Mortal Empires Not Claimed

So, there I was, staring blankly at my monitor. Another 30 turns gone in my Vampire Counts campaign. Sylvania was secure, Bretonnia was… well, Bretonnia'ing. But something felt off. That little nagging feeling you get when you know you're forgetting something. Then it hit me. I hadn't even looked at Lustria. Lizardmen were probably having a rave, and Kroq-Gar was probably already on his way to conquer the Old World. And I was just… chilling in my gothic castle, sipping blood and plotting the downfall of, like, three dudes. Sound familiar? You know, that feeling of massive map, zero attention span?

That, my friends, is the tragedy of Mortal Empires: the realms not claimed. It’s the vast, untamed wilderness beyond our immediate concerns. And frankly, it’s a bit of a problem. We get so caught up in our little power struggles, our carefully planned offensives against predictable enemies, that we completely ignore half the darn map!

The Allure of the Familiar

Think about it. How often do you really venture beyond your starting continent? Sure, you might pop over to Ulthuan to kick some High Elf butt, or send a raiding party to the coast of Araby. But do you ever truly commit? Do you ever dedicate a full campaign to conquering the Southlands as, say, the Empire? Probably not. You're too busy dealing with those pesky Greenskins, aren't you? (And let's be honest, Karl Franz has way too much paperwork to be gallivanting around in the jungle.)

The problem is that the familiar is… well, familiar. We know the terrain, we know the factions, we know the optimal routes for our armies. It’s comfortable. Venturing into the unknown is risky. It means facing new enemies, adapting to new environments, and potentially suffering crushing defeats at the hands of… giant dinosaurs? Yeah, no thanks. Give me Grimgor any day!

The Undiscovered Potential

But here's the thing: these unclaimed realms are packed with potential! Imagine the riches to be plundered in the jungles of Lustria, the ancient secrets to be unearthed in the deserts of Nehekhara, the… uh… surprisingly pleasant beaches of the Dragon Isles (probably, I haven't actually been there). Each of these areas offers unique challenges and opportunities, forcing you to adapt your strategies and think outside the box. Think about the narrative possibilities!

Consider, for example, a Wood Elf campaign focused on expanding Athel Loren's influence into the New World. Suddenly, you're not just defending your forest from pesky humans; you're building new outposts, forging alliances with local tribes, and battling monstrous creatures in the heart of the jungle. That's exciting stuff!

Or how about a Skaven campaign where you establish a massive under-empire beneath the entire map, manipulating events from the shadows and unleashing your hordes upon unsuspecting settlements? The possibilities are endless! (Though, let’s be real, half the time you’ll probably just accidentally destroy your own settlements with warpstone, yes-yes?)

Breaking Free From the Old World

So, how do we break free from the allure of the Old World and embrace the unclaimed realms of Mortal Empires? It's simple: be bold! Choose a faction you've never played before, pick a starting location you've never considered, and commit to exploring the unknown. Don't be afraid to fail, don't be afraid to experiment, and don't be afraid to get completely and utterly wiped out by a horde of angry Lizards. (Hey, it happens to the best of us.)

More importantly, change your campaign goals. Instead of aiming for world domination (which, let's be honest, is a bit cliché at this point), set smaller, more focused goals. Maybe you want to establish a trade empire in the Southlands, or forge an alliance with every single faction in Naggaroth (good luck with that!). The key is to give yourself a reason to explore these unclaimed realms and experience everything they have to offer. What do you usually aim for?

Ultimately, the beauty of Mortal Empires lies in its sheer scale and diversity. It's a world full of possibilities, waiting to be explored. So, the next time you're starting a new campaign, take a moment to consider the realms not claimed. You might just discover your next favorite faction, your next epic adventure, or at the very least, a whole new set of enemies to conquer. Happy conquering!