When I first bought Warmachine and was painting my Menoth Battlebox, and reading my MKII Prime rule book, I lamented (and blogged) about the creative limitations inherent in a game that requires you to use one of their ‘named’ generals/casters. It was promptly pointed out to me that there was nothing stopping me from developing the back story for a new caster and using that to colour my force choice, and use the rules for an exiting caster to represent my guy. As my army has developed I have continued to think on that, and am today proud to announce the birth of ‘Gilbert Voss- Errant Warcaster’ aka Voss the Heretic.
“Do not mistake his irreverence for a lack of Faith, he is a Scion of Menoth and a tool of the creator every bit as much as I“- High Exemplar Michael Kreoss
Backstory
Gilbert Voss has served with distinction on a number of fronts and in a number of campaigns. He led troops in the battle of Sul, and performed with merit on a number of occassions. He fought under Severius when he led the northern crusade, and carried on when that campaign was delivered into the command of Mickael Kreoss. He is a good soldier and a thoughtful commander. Unfortunately for him and any political ambitions he might hold however, he is a soldier first and a Menite second.
Kreoss’s concern for his troops is legendary, his willingness to temper the flame of his faith, when required to ensure the wellbeing of his army or the citizens they protect has made him loved throughout the protectorate. Voss however makes even Kreoss look like a zealot. He is irreverent to the point of insubordination.
Gilbert Voss, comes across as a simple uncomplicated man, strong of faith, but practical. Even before his latent caster abilites came to the fore, he was a much respected errant officer. In Voss’s own mind, he is a good soldier, surrounded by good soldiers, and he and his troops serve Menoth best by staying alive and doing their job.It has been said that Voss’s is more concerned for the life of a single soldier than spreading the word. It is a charge that has brought him into conflict with his superiors and one he does not deny.
Voss does not hate the foes he and his men are sent against. He will defeat them because he has been ordered to do so. He will destroy them because the alternative is that they will destroy him. He does not seek to save their souls or reveal to them the truth, those are the jobs of priests and scrutators, he will fight them and when the battle is over he will return to his command tent and his own thoughts.
Voss’s attitude has seen him branded heretic by some. He was removed from the Northern Crusade, when it became apparent that his presence on the battlefield offended and limited the abilities of the Harbinger of Menoth. The High Executioner has issued a personal interdiction against him, and sworn that Voss will be wracked by his hand should their paths ever cross. The Hierarch has been forced to use Voss in fields far away from either of those two notables, and has been all but banished to the east. There, his army is poorly supplied, rarely reinforced and only minimally maintained, they have been sent east to do as much damage to the enemies of Menoth as they can, and to eventually solve the ‘problem’ of Voss once and for all. They are on a 20 year suicide mission, and Gilbert Voss and his men are well aware of it.
For all the mutterings of heresy though Voss is a faithful Menite. Devout and earnest, and pained by what he sees as his own failings of faith. He spends his time when not in battle, in prayer or self flagellation, tortured by his impiety. “If my presence offends the word of the creator, then surely the creator is likewise offended”, and so he fights as his personal penance for the blasphemy of his existence.
How he Works in Model Terms
I am using pKreoss at the moment, so from a gaming point of view all of the above is only happening in my head. I have an Errant Seneschall on order and will paint him up to be Gilbert Voss.
I have painted my army using a green and white colour scheme, mainly because I like the colours, but also to set them apart from other Menoth forces.
As an Exemplar his force is based on those troops, with Errants (because he is an errant) and Bastions (because the models are so cool) being supported by a choir and ‘banished’ flameguard.
I am using Battlebox Jacks at the moment but given his ‘look after my troops’ attitude will add at least one, possibly two Vigilants.
How he Work in Game Terms
At the moment, I am using the Kreoss rules. Ultimately though I see Voss as a ‘light jack’ caster and may consider using Amon’s rules, to see how they work. Ultimately ground work isn’t a skill that should be had by an Emplar though, even an Errant, and there will come a time when I will have to come up with his own rules for friendly games.
But wait there is more
Whenever I am designing a character or a force with a back story I like to build in limitations. Often there is as much character provided by what an army can’t do as by what it can. I see the Vigilant(s) as a limitation, all my reading suggests that they are far from our most useful Jack, but Voss’s vierw of his troops, together with the idea that they have been banished and are getting old, or generally superseded equipment suits using these Jacks. Beside it forces me (like Voss) to come up with a way to get the most out of what I’ve got.
Obviously, Voss won’t be able to be used in larger games in conjunction with Reznik or the Harbinger, either. Which is no limit at this time but may be fun in the future or in doubles games.
I’m new to the game and new to the Iron Kingdoms, so I would welcome anyone’s suggestions or comments on Back Story, modelling ideas, corrections and errors I may have made. In the meantime, I am 9 models away from having the army painted to 35 points, and Gilbert is looking for a fight.
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