Total War: Warhammer III Walkthrough: Part 2, Karl Franz Empire Campaign (Immortal Empires)

This is part 2 of our Total War: Warhammer III campaign series, and the first of three Immortal Empires faction guides. It covers Karl Franz and the Empire from turn one in Altdorf through your first twenty turns, then the mechanics, units and long-term plan you need to win.

Total War: Warhammer III walkthrough: ← Previous part  |  Next part →

The whole series

Patches change the Empire often. The biggest recent change came with the Thrones of Decay update, which reworked how the Elector Counts and Imperial Authority work. This guide keeps numbers out and focuses on the plan. Check the tooltips in your version.

Is Karl Franz a good first faction?

He is the face of the series, but players disagree on how easy his start is. You face a civil war, a weak treasury and threats from several sides at once. If this is your very first campaign, try Kislev or Cathay first (see our beginner's guide), then come back to Karl Franz.

Start position: Reikland

• You start with Altdorf, the Empire's capital, in the province of Reikland.
• The rest of Reikland, including Fort Helmgart, is held by the Reikland Secessionists, rebels who want to break away. They are your first target.
• Around you sit the other Empire provinces, each ruled by an Elector Count. They are minor factions you want to keep alive and loyal.
• Reikland sits close to Nuln and Wissenland, so a strong Reikland helps protect the whole southern Empire.

The first 20 turns

1. Turn 1: Recruit a few units in Altdorf. Don't tear down the military buildings there; one popular player guide warns that many players demolish the training field and regret it later. Upgrade it instead.
2. Turns 1 to 5: March Karl Franz against the Secessionists. Guides commonly take Grunburg first, then push on to the rest of their towns and Fort Helmgart. Leave a second lord in Altdorf to recruit and guard the capital.
3. Turns 5 to 10: Finish the Secessionists and own all of Reikland. A full province lets you pass commandments and boosts public order and income.
4. Turns 10 to 15: Build your economy. Raise the main building in each settlement and add income buildings in the minor towns. Raise a proper second army.
5. Turns 15 to 20: Start helping the Elector Counts. Early threats often include Festus the Leechlord (Nurgle) and the Beastmen of Khazrak in the forests. Kill invaders in Empire lands before they take a count's capital.

Expect to lose an Elector Count or two early. It hurts, but you can recover their lands later.

Key mechanics

Prestige

The Empire uses Prestige as a political currency. You spend it on decrees and actions tied to the Elector Counts, including confederating them. Win battles and grow your empire to earn more.

Elector Counts and Fealty

Since Thrones of Decay, the Elector Counts system belongs to Karl Franz alone. Each count has a Fealty score. If it falls to zero, that count declares war on you. If it reaches the top, you get the chance to confederate them and take their lands and armies. Fealty now rises and falls based on clear causes, so read what each count likes and dislikes.

Imperial Authority

Imperial Authority measures how much the Empire respects your rule. Losing an Elector Count's lands drags it down, so retaking their cities matters. Keep it healthy and the whole system works for you.

Summon the Elector Counts

Once you control every Elector Count seat, you unlock Summon the Elector Counts, which calls their forces to fight for you. It is a late-game reward for uniting the Empire.

Who to fight and who to ally

• Fight: the Secessionists first. Then Vampire Counts in Sylvania to the east, Beastmen in the forests, and Chaos and Norscan raiders who come south.
• Ally or trade: the Dwarfs and Bretonnia are natural friends of the Empire. Trade agreements and non-aggression pacts keep your borders quiet.
• Protect: the Elector Counts. Don't take their land by force. Help them, raise their Fealty and confederate when the offer comes.

Units to build

• Early: Swordsmen or Spearmen as a line, Crossbowmen or Handgunners behind them, and Empire Knights for flanking.
• Mid game: Halberdiers against monsters and cavalry, Great Cannons and Mortars for big targets and blobs, and Reiksguard as heavy cavalry.
• Late game: Demigryph Knights, Steam Tanks and the Luminark of Hysh or Celestial Hurricanum war altars.
• Heroes: wizards add magic and damage, and Warrior Priests keep your line fighting longer.

The Empire wins with combined arms. A solid infantry line holds while guns and artillery do the killing.

Victory conditions

Every Immortal Empires faction has a short victory and a long victory. Open the victory conditions panel to see your exact list. For the Empire, both are about holding key settlements and defeating the Empire's great enemies. In practice that means uniting the Empire first, then pushing out against the threats around it. You can also go for a domination victory by conquering much of the world.

Tips for this part

• Finish Reikland before you go anywhere else.
• Keep a defensive army near Altdorf. Losing your capital early is very hard to recover from.
• Check Fealty every few turns. A count at low Fealty can turn on you while you're away.
• Bring artillery against Vampire Counts and Chaos. Their heavy units fall apart under cannon fire.
• Don't over-expand east before Sylvania is dealt with.

My take

Karl Franz is the campaign I always come back to. The early game is messy, but the moment you confederate your first Elector Count and the map turns blue, it feels earned. Just don't expect every count to survive the first 20 turns. Did you manage to save all of them?

FAQ

Where does Karl Franz start in Immortal Empires?

In Altdorf, the capital of Reikland. The rest of the province belongs to the Reikland Secessionists at the start.

How do I confederate the Elector Counts?

Raise a count's Fealty to the top. You then get the option to confederate them, which uses Prestige and Imperial Authority.

Is Karl Franz hard to play?

His start is harder than it looks because of the civil war and threats on several sides. Most players say he gets much easier once Reikland is secure.

What does Summon the Elector Counts do?

It calls the Elector Counts' forces to fight for you. You unlock it by controlling every Elector Count seat.

Total War: Warhammer III walkthrough: ← Previous part  |  Next part →