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I am looking to get back into the game and really want to make a foot guard army. I am a huge history buff and I have always imagined imperial guard as 18th century style army. What Im wondering is would it be OK to use models like these http://www.warlordgames.com/us-store/napoleon-s-middle-imperial-guard.html in place of GW models and if I do how much if any conversion would I need to do to them to make the ok to use (maybe in a tournament but mostly just for fun. Thanks for any help you can provide!

I know I had seen an army using either those or some from Perry (or maybe both). Although I wouldnt have a problem using them as they come, I would probably look at doing weapon conversions using the Voystoyan weapons as a guide. You can convert each of the muskets one at a time, or use weapons which have a more scifi feel from companies like Victoria (or create masters and molds if you feel up to that task).

After that some other bits and bobs scattered through the army will help to make it clear that they are not historical figures. Things like comm gear, grenades, computers and energy clips in place of powder horns do a good job.

What Sean_OBrien said. I definitely second making making a mold of a set of converted weapons once you get them where you want them.

I run an all foot guard army using mordians mixed with heavily converted units using bucket loads of bits from the perry brothers heavy french cav,,,one thing I have noticed is that they are slightly smaller than GW figs so some things like hand swaps and heads do not always fit the way you want and cause a re think on some things.

I would also recommend using all kinds of bits like pouches,knives backpacks from GW kits to mix in on each squad.

Fun wise ,done nicely I can not think of anyone aside from a total asshat having a problem playing against you. Tourny wise,you may have to check before hand.I think the rule of thumb used to be 50% gw in weight or something like that.

Good luck,,,hope this comes out great for you.

I would highly doubt that any official GW tourney would be pleased about 3rd party parts at all. However if you just plan to play friendly games then go for it.

Thought they stopped "official" tournaments? The organizers of an independent tournament like those held at Origins or Adepticon should care less if you use third party kit.

Throne of Skulls was an official tournament wasnt it? Is that still a thing?

(Spot the non-gamer here )

I have been working on some highlander themed guard and have yet to start my blog but here is what I have come up with to give you some ideas !


These are my British Hussar inspired rough riders.


A test painjob on the officer


And some infantry sorry they are hard to see


I hope that gives you some inspiration, there was a real good blog on the warseer of a guy doing a themed army too but I can't seem to find it

For any organised tournament you need to read the rules pack and see if non-GW models are allowed.

Probably any unofficial tournament won't care about the origin of the models. People generally care if it is a cool army that looks good and can be recognised by the other players (Sean_OBrien's point...)

An official GW or GW sponsored army won't allow non-GW models.

In friendly games it goes both ways. Both players have to agree to using a set of rules and models. If someone doesn't want you to use your non-GW models, you can equally ask them not to use GW models.

Ok thanks for the responses. On a side note I have a question about basing models. I see in those pictures you are using square bases can I use the square ones or do they need to be round? Also I have this image in my head of having my command squads on horseback (or at least the commander) would that be ok? Also are you allowed to put models on bigger bases? Like could I put my HWS on the larger bases?

Base sizes are somewhat tricky as that comes into play in assualts and getting things into base contact.

Heavy weapons teams usually go on a large base with 2 troopers.

But again in most games I do not think it should be a problem so long as its understood that its just a modeling choice.

For me, historical miniatures look fine in historical games but look totally out of place and like the cheap proxies they are in 40k, ruining the SciFi atmosphere. Imagine Napoleonic troops dismounting from a tank, firing a machine gun or calling a flyer.

 Kroothawk wrote:
For me, historical miniatures look fine in historical games but look totally out of place and like the cheap proxies they are in 40k, ruining the SciFi atmosphere. Imagine Napoleonic troops dismounting from a tank, firing a machine gun or calling a flyer.

Sounds cool, actually...

You also have to remember the background of 40K, in that worlds of different technological levels are in the Empire, and they fight the ways they've been trained. (The basis for the older doctrines system for example.)

While the Imperium supplies equipment and training in the use of it, many worlds would use the tactics and skills that they know best.

It's the same reasoning that caused me to make a helicopter out of the Stormraven, even though many people don't like helicopters in their 40K

 Kroothawk wrote:
For me, historical miniatures look fine in historical games but look totally out of place and like the cheap proxies they are in 40k, ruining the SciFi atmosphere. Imagine Napoleonic troops dismounting from a tank, firing a machine gun or calling a flyer.

But IG are all about being historical

Now PURE historical minis yes that looks out of place

But Convert them a lasgun and some more sci fi bitz and you could technically go from a French Old Guard to Vostroyans or Gladiators into Remus (Remusians?)

 Alleton wrote:
You also have to remember the background of 40K, in that worlds of different technological levels are in the Empire, and they fight the ways they've been trained. (The basis for the older doctrines system for example.)

