Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

A few questions regarding the Imperial Guard Organisation:

1. Does the Imperial Guard follow a set formation such as: Crusade/Army Group, Army, Corps, Division, Brigade then finally Regiment?

2. Do certain worlds retain an element of control over their tithed regiments? For example, are regiments from one world permitted to fight together in a Corps or Division level in a fashion similar to the DKoK, Vostroyan Firstborn or the Saturnine Fleet.

3. How common is reinforcement? Often you hear that the IG Regiments are never reinforced and fight to destruction. However if Vostroya frequently reinforces it's regiments from the homeworld how common (or possible) is this practice?

And one regarding naming conventions:

4. Obviously, the Imperium is an Empire, lead by an Emperor - so it would naturally follow that the Guard is an 'Imperial Guard'. However, there have been Regiments with 'Royal' in their title. By extension this would denote that a 'Royal' (Not Imperial) Dynasty is in existence. If so, is this an indication that the Imperium does contain smaller 'Kingdoms' (Maybe a few planetary systems united under one governor ala Ultramar) who are left alone as long as they obey the wider Imperium?

 Warpig1815 wrote:
A few questions regarding the Imperial Guard Organisation:

1. Does the Imperial Guard follow a set formation such as: Crusade/Army Group, Army, Corps, Division, Brigade then finally Regiment?

It probably depends on the situation. I think generally "Regiment" is as big as it gets for any single, permanent field unit. But "Regiment" can mean different things/size depending on the type (infantry, armour, artillery, cavalry, drop, mechanised, etc) and also it'll depend on where it's from - which world it was raised on, to the point where you can pretty much make anything work for your particular needs. In general though, the Departmento Munitorum will appoint/elect Generals to lead larger forces which will be made up a load of different Regiments, which is where your Divisions/Army Groups/etc will come into it.

2. Do certain worlds retain an element of control over their tithed regiments? For example, are regiments from one world permitted to fight together in a Corps or Division level in a fashion similar to the DKoK, Vostroyan Firstborn or the Saturnine Fleet.

I don't think the world of origin retains any control or command over its tithed troops, no. Once they're shipped out they belong to the Departmento Munitorum, to be assigned and used as they see fit in service to the Emperor. Of course, multiple Regiments raised for the same mustering can be shipped off together and deployed together, sure. However, Regiments can be split up, merged, dissolved, etc... again as the DM sees fit. When it comes down to it the fluff is fairly flexible and you're free to pretty much do what you want.

3. How common is reinforcement? Often you hear that the IG Regiments are never reinforced and fight to destruction. However if Vostroya frequently reinforces it's regiments from the homeworld how common (or possible) is this practice?

Again, this can be as flexible as you need it to be. If you want your Regiment to be reinforced with replacements from the same world part-way through a campaign? Fine. You want them to take on replacements from other worlds? Go for it. You want them to be merged with another under-strength unit? Great. You can make it fit for your own needs.

And one regarding naming conventions:

4. Obviously, the Imperium is an Empire, lead by an Emperor - so it would naturally follow that the Guard is an 'Imperial Guard'. However, there have been Regiments with 'Royal' in their title. By extension this would denote that a 'Royal' (Not Imperial) Dynasty is in existence. If so, is this an indication that the Imperium does contain smaller 'Kingdoms' (Maybe a few planetary systems united under one governor ala Ultramar) who are left alone as long as they obey the wider Imperium?

Once more, you free to pretty much do what you want. The IoM is so monumentally vast, with such a diverse number of worlds and IG regiments, all with their own cultures, tactics, naming conventions, rank structure, languages, etc... the possibilities are endless. Abnett has the Royal Volpone in his Gaunt's Ghosts series - a Guard Regiment from such an affluent, privatised world/culture they all have carapace armour and hellguns! So, go wild.

@Anfauglir - Royal Volpone was the example I had in mind Many thanks for the answers - I already had an inkling that 'anything goes', but I like to keep within the acceptable boundaries of the fluff so it was good to hear that my questions aren't too far out there. Cheers.

 Warpig1815 wrote:
A few questions regarding the Imperial Guard Organisation:

1. Does the Imperial Guard follow a set formation such as: Crusade/Army Group, Army, Corps, Division, Brigade then finally Regiment?

2. Do certain worlds retain an element of control over their tithed regiments? For example, are regiments from one world permitted to fight together in a Corps or Division level in a fashion similar to the DKoK, Vostroyan Firstborn or the Saturnine Fleet.

3. How common is reinforcement? Often you hear that the IG Regiments are never reinforced and fight to destruction. However if Vostroya frequently reinforces it's regiments from the homeworld how common (or possible) is this practice?

And one regarding naming conventions:

4. Obviously, the Imperium is an Empire, lead by an Emperor - so it would naturally follow that the Guard is an 'Imperial Guard'. However, there have been Regiments with 'Royal' in their title. By extension this would denote that a 'Royal' (Not Imperial) Dynasty is in existence. If so, is this an indication that the Imperium does contain smaller 'Kingdoms' (Maybe a few planetary systems united under one governor ala Ultramar) who are left alone as long as they obey the wider Imperium?

1. The IG codexes have at various times mentioned how it varies massively across the imperium, but the foundation structure remains the regiment.
2. No. IG forces are completely separate from PDF. However, larger regimental structures made up of single world origin have been shown at various times in the fluff.
3. Varies depending on your fluff. Reinforcements aren't exceptionally plausible however, but neither is single raising of regiments. Is possible that IG could use regiments as a non-organizational unit structure (similar to some modern armies), but that is contrary to most of the established fluff. Typically a regiment fights until it retires or dies. There are exceptions, and some see so little combat they're able to breed their own replacements.
4. Individual planets across the Imperiaum have their own government structures, almost universally including hereditary nobility. Governors often have separate planetary titles. The Imperium is administered primarily as a feudal structure, and the administration doesn't much care what planets do as long as they pay the tithe and don't make trouble.

The Emperor is both an Emperor and a King, as shown by the inscription upon the sword of the EC/Sigismund which reads "Imperator Rex" which means Emperor King, which was used in Britain once we conquered India (Or Imperatrix Regina for Queen Victoria). Having said that, the Emperor isn't a king because he didn't inherit his empire, he conquered it. If he were human and passed it to his son, his son would be IR as a member of the Royal family but as there is no royal family it makes it wierd.

The real reason is that its modelled off British army, being a british company, and many british regiments are named "Royal" something such as "Royal Engineers" for example. Its just the writers using their limited knowledge of the military.

 Deadshot wrote:
The Emperor is both an Emperor and a King, as shown by the inscription upon the sword of the EC/Sigismund which reads "Imperator Rex" which means Emperor King, which was used in Britain once we conquered India (Or Imperatrix Regina for Queen Victoria). Having said that, the Emperor isn't a king because he didn't inherit his empire, he conquered it. If he were human and passed it to his son, his son would be IR as a member of the Royal family but as there is no royal family it makes it wierd.

The real reason is that its modelled off British army, being a british company, and many british regiments are named "Royal" something such as "Royal Engineers" for example. Its just the writers using their limited knowledge of the military.

That's the bit I was struggling over, because a Royal Family is different from an Imperial Family. I hadn't made the British Empire link - I was thinking more along the lines of the Roman Empire due to the Warhammer universe in general. It's interesting you note the British Army inspiration for the Royal Volpone - I'm hoping to paint up an Imperial Guard regiment based on the British Army as well (hence the questions).