History TabletopGame / IronKingdoms

''Iron Kingdoms'' is a fantasy setting created by the gaming company Creator/PrivateerPress. Originally designed as a campaign setting for the 3rd edition of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', it is now known chiefly as the setting for the two miniatures-based tabletop strategy games ''WARMACHINE'' and ''HORDES''.

A new version of the Iron Kingdoms RPG was released in 2012, using a modified version of the wargames' rules system and a 'dual-class' character-creation system. A quick-start introductory adventure can be found on the Privateer Press website, titled [[http://privateerpress.com/iron-kingdoms/downloads Fools Rush In]]. A sibling game has also been released in 2015, ''Iron Kingdoms Unleashed'' and covers the savage wilds of Immoren. It was originally going to be an expansion book for the 2012 game, but expanded beyond the scope of an expansion. A [[http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/146332/Iron-Kingdoms-Unleashed-An-Introduction-to-Savagery?src=newest free starter adventure]] for it can be found on DriveThruRPG.

On 4/11/2016, it was announced that the 3rd Edition of the game would be released on 6/29/2016. In 2021, a Kickstarter campaign [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/privateerpress/iron-kingdoms-requiem-5e was held to]] fund ''Iron Kingdoms: Requiem'' source books compatible with 5th edition ''D&D''.

* AlternateContinuity: Canonically, as depicted in ''Iron Kingdoms: Requiem'', the Battle of Henge Hold ended in victory for the Iron Kingdoms: the infernal threat was vanquished, the infernal masters were thrown down or driven off, and thousands of refugees made it through the gateway to the distant galaxy of Cyriss. In the ''Riot Quest'' (a board game whose models can also be used in a game of ''Warmachine'' and ''Hordes'') timeline, the infernals instead won the war and claimed their due, leaving behind a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

* BeliefMakesYouStupid: Averted and subverted with many of the faiths in this game.

* ConfrontingYourImposter: The rules say that if there's ever more than one of a character on the board, one is an impostor. With the one who dies or is on the losing side being the fake.

* DropTheHammer: Several examples, though the most prominent ones include Marcus "Siege" Brisbane and the Ironclad warjack.

** Subverted with trollkin bounty hunter Grim Angus, whose [[{{Magitek}} Alchemical]] Goggles allow him to [[GogglesDoSomethingUnusual see invisible enemies]].
** Also subverted with Khadoran Warcaster Kommander Strakhov and his Assault Kommandoes, who can see right through gas and cloud effects.
** A set of mechanikal goggles called Farsight Goggles is designed as a combination of night vision goggles and binoculars. The rulebook describes them as "[[VideoGame/SplinterCell a pair of heavy, three-lensed goggles with glowing green lenses]]".

* RobotWar: The main reason people pick up this game is for the giant robots to make the war upon one another.

* TheSoulless: The appropriately named Soulless of the Ios, caused by their race's faulty reincarnation cycle.

* ChainmailBikini: A number of examples, particularly among the Cryx. It has been expressly stated that the satyxis wear revealing armor in order to throw male opponents off guard. However, outside of the [[EvilIsSexy exceptionally evil]] and [[HumanoidAbomination magically mutated]] Cryx and Legion factions (I guess dragons have a thing for sexy female minions?), this trope is averted as often as it's played straight. [[https://1-media-cdn.foolz.us/ffuuka/board/tg/image/1339/98/1339984770286.jpg Take]] [[http://store.privateerpress.com/ProductImages/prints/andrea/MkII_Haley.jpg a]] [[http://i.imgur.com/vWgPClY.jpg look.]]

* EvilIsSexy: An in-universe example in the Cryxian Warwitch Sirens, who have actually ''weaponized'' their sexiness. Same deal with the Satyxis from the same islands.

* PigMan: The farrow, full [[IncrediblyLamePun hog]]. They're much less anthropomorphic than some examples, with hulking forms, elongated and foreward-jutting necks, trotters for feet, fully porcine heads, bristly hides and pig tails.

* BladeOnAStick: Most factions have an example of this trope, though the most note-worthy would probably be:
** Cygnar -- the Storm Guard's halberds can discharge a bolt of electricity after hitting you.
** Khador -- the Iron Fang Pikemen carry around lances which can explode upon impact.
** Menoth -- the Temple Flameguard can set things on fire by stabbing them with their spears.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Garrick Voyle, who was literally invincible under Menoth's blessing.

