A fellow wargamer who I have managed to inspire (infect?) with the Soldier King bug, recently asked after acquiring a copy of the GDW boardgame, "where's all the background information?"
I had to point him to the back box cover of the game as being the total sum of background.....the rest of the information from my take on the game as a campaign comes from my imagination.....with a little help from historical uniforms and forces.
The following is the last of the painted armies so far completed (there are four more to do and some bits and bobs). This army is formed from the various neutral states in the game, in this case those with an Electoral city that form part of the Estavian Empire. There is an additional "Electoral" state but the ruler's character and diplomatic outlook, means he is hostile to just about everyone! He will go his own way.
I saw these states as akin to the minor German princelings of the C18th who were part of the HRA and who could be called upon to form the Reichsarmee. With echoes of "Charge" I decided this would in my Imagi-Nations become the Electoral Army.
In order of painting I present:
The army of the Archduchy of Naervaron
Ulrich Fischreiher Archduke of Naervaron
Christian Fischreiher Erbprinz of Naervaron
Corps commander Hans Leonhard Grau Graf von Honnef
Divisional commander Von Neusatz (Klaus Fels) with Naervaron Dragoons and Hussars
The infantry L to R: Erbprinz Lebgarde Grenadiers, "Schwartz", "Weiss" and "Rot" regiments
Artillery
Naervaron army
The army of the Margravate of Cotlas
Reinhard Wulf Markgraf von Cotlas
Emil Gustav Wulf Reichsgraf von Cotlas
I Cotlas Horse (uniform inspiration from one of Andy McMaster's units)
II, III and IV Cotlas Foot
Cotlas artillery with Arndt Tobias Ziemlich Graf von Brand in background
Cotlas Army
The Army of the Duchy of Bern
Fabian Schiefer Herzog von Bern (ironically one of my Fimo creations which got over-cooked and close to being "von Burnt!")
His brother Martin Theodor Schiefer the dashing Erbfurst zu Bern
Bern Hussars led by Friedhelm Gustaf Knochen Graf von Ernst
Bern Infantry 1, 2 and 3 regiments
Bern artillery
Bern army
The army of the Prince-Bishopric of Cleve
Maximillian Greisenkrahe Prince Bishop of Cleve (vain introverted with a poor sense of direction, I tried to capture the latter in the sculpt; observers have noted the horse seems to know which way he should be going......completely unintended but so appropriate!)
His brother Kaspar Greisenkrahe Prince of Cleve
Corps commander Hugo Koks Count D'Alzey
Division commanders Emil Sebastien Silber Graf von Leuche and Albrecht Wilfried Durchslag Graf von Kiedrich
Cleve Cuirassiers
Cleve Horse Grenadiers (as skirmishers)
Cleve Standing Grenadier regiments V and VI
Clever Musketeer Regiments I to IV
Cleve artillery
Cleve army
Whether the army will ever fight as a unified whole is unknown - they all lie to the West but face threats from Hrvatska, Bravance and Argozia. However, I did try to tie them together through the use of blue while maintaining their own character and personality. The army as a whole is weaker in cavalry, artillery and light troops compared to the armies of the Soldier Kings. Like the real life Reichsarmee, the shortfalls will have to be made up from Imperial (Estavian as oppose to Austrian) troops.
