Last summer, Warhammer Fantasy was broken down and reforged in the End Times Crucible to become Age of Sigmar. Hulking golden warriors and zealots of Khorne took center-stage, soon to be followed by Nagash and his armies of death, Fyreslayers, and
But in GW's long-term goal of securing IP from imitators, there had to be sacrifices. Many ranges were gutted, leaving only scarce few (and more unique) models. I held my Bretonnians tightly as the Tomb Kings breathed their last, only to find my love dying in my arms. The Brets too breathed their last. I held them in my arms and wept...well okay I was mostly just sort of salty.
Fake emotions aside, I find myself without an army. It's not that the new ranges are "bad" per se, they just really don't fit my aesthetics the way the Brets did: Gallant knights, shining steel, vibrant heraldry. "But they're still playable," one might argue. This is technically true, if you have the old models, if you use the old warscroll (as their rules cannot be found in the order tome), if you accept that your army will lack future support, and if you look at Silver Tower and accept that not one of the heroes is a Bretonnian. Much of the army is horseback to be sure, but Paladin had a foot model as did the Damsel of the Lady. A small homage would have been nice, but oh well.
One might also argue that a release is around the corner. After all, the Orks got the Ironjawz, the undead got the Flesh-Eater Courts (and kept their old vampire count models to boot). The End Times lore also pointed to the Grail Knights and Damsels being invited to join a new pantheon of gods. Given this, and the lack of a new Elf range of any kind, there appears to be a niche for another order faction...but will it be one that at all resembles Bretonnia?
The root problem with Bretonnia (and a crucial part of its end) was the fact that every last bit of it was based on the Arthurian legend and basic medieval motifs. In other words, GW had nothing it could hold IP on. Pretty much anyone could make 28mm scale minis resembling a trebuchet or a man-at-arms or a french knight and proxy them in. Any and all buildings would be pulled straight from history books...and therefore anyone could make and sell suitable terrain. Should a new army rise in their place, I would have to accept that the Arthurian motif will at least have to be far less direct if it exists at all.
With this implicit problem statement in mind, the new faction would have a regular minefield to negotiate. The Sigmarites only happened because they look like the 'lovechild' of a Zack Snyder - directed Flash Gordon Reboot getting knocked up by the Ultramarines. However...they are indisputably unique. This new faction (let's simply call them 'Knights' for now) would have to have a name and appearance that is unique for branding purposes while not tempting me to change my stance on abortion. The Knights would have to retain the shimmering steel, the gallant demeanor, the bright colors of cloth and heraldry, and the appeals to an idyllic and medieval land that never was, all while remaining unique enough to be worth producing from a business standpoint.
The Knights would have to have a clear niche in the new lore, where the Sigmarites dominate the niche of valiant and shiny heroes with my derision notwithstanding. This may necessitate a new spin, perhaps making them Knights in touch with an ethereal plane. They could be led by a ghostly form reminiscent of the Green Knight. That being said, it may be wiser to make them very obviously human (including models with exposed heads) to contrast them with the faceless warriors of Sigmar. Or a combination of the two - maybe they learned how to channel an ethereal form, and could be magic knights bearing similarities to the Grey Knights of 40k? Giving them runes and wards would be a great way to make the range stand out, as would emphasis on nature, as would a color palette of bright greens and blues. Of course all of this is the naive hope of a contrarian, but there is material to work with.
Will they do it? Will they take a risk and add another force to Order? It's always possible that I will see the spiritual return of Bretonnia, but if I had to bet money, I'd hold my cash, breathe easy and mutter two words as I focus on 40k instead: "Probably Not."
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