22,000 Points of Astra Militarum Showcase - Why I Love Ep 1 

That moment when you realise 40k is how much it cost you.

When I learned about the 40k and as I dig into the lore, I fell in love with the guard immediately. Screw your superhumans, supermonsters, scary robots or jumpy mechs with blue cowards inside, they are the Imperial Guardsmen, proud, ordinary men and women what will stomp you into the ground with raw courage and determination. And tanks, don't forget tanks.

A lasgun is just a handle for a bayonet.

Have not seen one of you guy's videos in a while, nice guardsman force. Was always a Tau player myself back when I still played. Had a buddy and fellow Army officer who was a IG fanatic though back in the day and when we would be discussing 40K I'd occasionally complain about how there was some great stuff in the lore that could not be acted on, like the Gue'vesa. He died on deployment back in 2011 and shortly afterwards his wife contacted me as he had boxed up all the random stuff he had not gotten around to prior to deployment just in case and had apparently left it to me with a letter. Said he would have loved to see dirty traitor Gue'vesa marching beside my hunter cadres of fire warriors and Tau. Make it happen for him. It was a motly assortment of troops but it turned out to be a good foot infantry company with some support when I was done and they looked great side by side. R.I.P. Dave.

"An Imperial Guardsman, drawn from some forgotten corner of the Imperium, to fight for his species and for the safety of the people he loves. He is a factory worker, a farmer, a father, a brother, a son...A mere man. And against creatures like you, teeming and numberless, powered by the very will of thirsty gods...He holds the line. And he has held the line for ten thousand years."

Also let it be known ... Cadia broke before the guard did Never forget (salute) O7

And you can field all of that for a reasonable 13.5 points and a ball of chewing gum!

Cadia lives on in these guardsmens hearts

With our flashlights combined we fire the sun

Could you imagine this force on parade? By the Emperor, does my proud, Imperial heart swell at this fine gathering. EDIT: Also, yes...I did enjoy the showcase, maybe just a little to fast paced. And as Josh already elaborated on, my favorite part about the Imperial Guard is their simplicity and very human qualities...they're in a galaxy filled with horrors uncounted: aliens whom are specifically designed by living ships to eat and devour biomass; ancient constructs whom wield weapons that break down anything at the molecular level; literal daemons made of emotions; belligerent, tough and strong greenskins whom steep themselves in war and slaughter. And then you have the Guardsmen...simple humans whom wield naught but a laser pointer; with only those at his side and the fire in his belly to see him through...and most never do. It is through their numbers and willingness to use those numbers that the Guardsmen are an effective force: most are more than willing to die in service to the Imperium...simply because it is what is asked of them...and they have no Power Armor, no genetic modifications, no Bolters that can split an Ork in half with three good shots; and yet they fight, with something even greater: The Human Spirit. There's a quote from the old Dawn of War Game that pretty well sums them up, "To each of us falls a task, and all the Emperor requires of us Guardsmen is that we stand the line, and we die fighting. It is what we do best: We die standing."

"Cadia stands!" -last words of Colour Sergeant Jarran Kell, bearer of "The Castellan's Own" Regimental Banner....

Look at all these 10 000 miniatures... must be 2k points !

I won't lie, seeing that many Guardsmen and tanks, all lined up, it brought a tear to my eye. As a longtime Guard player, I salute you.

Astra mili...wut? You're in the Guard Son! this video made me moister than an oyster, This is exactly what I love about the guard, row upon row of the Emperor's bravest flashlight weilding meatshields :)

I love the death korps of krieg, my absolute favorite

Luka having dinner with his model is the absolutely best part of the intro.

I'm so glad you guys are doing this series! I've been sitting around thinking you guys should do this for a while now. I know, I need to sort my priorities out haha. Do you think there might come a point where you let people who come in for a few days show off their collections in a showcase? There's not many 40K players near me so I almost never get to see other people putting their armies on display.

Fully agree with you on the relateable thing man. I started with Eldar way back when, but as I learned about the fluff, I immediately started collecting Guard. It just felt welcome seeing the future space humans, be so human, and not too super heroey.

Ride of the Valkyries for the win! I don't play Guard, but I am attracted to them for all of the same reasons you are. If there were any real mini options besides Cadians right now, I'd be playing Guard.

