Return of the (Warhammer?) Fantasy Army

Remember my Fantasy wargaming project, from about six months back? In amidst getting ghouls to use for post apocalyptic gaming, Jason reminded me of how my I really wanted a proper Fantasy wargame army. So the boxes have come out, I've added to the collection, and this thing is going to get finished. We had a lot of fun using Impetvs as a model but, to be honest, I don't actually see myself ever really getting to play using these much, if at all. In fact, I really am just working on them as my version of Andy's Gorkamorka project. I saw cool stuff in stores when I was a kid, read some interesting books on Fantasy wargaming, and really loved an old PC wargame set in the Warhammer Universe: Warhammer - Shadow of the Horned Rat. I've had it suggested I could play using the actual Warhammer rules. And why not?

If I am not playing using the army, it doesn't really matter what set of rules I am pretend-playing and the Warhammer setting does have it's good points. Especially older versions of it. In fact, looking back at Warhammer retrospectives, I see a Warhammer Empire list that is unashamedly a Holy Roman Empire list (Landsnekt Pikemen, Commanders called Margrafs, and all) with the odd fantasy element thrown on top. Essentially, it already has quite a lot in common with the late 15th Century Holy Roman Empire that I am modelling my lot on.Sure, as the game has got more gimmicky and more boring, they've dropped the Pikemen but there are options....



A big one is the fan-made lists that are being worked on at the Warhammer armies project. They have a Dogs of War list that has even been used at a few major Warhammer tournaments. I also see that the writer may one day make a Tilea list, which would be perfect for me as it would combine all the things I really like about Fantasy-Historical armies. However, not every one likes these as pretend rules for their pretend-armies. I've even seen the odd local comp using the old 'official' Dogs of War' list as the required template for these armies. Hmm, half the fun for quite a lot more cost. Oh well, the Dogs of war don't have everything I really need to be able to field anyway.

What was in those mysterious black boxes? Awesomeness, that's what. The best thing about 15th Century Europe is that, as far as I am concerned, you couldn't make a Fantasy setting more outlandish. Think the idea of a Warhammer War-Alter is crazy?

Crazy just like those Italians! In addition, Europeans also used mobile Bells, and the odd massive mobile cross

Here is a nicely painted version of the Perry website, as mine are still bits in boxes.

The Carrochio does come as a set  but I reckoned the contents needed a bit of swapping for war-game purposes. So the priest at the helm will be the cool guys on the left and the right. Red Robes (the colour of martyrs) mean Cardinals. I also have the two in the middle. My Perry mounted Knights will be motivated to further righteous fury by their accompanying Cardinal, mounted on his mighty war-mule. Mine are also unpainted and these are again the painted examples from the Perry sight. As you know, I could make a whole army out of Perry stuff very happily...



Except for the criminal lack of Organ guns and flying Gryphons in their range! Not cool, guys. So I went to another of my favourite historical ranges (and where you'd go if you preferred your Pike with puffy sleeves) Artizan Designs. They sell models by Hinchcliffe, including several versions of artillery so crazy that, again, Fantasy can't top it. I got the triple bank rotating Organ Gun (ok I suspect this is more Leonardo Da Vinci than historical ordinance?). They don't do Gryphons either though. So I got a Gryphon off Ebay and have swapped the helmet and the lance with some from my mounted Knights.

So at this stage, despite the lack of Pike, the pretend-rules that I am pretending to use are the 'Official' Warhammer Empire ones. Or the Impetvs ones. I can't NOT use the war-alter! I guess all those Pike can be spearmen? The Organ gun can be a Volley Gun, the Knights can be the various flavours of knight in that list. It has crossbowmen. I think the Gryphon is a little small to be one of the silly Gryphons-with-gigantism  they have now. That's fine though, I think it could be a stand-in for a Captain on a Pegusus? Pretty everyone I wargame with is more into Historical stuff than Warhammer but I'm sure I will get to use them for something, once I make myself get them done.