Freikorps

[Cognitive_Thoughtworks]

What do you think it would be like if the Freikorps opened a branch earthside?

[Adran]

They were an Earth side unit originally, and came across the breech for a contract. But they seem very influenced by von Schill and I wouldn't expect them to pick up major contracts with out him. 

[Rathnard]

I imagine they'd be superficially similar to the Abyssinians, with well equipped and well armoured troops.

Given that they're trained for the small-scale skirmishes common to Malifaux, I expect a company scale force would fight in a similar way. In practice, I'd say a squad would generally be a core of "common" infantry (ie. Scouts or Freikorpsmen), supplemented with an adjunct from their more specialist divisions (Engineer, Librarian, Drachen Trooper). Squads might also be smaller, like Fireteam (80mm / 3x30mm), Squad (2). 

 

Thinking about it, this looks like the makings of a really cool and interesting Syndicate.  You could have two squads (Scouts and Freikorpsmen) with three adjuncts as above. Then add the Strongarm suit as a single model unit (or a 2-3 model squad?), some new character as a champion and Von Schill himself as a commander. That's only a bit more variety than the current two syndicates (Guild and Co2), and the focus on adjuncts gives them a unique gameplay niche within the game. 

 

6 hours ago, Adran said:

They were an Earth side unit originally, and came across the breech for a contract. But they seem very influenced by von Schill and I wouldn't expect them to pick up major contracts with out him. 

I think it's entirely possible that Von Schill would expand his operations back Earthside. He's smart enough to see the potential for profit, or maybe his sense of national pride would encourage a return to his homeland (Prussia?). He also has a core of very loyal and capable officers to rely on, so I don't think he'd have much trouble sending some of them Earthside (or leaving them in Malifaux while he goes Earthside) to lead a Freikorps mercenary company. 

[Cognitive_Thoughtworks]

7 hours ago, Rathnard said:

I think it's entirely possible that Von Schill would expand his operations back Earthside. He's smart enough to see the potential for profit, or maybe his sense of national pride would encourage a return to his homeland (Prussia?). He also has a core of very loyal and capable officers to rely on, so I don't think he'd have much trouble sending some of them Earthside (or leaving them in Malifaux while he goes Earthside) to lead a Freikorps mercenary company. 

That was my thought. Who knows, maybe a small breach could open up in the new Freitown south of Malifaux?

[Adran]

25 minutes ago, Cognitive_Thoughtworks said:

That was my thought. Who knows, maybe a small breach could open up in the new Freitown south of Malifaux?

I'm not sure that the Guild have the main breech so secure that Von Schill couldn't just travel through it when he wanted to. I'm fairly sure the Govenor General would be happy for him to leave Malifaux at the moment, although I suppose the guild as a whole may prefer he stay on Malifaux. (In which case I imagine the TT would be happy to smuggle him for a fee) 

Based on what we have seen of Guild and Court of Two so far, Friekorps would certainly be suitable to become a syndicate, but I would imagine them as an Earthside syndicate, so quite similar to what we have seen from guild so far. (although Rathnard does have some good ideas on how they could be different). 

I guess it depends on if they want to go deep in TOS or go wide. (Meaning do they want a few factions with a lot of options for each faction, or lots of different factions all doing different things). If they go wide, then I can see Friekorps being another Earth syndicate. (And I think Sand man is most likely to be a Malifaux syndicate, but it might split a different way, so something to balance them out will be nice)

[Metalhed]

17 hours ago, Rathnard said:

Given that they're trained for the small-scale skirmishes common to Malifaux, I expect a company scale force would fight in a similar way. In practice, I'd say a squad would generally be a core of "common" infantry (ie. Scouts or Freikorpsmen), supplemented with an adjunct from their more specialist divisions (Engineer, Librarian, Drachen Trooper). Squads might also be smaller, like Fireteam (80mm / 3x30mm), Squad (2). 

