Empire State Troopers - The Professional Military of Karl Franz - Warhammer Fantasy Lore

[@vibechecker3168]

Being a superhuman warrior made out of the combined powers of Sigmar's wrath and Gw's marketing department is cool and all, but nothing beats a groups of lads fighting against creatures made of steroids and spite, armed only with a moustache, breastplate, halberd, and faith.

[@dominuslogik484]

you would be surprised what a man adequately armed with a moustache can accomplish.

[@DragonsShadow-ttrpg]

I know, it makes them more relatable lets me get into it more. Them and the Imperial Guard really help me digest the rest of the setting.

[@TheAleatoriorandom]

Same reason I adore the imperial guard. The regular dude holding the line against the overwhelming odds is always epic!

[@theiceknight4457]

FAITH! STEEL! AND GUNPOWDER!

[@bikinibandit2398]

Western civilisation is being dismantled IRL, smartarses.

[@Self-replicating_whatnot]

Do not underestimate the ability of the enlistedman to f*ck up any piece of equipment he's been issued with.

[@slb797]

Especially if they are Marines. Their reputation of how they treat their equipment has been around since at least 1820s. When they asked to borrow some Hall rifles from the Army, the Army said that knew they wouldnt be returned in serviceable condition, so the Marines could buy them from the Army, not borrow.

[@T3koner]

The rifle barrel bent in a vehicle/bay door gets me everytime 😂

[@darnellsimpson4413]

Hand me my weapons, and SAY LESS!!!

[@nomennisceo6495]

The things I’ve seen done to a collapsible bed when a fusilier had trouble setting it… the bayonet was involved.

[@vibechecker3168]

Also, Landsknecht/ Renaissance era drip is peak drip. Plate armour and slashed clothing goes hard.

[@dominuslogik484]

so long as you don't go modern papal guard colors which make you look like the flap scrubbers in an automated car wash.

[@PLpatriot999]

Centurii-chan makes nice lanknechts comics

[@mivapusa]

Indeed, Centurii is based

[@alwinkeller2456]

Best thing is slashed clothing worn over Full Plate Armour... Gives the false impression of being Light Infantry.🤣 L

[@MrLolguy93]

"Welcome to Estalia, gentlemen. I will not lie: the chances of your survival are small. Some may even turn against your friends as living corpses. But you have my word, that I will use my arcane gifts to ensure your bodies are given unto Morr's garden. This is the greatest reward, more than even gold, for the fate of your soul is an eternal concern. Now come, follow me: Strike down the undead that rise against us, allow me to find this eldritch amulet! I ask not for my own selfish studies, but for the good of the Empire!" - Balthasar Gelt, Total War: Warhammer

[@Azraiel213]

"Wouldnta thought mi'lord was being selfish, wizards don't care 'bout gold usually and e's made 'a the stuff already so he's got enough a'fink. But the he just out *said* he wasn't being selfish 'fer some reason 'an I'm right confused now!" - Imperial Spearman, about to be killed and raised as a zombie

[@TKUltra971]

Forget Varks, The Empire fucks everyone in the end. Either you have the education of a 12th century peasant being controlled by the nobility or church OOOOR you are a pawn of the 4, sometimes both. Think ill stay in the happy go lucky star trek verse.

[@RadzioTheGreat]

"I love the smell of Final Transmutation in the morning" - Chadthasar Geld (probably)

[@alpharius2omegaboogaloo384]

⁠​⁠@@RadzioTheGreat”Nothing like pimping out your statue collection by turning a vampire into one.” Chadthasar Gelt (Most likely)

[@CollinKillian]

​@@TKUltra971Found the commie...

[@PodreyJenkin138]

"FIGHT MEN! FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO LIVE!!!"

[@PheonixRising2988]

The Nation Calls!!!

[@Azraiel213]

*SUMMON THE ELECTOR COUNTS*

[@SassyCassie89]

"To paaaaaarty"

[@nishio6453]

the empire endures

[@VorkKnightOfGood]

"Unberogens!"

[@VictorianTimeTraveler]

When you're a province earns its Stateship you and your friends become *Stateship Troopers*

[@yetipotato8567]

I am doing my part 😂

[@theliato3809]

Come on you beasts! Do you wish to live eternal!?

[@inductivegrunt94]

The chosen of Sigmar. The defenders of the Empire. Masters of pike and shot And the best soldiers Karl Franz has the honor of leading into battle. I absolutely love the State Troops of the Empire. So unique yet so unified under the right leader. My favorite mainline formation in all of Warhammer Fantasy. For Sigmar! For the Warhammer!

