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Hey folks. I'm wondering if anyone can offer some advice.

I really like standard bearers, and put them in all my units. Aesthetically, I like to put them in the back rank, so that the standard doesn't block the view of all those models I've spent hours painting. However, I also appreciate that killed models are removed from the back rank first, thus losing any advantage that the banner confers.

Anyone else come across this? I know its a small detail, but I really don't like having them in the front row, and I think in reality, any bannerman would be positioned in the back row, as their fighting skills would obviously be hampered holding a big flipping flag in the air.

Suppose I'm just looking for other opinions on it.

Make yourself some unit fillers with banners to stick in the back of the unit, then make a separate individual model that's recognisably different to put where the standard bearer should go, and just clear it with your opponent.

Good idea. Cheers.

The units actual banner is required to be in the front rank, as are all command. Only a character using Make Way can move them to the second rank.

You could have cool secondary banners in the unit, but realize they do nothing and you will have to have the actual banner in the front.

^yah what he said. You can have a model in the back, but it's not the banner. There's a section on this in the BRB.

Banners traditionally were carried in the front. Um, cuz, no one can see them in the back. Watch any parade.

Parades aren't really the same as actual war though. I'd have thought a flag carrier in the front row of a military unit would be a pretty short term job, and stop any one behind from being able to shoot at a target.

 Eggs wrote:
Parades aren't really the same as actual war though. I'd have thought a flag carrier in the front row of a military unit would be a pretty short term job, and stop any one behind from being able to shoot at a target.

The standard-bearer in battle is in the center of the front line so the following troops know where to go; unfortunately, it also shows the enemy where to shoot.

Yes, having a standard makes you a huge target. However, holding a standard is a matter of pride with the people you fight beside. By holding the standard, you inspire those around you to fight on as you remind them what they're fighting for. If the flag falls, it's the duty of everyone to pick it up and not let it touch the ground. The flag held aloft means the group still fights.

A standard at the back of a unit would serve almost no purpose what so ever besides letting the enemy know who they are faster than normal.

I would find your insistence that the flag be at the back odd, especially how you want the paint job of the rank and file to be seen. Shouldn't the standard bearer also be prettied up, if not more so? In the end I wouldn't really care though, as it's not like putting him at the back would make things too confusing.

The main purpose of standards was to give the army commanders the ability to tell friend from foe as well as where his various units were. Each unit had its own unique banner for identification.

 Grey Templar wrote:
The units actual banner is required to be in the front rank, as are all command. Only a character using Make Way can move them to the second rank.

You could have cool secondary banners in the unit, but realize they do nothing and you will have to have the actual banner in the front.

Like I said, just make something equally recognisable in its place and make the banner as a unit filler if he wants it somewhere else. I don't think many opponents would be upset over that - he's put in more effort than usual, still has a unique model where the banner should be, and has a banner in the unit still, even if the banner model now is just RnF filler.