290 super pumped naked rambo chuck norris ready

Commander Aurelius here from the 144th Europa Siege Regiment. Keep fighting brothers. The Emperor protects!

They are also the UNDERDOGS of 40k I love them

This was great, Imperial Guard are also one of my favorite 40k factions. Keep up the great work!!!!!

Hey math nerds. Please calculate the total monetary cost of this army in US dollars, including the cod exes required to play this army.

I am new to Warhammer 40K and I dig these showcase videos. Helps explain a lot to me and show me what all the miniatures look like. I didn't think I would be too into these guys based on what I knew about them beforehand, but after seeing all of these I am kind of into them and want to try my hand at painting them.

You nailed it why I love Imperial Guard, they are the most relatable! I ain't into playing power fantasies unless it is deserved through your own actions, which means, you ARE badass because of YOUR actions done in underdog situations, not because you are given to be badass.

Those guardsmen with the cowboy hats looked so freakin good! I’d love to know what bits all that was

4:53 Tripping hard.

That's a good start to a collection. I'd say you're about half way to a kill team. My goal is the build out a 5 squad platoon from all the Guard ranges that GW has made. The Praetorians and the Steel Legion are looking like the hardest ones to get at the moment.

😍 this Army is so beautiful😍

They have the "Everyman" quality.....anybody can picture themselves as a Guardsman; someone who IS afraid, but still does what is needed, to protect their Families and home, and to protect the person next to them who is, in turn, protecting them. I was very honored to have a old co-worker tell me of his time in Vietnam. The Dude legit got the Bronze Star & Purple Heart, because he went into harm's way to drag a wounded platoon mate back to safety, and laying down covering fire for others. He claimed that he was trembling, even before a bullet grazed his scalp, lacerating it open. He said there was not enough morphine in the world, when the Doctor was pulling his scalp back together so it could be stitched. Thank you for the cool video!.

Awesome collection! Your reasons for liking the Astra Militarum/Imperial Guard are exactly why I chose to collect them when my son-in-law got me involved with WH40K a few years ago. It goes with my nature. I like stories about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.

imperial guards man i like them because there guts they got heart to vs gods,demons and nightmares beyond star with nothing but a riffle that might explode any sec

That intro is straight fucking gold. You guys at MWG make my day everyday and got me back into the hobby after 12 years!!!!! Hopefully one day I can bring my family up there and challenge Dave to a 100 percent straight banter batrap!

I don't watch much miniwargaming but I love this interview and showcase style...please do more

Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life!! Hats off to you brother 👍

These boys should last a good hour in the first engagement before the Space Marines show up!

This dude has so many soldiers to sacrifice he might as well be a commissar.

I might not play guard, but it was because of some local guard players that kept me watching and enjoying when I wasn't able to play at my local shop. My favorite model of theirs is the baslisk as I remember guys having it sit in a piece of terrain with it's cannon firing out the window of this piece.

the greatest line from any movie, "Do you apes wanna live forever?" (starship troopers) this is the quintessential guard.

This is one of my fav videos you’ve done. Love it! Gimme more!

I love seeing these massive collections. More of them as you get more armies built and upgraded!

This is great. I'd love it if you guys held a tournament of just the MWG family, you guys have such great games together it'd be cool if you had a tournament amongst yourselves where everyone played their favorite armies and list. It could be like a yearly thing and whomever won could be crowned king of the tabletop or something until they are dethroned the next tournament, haha.

I loved the Big Toof River battle, I got lost in the White Dwarf edition covering it for hours on end looking at all the fun models and encounters. Many of the dioramas featured in the printed material at the time that had IG were always so good, I could never pick a favourite regiment to focus on, they were all so great.

And it's completely painted. God I wish more people would paint their 20 space marines in their 1000 pt armies. FFS

A man who loves his hobby and is happy to show us what he’s got. Why are there dislikes...?

This is a great ideea for a series

Not enough CONSCRIPTS you clearly entered the wrong aqusition form commander!

The analogy I think of with the Guard and the other factions is the same when comparing Master Chief and Doomguy. One is genetically-enhanced super soldier equipped with the best gear available. The other is just a soldier, a regular dude like everyone else who, should tot shoulder with his comrades, is doing what he has to do to survive, which, IMO, puts him way higher on the pedestal. Nice video, it was honest and pictured the Guard perfectly.