[@Grim-Crusader]

For the Emperor!!! It works in both settings 😊

[@alwinkeller2456]

Karl Franz is someone TRULY inspiring and AWESOME!

[@patricklehigh9019]

You think raising an Amy is expensive in the old world, try getting one made of plastic.

[@LitD]

If you're only interested in modelling or playing with friends historical minis are a good substitute. Warlord games has a landsknecht range and wargames atlantic have a conquistador set that woul do well for an Empire army for example.

[@T3koner]

​@@LitDthat's how I did my dogs of war themed "tilean" empire army 😅

[@T3koner]

The 30 years/English Civil War cavalry and dragoons make excellent outriders and pistoliers 🔥

[@dominuslogik484]

Imagine a man where all he needs is a brightly colored uniform, a wonderous mustache and a long stick with a sharp bit of steel on the end of it in order to be able to face off against Chaos warriors, Giant green Roid Mushrooms, Undead horrors the size of trolls etc. and when he gets tired of fighting fair is when the artillery gets involved.

[@nigredoooalgown6245]

If you are fighting fair, you are doing it wrong!

[@dominuslogik484]

@@nigredoooalgown6245 I was making a joke about the implication that wearing bright colors and using the pointy stick was what the soldier considered fair when fighting things like Orks

[@CollinKillian]

Fighting "fair" is for the French... Remember, it's not a war crime the first time..

[@alwinkeller2456]

​@@nigredoooalgown6245The only fair fight is the one you lose!

[@theliato3809]

theres alot of said mens

[@shrubby-ov4yw]

FOR THE HELDENHAMMER!

[@yetipotato8567]

"Good evening, do you have any idea how fast you were going? I will write you a ticket for riding over the speed limit on this here Wissenland road" -State trooper

[@kongilian]

Pike and shot took over my favorite era of history after looking into why soldiers stood in line to shoot. My previous favorite era was the American Civil War and surrounding conflicts

[@CollinKillian]

The civil war is a perfect example of obsolete tactics meeting new technology. The mass volley fire, bayonet charge order of battle, was fine when dealing with smooth bore muskets. When you replace smooth bore muskets with rifles and advancement in ammunition capabilities, not to mention the beginning of mass issued breech loading metallic cartridge weapons. You end up with mass casualties, the same was seen during WWI when tactics had tens of thousands running head first into entrenched machine gun emplacements.

[@mrbigglezworth42]

@@CollinKillian Much of this was seen even earlier with the Crimean War and the Russo-Japanese War where multiple industrialized armies met, and promptly brutalized each other on a scale hitherto unseen.

[@shilopnamreg6468]

I’ll take drippy renaissance Germans over Sigmarines any day of the week!

[@MagicHjalti]

chaos warriors are more humen then strom cast😂

[@T3koner]

Poo poo age of sigmar ultramarines 😅

[@GrzegorzCembruch]

Sound the drums of war, because their savages, savages barely even human. The state troop is the best sign of the Empire's power and style. Unlike reincarnating demigods, these men have reason to flee which makes their stand greater. For the Empire and for Sigmar.

[@Warrior-Of-Virtue]

25:38 You'd think making a habit out of abusing the people responsible for protecting you would result in those same protectors asking the local lord to help them do their best Praetorian Guard imitation.

[@00yiggdrasill00]

While it did occasionally happen historically and likely would happen in the empire, there is such a thing as a breaking point. That arch was kinda wrong about there being no oversight, the electors do typically do their jobs and beastmen or fimir deal with the rest by forcing the issue, and the empire doesn't really care to my knowledge who leads a regiment as long as they are capable means that's the sort of behaviour that gets a sudden noose around your neck or a surprise knife in your kidneys. If my study of history has taught me anything it's that people are quite willing to fight but won't put up with shit leadership or no pay. The amount of betrayals, rebellions or uprisings over just such things is hard to count.

[@yetipotato8567]

Well just give the officers a cut of the fraud money on peace times to shut up the troops by combination of threats, bribes extra of pizza party and beer keg and blackmail. And when actial foes appear hope things go in your favour or shift the blame or run with the money.

