A player sent me a PM the other day asking if they had to "play the companies as written". Of course, I said 'no, you don’t' and directed them to the section on creating your own companies.
However, I had missed the point completely (not unusual as Charles can attest).
It appears that she was not yet confident enough with the rules to begin from scratch, but instead wanted to use an existing company as a template to play with and adjust to her ideas.
This made me wonder if we had introduced the Companies chapter correctly and this led to the following.
Unlike some rules-systems, especially those that are inextricably linked to miniatures ranges, we in the Ministry don't expect our players to hold to what we have written as sacred text.
We regard what we have provided in the Companies chapter as a series of themed examples, for you to use as templates from which to develop your own.
First thematic example, the Brick Lane Commune This band of revolutionaries and anarchists is based on the sort that were common across Europe from the Paris Commune in 1871 to the Easter Rising in Ireland in 1916. Often led by well-educated men who had read Marx and Engels, and who preached violent revolution to the poor as a path to freedom.
An anarchist or socialist company is typified by its poorly equipped but fanatical troops. They are usually more numerous than their foes and have a desperate courage and willingness to lay down their lives for the cause. It is a company where you need to manage your resources carefully, use mobbing and volley fire to take down your often more professional and better-equipped opponents. Their martyr-delivered bombs and their Incendiaries’ flame grenades are a great leveller that your enemy shall come to fear.
Depending on what you want to achieve, you could modify the BLC template to include army deserters, home-made armoured vehicles, and modified mechanized walkers without affecting the theme overmuch.
Second thematic example, Lord Curr's IncorrigiblesLord Curr is both a rogue and a patriot, not an unusual combination in the Victorian era. A former soldier who has created a loyal band of brigands to back him in his various adventures.
This is an elite company that depends mostly on its firepower to achieve its aims. It has access to a high level of technology and has a group of very competent characters at its core. It is not well-armoured so tends to advance making best use of cover.
The Incorrigibles can be used as template for any firepower-focused company led by an Imperial 'hero'.
Third thematic example, The Servants of RaThe theme of this company could be summed up with the phrase "it's all about me". As far as Prince Akhenaten is concerned every single member of his company is expendable, even the lesser characters.
This is not only a magic-themed company but could be considered a superhero company as well. One extremely competent and well-equipped leader with a bunch of mobile meat shields.
It can be a difficult company to manage though, because if the enemy can down the Prince, then you don't have a lot left to play with.
As you can easily see, every listed company has a theme and a collection of advantages and opportunities, which we positively encourage you all to play around with. The one thing we advise is that you let your gaming buddies know what you have created, before you play.
We are looking forward, just as we did with the first edition, to seeing what you create, whether it be a modified theme or something completely original.
If you go to the IHMN page on the blog, and scroll down past the IHMN2 section, you shall come across examples of some of the best companies that players created for the original IHMN.
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