While the Imperium supplies equipment and training in the use of it, many worlds would use the tactics and skills that they know best.

It's the same reasoning that caused me to make a helicopter out of the Stormraven, even though many people don't like helicopters in their 40K

http://archive.org/details/space-gamer-87

Helicopters in 40K

lrmack04271990 wrote:Ok thanks for the responses. On a side note I have a question about basing models. I see in those pictures you are using square bases can I use the square ones or do they need to be round? Also I have this image in my head of having my command squads on horseback (or at least the commander) would that be ok? Also are you allowed to put models on bigger bases? Like could I put my HWS on the larger bases?

That depends on your usual play-space and whether or not anyone cares. I find tournaments to be the only place this would ever even come to be an issue (and even then, not terribly likely). The surface area of the square and round bases are more or less the same, so rules like blast and template weapons hitting bases shouldn't be too much of a problem. If you want to make it a non-issue, I recommend making a custom movement tray that'll hold however many models you please. Two layers of 1.5mm plasticard and some careful X-Acto cutting and sanding should do the trick if you don't have a laser cutter.

http://enkiel.blogspot.com/2013/01/review-back-2-base-ix-movement-tray.html

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to do a command squad on horseback with the models on cavalry bases or 40mm ones. Really, all that's going to do is make your command squad more visible and easier to hit, which should be fine with any opponent with two brain cells to rub together! As long as you don't insist on using cavalry rules for them, I don't see why this would be so much of an issue.

HWS go on 60mm bases, I'm not sure what other bases you'd put them on unless you mean the flying oval bases.

Kroothawk wrote: Imagine Napoleonic troops dismounting from a tank, firing a machine gun or calling a flyer.

I'm failing to see the where the point of contention lies. "If you're going to take space Vienna, take space Vienna." ~Space Napoleon

Wolf wrote:These are my British Hussar inspired rough riders.

Looking slick. I like that you used metal rods to make the lances.

Well in the IG codex it is said that many IG regiments were raised on muskets, longbows and such where lasguns couldnt be distributed. Anyway guardsmen are still very much line infantry so i think this could work nicely, I myself have been working on a regiment based on the Connaught rangers. Im looking forward to seeing these built up

You'd need bodies with separate arms. Perry British and Victrix British and French both fulfill this condition. Then you need separate arms with lasguns or other 40k weapons. You should look for action poses, because march attack ones can look a bit strange. In that regard, IIRC both Victrix and Perry British will serve you. Victrix Line infantry French will too, but their Guards are all in march attack so not quite recommendable. The cavalry will look nice, specially Perry French dragoons and French or British hussars...

 sierra 1247 wrote:
Well in the IG codex it is said that many IG regiments were raised on muskets, longbows and such where lasguns couldnt be distributed. Anyway guardsmen are still very much line infantry so i think this could work nicely, I myself have been working on a regiment based on the Connaught rangers. Im looking forward to seeing these built up

Lasguns are so powerful that muskets are probably a BETTER weapon!

Wow, I think they look great!

 Wolf wrote:
I have been working on some highlander themed guard and have yet to start my blog but here is what I have come up with to give you some ideas !


I hope that gives you some inspiration, there was a real good blog on the warseer of a guy doing a themed army too but I can't seem to find it

 JohnnyHell wrote:

 sierra 1247 wrote:
Well in the IG codex it is said that many IG regiments were raised on muskets, longbows and such where lasguns couldnt be distributed. Anyway guardsmen are still very much line infantry so i think this could work nicely, I myself have been working on a regiment based on the Connaught rangers. Im looking forward to seeing these built up

Lasguns are so powerful that muskets are probably a BETTER weapon!

Aye, you cant beat a good old brown bess much better than those fancy laser weapons, We men like to have a bit of a kick to our guns. Says so in the scriptures so it does sar!

So i know this isnt for everyone but I plan on using cannons for heavy weapons teams but I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what I could use for larger artillery like earthshaker platforms?

lrmack04271990 wrote:
So i know this isnt for everyone but I plan on using cannons for heavy weapons teams but I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what I could use for larger artillery like earthshaker platforms?

It's certainly doable, depending on which models you decide to use for each of the various heavy weapons. As far as heavy artillery, I'd use either some ww1 style arty or look into FW's DKOK artillery pieces.

I would either try the Empire great cannons with different crew members and or the victrix foot artillery

as Jordan, I believe WW1 artillery would look great. It was the war that saw much melding of fighting styles as the world began to realize that it's old ways of waging war were becoming obsolete. Horse Cavalry riding past infantry, who were on their way to dig trenches, while in the background the first tanks and airplanes were being designed.

Something like this wouldn't look too out of place with your Napoleanics I would think: