"The 'Savage Swans' - uniforms for my first Imagi-Nation unit" Topic

I've started to plan a small force for an Imagi-Nation game and am trying to decide on the uniforms. First thoughts are here: link

Any comments much appreciated.

Cheers

Andy

This sounds silly until you look up swan attack fatality statistics…

Oberstleutnant Seamus Gunter von Donovan, good Irish name. I can imagine a harp emblazoned on the regimental flag.

Cheers,
Robert

Think I'd go with scheme #2 myself. And yeah, nothing funny at all about swans, as anyone who's ever had to confront one in a bad mood knows. Even Wodehouse found time to comment on their unreasoning feral savagery, so you know they must be nasty.

I always heard Geese were good guard animals, I guess a Swan would just be a very big goose.

Definitely # 2 with that nickname and a swan on the regimental color.

For those suggesting the first option, here are my 15mm AWI British Legion in a similar colour scheme.

link

Andy

I always heard Geese were good guard animals, I guess a Swan would just be a very big goose.

A bit more than "just", but that does get close. Geese are big enough to be afraid of very little, and their instinctive reaction to intruders is to make noise. LOTS of noise. They also tend to make noises of a different sort when feeling safe and content. That alone makes them excellent guard animals: you can tell by ear whether the yard has an intruder just by listening to the geese.

Swans are usually even larger, are powerful enough to fly despite their size, and are slow breeders which mate for life. This means they are extremely protective of their nests and mates, and have the mass to enforce that protection. Beak strikes, claws, and wing buffets are no laughing matter when delivered by 30 pounds of angry bird with almost ten feet of wingspan which can come close to looking a standing human in the eye, and which is literally ALL MUSCLE.

Without artificial weaponry, modern man is not enough of a predator to intimidate a swan.

An almost humorous page on the subject: link

Swans could be black. Black coats and buff pants would look cool too.

For sure uniform No. 2

I agree with the "black swans" concept.

Or you could try out green coats and buff facings and small clothes.

No. 2

I think some sample figures, albeit in 15mm, may be in order.

Thanks for all the comments!

Andy

Black coats, White facings, red trousers and waistcoat

Like black swans :)

All three are pleasant -so, what about a 'Legion' following the SYW Chasseurs Britanniques in Anglo-Hanovrian service, with each battalion (mixed, including its contingent of dragoons) in its own uniform?

Since the choice is difficult (and additional interesting suggestions appeared along this thread), what complementary information can we have? On your blog you mentioned the AWI: in what Continent will the Imagi-Nation battle be supposed to take place?
- the 1st looks 'jaeger' (or AWI Loyalist) so is less remarkable on any continent;

- the 2nd looks Austrian or French -'dangerously' according to the 'nationality' / types of uniforms of the "opposition"- and thus the less original (I suppose Donovan is Catholic, but is it the case of the whole unit?).
OK, it's the most 'swan-looking', but… It's true that for centuries priests in France were nicknamed 'crows' (behind their back) because they were all in black, but it does not imply the reciprocal to be true, i.e. soldiers having to be (mostly) in white to be 'swans'. They can be "Savage Swans" because despite the origin of their inhaber they are not 'true' "Wild Geese" or / and because they feel more elegant and 'majestic' than other regiments of exiled Irishmen…
(and as already mentioned not all swans are white, anyway).

Then, if I had to choice I'd favor the buff and green as the most original at least seen from the European theatre); but for contrast I'd favor 'red' crossbelts and ammo pouches (either like 'red Russian leather', or the 'ruby leather used for their boots by officers of the young army of the newly independent Ireland).

Btw personally I *hate* black gaiters. How flamboyant the rest of the uniform could be, when seen 'en masse' they darken the uniform and make the unit look dull / gloomy.

Regarding the flag, I'm sure David of NBA nba-sywtemplates.blogspot.com can combine a harp with a swan in a single heraldic device (and in a less morbid way than in the old song: link YouTube link ).

Beyond this imaginary *unit* do you 'potentially have' (plan to build) a whole Imagi-Nation (this'Germanic type State' where Donovan sold his experience and skills?) -and then, what is its *name*? [for some odd reason someone mentioned "Hasselhoff" on another thread:
TMP link

Hope your two next units will be nicknamed 'the Peacocks' (with a little of Ara picture to enlighten the breast) and 'the Parrots' picture
Hussars or Grenzers come to mind, but if you feel really audacious you can dress like peacocks an unit with an uniform of 'classical' Western European cut. As a middle term, the Grassin with their dress combining 'normal' and 'exotic' features would be propitious to such a colorful attempt (who said 'Rainbow Warrior'?).
Of course you can cheat and paint them all in dazzling white 'because there are white peacocks' but we would be disappointed…..

I think your color scheme might depend on whether your imaginary Germanian statelet is allied with Prussia and Hanover (and would thus use a more Prussianized uniform) or with the Imperium (and would thus use a more Austrianized uniform). Any of the options would look good.

I have Campbell's mercenary Legion whose infantry wear a blue-grey coat. They will soon be joined by a dragoon squadron who will be wearing red coats. I think the artillery will be in gray coats, but haven't gotten that far yet.

Jim
link

With a commander named Donovan I think the green uniform would be apropos.

Me, I use historical units for SYW fantasy, just brigade 'em in fantasy style. White brigade, Red Brigade, Blue brigade; etc.

In my experience there is no other type of swan, other than Savage!

18th C Irish units are usually in red..following that trend should be fine..I , of course, went down the green road..
last pic
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