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In the table-top strategy game, Warhammer 40,000, the Imperial Guard is easily the largest fighting force of the Imperium. It is comprised of trillions of soldiers from thousands of different regiments, supported by a dazzling array of light and heavy armored vehicles. They are usually the first Imperial fighting force to respond to any major invasion or uprising if the planet's PDF (Planetary Defense Force) fails to suppress it.
The Imperial Guard are much more widespread than the Space Marines. Imperial Guard are also much more expendable; the loss of a hundred Imperial Guardsmen would still not equal the loss of one Space Marine. Although in actual game terms, to balance the game, Imperial Guard are able to fight Space Marine armies with a reasonable chance of victory.
Imperial Guard, while weak individually, rely on numbers to win and their superior tanks. Even a small Imperial Guard division is likely to have a full complement of armored fighting vehicles. Imperial Guard, while not as bad as Tau, are notorious for poor close combat abilities.
The Imperial Guard also have a number of specialists at their disposal. They have access to Stormtroopers, elite Imperial Guardsmen who have been issued better weapons and stronger armor.
Though general-purpose Imperial Guardsmen are weak in close combat, with the help of specialists such as Ogryns (brute-like Ogre creatures), their strength in close quarters is boosted. Also, different Imperial Guard regiments have special rules like Ambush to help stun the enemy for a headstart in the fighting.
Notable Imperial Guard Forces
Cadian Shock Troopers
The Cadian star system is sitting on the location of a stable area of space leading into the Eye of Terror, as such, the Cadian system is often the focal point of many Black Crusades.
Consequently, the citizens of Cadia and the surrounding planets and systems have become some of the best fighters in the Imperium. Most Cadian youths learn to shoot before they learn to walk, and, as the saying goes: "Any Cadian who can't field-strip his own lasgun by the age of 10 was born on the wrong planet."
Cadian Shock Troopers bear a strong resemblance to the 20th/21st-century US Army.
Catachan Jungle Fighters
Catachan is a Death World. A planet covered in jungle where it seems the entire ecosystem is hostile to human life. Catachan's only export is it's people, who have naturally grown tough and strong from living in such a dangerous world. Catachan Jungle Fighters are among some of the deadliest experts of Jungle warfare in the entire galaxy.
Catachan Jungle Fighters as a whole have a look similar to Sylvester Stallone in the Rambo movie series, complete with red headbands.
Ice Warriors of Valhalla
Valhalla is an extremely cold, ice covered planet similar to Hoth. The people of Valhalla live in vast cities underneath the ice. Valhallans are skilled in fighting Orks, due to a long campaign against an Ork invasion of their world.
Valhallan Ice Warriors resemble the Russian army during World War II.
Tallarn Desert Raiders
Tallarn was once a verdant Paradise world, until it was attacked by Virus Bombs during the Horus Heresy. Every living thing on the surface of the planet, even bacteria, was killed off, with only those who managed to seek shelter in underground bunkers surviving. Shortly thereafter, the planet became the site of the largest tank battle in galactic history, with thousands of war machines fighting over the planet's surface. The survivors learned to adapt to their world as it eventually became a Desert planet.
Tallarn Desert Raiders have a slightly Arab-like appearance.
Mordian Iron Guard
The dark world of Mordia is a rather miserable place. As such, the troops raised there tend to be a dour, no-nonsense lot. Mordians believe in perfect precision and constant drill.
Mordians normally wear bright dress uniforms, even into combat.
Armageddon Steel Legion
Armageddon is a Hive World, a planet covered in vast wastelands broken up by hives, huge arcologies stretching into the sky.
True to it's name, Armageddon has been the site of three massive battles in the history of the Imperium. Most recently a pair of invasions by Ork warboss Ghazghkull Thraka. As a result, the armies of Armageddon are skilled in fighting against Orks. Armageddon produces many armored fighting vehicles for the Imperium, such as APCs. As such, the Armageddon Steel Legions are primarily Mechanized Infantry.
The Armageddon Steel Legions resemble the German army during World War II
Death Korps of Krieg
The Planet Krieg was once the site of a rebellion against the Imperium. In retaliation, the people of Krieg subjected their world to 500 years of atomic cleansing to root out the rebellions factions.
The Death Korps are fearless warriors, never flinching even in the face of sudden death. They see their deaths fighting in war as penance for the heresy of their ancestors.
The Death Korps are similar to the Steel Legion, but have darker colors, and their masks usually have a skull motif.
Savlar Chem Dogs
The Chem Dogs are typical of many Penal Legions in the Imperial Guard. Recruits are drawn from the prisoners on the planet Savlar by the promise to allow them to keep anything they take from the battlefield, as well as the chance to get away from Savlar's highly toxic environment.
Tanith 1st & Only(Gaunt's Ghosts)
The world of Tanith came under attack by Chaos forces while it was mustering soldiers for the Sabbat Crusade. Only a single regiment was taken from the planet by Commissar Ibram Gaunt before it was finally destroyed in an orbital bombardment. Because they were left without a homeworld, the members of the Tanith 1st and Only came to call themselves Gaunt's Ghosts.
The stories of the Tanith 1st and Only can be found in the Gaunt's Ghosts novels, written by Dan Abnett.
Pretorians
The pretorians resemble British soldiers from the age of imperialism- of fame from the film Zulu.
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