My buddy who got me into the hobby has a HUGE guardsmen army waiting to be built and made. Lots of the older guys too. Some Kazarkin units as well. I love the guard and its a great army to play when you don't wanna play space marines and I agree they're hella relatable to irl modern warfare.

always really like the showcase displays of the different factions models. seeing the models all painted up and different loadouts on troops and tanks/fliers is really nice. makes me want to go play some narrative thanks again

WOW this Imperial Guard force has gotten much bigger since i last saw it. Does anyone else remember when Mini War Gaming barely had enough good old guardsmen to field 2 small platoons of troops, a couple HQs and like 5-6 tanks for a 7th edition combined arms detachment?

AMAZING new series! I loved it!!!!!! Please please PLEASE do more of these.

Hats off to you sir! I'll be starting an infantry company project soon, and that'll be challenge enough. If you can do all of that which you've shown then that's incredible.

"Fix bayonets and prepare to charge!" "But sir, we're an armored cavalry regiment...we just have tanks." "DO AS I SAY CAPTAIN!"

I love the Guard for the reason Josh starts with. They are relateable. In the far future of the 41st Millenium, you have genetically modified superhumans, you have Daemons, you have immortal death-robots, you have Space elves. Then you have the humble guardsmen, who are, in the grand scheme of things, no one. They are but men. And they hold that fraggin' line, as they have held it for 10.000 years. Just something about that.

I love Imperial Guard. Since I first saw anything about 40k, and especially after seeing my first Baneblade, I've wanted to play them. I love their tanks and the idea of countless soldiers and armies that have crazy amounts of guns. If I continue my current addiction for purchasing more for my army I may be at the same point in a few years. Picked up 2 Hellhounds this past week and will be getting my Baneblade here in the next few weeks.

When they say there's no point limit *INTIMATING MUSIC INTESNSIFIES*

1:07 that wobbling, made it look like the Sentinel were moving for real

Love the showcase idea!! Hopefully a cool ongoing series

When I first saw the astra millitarum I didn't think much of them. All these years later they've grown on me.

#relatableaf. I used to play Guard for the exact same reason: Here you have this universe where an unending swarm is looking to devour all, there are LITERAL DEAMONS popping up all over the place, you have scifi elves flying around in giant spaceships looking for new homes and young new alien race looking to expand having started their age of technology. And while there are these supposed 9 foot tall supersoldiers who don't feel pain or fear, that's just hearsay. And to defend the realm, it's just a guy with a gun. And it works.

Death Korps of Krieg bro. You're name dropping regiments and you forget by far the coolest one!

What I love about the lore is how a single Barking Toad would counter that entire table. Love the sentinels with the mesh and your Mordians.

Great showcase, explanations, and army display! I love the Death Korps more than any other guard regiments with the exception of the Tanith (but they only have a few models).

I love playing guard. They're so flexible and it's just lile you said, the everyday man fighting to survive against the horrors of the 40k grimdark

8 squads of Cadians, four Command squads, one Sniper squad, three chimera, a manticore, a gryphon used as a wyvern, two legion medusa I use as basilisks, 6 Leman russ, one malcador and one macharius, one valkyrie...12xmortar teams 12 missile teams, 3 Las cannon teams and 3 autocannon teams, 3 armored sentinels...and I am certain I have missed a bunch...not bad for bits box leftovers and scrapped vehicles rehabilitated.

I really liked this showcase! We need some more!

Guard just look like they are made for huge games. I have always loved war history and I'm pretty sure i get a buzz looking at this army is massive numbers.

3:12 very interesting outlook I sort of share and is part of what makes this hobby so cool to me and separates itself from others.

All this glory brings a tear to me eye

Space Marines WERE going to be my first army, but a friend told me of a list idea with the Tempestus, and since then then Guard and specifically the Temptestus have become my mainstay. Whether it be the rolling thunder of a tank company, crashing down like Him on Terra's own fist, or the surgical strike of Tempestus drop teams, burning away the xenos filth of enemy armor in a cascade of plasma fire, or chewing through the unwashed hordes of heretical filth with volley after volley of Hot-Shot las fire. Of course with a contingent of Astartes ready in the wings.

My favorite item in the Guard toolkit? Hydra flak tank. No air threat around? crank those quad long-barrel autocannons down and pile enemy infantry up like cordwood.

