If you plunk your money down now, Electronic Arts will let you play Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning in about a month, if not a little sooner. In addition to announcing the official September 18th launch, the publisher says they'll let pre-orders start playing early. Note this is distinct from the open beta, which will let pre-orders muck around for a bit before resetting all their progress.

Players can now pre-order their copy of WAR to secure their spots on the frontlines with a special pre-order package that includes:

-- Open beta admission: Pre-order customers can experience the glory of battle and the thrill of [Warhammer Online] by participating in the open beta test.

-- Head Start program: Players can begin their adventures in the Age of Reckoning before the game's official launch.

-- Bonus in-game items: Players can equip their characters with two bonus in-game items by pre-ordering from select retail partners.

-- Universal Fighting System(TM) Battle Deck: The Emperor Karl Franz and Tchar'zanek, dread Champion of Tzeentch, go head-to-head in this exclusive collectible card game from Fantasy Flight Games. (Available in a limited supply from select retailers.)

Participating pre-order partners include Amazon.com, Best Buy, Circuit City, Direct2Drive, EAStore.com, EB Canada, EB Games, Fry's, Futureshop, GameCrazy, GameStop, GoGamer.com, and Walmart.com. (Pre-order offers will vary by retailer.)