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority:

* MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers: Represented by the Animosity rule, which prevents certain models from being taken in the same army. Specifically, Alexia Ciannor and Thamarites don't work with Morrowans; Viktor Pendrake, Lynus Wesselbaum and Edrea Lloryrr don't like Saxon Orrik.

* OneSteveLimit: Averted. Dawnlord Vyros and Eldritch Lord Vyros frequently cause confusion when new players discover them. It doesn't help that both of them are elves from the same nation. Played straight with Viktor Strakhov, who was renamed to Oleg due to the pre-existing Viktor Pendrake.

** High Exemplar Gravus has himself a flail with ''four'' heads and Kreoss had one when he was High Exemplar. One of the [[WeaponOfChoice Weapons of Choice]] of Menite forces.

* AwesomeMcCoolname: ''Drake [=MacBain=]''

* AnAxeToGrind: Tharn ravagers, Kromac the Ravenous, and quite a few people/warjacks/warbeasts from the Khador and Trollblood factions all wield oversized axes as their primary weapon.

* CombatTentacles: The thrullg, the Legion warbeast Proteus. Turned up to Eleven by the Throne of Everblight and Kraken.

** Taken UpToEleven in the AlternateContinuity Riot Quest takes place in. In the midst of fighting so fierce it shredded his warjack body, and even claimed the infamous Cryx monstrosity known as the Deathjack, Karchev used the steel stump of his one remaining prosthetic limb to drag himself to the Deathjack's wreck and install its [[ArtifactOfDoom Skulls of Hate]] into his own body so he could continue fighting

** High Paladin Dartan Vilmon takes it [[UpToEleven to a whole new level]] with his Impervious Wall stance; for the same cost, he becomes immune to knockdowns and non-magical attacks. Combine the two and he can neither move nor attack, but he ''will'' hold his position against a small army. When Vilmon has Impervious Wall and Stone-And-Mortar Stance active he has armor higher than all but the most powerful of Warjack's and is immune to almost every weapon capable of getting through it.

* The above-mentioned ''Infernals'', evil non-corporeal entities from the darkest corners of Urcaen the Outer Abyss. These are specifically of the Nonokrian Order, one group of Infernals among many which compete against each other, and against the gods, for souls. Basically TheLegionsOfHell. Barred from just entering Caen, they typically gain influence on the mortal world via a DealWithTheDevil. The Nonokrion Order gained a foothold on Caen after one such deal centuries ago, and now they invade to claim their due: two-thirds of Humanity.
* The ''Orgoth'', the ancient oppressors of Western Immoren who were driven back centuries ago, have now returned. They have been aided by Fellgoth order of infernals, rivals to the above-mentioned Nonokrian order. Learning from their past defeat, they developed their own version of mechanika, fuelled by dark magics and tormented souls. Having developed their own infernally-tainted warjacks and technology to rival the Iron Kingdoms, the Orgoth seek to redress their defeat from centuries ago.

** Original Colossals that the Human kingdoms built to overthrow the Orgoth became so after the war. As the high cost of building and maintenance led to them being replaced by smaller, cheaper, and more numerous warjacks.

%%* NiceHat: Lots of people have one.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: The minis game has 64 warcasters (including the three-character Witch Coven) and 51 warlocks, all of whom have have shown up in the story at one point or another. There are even more non-warcaster/lock characters whom show up in the story, though they tend to have less of an influence on the plot. The RPG has even more characters than its mini counterpart (obviously).

%%

* The above-mentioned ''Infernals'', evil non-corporeal entities from the darkest corners of Urcaen the Outer Abyss. They are organized into orders, which compete against each other, and against the gods, for souls. Basically TheLegionsOfHell. Barred from just entering Caen, they typically gain influence on the mortal world via a DealWithTheDevil. A specific group of Infernals known as the the Nonokrion Order gained a foothold on Caen after one such deal centuries ago, and now they invade to claim their due: two-thirds of Humanity.