I got in to 40k in 7th and guard was my first army and I loved how bad they were. I loved being the under dog in every game and the nerative I always played in my head was like a final stand scenerio.

This should be used in a battlereport. Brilliant collection.

this was awesome.. what I love Astra Militarum is that it is nearest basic earth army + you could play as corrupted IG also.. I also love Renegade Chaos Marines and I can see IG is easily corrupted by chaos so there is alot of room of customisation and Fluff

now that is the true representation of the guard. a numberless horde of faith, steel, and lasguns... alot of lasguns

Just got back into Warhammer 40k after not playing for over 15 years, I've gone for a guard army, just got my first squad of Cadians, I'm feeling the rapid fire rule.

Can you play a game where you field this entire army?!

what was the name of the regiment with the slouch hats like the aussie diggers, cause now im interested in building a guard army.

My personal favorite part of the guard is the fact that a guardsman is just some dude with a flashlight maybe a knife, rather than a massive superhuman, an allmighty daemonprince or an arrogant eldar, but he has to face those foes. Other than that I really loved the general mechanics of the army, espessialy the old platoon system, where you brought several squads in a platoon as a single troops choice rather than several ones. The orders are really nice since buffing tonnes of weak troops up to tonnes of mediocre troops will jus anihilate most things and shows that a bunch of individuals figthing as a whole are greater than the sum of it’s parts. The only thing I want for the infantry would be some form of heavy machunegun (mg 42 style) to provide something like suppressive fire, because most military organizations since the first world war have had some form of machinegun wielding section in every single squad and a heavy bolter is more of an autocannon than a machenegun.

Excellent collection. Thanks for sharing.

What model did you use for the Sentinel with big rocket pod

How long did you spend building and painting your collection?

Yep, they are relatable. Because I used to serve in the Armed Forces. (Army) that's why The Guard is my favorite.

I love this series, it will be great for new players looking to decide what faction to play. Please when you do chaos do each God individually.

Hammer of the Emperor! We got Ball Peens, Mallets, Claw, Rock, Sledges, Chipping, Stoning, Dead Blows....you name it, the Guard'll Whack It!

The Wall of guns unless it is a flood of tanks

Dear God man! That's Freaking awesome! I'm getting back in to the game again and picking up the Eldar races, and SoB when they finally release plastic models. Very impressive collection! Well done!

Started Guard proper 3 months ago. I now have over 9kpts painted 8th edition 40k Praetorians. The 105th Praetorian Void Rifle's Infantry Regiment. 2nd Armoured Corp Praetorian Leman Russ Company with Support.

The Imperial Guards is my favorite Warhammer fraction.

I’m thinking about getting back into warhammer I never fully played in the first place as it was an expensive hobby for an 11 year old but question and a simple one at that do I have to follow a specific paint colour on figures or can I paint my army in any colour I like?

The music 🤣 just killed me. Great showcase.

"We have more bodies than they have bullets" 🗣🔥🔥🔥💯

This opening is the best ever about hobby!

My most favourite mini? Definitely the Kasrkin. Best looking guard infantry models. Even the Scions fall flat.

Have you been able to field all 22k in one game? And which force was it against? And did you win? Very awesome I like the mix of forge World and games Workshop models, as well as the other odd bits like cowboy hats very unique. All round a very inspiring labour of love.thanks!

Thats impressive. I'm speachless. I, i, i, i can't think about anything. Thats a lot of firepower. It makes me proud to be part of the astra militarum. I don't wanna know how much time it has cost to build and paint this army and how much money you spend on them.

What i love about the IG is that they face the most dangerous foes of the galaxy whith regular means: Artillery, lasguns, tanks etc. I couldn't really relate to the SM for example, as they're just... Superhumans zealots who "know no fear", so it doesn't come at a surprise if they don't run away, or perform against all odd. That's what they're designed to do. But when the guard does, it feels so heroic: Just regular dudes, who damn knows what fear is, whith weak bodies and minds facing demons, mutants twice their size, other superhumans etc whith your regular looking military equipment (And their massiv balls of adamantium). That was, for me, heroism and real courage, more so than the SM. That's why i've always been a guard player.

im new to this hobby. i really want some kriegsmen and i only found old models. do they release more models soon or?