While the miniature version of the forces under Cornelivs is significantly smaller in number than what is in the books, it is still a relatively large collection of figures, so I was able to represent different sub forces within those fighting at his side.

Today I will focus mostly on the warriors that were originally part of the militias defending some of the worlds where Cornelivs went to destroy the alien cults that were undermining the local populations.

The basic look for the militias was created with parts from Anvil Industry, namely the armoured torsos, arms and legs, which might seem counter-intuitive, but is meant to represent soldiers wearing lower quality armour and equipment. Why would a militia soldier be equipped with armour that looks thicker and heavier than regular soldiers from the Imperial Guard or similar forces?

Just like older bulletproof vests were heavier and cumbersome compared to modern ones, the armour used in the Empire has evolved through the millennia, with heavier and thicker armour not necessarily providing more protection than lighter or thinner armour pieces. That was the major reason why I chose to use clearly armoured troops as the poorly equipped militias, while most of the regiments of the Imperial Guard have lighter equipment because they have access to modern wargear with clear improvements over the older and cheaper equipment used by militias.

Most of the equipment for the militias would likely be produced locally with the materials and knowledge available and using older and well established gear would make sense from a management point of view, since it would be easier to setup the necessary supply chains to produce those items, while more modern equipment might require materials or technology that is not widely available.

As before, my photography skills aren’t great and due to the fact that the base for the paint scheme is black shiny armour most things look better in person than in the photos (especially in those cases when the photos look like what happens when I take my glasses off).

Warfare in many planets is difficult and militias are equipped to suit their task.

Heavy weapons are often used by militias during attacks from other factions or to quell uprisings.

Assault rifles are among the most commonly available weapons for militias, as they are cheaper and easier to produce than most energy weapons.

Full helmets are often issued to militia soldiers in highly polluted planets or planets with a hazardous atmosphere.

Injuries are common among members of the militia and the most veteran will display the scars of their previous engagements.

Patrols with assault rifles are often used to dissuade civilians from rising against their masters.

Despite being given similar equipment, rich militiamen will often have additional gear that they bought using their own money.

Squads of veterans will often acquire a varied set of gear through various sources, including looting dead bodies.

Many of those who survive long enough in the militia tend to focus on different types of combat, including melee or close combat.

RPG’s and missile launchers are used by the militias as a cheap alternative to more advanced anti-vehicle or area damage weapons.

Shotguns are also used by militias to fight at medium or short range, especially when dealing with large numbers of enemy infantry.

In the Empire conscription for the Imperial Guard and the militias is inclusive and both men and women served as part of those military forces.

Militias are always ready to answer the call to fight, although not all soldiers have enough training to fight efficiently.

Many of the members of the militia fight without helmets, especially in situations where identifying targets may be difficult and a wider angle of visual detection might be required for survival.

Minor officers are often integrated as part of the militia squads and their gear only changes slightly from regular soldiers.

In planets where the militia is well funded, specialist units for snipers are sometimes recruited among the best marksmen.

Usually sniper squads are trained from the veterans of previous battles and soldiers fight individually rather than as a part of a full squad.

Soldiers with machine guns and other medium/heavy weapons are also used by specialist squads, typically in defensive roles.

Lighter machine guns are often used for mobile units that have to redeploy often, leaving the heavier weapons to defend fixed positions.

Other specialist squads include plasma guns, flamers or ion weapons.

Plasma weapons are deadly but they are often too expensive to be deployed by the members of the militia.

The use of artillery and other fixed weapons is something common among the militias and many soldiers are trained as crew for those weapons.

Militias have access to older designs of artillery, which fire simple ballistic rounds that even the less capable conscripts are able to use efficiently.

Indirect lines of fire mean artillery often requires spotters in advanced positions to relay information to the weapon crew about the intended targets.

The particles released by the weapons during operation make many soldiers opt to use masks and other protective gear while doing their job.

 

Death comes in many forms when you are a part of the militia guarding an imperial planet, but wages for soldiers are often larger than those earned by most civilians and thus many volunteer to serve in the militias for a few years in order to earn some money.

Still, militias are only useful when the Imperial Guard regiments are not available and the soldiers recruited locally by the governor or similar imperial representatives should not be considered reliable in most situations, although they are usually capable enough as a first line of defence to protect the planet and the local population from hostile forces.