[@Funnydz2]

"Mages Wanted. Extremely Difficult battle, Little Pay. Spend your day in combat and unfathomable danger. If you return alive, you will receive honor and glory." - Tanya the evil would fit well with the empire :D

[@danielhouse897]

Sound like a normal family gathering to me

[@Sara3346]

Pay tends to be pretty high for empire wizards.

[@dotspot3667]

Summon the Elector Counts!

[@janwitts2688]

The original warhammer fantasy battles was pike and shot with fantasy creatures included... it had pike formation rules.. cannon etc..

[@Theanomalyof88]

‘Three hots and a cot’ can be one hell of a sell when times are hard.

[@barryward2128]

Light police work, drills, guard duty mostly occasionally an ork tries to kill you but hey no jobs perfect lol

[@yetipotato8567]

My cousin is up in Kislev fighting Chaos and what do I get? Guard duty 😂

[@barryward2128]

@yetipotato8567 sucks don't it

[@Bob-lr2xp]

Alternate History Hub actually has a video on the pike and shot era called "The Most Underrated Era in History". He even mentions warhammer, specifically Britonia.

[@raptorimperium5757]

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS EPISODE FOR YEARS!

[@Benthesniperof8]

I Will Marshall the Men!

[@johnleaver4272]

Summon the elector counts!!!

[@caspianbchalphy]

Warhammer Fantasy lore is the best kind of lore

[@jonhstonk7998]

“I have a Mustache! Style! A Zweihander! A pistol and fucking FAITH, come at me you chaos mfs!” -average imperial Zweihander heavy infantry

[@emperorconstantine1.361]

Finally, back to the fantasy branch!

[@emcdunna]

Old world got me back into warhammer again. Ive had 3 games so far

[@ginghinaandrei5013]

Locally raised army. Loyal to the Elector Count... Funny how the "mad count" of Sylvania married his only daughter to some unknown nobleman with a not quite Arabyan accent, isn't it?

[@yetipotato8567]

I don't see what you mean

[@Howl-Runner]

​@@yetipotato8567it's a lore reference and a joke.

[@alpharius2omegaboogaloo384]

Vlad was probably a better elector than most in the Empire’s history lmao

[@ginghinaandrei5013]

@@yetipotato8567 all it took for the strongest vampire ever to get that army was marry a tomboy. So, you know, pros and cons.

[@ginghinaandrei5013]

@@alpharius2omegaboogaloo384 Isabella fixed him. ...Half way. There's no fixing all of what being Neferata's (ex)husband did to him.

[@DragonsShadow-ttrpg]

Good old Warhammer Fantasy, I know they're technically bringing it back as "The Old World" but I still miss it so.

[@ahel4523]

3 square meals a day with pay is a sweat deal today. On the surface level its free food with pay.

[@T3koner]

Heck yeah all my state troops have the stache. Kaiser bill staches for all.

[@theatagamer90]

There is a game set roughly in the pike & shot era. By Fire and Sword, backed it on kickstarter a while ago.

[@Erik-hh9bp]

Was cool when my friend was playing his empire army. His cannons were of Nuln, foots varied, . Looked cool on the battle field.

[@Samestro]

ive fallen asleep to this basically every night it’s been released. I love falling asleep to WHF lore, especially empire lore. Your old empire videos make me pass out so fast. They’ve allowed me to forget bad times for brief moments and let me sleep. I couldnt thank you enough for continuing these arch. Thank you

[@akumaking1]

And yet they all lost to one angry dwarf.

[@peterfromfrslev8815]

thank you so much I've been waiting for something like this for ages it's surprisingly hard to find details on the subjectsI would love if you talk about some of the more specialized roles those not get in the normal codexes

[@joshualewis6513]

Im genuinely pleased to hear you do some fantasy. I got hooked on your channel way back when you were doing them more often.

[@anthonymolina2979]

Wanted this video for a long time!

[@Yacovo]

Don't forget the Sylvanian method of "raising" state regiments. That usually only requires sending a trusted individual to the local cemetary. Thanks for the video.

[@niklase.4850]

Incredible video! I would love to see your next Empire video be on the Roadwardens, the Empire's state police / highway patrol. A bunch of interesting characters they can be, with definitely no corruption or abuses of power under the auspices of the Emperor's roadwardens.

[@00yiggdrasill00]

I can understand the "single purpose regiments" making sense when looked at as an administrative unit rather than a military unit. This way a regiment of swordsmen for an area all require the same gear and pay. So if an area/lord raises a regiment of swordsmen and a regiment of archers you have an established administration unit and as a military unit you just contact a local ruler/noble/mayor and say "time to march before they reach you too" or maybe "do what I'm paying you for" depending on the agreement.

