I play an army from Nuln, but not because I like artillery and handguns. I play Nuln because my local game store started a Mordheim campaign, and models had to be painted. I was playing 40k at the time, and knew I had a fantasy starter box in my closet with Empire troops. So I decided to do a Reikland warband, but needed it painted fast. I knew Nuln was in/near Reikland...So, black uniforms, bone hats, a little regimental color, flesh and metal....done.
My Nuln Warband won that Mordheim campaign and my captain returned to Nuln as the toast of the town. The Mordheim campaign was so popular that the local store decided to try Warbands next. So, the Nuln warband of Mordheim got expanded. Then the local store decided to do an escalation league, and the Nuln warband got even larger. Today I probably have 3500 points of Empire.
I don't play a standard Nuln force with lots of shooting. My army is more traditional Empire. Actually even more towards the close combat end of the spectrum. The reason for this is I say that my army is actually a Nuln Expeditionary Force, traveling the world in the name of Nuln (and looking for technology for the Gunnery school). Finding new technology keeps the army fed. So, my Nuln force has experienced a lot of attrition over the years. Thats why theres not a lot of cannon or handguns. I've started to add new models from different races as filler to create a "mob" or conscript look to my army.
When my army was in its infancy, during the Mordheim campaign, we had a message board to post challenges an stuff, and I used that board to write little stories about my warband, introduce characters, make challenges...just had a good time. When I would play it would be funny because people I didn't know would stop in to see the real life models of the characters from my stories, and watch my games- so they could see the transition from game to story. I still do that. When I play a game against someone from my local store, I always write a story bringing in key elements from the battle. I think it adds fun, excitement and motivation to the group.
The models of my army (specifically the models from my original Mordheim warband) have another meaning. for me. One of the players from that original Morheim campaign became a rival, and a very good friend. Our battles would always come down to the wire. Well, that friend passed away suddenly a short time ago, and at first I found it very difficult to play or even open my army cases. I really missed playing and laughing with the guy. I guess time heals, because I'm back playing and now my army is special to me because as I'm settting up, or playing, I see a specific model and laugh or smile because it reminds me of a specific game with him and the fun we used to have.
My friend's main army was Empire also, so we would have some nasty games. During one game we decided to do a campaign where Nuln was trying to secede and become independent. Altdorf (his army) was trying to stop them. Well he destroyed me, and as penance I had to field knights in my army painted up as Reikland Knights. In our alternative universe, the Reikland knights were there as observers for the Nuln army to make sure they did what they were told and no funny business. I also use Reikland knights on foot as my greatswords so it all kinda fit. I painted their detachments the colors of Altdorf.
Hope I changed everyone perspective about Nuln. Now maybe so many people, when they see my army, won't say "Nuln huh? Where's the steamtank, handguns and all the cannons?"
