Now Playing: Bretonnia (DLC)

Bretonnia is likely going to be the last major content update for Total War: Warhammer. And it’s free. Yes, free. The Bretonnia ‘race’ has existed within the game since release, but featured a rather small roster when compared to other factions, and were only playable in custom battles or multiplayer – not campaign.

This free DLC fleshes out the Bretonnia unit roster (including new units not even seen in the original tabletop game) and adds three Legendary Lords, each with their own unique faction bonuses, quest battles and starting location. It also introduces a unique Bretonnia building and technology chain, as well as unique faction mechanics and events.

For a piece of free content, it’s quite substantial. I’ve felt, particularly over the last few years, that the developers of Total War have earned a rather unfair reputation when it comes to DLC. Whilst their DLC policy has never been perfect (and I’ve often criticised it myself) they’re very good at releasing free, if small, content updates too. The quality of their paid DLC has also improved, even if I sometimes disagree with the pricing – see my Realm of the Wood Elves DLC review.

But Bretonnia is free, so pricing really isn’t an issue. And because it’s free, there’s really no reason not to try it. I played a single Bretonnia campaign over 12 or so hours, so you’re getting pretty good value even if you decide you don’t particularly care for the faction. Because like all the races of Warhammer, Bretonnia has a unique way to play, both in battles and campaign.

In battles, Bretonnian units are split between ‘peasant’ troops (on foot) and ‘knights’ (cavalry). No single peasant unit is comparable in terms of stats to similar units within other factions, but with the appropriate supporting units, leader bonuses and magical boosts, they can hold their line long enough to deliver the true killing blow of Bretonnia – the cavalry. Bretonnian cavalry may be the best in the game. I won’t say it is because I’ve not compared all the stats, but it really does pack one hell of a punch.

On the campaign, Bretonnia are all about ‘chivalry’ and the ultimate goal of the campaign is to attain 1000 chivalry and fight a final quest battle that will either take you deep into the greenskin occupied badlands, or to the treacherous chaos wastes of the distant north.

You earn chivalry by winning battles, researching technology, constructing key buildings and by earning unique traits for your characters. Expanding your territory – though important to maintain your upkeep and increase your available forces – isn’t strictly necessary.

It gives the Bretonnia campaign a slightly different focus compared to many of the others. In terms of campaign management, you have a ‘peasant economy’ which can dip into a negative if you recruit too many peasant units. It’s all about maintaining a balance.

As far as a free race goes, Bretonnia offers a decent new campaign, with a cool roster and some interesting and unique mechanics. And it’s free. I really don’t have too much to complain about. I can’t say I particularly loved playing as Bretonnia – as far as ‘human’ factions go, I still prefer the versatility of the Empire (although their campaign mechanics could certainly use an overhaul when compared to Bretonnia or the Wood Elves).

I enjoyed my Bretonnia campaign, but I’m not sure I’ll play as them again any time soon. But simply as an updated AI faction, they offer a nice balance to the west side of the map. So, yeah. It’s free. It’s decent. If you already own Warhammer, be sure to give it a spin.

7/10