THE FREE COMPANIES ARMY

by Tom Setzer and Erik Setzer

These are the Great Mercenary Companies that fight in the many wars of the Old World, hiring out to those rulers who can afford to pay their wages and supply them with equipment and sustenance. They fight for differing reasons, some for fame and glory, some because they have no homes to return to, some are seeking fortune, while others just seek adventure. They all have in common that they follow a charismatic leader who has organized them and now leads them in their battles. You may find one of these great companies one battle season in the Tilean City-States, and the next fighting in the wars of the Empire. They contain all types of troops, from Peasant Spearmen to landless Knights, Barbarians from the far north, and the fierce horsemen from the sands of Araby.

 

FREE COMPANIES ARMY SELECTOR

TROOP Type Attacks Hits Armour Command Unit Size Points Min/Max Special
Arabic Light Cavalry Cavalry 3/1 3 6+ - 3 85 -/3 -
White Company Archers Infantry 3/1 3 0 - 3 55 -/2 -
Crossbowmen Infantry 3/1 3 0 - 3 55 1/- -
Billmen Infantry 3 3 6+ - 3 45 2/- -
Handgunners Infantry 3/1 3 0 - 3 65 -/2 1
Swordsmen Infantry 3 3 0 - 3 40 -/2 2
Pikemen Infantry 4 3 6+ - 3 55 -/2 -
White Company Knights Cavalry 3 3 4+ - 3 110 -/1 -
Mounted Crossbowmen Cavalry 3/1 3 6+ - 3 85 -/1 -
Stone Thrower Artillery 1/3 3 0 - 1 75 -/1 3
Bolt Thrower Artillery 1/3 2 0 - 2 65 -/1 4
Cannons Artillery 1/2+bounce 2 0 - 2 85 -/1 5
General General +2 - - 9 1 125 1 -
Hero Hero +1 - - 8 1 80 -/1 -
Wizard Wizard +0 - - 7 1 45 -/1 6
Griffon Monstrous Mount +2 - - - 1 +80 -/1 7
Wyvern Monstrous Mount +2 - - - 1 +80 -/1 8

Special rules

1. Handgunners.  Handgunners use the same rules as Empire Handgunners.  See the Empire army list in the Warmaster rulebook.

2. Skirmishers.   Swordsmen are skirmishers, with a loose formation, making them harder to hit with ranged and melee attacks.  Any roll to hit the Swordsmen, whether with missile attacks or melee attacks, is at a -1 to hit.

3. Stone Thrower.  Uses the Orc Rock Lobbers rules presented on page 69 in the Warmaster rulebook.

4. Bolt Thrower.  Uses the Undead Bolt Throwers rules presented on page 69 in the Warmaster rulebook.

5. Cannon.  Uses the Cannon rules presented on page 68 in the Warmaster rulebook.

 6. Wizard. The Wizard uses the Empire spell list.

7. Griffon.   Generals, Wizards and Heroes may ride a Griffon.  A Griffon can fly, increasing its rider's Move from 60cm to 100cm, and it adds +2 Attacks to those of its rider.  A unit which includes a Griffon rider causes terror in its enemies.

8. Wyvern.  Generals, Wizards and Heroes may ride a Wyvern.  A Wyvern can fly, increasing its rider's Move from 60cm to 100cm, and it adds +2 Attacks to those of its rider.  A unit which includes a Wyvern rider causes terror in its enemies.

Author's Notes:  This Free Companies army list is bases upon the free companies of mercenaries that fought in the Dark Ages and Renaissance, when English soldiers mingled with other soldiers to fight in wars such as the wars of the Italian city-states.

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