Dogs of War (Warhammer)
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In the fictional Warhammer Fantasy setting and particularly the Warhammer Fantasy Battle tabletop wargame, Dogs of War is a collective term for various mercenary groups.
The mercenary groups are small units of troops that can be found fighting alongside armies for money. A wide variety of troops are included; assassins, Dragon riders, mutated bearmen, Corsairs, Goblin Wolf Riders, and Orcish crossbowmen. Many of the Dogs of War regiments hail from Tilea, geographically analogous to Italy in the Warhammer world.
[edit] Usage
Almost any army in the game can hire mercenaries to bolster their own forces, but there are restrictions on some units. For instance, the vampire hunters Johann and Wilhelm are not allowed in a Vampire Counts army for obvious reasons. The Bretonnian army does not use mercenaries because they see this as dishonourable, although they can include the famous pairing of Gotrek and Felix and units in the Albion ruleset.
[edit] The Dogs of War
The Dogs of War armies often include a Paymaster figure, which functions in a similar manner to a battle standard.
- Paymaster Bodyguards
- Pikemen
- Crossbowmen
- Duellists
- Heavy cavalry
- Light cavalry
- Ogres
- Dwarfs
- Norse Marauders
- Halflings
- Cannon
- Halfling Hot Pots
- Giants
[edit] The Regiments of Renown
The "Dogs of War" heading includes the Regiments of Renown. The name "Regiments of Renown" was used prior to the introduction of the Dogs of War concept for certain units led by a particular hero and they were given rules in White Dwarf and sold as boxed sets. Again. there are limitations on use, for instance regiments such as Bugman's Dwarf Rangers or "Prince Ulther's Dragon Company" (WFB 2nd ed) can only fight with groups from their own race.
[edit] Al Muktar's Desert Dogs
| Al Muktar's Desert Dogs | |
|---|---|
| [[Image:{{{image}}}|150px]] | |
| Captain | Al Muktar - Son of the Desert |
| Motto | Mighty are the Muktarin! |
| Battle-Cry | Al Muktar! |
Al Muktars Desert Dogs are a mercenary unit originateing in Araby.
[edit] History
Werner Glook was sent to an exclusive school in Marienburg by his parents as a young boy. His time there was lonely and unhappy for him as he was thrashed to near death and bullied into being a personal slave for the older boys. Years later he travelled to the city of Lasheik in Araby. In the city some young boys tried to rob him of his money but he ordered them in a commanding voice to stop. The boys fled, wondering how an Old Worlder could speak their language. Possibly he could be Al Muktar (Son of the Desert) whose return had been predicted. Werner knew nothing of this legend and was oblivious as his fame started to spread.
At some time he decided to visit some ruins in the desert. Three days into his journey he was ambushed by bandits led by Sheikh Ahmed Shufti. He fought hard against them taking down quite a number of Ahmed's men before he was finally captured. He was tortured by Ahmed for 3 days, in which Werner Glook gave no cry of pain. Throughout his torture he heard the bandits talk about 'Al Muktar'. Ibn, a blind boy who Werner had hired as a guide, talked to the Bandits about the things Werner has supposedly done in Lashiek. Some of the Bandits possessions started to disappear as well, a sure sign of The Curse of Al Muktar. On the third night Werner cried out "Al Muktarrr..." the Bandits, already spooked by Ibn's tales cried out to Werner "Al Muktar... Al Muktar... Please forgive us". Werner forgave them.
Werner - now under the name of Al Muktar - became a desert warrior with the bandits. His bandits became feared all along the coast of Araby, their battle cry of "Al Muktar" sending Old Worlders and citizens of Araby fleeing. They became known as the Desert Dogs, with huge scimitars of gleaming steel often heralding the downfall of a merchant or explorer.
They became such a threat that the Sheikh of Lasheik had to hire them as mercenaries with large bribes. They first went to the lands of the Undead, then they went to the Badlands and the Border Princes. The dashing cavalry soon became known throughout the entire world. The curse of Al Muktar has never truly been lifted from the bandits as small possessions of theirs still mysteriously disappear.
- Al Muktar - formerly Werner Glook.
- Sheikh Ahmed Shufti - Leader of the Bandits that originally captured Werner Glook. Never forgiven himself for his mistreatment of Al Muktar
- Ibn - blind boy hired by Werner Glook as a guide to the ruins. Now the standard bearer.
[edit] Anacondas Amazons
Anacondas Amazons are Amazons originating in the continent of Lustria. They are just as likely to kill their employers as to kill their enemies due to their constant worship of the Old Ones and their service to their tasks.
[edit] Asarnil the Dragonlord
| Asarnil the Dragonlord | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Captain | Asarnil the Dragonlord |
| Motto | Victory is a forgone conclusion |
| Battle-Cry | Wahnil! Wahnil! |
Asarnil the Dragonlord is a High Elf character mounted on a Dragon. Expelled from Ulthuan for a crime that none dare utter, Asarnil comes down upon his enemies with fury unmatched by any of his kin.
