Today we’ll be taking a look at some Freeguild Guard and how these humble heroes have changed the course of many battles!
Living in the Realms of Sigmar isn’t easy for anyone, but especially when you’re just a little human. But these crazy warriors don’t let that stop them from taking to the field and defending their homes. Let’s get into it!
In the World
The Free Cities of Sigmar’s vast empire is home to many races and peoples, with different guilds and professions all around. But arguably the most important is the mortal soldiers of the Freeguild. Simple men taking up arms as the Cities’ standing army and the first line of defence, no matter what opposes them. While the mighty powers of the Stormcast Eternals and awe-inspiring war machines of the Ironweld Arsenal act as the hammer, the Freeguild Regiments are the disciplined, skilled and brave anvil. The humble Freeguild Guard form the backbone of this well-oiled machine.
At any battlefield where the Freeguild Guard are found, their foe is met with row on row of sword, shield, spear and halberd. Led by their Sergeants and fearless Generals, these men march to war with war drums beating and standards flowing free.
Blue and gold, red and white, green and black, nothing is standard in the Guard. Some veteran regiments take up their own heraldry, in honour of their proud victories or history. Others, such as the marine regiments of Anvilgard might change to suit the surroundings of their City.
While their appearances are already different enough, those who wear their colours proudly differ greatly. Battered veteran regiments of career soldiers and militiamen replenish their ranks with fresh recruits. Taken from all walks of life: conscripts, nobles wanting to make a name, and mere volunteers. They are all mixed together into strong and vast regiments.
As the Freeguild Guard fight their foe tooth and nail, falling by the dozens. They can always count on the support of the other regiments of the Freeguild, sniper accurate Handgunners and armour-clad Greatswords are never far away from their brethren. Though it is not always just men on the front lines, the elite cavalry of horseback Pistoleers and Outriders or noble Demigryph Knights can easily break a foe’s battlelines.
It seems that as long as a single regiment of proud and brave halberd-wielding Freeguild Guard stand, the Free Cities can sleep in relative peace.
On the field
On the tabletop of the Mortal Realms, the Freeguild Guard form a strong backbone of any Cities of Sigmar army. Being a relatively cheap battleline unit, you can fill up a slot for only 80 points when taken at their cheapest, just 10 men. But that might not be the best decision, for when taking 20,30 or 40 Guardsmen in a unit, you can add 1,2 or 3 to their hit rolls.
A unit of Freeguild guard can be further enhanced with the addition of a Standard Bearer, rolling a 1 when taking a battleshock test makes none of their men flees in the presence of their proud banner. A drummer in the unit can spur on his brethren to great feats, counter-charging enemy units after their own charging units have moved. Give your Guardsmen shields and they will re-roll any save rolls of 1. There are a lot of ways to add simple yet effective buffs to your units.
The Freeguild Guard’s weapon options can give them slightly different roles and strengths in battle. A simple, sturdy Spear gives them extra range, stabbing their opponents from a safe distance. A sharp and elegant Sword, however, gives the Guard the ability to parry enemy attacks, adding 1’s to their save rolls in the Combat Phase. Halberds on the other hand give their attacks a -1 Rend, cutting their foes to ribbons. Any regiment of lesser status often enters the battlefield wielding simple Militia Weapons: knives, clubs, crossbows, and simple handguns giving them a missile weapon in addition to their melee weapon.
