Skeggi Vanaheimlings Varg Kislev Kislev Southern Realms Tilea Estalia Border Princes New World Colonies Savage Orc Tribes Blue Vipers Skullsmasherz Top Knotz Rogue Armies Abominations Beastcatchas Bernhoff's Brigands Black Spider Tribe Boneclubbers Tribe Celestial Storm Doomseekers Gerhardt's Mercenaries Heirs of Mourkain Hung Warband Hunters of Kurnous Jerrod's Errantry Army Mengil's Manflayers Morrslieb's Howlers Pirates of the Far Sea Pirates of the Southern Ocean Pirates of Trantio Remnants of Bregonne Scions of Tesseninck Stuff-Snatchers Tor Elithis Refugees Troll-Skullz Vashnaar's Conquest Vaul's Expedition The Wandering Dead Worldroot Rangers Wrath of Nature Rogue Pirates Bleak Coast Buccaneers The Boyz of the Forbidden Coast The Churning Gulf Raiders Freebooters of Port Royale Grey Point Scuttlers The Terrors of the Dark Straits The Tyrants of the Black Ocean Removed (Still appear in Vortex Campaign) Xlanhuapec Factions that only appear under certain circumstances Chaos Invasion Bjornling Puppets of Chaos Servants to Chaos Warherd of Chaos Reikland Campaign Empire Secessionists Har Ganeth Campaign Blood Voyage The Huntsmarshal's Expedition Campaign Children of the Old Ones Norsca Campaign Challenger of the Crow Challenger of the Eagle Challenger of the Hound Challenger of the Serpent Spirit of the Jungle's Vassal Defenders of the Great Plan Tomb Kings Campaign Black Creek Raiders Dwellers of Zardok Eyes of the Jungle Pilgrims of Myrmidia Vampire Coast Campaign Dragon Spine Privateers Middle Sea Brigands Shark Strait Seadogs Bretonnian Merchants Dark Elf Slavers Exotic Goods Hauler Norscan Raiders Warriors of Chaos Campaign Horde of the Ever-Watcher Aesling Baersonling Graeling Sarl Separatists Naggarond Cult of Pleasure The Blessed Dread Har Ganeth Clan Mors Clan Pestilens Clan Rictus Clan Skryre Vampire Coast The Dreadfleet Pirates of Sartosa The Drowned Rebels The Empire Marienburg Dwarfs Greenskins Vampires Bretonnians Chaos Beastmen Wood Elves Norscan Kislevite Tilean Estalian Border Princes High Elves Dark Elves Lizardmen Skaven Tomb Kings Vampire Coast