Empire of Man Army Guide: Battle March and Starting Your Army

If you like the idea of ordinary soldiers standing together against monsters, undead armies and the forces of Chaos, the Empire of Man is an excellent faction to explore. Its armies combine disciplined infantry, gunpowder weapons, cavalry, religious zeal and experimental war machines. This Empire of Man army guide explains what gives the faction its character, how the Battle March Army offers an approachable starting point and which currently listed Bomran products can help you expand your force.

Who Are the Empire of Man?

The Empire is a vast human realm divided into provinces, each with its own colours, traditions and ambitions. Its people live in a dangerous world, yet they continue to defend their towns and roads with courage, discipline and a healthy supply of black powder. On the tabletop, that produces an army with a wonderfully varied appearance. Ranked State Troops fight alongside archers and handgunners, while knights, fanatical Flagellants, commanders, wizards and artillery add very different personalities to the collection.

How Does the Empire of Man Play?

The Empire is best known for combined arms. Rather than asking one unit to do everything, you bring together formations that support one another. Infantry can establish the centre of the army, missile troops apply pressure at range and cavalry can respond to exposed flanks or opportunities. Characters, magic and war machines give you further ways to shape the force.

That flexibility is one of the faction’s greatest attractions. You can build around massed soldiers, mobile cavalry, black-powder weapons or a balanced mixture of all three. The exact rules and points can change through official updates, so use the current publications, FAQs and errata when preparing an army list.

Starting with the Empire of Man Battle March Army

The Empire of Man: Battle March Army is the clearest current starting point in the Bomran catalogue. Battle March is designed for compact games using armies of between 400 and 750 points. It lets you learn movement, formations, shooting, charges and combat with a manageable force before expanding into larger battles.

The box contains 56 miniatures:

• One Commander of the Empire with a great weapon
• 20 State Troops with a choice of weapons
• 10 Flagellants
• 10 State Missile Troops armed with crossbows or handguns
• 10 Empire Archers
• Five Outriders, which can alternatively be built as Pistoliers

It feels distinctly Empire from the beginning. You get a leader, a solid infantry formation, two different kinds of ranged unit, a band of fanatics and fast cavalry. The models form a coherent Battle March force and can later become the foundation of a much larger collection.

Understanding the Units in the Box

Commander and State Troops

The Commander gives the army a suitably imposing leader, while the 20 State Troops form its disciplined centre. Their weapon options let you decide how you want the regiment to look and function. If you later want a larger battleline, the separate Empire State Troops kit is a natural way to add more ranked infantry. Bomran also lists the Commanders of the Empire for collectors who want more character choices.

State Missile Troops and Empire Archers

The Battle March box gives you two ranged formations with different visual identities. State Missile Troops can carry crossbows or handguns, bringing the organised firepower associated with the Empire’s provincial armies. The 10 Archers have a looser, more mobile appearance and give the collection a welcome contrast. A separate Empire Archers kit is listed if you particularly enjoy that part of the force.

Flagellants

Flagellants bring religious fervour and a deliberately ragged appearance to the army. They look very different beside the neat ranks of State Troops, which helps the box capture more than one side of the Empire. The separate Empire Flagellants kit allows you to expand the unit if its theme becomes a favourite part of your collection.

Outriders or Pistoliers

The five mounted models can be assembled as Outriders or Pistoliers. Either option introduces speed and black-powder weaponry to the force, while giving you a very different painting project from the infantry. It is worth checking the current army list before choosing your build so that the finished unit suits the collection you want to develop.

Which Books Do You Need?

The principal Empire of Man army list is found in Forces of Fantasy. The current Warhammer: The Old World rulebook contains the main game rules and the Battle March rules for smaller games. The Arcane Journal: Empire of Man is a supplementary publication containing additional background and army-building options. It is a useful addition once you know that the Empire is the force you want to develop, but it does not replace the principal army list.

The Battle March: General’s Companion expands the compact format with further scenarios, campaign material and additional options. Use Games Workshop’s latest FAQs and errata alongside your books so that your rules remain current.

Expanding Your Empire Collection

Once you have played a few smaller games, think about which part of the Battle March force you enjoyed most. More State Troops can create a larger centre, while additional ranged units let you develop the gunpowder side of the army. If you want a faster or more imposing addition, units such as Demigryph Knights bring heavily armoured cavalry to the collection. The Cannons and Mortars kit offers the classic artillery associated with the Empire.

There is no need to add everything at once. Building around the first 56 miniatures gives you time to learn how the units work together, settle on a provincial colour scheme and decide whether you want the army to lean towards infantry, cavalry, gunpowder or a balanced mixture.

Empire of Man Products at Bomran

These are current products from the Empire of Man category. Availability may change, but the category remains the best place to see the range listed by Bomran.

Is the Empire of Man Right for You?

The Empire is a strong choice if you enjoy varied armies, classic human soldiers and the idea of several different units working together. It also offers plenty of hobby freedom. Each province has its own heraldry, so you can follow an established colour scheme or create a force with a story of your own.

If you are still comparing factions, our Warhammer: The Old World beginner’s guide introduces the wider game and its supported armies. You can also read our updated Beastmen Brayherds army guide to compare the Empire’s discipline with a much wilder Battle March force.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to start an Empire of Man army?

The Empire of Man: Battle March Army is the most straightforward current starting option listed by Bomran. It provides 56 miniatures covering infantry, ranged troops, fanatics, cavalry and a commander.

What size games are played in Battle March?

Battle March is designed for armies of between 400 and 750 points. It offers a quicker and more compact way to learn and play Warhammer: The Old World.

Can the Battle March Army become a larger force?

Yes. Its Commander, State Troops, missile units, Archers, Flagellants and cavalry can all form part of a growing Empire collection. Add further units once you know which aspect of the army you would most like to develop.

Do I need the Empire of Man Arcane Journal?

Not for the principal army list. The Arcane Journal is a supplement with additional Empire background and army-building options, while the main Empire list is found in Forces of Fantasy.