[@Pestilencemage]

...the "pay" for troops that are not needed for other services is used to finance training sessions and "pay" them to attend.

[@constantinekorkousky3363]

I’m surprised you didn’t talk about the pressing of civilians into uniform that took place a lot during the English civil war. I’d imagine it would happen in warhammer especially during war time

[@inquisitorgarza312]

FOR THE EMPIRE, FOR THE HELDENHAMMER, FOR SIGMAR!

[@TheAleatoriorandom]

Been on more of a 40k mood lately, but I will always love some good old Warhammer Fantasy!

[@HuevoBendito]

Been learning about the setting so that I can run WFRP 4e. Super useful

[@archangel2709]

Definitely agree arch! We need more pike and shot games!!! 30 years war total war damnit!

[@spencegame]

08:30 Well in the Warhammer world its either someone fights that orc or chaos warrior or it shows up at your door and you dont have the strength, training, or weapons to face it

[@Askethanoras]

The statetroops and chaos warriors got me into warhammer fantasy, been like 17 years now

[@bohemicbohemian9190]

Isnt Total War Shogun sort of pike&shot, or yari&tanegashima?

[@baybarsedturner2]

10:30 I thought "regiments" in Warhammer Fantasy were more akin to "companies" in real life. Units of a hundred or so men led by a Sergeant. It would make more sense then to add additional units when the "regiments" are combined into larger groupings led by a Captain. But I'm not sure GW ever published a detailed breakdown of how their armies were organised.

[@Khalith]

I’d love more content about the empire’s military setup. The Reiksguard especially.

[@Marinealver]

We need a video on The Soldier's Shilling. The one all Halberdiers took

[@chriscalvin5083]

Always happy to have more fantasy lore

[@skootmeister3994]

28:52 Snd that’s where the Total War Millennium mod comes in

[@LorePlayingGames]

SandRhoman History channel did a ton of videos about pike and shot era. I recommend it.

[@AgentXA564]

Me, the author of I Only Love My Greatest Enemy: Yup, pike and shot is massively underused in fantasy.

[@Mulletmanalive]

I always just assumed that the game term “regiment” and the actual *regiment* weren’t the same thing in canon. What with the detachment system and all. Probably the most “pick and shot” thing in the game was that regiment of renown that had pikes but the front rank were crossbow men in heavy armour. I’d actually be interested in an Arch video explaining how this stuff works, possibly using miniatures to demonstrate

[@Gherichto]

Ulrik's wolves charge with us!

[@j.redbeard99]

Been waiting several years for this episode. What a pleasant surprise!

[@darkcypressactual7585]

Omg, yes! The pike and shot era is an awesome era of history. You would think that it'd get more attention from gaming and storytelling industry. It's the real life blending of swords and firearms that fantasy settings love to dream up.

[@juliusmalcovsky4092]

Once again a great video. Learned something, enjoyed listening, had a good time. Thank you Arch ❤

[@bobbyjones8312]

Actually in parts of the world in Ancient warfare the best armourd troops would be kept in reserve. The Romans had a saying, about having to send in their Triarii(Romes heavy armor spears) as a metaphor for fighting till the bitter end. Even up till 19th century warfare the best trained and armed troops would be the generals guard.

[@demonicangel31]

Perfect army: Lord, Rieksguard Handgunners (mod) x11, steam tanks x4, mortar teams x4

[@MrHaunter88]

Might we see you cover the time of the three emperors? Heard it mentioned from time to time, but no one seems to have covered it so far in any extensive way.

[@suddenlythatenderman5800]

the guardmen of fantasy the state troops hold the line they may be normal men but with faith steel and gunpowder they push back the horrors

[@juancholo7502]

Nothing says "Horsey troops go away" like you & 499 of your closest friends in a big block holding long pointy sticks &/or sticks with axe heads & really big swords.

[@prussian-krieger2991]

Need me some more fantasy arch, 1 a month doesnt tickle the tism enough

[@TheKlink]

Is the Empire of Karl Franz pre or post Treaty of Westphalia??

[@orthoff123]

Great work!!!!

[@markmooney9416]

Deus Taal!

[@phreakazoith2237]

The one wirh the pike stabs, the other one follows. If the one with the pike is eaten by greenskins, the one without a pike takes the pike and keeps stabbing...

