Really, the expectation is that you’ve played this kind of game before and know the implications of your decisions, so anyone unfamiliar with the MMORPG universe will likely stumble through their first 10 levels or so. Fortunately, once you get the hang of it, the experience is rich and rewarding. You can embark on solo quests, start battles alongside other players, fight against other players, join guilds, start guilds, craft items, and explore the enormous (and beautiful) world.

The game’s main focus is realm-versus-realm and player-versus-player combat, where the two factions square off for control over important locations and items. This ends up feeling a bit like king of the hill with hundreds of allies and enemies. It’s fun, and it’s often marked by anticipatory standoffs and chaotic, frenzied battles. Since you’ll receive experience bonuses for killing sprees and capturing enemy areas, there’s plenty of motivation. Like any good MMO, Warhammer Online has an important social aspect, and you’ll find banter and advice filling the in-game chat at all times, even late into the night. Once you make friends, you can join groups or warbands to help fight your way through difficult quests while sharing the rewards and experience with your crew.