* The above-mentioned''Infernals'', evil non-corporeal entities from the darkest corners of Urcaen the Outer Abyss. They are organized into orders, which compete against each other, and against the gods, for souls. Basically TheLegionsOfHell. Barred from just entering Caen, they typically gain influence on the mortal world via a DealWithTheDevil. A specific group of Infernals known as the the Nonokrion Order gained a foothold on Caen after one such deal centuries ago, and now they invade to claim their due: two-thirds of Humanity.

* The above-mentioned''Infernals'', evil non-corporeal entities from the darkest corners of Urcaen the Outer Abyss. Basically TheLegionsOfHell. They feed on souls, which they typically require via a DealWithTheDevil. They are organized into orders, which compete against each other. A specific group of Infernals known as the the Nonokrion Order gained a foothold on Caen after one such deal centuries ago, and now they invade to claim their due: two-thirds of Humanity

* The above-mentioned''Infernals'', evil non-corporeal entities from the darkest corners of Urcaen the Outer Abyss. Basically TheLegionsOfHel. They feed on souls, which they typically require via a DealWithTheDevil. A specific group of Infernals known as the the Nonokrion Order gained a foothold on Caen after one such deal centuries ago, and now they invade to claim their due: two-thirds of Humanity

* AnimeHair: Many Cygnarans. Commander Coleman Stryker, whose hairstyle resembles a lit match, is both a particularly egregious example and an in-universe trend-setter. The elves of the Retribution of Scyrah also have hair the [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair color of which you'd only find in anime]]. [[BaldOfEvil Assuming they don't just shave it all off]]. Partially justified, however, because Cygnarans tend to spend a lot of time near arcane energies, electricity, or both at the same time. The in-universe reason Commander Adept Nemo has Albert Einstein's hair is because of the gigantic tesla coil powering his armour that's mounted right behind his head.

* WeirdScience: Not much of the technology in the Iron Kingdoms is ever explained very well and the small bits of info we do get don't make very much sense either. For example; the most we know about how steamjacks work is that a conventional (albeit highly-efficient) boiler provides steam pressure to move the body as well as drive a device called an arcane turbine. This turbine spins canisters of certain alchemical compounds that react to the movement and each other, turning the motive force of their spinning into arcane energy that powers the "jack"s cortex and any mechanikal weapons attached to it. Once the cortex is "awake", it takes over finer control of the body -- directing steam pressure to move its body as well as controlling an iris mechanism that regulates the rate coal is dropped from a hopper into the tinder box, letting the 'jack control the temperature and pressure of its boiler. This is the most detailed any fluff has gotten on the tech of the Iron Kingdoms and even this is spread out between at least one article in No Quarter magazine and fluff from the old d20 RPG. Even then, it says nothing about how the cortex works, merely how it's powered.

* DivingSave: The "Self Sacrifice/Sacrificial Pawn" rule on some units/models in the minis game. Special mention for the "Sucker!" ability as well, a DistractedByTheSexy flavor possessed by models such as First Mate Hawk and Madelyn [[FanNickname "The Whore"]] Corbeau.

** High Paladin Dartan Vilmon takes it [[UpToEleven to a whole new level]] with his Impervious Wall stance; for the same cost, he becomes immune to knockdowns and non-magical attacks. Combine the two and he can neither move nor attack, but he ''will'' hold his position against a small army. When Vilmon has Impervious Wall and Stone-And-Mortar Stance active he has armor higher than all but the most powerful of Warjack's and is immune to almost every weapon capable of getting through it. [[MemeticBadass Fans don't refer to him as]] [[FanNickname Superman]] [[MemeticBadass for nothing.]]

* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: Mr. Walls has a little monkey companion that helps distract his enemies in melee combat.

* AllTrollsAreDifferent: Trolls in the Iron Kingdoms are generally split into four categories (fullblood, pygmy, dire, and trollkin), but all of them adhere to a few basic distinguishing features including thick and hairless skin, four fingers and toes, no noses, short spines growing out of their heads and rock like stubble that pokes out of various places on their bodies. Trollkin can be seen as the [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]] of the setting (pygmy trolls can be seen as [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent another kind of goblin]]), and trollkin and pygmy trolls are both as civilized as humans are, although the latter seem to have a curious aversion to pants if the models and artwork are any indications.

%%* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler: Deneghra, Baulder and the Harbinger.]] As of ''Warmachine: Tactics'' [[spoiler: Dalin Sturgis joins this list, coupling it with a case of CameBackWrong.]]