[edit] Beorg Bearstruck and the Bearmen of Urslo
| Beorg Bearstruck and the Bearmen of Urslo | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Captain | Beorg Bearstruck |
| Motto | The Dark Gods Bless Us |
| Battle-Cry | The unit enters battle growling like bears. |
Beorg Bearstruck and the Bearmen of Urslo are a Norse mercenary unit. Only Beorg Bearstruck, the chieftain, turns fully into a werebear in battle, others have no or minor transformations. The normal troops wear light armour and wield shields and axes. Beorg is guarded by the Bear Fang talisman, which is the symbol of lordship amongst the tribe. The unit is also accompanied by Oerl the Young who has proven himself a worthy banner bearer and carries the Bear Banner.
[edit] Birdmen of Catrazza
| Birdmen of Catrazza | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Captain | Daddallo |
| Motto | Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines |
| Battle-Cry | Tally Ho! |
The Birdmen of Catrazza are a Tilian mercenary unit. Using completely unique flying contraptions, the Birdmen of Catrazza offer a unique option to any general with the cash to hire them. Their name is a reference to the "Birdman of Alcatraz", Robert Franklin Stroud.
[edit] Braganza's Besiegers
A unit of crossbowmen but with better than average armour protection
[edit] Bronzino's Galloper Guns
Bronzino's Galloper Guns are a mercenary artillery unit. As soon as the enemy catches up with them, they flee to a safe distance to start pounding them with cannon shot again. The Galloper guns are used extensively by many armies due to the fact that it allows any army to take a cannon, a choice that is usually limited to the Dwarfs and the Empire.
- Giants of Albion
- Golgfag's Ogres
[edit] Gotrek and Felix
Gotrek and Felix are a Dwarf "slayer" and his human poet companion.
[edit] Johan and Wilhelm
[edit] Tilean pikemen units
- The Alcatani Fellowship
- Leopold's Leopard Company
- Pirazzo's Lost Legion
- Ricco's Republican Guard
[edit] Other Dogs of War
- Long Drong's Slayer Pirates
- Lumpin Croop's Fighting Cocks
- Marksmen of Miragliano
- Mengil Manhide's Manflayers
- Oglah Khan's Wolfboyz
- Ruglud's Armoured Orcs
- The Cursed Company
- Tichi-Huchi's Raiders
- Vespero's Vendetta
[edit] Voland's Venators
A Cavalry unit
[edit] Older Regiments of Renown
Generally introduced between 1985 and 1990. These were boxed sets of figures with rules for Warhammer Fantasy Battle editions 2 and 3.
- Bugman's Dwarf Rangers
- Knights Of Origo
- Grom's Goblin Guard
- Mengil Manhide's Company of Dark Elves
- Harboth and the Black Mountain Boys
- Mad Mullah Aklan'd's Death Commandos
- The Bowmen of Wood Elf Prince Oreon
- Golfag's Regiment of Mercenary Ogres
- Golfag's Other Regiment of Mercenary Ogres
- Mudat's Mercenary Half-Orc Maniacs
- Elwing's Elven Guard Cavalry
- Karnac's Lizardmen Raiders
- Flying Gargoyles of Barda
- Lothern City Guard (High Elf)
- Notlob's Orcish Bolt-Throwing Engines (orcs)
- The Mighty Throg and his Hobgoblin Despoilers of the Dark Lands
- Disciples of the Red Redemption
- Avenging Knights of the Cleansing Flame
- Eeza Ugezod's Mother Crushers (Black orcs)
- The Nightmare Legion - Mordini's Doomed Legion
- Harboth's Orc Archers
- Skarloc's Wood Elf Archers
- Ruglud's Armoured Orcs - The Spike-Can Commandos
- Prince Ulther's Imperial Dwarves - The Dragon Company
[edit] References
- Warhammer Armies - Dogs of War. ISBN 1-872372-02-3
- Stuff of Legends - website listing older Citadel products
| Warhammer Fantasy | |
|---|---|
| Major Games: | Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Warmaster, Mordheim, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Man O' War, Warhammer Ancient Battles |
| Nations and races: | Bretonnia, Chaos, Chaos Dwarfs, Dark Elves, Dogs of War, Dwarfs, The Empire, High Elves, Kislev, Lizardmen, Ogres, Orcs & Goblins, Skaven, Undead (Tomb Kings & Vampire Counts), Wood Elves |
| Places: | The Old World, Araby, Cathay, Lustria, Ulthuan, Southlands, Naggaroth, Dark Lands, Albion, Athel Loren |
| People: | List of major characters |
| More: | List of creatures in Warhammer Fantasy, Warhammer Fantasy deities, Lores of Magic |
