How much do Imperials really hate Chaos or even know of it? Other than a few mutants, the occasional blasphemer, and beastmen (who are really no different from D&D orc's thematically), do Imperials really even have any clue about "chaos?" Do people run about thinking about ruinous powers, warpstone, and demons? Or, are those just dark fairy-tales, ANCIENT history and akin to the rumors of skaven? For example: Reiklanders are pretty isolated from the real world. Other than Altdorf and the occasional river barge, is it a hub of worldly knowledge?

What are the REAL troubles in the Reikland at this point in time to the average Burgher, Commoner, or Watchman?

Let's hear some opinions!

jh

IMHO, that's like asking how much the French hate the Germans even though it's only 1938.

We've had lots of past chaos trouble, the twin taled comet is in the sky, the Emperor has sent for help from Ulthuan and Athel Loren etc., Sigmar's priests rant for from their lecterns, witch hunters see mutants everywhere etc. etc.

Day to day, the business rival, bandit, etc. is more trouble - but hanging over it all...

The priests all know the ruinous powers plot, the zealots scream it, every disease outbreak is Nurgle at work (not imaginary rat-people), your political rival is obviously a cultist.

Emirikol said:

increased taxes for the burgher and commoner, increased crime as a result of increased taxes for the average Watchman. No really the centralized areas of Reikland has little to worry about from the threat of Chaos.

But as mentioned in the video the twin-tailed comet has been seen in the sky... a omen of ill-tidings. further harvests have failed and weather turns more and more unpredictable, and uncertainy sneaks into the hearts of women and men in the empire. something bad is coming.

Depending on how the GM will use that sense of a foreboding future you can scale the events as you see fit. full grimness equals increased banditry along the roads, nobles turn more and more corrupted as they seize as much they can before the storm, mutants and beastmen sensing the winds of chaos make more use of themselves. etc etc. and chaos culltists turn more and more bolder. their rank swelling by the weak and cowardly that see no hope for mankind, and try to get salvation at the stone effigies of the Daemon gods.

Note: that even if a Storm of Chaos is coming like the one before, FFG may turn it into something quite different depending on their deal with GW.

The introduction in WFRP core set states that there are rumors for a new chaos leader that is invading Kislev.

In Edge of Night [or was it in corruption rules in winds of magic] it is stated that citizens of the empire have been schooled about the dangers of warpstone since they were kids.

Emirikol said:

In my oppinion:

Standard citizen (commers) wory more about noblemen's abuse of power and how they're surposed to feed their family the comming winter.

Nobles/priests wory more about moving up the popularity ladder and finding dirt on their adversaries.

In short, I think chaos takes up very little space in the average Empire citizens mind, and humans have a tendensy to ignore dangers till it's banging on their door.

Pre-Storm of Chaos: "If ye don't wipe yer bum, you'll get daemons in yer bowels".

Storm of Chaos: "There's daemons coming down from the north, hurry up in the loo Gundred!"

Post-Storm of Chaos: "Daemons came from the north; now I think they're in me bowels".

Herr Arnulfe said:

Win

Sorry to bother, but how can you be so sure about the year 2521 ?

I was wondering myself why a history table was (and is) missing in the books. 'cause I'd like to know when I play

Think of it like this. In medieval Europe, no one was ever actually eaten by demons or witches. People's day to day worries were famine, disease and getting killed in some petty squabble thought up by the local Baron who wanted to tax a road.

BUT, just try showing up in the town square and announcing that you were a demon-worshipping witch. There would be a huge festival to celebrate burning you at the stake in the blink of an eye...

Grashnak said:

People in the pre-SoC Old World do get eaten by daemons and witches though. It just occurs as isolated incidents, rather than en masse.

valvorik said:

That is the worst example anyone could quote in this situation. 1938 the french hated the german, they were arch enemies. The french german wars and the 1st WW were enough cause and have shed enough blood to let every french hate any german.

Chaos is for the nomal imperial citizen like the cold war for my generation here in Germany. Perhaps Germany pre 1988 is more like Kislev. You here your parents and grandparents talk about the big danger, but you have not witnessed any of it.

religion is deeply entrenched in society.

Priests in services are all burning brimstone and warnings about turning to sigmar.

mutants will be burned by the witch hunters, the local citizenry would be forced to watch such a public execution.

The average man or woman may not be a great source of accurate information. however they have been fed tales for years that make them *fear* chaos and anything that could possibly lead them into it. Some will naturally rebel against the teaching, but whilst there is no formal education, the average citizen 'knows' of chaos, but probably more from the temple of sigmar/ ulric than any formal schooling.

I think what you are miscounting is 'magic'.

Every person has heard the Cult (of Sigmar in specific, no doubt others as well) preach against behavior that encourages chaos.

No peasant can live 2 decades without seeing that child born with horns an a tail.

Without meeting the boy that can see into your mind, or the girl that can light things on fire.

Without seeing the sigmarites come in to fight and burn them.

Nobody lives two decades without seeing an assault of beastmen who push into the Reichland.

The snowstorms in July.

This is real to people. Chaos isn't the boogeyman that scares the children, and that you ignore once you are an adult. I don't know about 'hating' chaos, but its certainly believed in, and probably feared.

I don't think chaos affects every man every day, but I have no doubt that this it affects everyman.