%%* FortuneTeller: Calandra Truthsayer.

%%* GhostPirate: The Cryxian Revenants, complete with their own {{Ghost Ship}}s.

%%* HeroicLineage: Vladimir Tzepeci.

%%* HiddenEyes: Mohsar and Lylyth.

%%* LightningGun: Cygnar exclusive.

* NayTheist: The skorne know that gods exist. They just don't have any of their own, and view worshipping gods as a weakness, and in fact, held the Iosans' dependence on their gods against them for several millennia before the current storyline.

* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: The Circle's Warpwolves are more protean than most: in addition to shifting from human to wolf forms, they can also mutate themselves to be stronger, faster, or tougher from moment to moment. There are also Warpborn Skinwalkers, who are smaller and less powerful than Warpwolves but also have much more control on their shapeshifting ability.

%%* SoulJar: Cryxian Soul Cages.

%%* StarCrossedLovers: [[spoiler: Vladimir and Sorscha.]]

%%* SuperSpit: Most "elemental" light troll warbeasts do this.%%Do what?

%%* VainSorceress: Morvahna.

%%* WickedWitch: The Old Witch of Khador.
%%* WitchDoctor: All of the Gatorman warlocks.
* WitchSpecies: Unlike the other races, all skorne have the potential to use magic in the form of mortitheurgy. As a result, in the RPG, in contrast to characters of other races can only have an ARC stat or take magic careers if they have the Gifted archetype, skorne non-Gifted characters start with an ARC stat of 1 and can take magic careers as long as they meet the prerequisites (the only exception being the Extoller career). A skorne character with the Gifted archetype is either a particularly powerful individual or one who committed early to the study of magic.
%%* WormSign: The Skorne razor worm.

* BaldOfAwesome:
** The Butcher of Khardov. Able to scrap a warjack with relative ease. Tougher than most non-Khador 'jacks. He got his name by slaughtering the entire militia of the village of Boarsgate, [[BaldOfEvil as well as the troops he brought with him.]] By the time he was finished, the rats had to jump from body to body to avoid drowning in the blood.
** Baldur the Stonecleaver -- a druid so good at making living golems that his masterwork actually has limited sentience and regenerates. He hates Everblight so much that he came back from the dead just to punch more abominations in the face.

* BadassBeard: Harkevich's beard reached meme status on the forums before he was released. Incidentally, he shares this characteristic with Bartolo "Broadsides Bart" Montador, in addition to their common signature spell [[MoreDakka Broadside]]; this prompted people to jokingly assume the beard was a requirement to master the spell. Sadly, this trope was not a requirement for learning Broadside in the RPG.

* BiggerIsBetter: Khador is suffering from a shortage of critical components used to create cortexes ([[{{Magitek}} magical brains]] which are required to create a warjack). This leads them to build warjacks that are ''very'' heavily armed and armored so that they won't have to replace them as often.
%%** Colossals are apparently a case for this.
%%** Gargantuans, Hordes' equivalent to the Colossals too.

* TheButcher: Orsus Zoktavir, the BUTCHER OF KHARDOV.

%%* DeathSeeker: Gudrun the Wanderer.
%%* DefeatMeansFriendship

* LaResistance: Llael has one.

%%* MageKiller: Retribution's purpose.%%Is?

* OurDragonsAreDifferent: At the EldritchAbomination level; a dragon's true form is just a sentient crystal called an athanc, but this crystal possesses nigh-RealityWarper powers. And they're freaking huge. There are also the various species of drakes, which are natural animals with relatively large size and resemblance to dragons though still far smaller than them.

%%* PublicDomainCharacter: {{Dracula}} (sort of).

%%* StandardFantasyRaces: Humans, elves are Fairies, dwarves, goblins, trolls and ogres.

* TeamSwitzerland: Rhul. Outside of inter-clan feuds which happen semi-regularly, the only battle the Rhulic nation fought against foreigners was an Orgoth assault on Horgenhold. Otherwise, the Rhulfolk have maintained their neutrality in the affairs of humans for millennia.

%%* TheWhiteHouse: Cygnar, Khador, Cryx, the Protectorate and Ios each have their own version.

%%* WindsOfDestinyChange: Primary magic of vlad, but Calandra Truthsayer just runs entirely on this.

%%* WolfMan: Warpwolves.