The Laird of Saxe-Urqhuart, thrifty Scot that he is, is considering hiring out Highlanders to the Reich Duchy of Beerstein. The tenacious reputation of these lads would certainly bolster our troops!
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Reich Duke Wilhelm von Beerstein offers his splendid army in support of Empress-Queen Maria Theresa and the Austrian Empire. Long live the Empress and death to her foes!
Beerstein Coat of Arms
Reich Duke Wilhelm
Ancient and Honorable Order of the Tankard
Awarded to Heads of State and the Nobility.
Order of the Goblet
Awarded to the Clergy, Officers, Diplomats, Scholars, Scientists, Artists, and persons of merit.
Military Order of the Golden Crown
Awarded to Generals for victory, gallantry, and heroic derring do on the field of battle.
Military Order of Maria Theresa
Awarded to Reich Duke Wilhelm by the Empress herself
Order of the Lion
Awarded to Reich Duke Wilhelm by Duke Kristjan II of Indur
Freundshaft Order of Hetzenberg
Awarded to Reich Duke Wilhelm by Grand Duke Karl of Hetzenberg
Order of the Grand Star
Awarded to Reich Duke Wilhelm from the Republic of Neues Sudland
Order of the Blue Bear
Awarded to Reich Duke Wilhelm by Herzog Fredrick of Harzburg
Order of the Golden Lion
Awarded to Reich Duke Wilhelm by the Kingdom of Katzenstein
Cross of Flatsburg
Awarded to Reich Duke Wilhelm by Prinzessin Maria Athena
Order of the Black Pelican
Awarded to Reich Duke Wilhelm by the Kindom of Syldavia
Order of Mormoani
Awarded by King Phillip I, The Holy Mormoan Kingdom of New Wales
Cross of Sant Jordi d'Alfama
Awarded to Reich Duke Wilhelm by Marquis of Vilana in 1713
About Me
- Capt Bill
- SPRING HILL, FL, United States
- Retired Naval Officer and war gamer. Favorite periods Marlborough, 7YW, and Napoleonic.
11 comments:
The question that comes to mind is "why is Beerstein raising such a large army in such a short time?"
-- Jeff
The newly constituted "Covenant of Colon" formed by the Bishopric of Bristol, the Margrave of Moscovia, the Duchy of Hesse-Holstadt, and the Landgrave of Lorraine may threaten the peace and security of the Reich Duchy of Beerstein. They have been conducting exercise near our northern border.
'Interesting times' ahead...
To fully exploit the 'exotic' potential of Highlanders, not only as a sight but as an original troop type, one has to use rules such as the WRG '1685-1835' set who recognized 'Irregular wild charging infantry'. Upgrade them to 'fanatic' status to booster their charge, downgrade their muskets to matchlocks to reflect the emphasis in hand-to-hand combat. But I fear few rules cover the 'wild Celtic charge'.
Historical Highlanders were mainly in red coatees (green in Tarleton's Legion?), those of Saxe-Urqhuart and the MacArthur's Schottische Windhunde Musketeers of Hesse-Engelburg in blue, and I believe the Frankfurter 'Black Kilts' wear white coatees. Will, for a change, Highlanders in Beerstein service receive black coatees, to follow the Reich Duchy New Model Army pattern? Then what about kilts giving an overall impression of *tan* - thus reversing the 'historical' "Black and tans" pattern? Then an amaranth bonnet (like the WWII beret of the SAS) would 'dilute' and defuse any political connection?
I was thinking about the Highlanders for Hire and thinking they could wear a different uniform - maybe red coats?
I'm not too crazy about the black and tan idea. Are Frankfurter's kilted troops Highlanders?
I've been looking at various rules sets to try to find something that fits my style of gaming (simple, but not too predictable). I bought Command Picquet (similar to regular Picquet, but different; basically grew out of house rules by someone other than the original rules author). It's supposed to be good for anything from 1700 to 1900. Just a few rules tweaks for each different war/period. It actually does have a rule for the Highland charge in the Jacobite section - (wouldn't make sense for other rules sets). I've been thinking of ways to do it in my games. Maybe some bonus for the intial contact in melee (to represent firing their muskets or pistols in addition to the impact of the charge?), adding in some possibility of certain troops (Highlanders, most cavalry) to charge into melee even if the player has not specified they would. So far I haven't tested any of my ideas, just "noodling" for now. Maybe they should just get a bonus for charging and a minus for firing?
Zurik,
If the Reich Duchy hires, not the Saxe-Urquhuart Regiment as a formed body, but lads enlisting individually, the Highlander unit in Beersteiner service *may* be a foreign regiment of the 'normal' army rather than a component of the Foreign Legion: a political decision of the Reich Duke. Hence the suggestion of the black coatee -regardless of the kilt tartan (it just happened that I was toying with the idea of a 'black and tan' horse breed!).
The Frankfurter 'Black Skirts' are depicted with a bonnet, thus are probably Highlanders (I've toyed with weirder possibilities, such as the descendants of Highlands mercenaries settled in Central Europe or the Balkans -Highlander bonnet and coatee, Grenzer tight-fitting trousers..).
I've done a few 'experimental' games with the WRG H&M set (using my Amazons, but it's another story). The bonus when charging / malus when shooting you endvisage are indeed the effects I obtained with the fanatic status / shoulder weapon 'counting as' matchlock (the later to give them more 'character' and encourage 'their player' to charge asap).
Just the vision of Highlanders has an adverse affect of the enemy. Even Napoleon thought the Amazons. A frantic charge is often just what is needed...
Frankszonia's "Black Kilts" are actually coated variously in faded tan, yellow, and off white ... as they are drawn from Jacobite sources (and the figures are Minifigs for the '45).
-
Hence also our friendliness with the Lady Pettygree and the ability to stomach Cut-me-own-throat Dilber's sausages ...
:)
A
Highlanders look specially 'wild' -and thus frightening- if wearing the 'great kilt' ('belted plaid') still fashionable during the WAS. But this just makes more tartan to paint: I've always be admirative of people painting tartan on miniatures!
Btw the tartan *may* be different from the Saxe-Urquhart one as diplomatic statement: 'The hiring of individuals by Beerstein does NOT imply a formal alliance between Saxe-Urquhart and the Reichn Duchy.' What about an 'overall light blue' (pale skyblue with alternate white and medium blue lines) one to reflect the Saxe-Urquhart flag?
Maybe the bagpiper sports face warpaint in battle?
At least in the 'national' Beerstein NMA red coats seem to be restricted to the Pensioners?
Anatomically,we fully understand that the new "Covenant of Colon" may be a pain in the...
Louys
The Scots Battalion in the service of Ost-Pommern are not Highlanders per se, but rather veterans of French and Spanish service, though many of the lads hail from the north country. http://ost-pommern.blogspot.com/2009/03/more-foreigners-arrive.html
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