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Hi guys.


I want to start playing Warhammer 40k again, but to be honest I'm quite frankly rubbish at it. I've never won a game in my life, except if I'm playing a team game with someone else. So I've decided to try my luck at regular Warhammer. For some time I've wanted to create an army based on the theme of British Redcoats, with the Green Jacket Sharpe-esque light infantry and all. In 40k this is impossible, standing in line and getting shot at and gentlemanly taking your turn instead of blitzkrieging into the enmy lines in a rhino isn't really a good tactic.
With the release of Empire Total War my love of all things 18th century has returned, and Empire in Warhammer fits the bill, because A) They're the only "human" faction that has handguns and B) They're called "the empire" and C) A lot of their units fit the bill (knights as Life Guards, State Handgunners as Line Infantry, Mortars as, well, mortars).

However after a bit of research it seems that all handgunner armies and standing in line are cheesy; which considering that redcoats didn't really have much other unique points about them is quite annoying. Is it actually possible to create a realistic Redcoat army without being accused of being a fun-hating cheater who stamps on people's Rare units when they're not looking?

I usually find that if you paint something up really nice then people don't say anything about

Well, for starters, you're not telling everyone how much you like the fluff behind an army led by a bloodthirster, and full of pink horrors, flesh hounds, and flamers, so don't feel too bad

secondly, if you're a new player, people may not mind you fielding a slightly cheezy army. It usually balances out with your relative 'newness', but still gives you a fighting chance. If you find yourself winning every single game and people refuse to play you, you might want to reconsider, but until then I say play the army you like!

I wouldnt worry about cheese, just make an army that interests you cause your going to be building it and playing with them.

Your enthusiasm for 18th century armies may be satisfied more by just getting some historicals. Quality and cheap napoleonics are very common these days, you just can't play warhammer with 'em

jedi76 wrote:I wouldnt worry about cheese, just make an army that interests you cause your going to be building it and playing with them.

Your enthusiasm for 18th century armies may be satisfied more by just getting some historicals. Quality and cheap napoleonics are very common these days, you just can't play warhammer with 'em

The problem is where I live Historicals don't exist, the miniture playing market is literally OWNED by Games Workshop here. Though it sounds fun anyway, I guess if I look hard enough I'll find a historicals minitures place.

And converting empire state troops to look half disciplined might be a problem too, let alone finding a single horse that is un-armoured.

Luckly, I have an overwhelming surplus of red paint.


EDIT: I have an idea on how to make it less gunliney; Highlander regiments such as the Black Guard were used. I could use Highlanders in the guise of swordsmen, while kilts and tartan were banned back then and a lot of them had rifles, but considering they're facing off against Orcs, Elves and Demons I'd say historical accuracy won't be of much importance.

If you can convert a few swordsman to carry muskets and the like you can get nice looking highlanders without compromising warhammer wysiwyg.
As for cheese, the word is thrown around a lot lately and in my experience something is only cheesy until someone finds a way to consistently beat it. Gunlines arent cheesy any more.

Plank of Wood wrote:

And converting empire state troops to look half disciplined might be a problem too, let alone finding a single horse that is un-armoured.

Luckly, I have an overwhelming surplus of red paint.

Your best bet for unaroured horses might be forgeworld DKoK Deathriders if your willing to shell out for them, or regular Guard ones.

wood elves have unarmoured horses. high elves and dark elves have lightly armoured horses.

yes i don´t think a gunline army would be cheesy at all. it probably would be worse if you were carrying hockland long rifles in every unit (to snipe out enemy characters). with units of 10 that´s a lot of long rifles. admittedly would make your army better though

I also don´t think it would be overpowered as they can not move and shoot. makes it a very static army and very vunerable to flank attacks (as the redcoats probably were).

as for converting the ground troops maybe have a look at some bretonian models and non-handgunner models. if you make 2 ranks have the second standing at attention and the front kneeling.

hockland long rifles would also look better for muskets than the handguns. it don´t think it wouldn´t affect WYSIWYG as it is a themed army. besides everyone knows you can´t have units of long riflers

And converting empire state troops to look half disciplined might be a problem too, let alone finding a single horse that is un-armoured.

Luckily the newer (horrible) state troops look reasonably disciplined in their full-body-tights and codpieces. Its just 1 in 10 doesn't apear to have any shoes...

For unarmoured horses try pistoliers who are/could be easily converted to Cuirassiers (I'm not sure if this is the right period though ).