I love Hochland.
Why? I hear you ask? Is it because of the festive christmasy colours, the famous long rifle, the hunting tradition, the small size of the province or the fact that GW neglect it fluffwise compared to other provinces besides the mention of the Rifle?
It's all of these reasons.
The Red and Green is a wonderful scheme, and although some methods can make it look like christmas, overall it can look quite splendid. It can look similar to Altdorf, but differentiates itself with the green, and can still maintain the rich feel.
If some asks me 'What colour scheme is that' I reply Hochland. No one asks where that is, the famous Long Rifle's reputation precedes it. The Long Rifle is a potentially powerful weapon, and besides from a Nuln army, it is the only other army where it IS fluffy to take a lot of them.
The hunting tradition can lead to some interesting conversions, counts as, and themes. Nothing like using some dogs as Free Company, some Huntsmen as the jaegercorps and maybe even getting some hawkers or falconers.
Despite the small size of the province, it has a little bit of everything on the map. It has the middle mountains nearby, the howling hills, rivers, dense forests and many roads. There is a bit of space for farmland, and overall the province feels very localised and cozy. Hochland is situated roughly in the middle of the Empire - other provinces surround it meaning generally it is not the first to be attacked by an invading force.
GW's fluff for Hochland is lacking, and although a little disappointing, allows a lot of space for creativity. In general, the province is sparcely populated, and throughout GW's history have been both rich and poor. In 5th ed, Hochland was quite rich, and the illustration of the halberdier showed him in elaborate armour and flawless puff and sash. In 6th ed, GW decided to take the approach of a poorer province, populated mainly by woodsmen and hunters. However you can draw on what you want, and make the background fit the style you like.
Theming a Hochland army the way you want is perfectly acceptable. It is close enough to rich provinces to benefit from trade and military alliances, and far enough from the borders that it is not ravaged everytime an Orc Warlord gets annoyed that he locked himself out of his mountain stronghold. They can be poor farmers, woodsmen and hunters putting up a resistance, or the state mustering an army. Sigmarite priests wander the lands, and the poor as always flock to them, and equally Ulric is nearby with potential for a strong following. Taal is especially relevant, but regardless the Empire is polytheistic, and Hochland is no exception. You could even make a bandit army, or a road patrol force.
Beastmen make good hunting, and apparantly there was some fancy crown discovered nearby, so there are Orcs and Dwarfs running about too. Skaven can pour from the middle mountains, and the dead lie awaiting to be risen by a rogue Vampire or Necromancer.
The province has a bit of everything. They don't have overwhelming riches like Altdorf or Talabhiem, but they are not dirt poor like Stirland.
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HOCHENHIEM BACKGROUNDMy army comes from a mining settlement know as Hochenhiem. It sits at the base of the Middle Mountains, and goes deep underground to extract precious metals and gems. Food and supplies are purchased from local townships and villages, and can be stored in massive granaries and other suitable facilities within the mine. Should the local villages require protection, Hochenhiem offers its huge underground halls, and the protection of its professional army.
There are numerous Dwarfs living in Hochenhiem, the underground appeals to them, as does the promise of riches. Their expertise is invaluable in the maintenance and expansion of the mines. To attract fine engineers, a lot of money is spent securing Bugmans XXXX Ale, keeping the small population of Dwarfs VERY happy.
Hochenhiem also hosts an annual horse race through the more stable sections of the mine, which attracts racers and tourists alike from the old world and beyond. The
Purebreed 55 is an international event in which racial differences are set aside (to a degree) in the interests of a fair and profitable race. As such, a fairly large and well equipped army is employed to police tourists, gamblers, and racing entourages. This same force protects Hochenhiem during the non-racing season (During race season, there are more than enough racing 'entourages' topside to repel any threat to the race). It is not uncommon at any time of year to see strangely dressed foreigners investigating the track and the facilities at Hochenhiem for their interested annoymous financiers.
HOCHENHIEM PERSONALITIESRoderick de Berghe, Viscount of HochenhiemRoderick is a handsome man, and a born Hochlander. Born to the noble family of Dunstigfurt, the de Berghes had strong merchant ties, and Roderick was accustomed to meeting people from all across the Empire and beyond. Despite this early experience with foreigners, he did not get caught up in the romance of far away lands, and he kept a down to earth Hochland attitude, spending a lot of his youth honing his skills as an amateur hunter.
When Roderick came of age, he was, like the noble boys he had grown up with, accepted into the local Order of Knights of the Golden Griffon. Following tradition, he and some of the other young knights were tasked by the Grand Master to travel to the Middle Mountains and capture a baby Griffon. From the expedition, only 2 survived, Roderick de Berghe and Hayden Reifner. Roderick does not speak of what happened in the mountains, but it visibly haunted him for a long period after. When they returned to the Grand Master, it was revealed Roderick’s father had been murdered by a Dark Elf assassin posing as an elf merchant. Roderick quit the order, however for his courage and service he was granted permission to keep the hatchling.
Roderick spent the years after he quit the order managing his families lands and finances, re-establishing strong trade links with Wolfenburg, Talabhiem and Nuln, as well as tending to the griffon hatchling, training it, and gaining its respect. During the Storm of Chaos, Roderick led the retreat of many southern communities north to the Middle Mountains. A small mining colony near Breder was where they ended up, and the people sought refuge underground. This unorthodox exodus saved countless lives, and allowed some of Hochland’s military forces to re-group and launch a rear attack on the Chaos host during the Battle of Middenhiem. Commanding one of these forces was Roderick de Berghe. In the aftermath of the Storm of Chaos, Ludenhof saw the leadership potential in this man, and offered him a lucrative job, with responsibilities not as yet defined elsewhere in the Empire.
Hochenhiem, the small mining colony that Roderick and the southern Hochlanders had by chance stumbled across, had recently began to extract valuable minerals for use in the production of new suits of Full Plate Armour. Roderick, because of his strong trading ties and leadership credibility was given the title ‘Viscount or Hochenhiem’ and given the task of transforming this small mining outpost into a fully operational mine. Roderick was also given full authority over the protection of the mine and export of the mineral. Of course the mining operations would pay hefty taxes to the state, but full support of the state was given to decisions made by Roderick.
To defend Hochenhiem, and the interests of Hochland, many veteran state troops as well as the forces Roderick commanded during the Strom of Chaos were commissioned to Hochenhiem. With Roderick’s still strong ties with the Knights of the Golden Griffon, when the occasion calls for it, these noble knights will ride to battle beside their old comrade.
Andrej Ricard Wensiech, Grand Prolocutor of Truthto be completed
HOCHENHIEM ARMYPROFESSIONALS
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CONSCRIPTED
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ENTOURAGES
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