[@GraphicalAdri]

So Arch i got a question about the Empire Knights I know the more "Standard" Pistolier and outriders but there is a unit in TW:W simply called "Empire Knights", and i cant find info about these generic empire knights outside the knightly orders such as the Reiksguard or the Blazing sun. it is some madeup for the game or something based on lore?

[@DizzyDisco93]

There's a ton of small orders for knights (you can make your own for tabletop). i always assumed they represented these orders in total war. The empire has access to calvary on the table, so it was given to them in the game.

[@shilopnamreg6468]

Yes it's just a stand-in for your 'average' knightly order, especially since CA were too lazy to add most of the unique knightly orders to the game. Luckily modders did their job for them, and you can mod the knightly orders in, such as the knights panther, knights of the white wolf, knights of the raven, etc. etc.

[@CharliMorganMusic]

Just found your channel. Love the enthusiasm.

[@robrib2682]

I think something else needs to be added on to how appealing the three meals a day and pay might be to your average empire peasant. The empire has certain areas of it that are industrialized or industrializing. Imagine all the horrors of laissez-faire industrialization and realize that the choices between that for no fulfillment and the promise of almost certainly losing fingers if not more important bits to the machine that you will likely be fired for "messing up".... Or you could join the army, possibly get a salaried role if you survive long enough, and this is a setting where the forces of evil do in fact exist and you get to go and fight them in the name of nationalism and God (of course they forget to mention how cataclysmically they dwarf you in power, but what's that in the name of God and money?)

[@bramextra5648]

Logistics video in disguise ^^

[@viorp5267]

I am working on a setting which Pike and shot be partially relevant. Though obviously it has it's fair share of wizards and fantasy knights still.

[@lordfrostwind3151]

Its kimda funny the lack of combined arms for the state troops of the Empire sounds like lore trying to justify rules, meanwhile with the Imperial Guard no player would have a lore consistent army, every Guard player operates combined arms forces.

[@davebowman9000]

Arch: Please do videos for the known regiments of the Empire, just like you've done them for the Imperium! Thanks!!

[@ChocorocK]

Ahh my beloved Stirland. Don't worry lads mud and muck counts as armor.

[@Stuffandstuff974]

There's a war game called pike and shot

[@tamasnyaka594]

Thanks for making this!

[@knarftahw]

Nice to see some Fantasy, I never stopped playing, Age of Shitmar be damned.

[@The_Tuareg]

Absolutely amazing.

[@sawney_bean]

Its about the comon man telling the many horrors of the warhammer world to stick up their asses , no manner of cool exagerated demon ork or wathever can surpass that

[@ShaDO118k]

Summon the Elector Count state troops!

[@alexanderlowton4552]

I am wondering what a troop wounded or mentally broken if there is any plan for them. considering the empire 50/50 meat shield but they do have some standards.

[@josephahner3031]

Three square meals a day with pay and weapons is still an alluring prospect to modern young men despite the increase in wealth we as a world have experienced.

[@mitchellline4242]

Please do more Fantasy videos. Maybe revisit your at this point ancient video about Karl Franz

[@paulgoodridge2269]

I would say that however, the big problem with the pike and shot era is the hilariously long sieges and the equally hilarious brutal treatment of the locals. I cannot see a whole lot of excitement talking about a siege where the procedures and defenders see who stars first while the procedures use local girls as sex slaves.

[@jamesowens7148]

I was not notified about this video by youtube yesterday...

[@brendameistar]

Arch. Pls bring back the background music from your older lore videos. Like 7 years ago

[@komnenosdoukas7201]

I'd love a dark fantasy, tabletop game with a miriad of lore books in which a faction is hardly based on the medieval eastern roman empire

[@TK-IV]

How'd he forget the damned Reiters or Pistoliers?

[@gautierdarrambide5264]

Hey, there's a Warlord Games' game litteraly called "Pike and Shot"

[@relaetsecyr]

Finally some fantasy good shit

[@KS-PNW]

"a lot of young men feel remarkably lucky," I feel like that's basically what all militaries are fundamentally based on. A sober, rational assessment doesn't exactly encourage joining up.

[@mikealpha2611]

We know why the units are all based on 1 type of weapon and it is simply because the army is made to be simple for a table top wargame.

[@joeandjoe2]

No Boltguns, no Tanks no fun !

[@blackrazorfilms]

Year 5 of asking for Arch videos on real history. Or even just one book-rec video / Arch's library!