Well, I have a bunch of Imperial guard classic minis that I have wanted to use for a long time, but I cannot get around a way that I feel consistently comfortable with having such an ecclectic bunch of minis such as Taniths, Valhallans, Catachans etcs mixing together, let alone with the 36 great coat shock troops of Wargames factory I bought before Christmas on a whim. Yup, pure miniholic stricking!
Anyway, I have looked into the Rogue Trader fluff and thanks to Lexicanicum feel comfortable with the idea of a Rogue Trader force based on the Imperial Guard Codex as being very fluffy indeed! I am even contemplating buying the Rogue Trader RP just as a fluff resource and inspiration.
This would also solve part of my fluff need for a fleet of warships to transport my Sister of Battle mission. The Rogue Trader have connections and deals with the Ecclesiarcy to aid in transport.
So my Rogue Trader is Count Nicolas van Rjin, belonging to the House of Van Rjin who own an old Warrant of Trade. The family have worked closely with the Ecclesiarcy on many occasions. The House own armed forces are made up of the Arma Classis, a force of soldiers raised on their homeworld Goethburgh and who serve on the ships of House Rjin in the capacity of Marines andman also complement the PDF on Goethburgh. Besides this core of soldiers, Nicolas also hire veterans of the Imperial Guard, singulary or as formations, sometimes even employing them permanently. This gives the forces a somewhat haphazard look, but also a mix of basic soldiery and hardened veterans.
Rumours talks about Van Rijn being in the process of giving volunteers and IG veterans further training in order to form his own force of Stormtroopers.
Nicolas is a man who knows very well how far he can strech his authority, even when in direct conflict with local imperial authorities and other Rogue traders. But he makes sure that regardless of which, he maneuvers so it is clear that the Imperium benefit from his actions.
How does that sound as background?
Having commisars will not really fit, but my Ibram Gaunt mini may be a perfect representation of Nicolas himself. Since he works with the church, priests would not be amis in his forces, and as a man navigating the spacelanes he appreciates the use of psykers.
Heavy support can be a problem, but some vehicles could work. But maybe only one Leman Russ, for example, or maybe just artillery and light armour as support. Walkers might not be amiss.
