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I've got a good core of Handgunners for my Freeguild army, and at range they do very well (Easily outshooting just about everyone when buffed by a General), but in combat they get trounced by even the meekest of foes. So they need some brazen-balled friends to take the charge.

The only issue is I'm not sure what to take. It's between Greatswords and Freeguild Guard, mostly. I'm more tempted to use the Guard, as they seem like much better line holders in big units (30 Guard with swords and shields or halberds can take and deal a good number of wounds with General support), but then the Greatswords would be easy to manoeuvre around my Handgunners (not normally being more than 10 men per unit) and can take on heavier enemies (and would hurt my wallet less ).

I considered Flagellants briefly, but seeing as they can't pick up on the buffs from my General and would require their own support I dropped the idea. I have yet to look into the rest of Order for a support unit, so if anyone knows another faction that can fill this gap well I'd like to hear about it, even if it would mean straying from a purely Free Peoples army.

Any comments or thoughts on the matter are greatly appreciated as always.

I would go with a blob of sword-shield freeguild guard. Targets of general's command ability can't move and a big unit will let you bubble-wrap your hangunners effectively. The greatswords are a unit that will want to march out and charge stuff more often too, having a 10-man unit nearby to flank incoming enemies or go after objectives can be a useful tool.

I agree with Ninth, Sword and Shield Freeguild Guard are one of the tankiest battleline choices in the game. Especially if you can get Inspiring Presence, Mystic Shield and a cover save bonus on them they should tarpit most things for the entire game and let you whittle them down with guns.

Thanks for the quick replies! Alright let's say I'm sold on the Guard (which I practically am), are swords and shields the best loadout overall? I think the sacrifice in armour for the -1 rend on halberds is possibly worth it. Say I run two groups, would it be worth having one with halberds or do the swords and shields really come up on top by so much?

Also do you think one group spread in a line would be better for defence, or two groups (I have two groups of Handgunners, so that'd give them one group each so they could maybe advance independently)?

Its not that the sword and shield option is inherently better, its that for a unit that has a job of being bodyguard that is the option best suited for it. You'll probably want one big unit to benefit from the scaling bonus based on unit size.

Hold the line only keeps you from moving in YOUR turn. Greatsword and Guard drummers allow you to do a d6 charge in your opponents turn; if they aren't in combat.

You have your hammer (the handgunners) now you need your anvil (sword and shield), Halberdiers are another type of hammer unit, so I'd recommend to stick with sword and shield. Don't try to confuse what your units are for, make a plan and stick to it, to the best of your abilities.