 

Thinking about it, this looks like the makings of a really cool and interesting Syndicate.  You could have two squads (Scouts and Freikorpsmen) with three adjuncts as above. Then add the Strongarm suit as a single model unit (or a 2-3 model squad?), some new character as a champion and Von Schill himself as a commander. That's only a bit more variety than the current two syndicates (Guild and Co2), and the focus on adjuncts gives them a unique gameplay niche within the game. 

 

Those options came out far more interesting than I would have expected for a mercenary unit. Definitely some cool ideas there.

[Rathnard]

On 5/10/2021 at 10:11 PM, Adran said:

I guess it depends on if they want to go deep in TOS or go wide. (Meaning do they want a few factions with a lot of options for each faction, or lots of different factions all doing different things). If they go wide, then I can see Friekorps being another Earth syndicate. (And I think Sand man is most likely to be a Malifaux syndicate, but it might split a different way, so something to balance them out will be nice)

Back during the Kickstarter, Aaron (the lead designer for TOS at the time) said that the plan for expanding the game was to go wide. If that's still the plan, then we could certainly see Wyrd regularly delving into the Malifaux factions for additional syndicates. Also you mentioned Sandmen - they were intended to be a universal syndicate for TOS (ie. available to both Malifaux and Earth forces). 

That said, this is all from about 4 years in the past. Aaron's no longer working for Wyrd and we've heard nothing about the Sandmen since. It's entirely possible that Wyrd has since decided to take a different approach to TOS. 

 

On 5/11/2021 at 7:45 AM, Metalhed said:

Those options came out far more interesting than I would have expected for a mercenary unit. Definitely some cool ideas there.

Thanks! It occurred to me after posting that I hadn't even considered what you'd put on the Syndicate card. So there's an opportunity to differentiate the Syndicate even further through universal triggers, abilities and how they flip to glory.

[retnab]

5 hours ago, Rathnard said:

Back during the Kickstarter, Aaron (the lead designer for TOS at the time) said that the plan for expanding the game was to go wide.

True, when I wrote my article comparing Malifaux and TOS (Chronicles 36) I made sure to point that out and they kept it in the article, so I'm assuming they meant at least then it was still true.  Though that was about 3 years ago now though, and like you said things can change.

[muraki]

6 hours ago, Rathnard said:

Also you mentioned Sandmen - they were intended to be a universal syndicate for TOS (ie. available to both Malifaux and Earth forces). 

Sandmen were in the 'Homefront' campaign to decide on the next syndicate for ToS (where it was between 'the council', 'the sandmen' and 'the order of the chimera') and looking at this fb post from Dec 2017

Quote

The Malifaux global event, Homefront, has concluded!

The Gremlins had secured to victory last Block, earning them the 2018 Nightmare box. Now, the Sandmen have clinched the victory for The Other Side, earning their place in the game!

https://www.wyrd-games.net/homefront

We want to thank everyone who participated, and we look forward to developing the game based on your input!

So looks like there were (back in 2017) plans to build a syndicate for them with their victory in Homefront (which is a shame, I wanted the order of the chimera, but I also didn't play any games, sooooo that's on me).  Homefront did mention the order of chimera + the council, so if those ideas are still on the burner, that's a few more syndicate ideas they have lined up.

[retnab]

Yeah I was gunning for the Council back then, but that may have been because I wanted to see Ramos with a 120mm base mega-spider 

[Rathnard]

I was backing the Council, mostly for background reasons. I really liked the idea of the "original" top dogs coming back to rival the Guild again.  

For now though, just seeing the game get a new book & Allegiances would be nice!

 

[Tenshi]

I don't like it. I'd have to start another ToS army. 🤣

[clockworkspide]

Way back in late 1st Edition of Malifaux, someone on these forums homebrewed rules for a sort of flammenwerfer-equipped light tank as a potential Freikorps model for Malifaux.  MIght be an interesting for-real addition to a Freikorps syndicate in TOS.