"Chaos vs Demonic?" Topic

I raise, for your discussion, the question of what the differences are between a Chaos army and a Demonic army?

I find I have a Chaos army and a Demonic army, and in expanding them, the question comes up of which kind of troops belong in which army…

IMHO, and based on fantasy gaming tradition, a Chaos army includes the creatures and monsters of "Chaos"— which is pretty much any monster, including goblins, orcs, minotaurs/beastmen, dragons, wyverns, ogres, trolls, giants, etc., etc., and could include demons.

A "Demonic" army would consist solely of demons (and possibly their worshippers).

To me the former is broad, the latter is specific.

I would think that demonic armies are still organized, top-down structure, leadship levels, etc.
So, a demon prince in charge, lesser demons as captains, junior demons as lieutenants, and imps, damned souls, ghouls, feral animals, etc as troops.

Chaos armies should be more of a "mob of whoever shows up".
A charismatic leader in charge suggesting orders to the groups of beastmen, plague ridden humans, wild men, etc. All of whom may or may not follow those orders, ie. "attacking here looks like more fun, instead".

Yes, Stryderg has it: Milton, PARADISE LOST:

Of that inflamed Sea, he stood and call'd
His Legions, Angel Forms, who lay intrans't
Thick as Autumnal Leaves that strow the Brooks
In Vallombrosa, where th' Etrurian shades
High overarch't imbowr; or scatterd sedge
Afloat, when with fierce Winds Orion arm'd
Hath vext the Red-Sea Coast, whose waves orethrew
Busirus and his Memphian Chivalry,
While with perfidious hatred they pursu'd
The Sojourners of Goshen, who beheld
From the safe shore thir floating Carkases
And broken Chariot Wheels, so thick bestrown
Abject and lost lay these, covering the Flood,
Under amazement of thir hideous change.
He call'd so loud, that all the hollow Deep
Of Hell resounded. Princes, Potentates
Warriers, the Flowr of Heav'n, once yours, now lost,
If such astonishment as this can sieze
Eternal spirits; or have ye chos'n this place
After the toyl of Battel to repose
Your wearied vertue, for the ease you find
To slumber here, as in the Vales of Heav'n?

Agree with above. A Demonic army would only have demon troops. (Or possibly also, if your background allows this, possessed humanoid troops.)

A Chaos army would be mortal followers of Chaos and leaders who aspire to personal power. The troops could also include those touched by Chaos, manifesting in demonic or sorcerous powers, also mutations, also anyone bound, enthralled, or deceived by said leaders.

TLDR: Demonic army = demons. Chaos = every kind of undesirable.

A key difference would be that the Demonic army was summoned or came through a sorcerous gate, so could possibly be dispelled or banished. Whereas the Chaos army has to be defeated in detail.

Probably even saying "army" implies a degree of organization or cohesion chaos could not have. Dice for each and every chaotic force -- how many, what statistics, what mission, etc. No morale? Or, would they be as inimical to each other? Random moves.

I suspect I'd only enjoy playing such once or twice.

chaos is a mix of everyone, demonic only demons and demon princes