Introduction: The Wild FrontierThe Border Princes is a wild realm fraught with peril where live is lived on the razor's edge. It is frontier land of brigands and mercenaries, a loose collection of city-states and fiefdoms which are under frequent assault by Greenskins and Beastmen.
Few of the Princedoms have the size to maintain standing armies, preferring instead to hire mercenaries to fight their battles.
Many mercenaries hail from the region and even more travel to the region from Tilea, the Empire and Estalia for the endless supply of work the Border Princes offers.Border Princes-themed Empire Army ListThe following is a Border Princes themed army using The Empire Army Book. It is a concept based on
this idea.
Mostly it is a only a guide and does not explicitly change the Army Book, save for a couple of optional units.
Included at the bottom are 8 house rules for those who want to follow the theme.
BORDER PRINCES GENERAL•General: may not ride griffon, no Ancestoral Heirloom rule, if the army's general one unit of Bodyguard may be taken as a Troops choice.
WIZARD LORD•Wizard Lord: if the army's general one unit champion may take 25 pts of magical items.
BORDER PRINCES CAPTAIN•Captain: may not ride a pegasus.
HEDGE WIZARD•WizardHALF-PIKEMEN•Spearmen: armed with half-pikes (spears) and light armour, may take shields for +1 pt/model or may be upgraded to Pikemen for +1 pt/model.
Theme Fluff: Pikemen are the most common professional soldiers in the Border Princes. Most are armed with half-pikes and shields but many carry the Tilean long-pike.SWORDSMEN•Swordsmen: may exchange shields for additional hand weapons for free, may take throwing knives for +1 pt/model.
Theme Fluff: Professional swordsmen are to be found in nearly every bawdy house and barracks in the Border Princes - drinking, gambling and duelling. Most are brash and daring but some are swift, calculating veterans.CROSSBOWMEN•Crossbowmen: may take light armour for +1 pt/model.
WOODSMEN•Free Company: armed with woodman's axes (halberds), may exchange woodman's axes for bows for free, unit may be upgraded to Bandits for +1 pt/model.
Theme Fluff: The Border Princes is a rugged frontier, much of which is covered by trackless forests. The woodsmen who make a life here must be prepared to fend off wild beasts and worse! Brigands and outlaws abound in the Border Princes and most travel must be undertaken in company and under guard. Notwithstanding, bandits will offer their services to enterprising generals at a price.BODYGUARD*•Great Swords: may take magic banner worth up to 50 pts.
*You may only take a Bodyguard if it is joined by a character.Theme Fluff: Bodyguards are hardened veterans who's sole responsability is to protect the life of their charge. They are heavily armoured in platemail and carry long-hafted battleaxes and bastard swords.HEAVY CAVALRY•Knights: may not take great weapons, may not be upgraded to inner circle knights and may not take magic banner.
OUTRIDERS•Outriders: armed with crossbows, the unit may exchange its crossbows for handguns for free.
Theme Fluff: Outriders are roughriders who act as scouts and vanguards for an army's advance. Off the battlefield they are arbitors who pursue fugatives and hunt-down outlaws and brigands.MORTAR•MortarCANNON•Great CannonTHEME RULE: BORDER PRINCESThe army may not include any of the following units: Emperor Karl Franz, Kurt Helborg, Grand Theogonist Volkmar, Balthazar Gelt, Grand Master, Arch Lector Ludwig Swartzhelm, Luthor Huss, Warrior Priest, Master Engineer, Handgunners, Archers, Pistoliers, Helblaster Volley Gun, Helstorm Rocket Battery, Steam Tank.
THEME RULE: MAGIC ITEMSMagic items may only be chosen from the Warhammer 8th Edition Rulebook. They may not be taken from The Empire army book.
THEME RULE: MERCENARIESThe army may not use the Detachments rule. However, Heavy Cavalry (Knights) and any unit with the State Troops rule except Bodyguard (Great Swords) may be upgraded to Mercenaries. Mercenary units have -1 Leadership but do not cause panic in other units.
THEME RULE: PIKEMENPikemen (Spearmen) fight in one extra rank (for a total of 4 ranks).
THEME RULE: WOODSMENWoodsmen (Free Company) have the Skirmishers special rule and cost +2 pts/model.
THEME RULE: BANDITSBandits have the Ambushers special rule but count as Mercenaries (-1 Leadership, don't cause panic).
THEME RULE: OUTRIDERSOutriders cost -3 pts/model. The Outrider Champion may not take any upgrades (appart from a handgun).
THEME RULE: CANNONThe Cannon is the smaller cannon in the rulebook and costs -25 pts.
