Hello again!
Thanks for the kind welcome to the forum.
I've started a computer animation and graphics company and it keeps me VERY busy most of the time. I even hired my first employee!! What he does exactly hasn't been defined yet, but he's the best paid coffee go-for in the world
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I read this forum consistantly though, as it is a great source of news and opinions. Not to mention a wealth of really good ideas.
I still have time to peruse the Warhammer world from the rules, the "fluff" to the inevitable number crunching. I've even started to read some of the "novels". Some very well done, some pretty darn horrible. It seems the game itself is as variable as any I've ever seen! Sometimes appearing contradictory and not well thought out... which confused me at first.
Then I remembered Justnorths comment and it began to sink in.
The variability of the rulebooks... the army books through the games life appears to prove Justnorths hypothesis to be at least partially true. What seemed at first glance to be the time honored way of refining a rules-set now appears to be a long series of "one-upmanship". Leap-frogging one army after another in order to sell essentially the same old thing. After all, even a small shift in the rules or adding a new "special character" can upset the balance of an entire army. The acrid smell of an "Army of the year" is definately in the air. Marketing to be sure, but we really can't fault the company... that's what they do to stay alive.
As a last comment about the Landsknechts. They were originally hand-picked "Mercenaries" used by many nations (especially in the Holy Roman Empire). Solid troops with a certain "dash" about them. It is also true that ANY army long in the field would look nothing like it did before it's very first battle. Certainly in the era before industrialization and common uniforms. "Face-to-face" combat of massed troops is unlike anything seen since at least WWI and I would say even then nothing like the age before firearms. So every army would look like garbage, elite or not even after ONE battle.
The landsknechts were from an era of "parti-colored" clothing. When "borrowed" from captured stores or the newly dead, they did indeed need to slash and tie the clothing together in order to make it fit... just as every army preceding them... including Hannibals army in Italy. Sources of the time couldn't tell Hannibals men from the Romans they fought against... as would surely be true after 20 years of campaigning in the enemies territory. What is represented by the figures is not what they would have looked like in the field. What they represent, in fact, is the civilian populations affectation for their dress. It became a fashion. So, many Nobles adopted it and many of the wealthier Landsknechts also purchased purpose made "slashed" clothing to boost their status. How many people today or at least a few years ago were buying purposely "worn-out" 100$ jeans!?
However, this wasn't my point exactly.
When you look at the figures of the other armies and look back to our poor empire, I at least, find them sorely lacking. The figs just don't look like the best humanity has to offer. The core troops of the empire, from every piece of art, to everything I've read are considered tough, hardened, and professional soldiers. I'd like to see this in the figures. Grim determination on the face is one thing, but the snaggle-toothed, shoeless "mob" I've been building just leaves me wanting. Especially when I see a friends beautifully painted "Chaos" army arrayed before me... and don't get me started on anothers Woodelves with an "Autumn theme" about them... stunning.
On the bright-side, the "new" Greatswords are proof that GW can make what I'm looking for, at least in part.
As to provincializing the core troops for the humans? I think this would be the easiest way to enhance variability in enforcing what's already built-in. Why not, for instance, have an army made up of Wissenlanders for their pikemen, Averlanders for their excellent horse, and perhaps, against a party of Darkelf Corsairs, some Northmen with a skill set nurtured on numerous battles fought against them on the beaches of their homeland?
The rules don't have to be expansive, just to add color. For instance, after my very first game (against the darkelves I might add) a friend and I over a beer (or three) decided that the DE's as they are, being very covetous of clan position or status, should have a few "variables". We decided that if a certain particular instance occurred on the table top, that the "Assassin" hidden in his troops instead of attacking the enemy special character, would, in fact, go after one of their own. Presuming this rare act would reflect the nature of the Byzantine politicking of the Darkelves. One simple die roll based on particular conditions.
As it so happens, I did try my "Tercio" idea as well during my second game (Which I won!!!). Very simple, a pike block of four lines of six and one additional row of hand-gunners "built-in", one trooper with a "Hochland". They got ONE shot if the enemy was within imminent contact (charging), then would drop back to the rear. Or, if the enemy stayed out of pike reach HG's would hang out and fire at them along with the 10 man HG detachment.
I peppered my enemy for two turns using the idea above before his warriors blood got up and he (Chaos) came at me despite their intended target (we had yet another rule about Khorne warrior blood-lust).
With some good roles, I happened to knock off his leader, then the rest impailed themselves on the pikemen. My detachments then went to work. The swordsmen on the flank really doing well. The downside? This particular player (my best friend) avoided my pikemen like the plague (no pun intended.) for the rest of the game. It did it's job though, holding the center so thoroughly, that I could optimize my flanks while he could not. Effectively funneling his army as he adjusted which made easy pickings for my cannon. It just so happens that I am the worlds best (luckiest?) judge of distance or so it was said around the table after the games. My aim was literally "uncanny" to say the least.
The Tercio idea didn't win me that battle, but it added flavor. We, as a group ARE thinking of having solid pike scare the crap out of the enemy, if not making them just think for a second... I smell a little die roll coming...
An additional "flavor" rule came about using "militia" troops. We made a little table to be rolled against when the unit first makes contact, or comes under a psychological effect. Either the roll has no effect and they respond as per normal, they become useless wrecks OR they become hardened warriors willing to die for their country! (With some benefits to boot). We think this makes militia a more worthwhile choice if your willing to risk it, an extra variable your enemy now has to think about, but most of all FLAVOR!!!!!
We are working on viable, though SIMPLE firearm skirmisher ideas. Perhaps a VERY rare troop choice of "Shutzen", highly trained skirmishers and marksmen... what this will consist of is a Hochland particular troop choice to start, the rest to be fleshed out later... though ideas abound, if only for the "color".
Again, another long posting, my apologies... not much I can do. ADD leads to extreme focus on things of particular interest. This game and it's world becoming one of them.
Thanks for putting up with me.
