My work on Brotherhood and Mishima forces having been stalled by something of a writer's block, and having recently finished both Jeff VanDerMeer's City of Saints and Madmen and Chína Míeville's Iron Council which put me into alternative/industrial fantasy frame of mind, I decided to try my hand at writing something a bit alternative for Defiance as well.
Hence, Project Industrial Fantasy (PIF for short). Here's some initial background info on one of the major powers in the PIF universe, the Kingdom of the Sun, and its forces:
For ten millennia, the Kingdom of the Sun has dominated the North-East corner of Terannor. Not always without rival as the fortunes of the Sun King and the Moon Queen have waxed and waned, and once, more than a thousand years ago, brought to the brink of destruction by the Black Ships from the skies, it nevertheless has always been a force to be reckoned with. Now, with the advances in thaumaturgy and alchemy and the recent forays into mechanismics and elyctrics, the Kingdom is at the height of its power and stands ready to conquer the entire continent.
Troops
Standard Infantry
Artillerists --- Quality: Veteran
Technically challenging, the position of an Artillerist is a well paid one but one that receives little praise from the normal footsloggers, who regard hanging back and barraging enemies to submission more than a little unmanly. Nevertheless, the devastating weapons at their disposal make the Artillery Battalions the solid backbone of any heavy assault or dedicated defence.Firebrands --- Quality: Veteran
Another highly technical battlefield role, that of a Firebrand calls for training in alchymics as well as mechanismics. Enemies of the Kingdom of the Sun dread the day when the Royal war schools are able to produce truly significant numbers of these specialists.Foot Lancers --- Quality: Veteran
Usually found deployed against some of the hardest opposition the enemy can muster, from Juggernauts to heavy cavalry, the job of the Foot Lancer is one of the most demanding in the Royal army. Lately, the elyctric shield technology has enhanced their chances against even the most overwhelming odds.Grenadiers --- Quality: Regular
Lightly armoured and armed with hand weapons and a deadly array of bombs, the Grenadier Battalions are much in demand and often stretched thin to meet the Kingdom's need. Grenadiers are often underappreciated and underpaid considering the thankless task of creeping within charge distance of the enemy in order to inflict damage upon them.Juggernaut Hunters --- Quality: Fanatic
A few of the most desperate and foolhardy soldiers dedicate their military career to a single purpose: hunting down and despatching Juggernauts. With unwieldy demolition tools in hand, brandishing Hand Cannons and throwing Platebuster Bombs, they charge against the massive metal constructs and to either unrivalled fame or an early grave.Knights --- Quality: Veteran
Once thought to be a dying breed, the Knight Companies consisting solely of nobles in their heavy, bright armour that limits their mobility and makes them easy targets for modern firearms now have a new lease on life thanks to the advent of elyctric shield technology. When they reach hand to hand combat, few can stand against their greatswords and other heavy melee weapons wielded with consummate skill.Mechanists --- Quality: Elite
Seldom seen on the field of battle, Mechanists sometimes participate in combat action in order to oversee the Juggernauts they create and outfit. While their main purpose is to observe these constructs, they can also make their presence felt with a few nasty weapons appropriated from the war laboratories.Mounted Lancers --- Quality: Veteran (SZ=3)
Apart from Knights in their shining armour, nothing really captures the imagination of the ordinary folk back home like Mounted Lancers on their trusty steeds, silhouetted against the rising sun. Every bit as hardy as the Foot Lancers, the Mounted Lancers are getting somewhat rare in the face of advances of firearms, but they are still a force to be reckoned with.Rangers --- Quality: Regular
Scouting the land ahead of the Royal army's advance is tasked to the Ranger Corps. Recruited from the areas where they are deployed, their knowledge of the terrain makes them consummate infiltrators.Riflemen --- Quality: Regular
The Rifle Battalions are where most men (and some of the women) joining the Royal army today are recruited. Steadfast in defence and ferocious in attack, they are the workhorse of the entire military might of the Kingdom of the Sun.Rocketeers --- Quality: Regular
Perhaps the least technical of the specialized roles in the Royal army today, a Rocketeer needs fairly little training apart from handling the rockets without blowing himself and his fellows up. Many Rocketeers enlist in hopes of eventually getting promoted to Artillery Battalions.Shock Troopers --- Quality: Veteran
Shock Trooper Battalions draw the fiercest and the downright most violent of the recruits. They are send in when the fighting gets close up and dirty, into cramped quarters where Lancers can't wield their elegant weapons effectively enough. Life expectancy for them is low but they do earn a lot of respect from other warriors, as well as respite from certain menial duties.Snipers --- Quality: Elite
The opposite of a ferocious Shock Trooper, the Sniper performs his precise and elegant elimination work from afar. Cool and steady by nature, they can be seen aiming, firing and reloading with almost clockwork-like precision. A bullet from a Sniper's Jezzail has been the bane of many an officer and Thaumaturge
As usual, I'm not able to promise any timeline but I'll try to move this too ahead when time and interest permit.
), but you'd need to do some carefull pruning. Rich and Demian had some good suggestion on how to work that. One option not yet mentioned you don't want to try is to use next to no terrain (@ some Wh40k games I've heard about).
) Defiance is not the game you are looking for.