The STL Trenches

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Becoming a Triarii may not be as glorious as rising to the rank of a Chosen One, but for many soldiers it represents a far more practical path. Entry is reserved for proven veterans, and they form an elite force equipped with the heaviest weapons of the Legion. Few in number, their experience and quality make them an exceptional reinforcement for any warband they join.

During particularly large and brutal offensives, entire battalions of Triarii may be formed, advancing behind the lines of Hastati and Princeps—securing positions, fortifying strongpoints, and annihilating the most resilient enemies in their path. More commonly, however, heavy weapon maniples are split apart and assigned as support to conventional Fusilier units or Assault Troopers. Heavy flamethrowers, machine guns, grenade launchers, and fearsome anti-tank rifles—Triarii possess the skill and discipline required to wield the most destructive tools on the battlefield.

Combined with their imposing presence and heavily reinforced armor, they significantly enhance the effectiveness of any formation they accompany. Their experience and authority bolster morale, assist Acolytes in maintaining discipline, and allow them to act as field officers during combat. In essence, for a capable commander, the proper deployment and management of Triarii is one of the most effective ways to stabilize and professionalize the army.

They also hold a key advantage: their instincts, honed through countless battles, allow them to judge when caution is required and when it is time to unleash the full fury of the Heresiarch.

A common soldier who proves their worth and distinguishes themselves in battle may be promoted to the ranks of the Princeps-Assault Troopers. These units are expected to show absolute fearlessness, cold resolve, and ruthless efficiency. The Princeps specialize in frontal assaults and the defense of critical trench lines. They advance in large testudo formations, protected by their shields and covered by the fire of the Fusiliers. However, it is once they breach the enemy trenches that they truly display their brutal effectiveness.

Shielded by steel plates reinforced with infernal protection sigils, they push through narrow galleries, clearing them with shotgun blasts, SMG fire, and assault grenades. Specialized maniples equipped with heavy shields and trench spears hold corners and chokepoints, forming tight, bristling defensive lines, while other Princeps—armed with lighter shields, short machetes, pistols, and grenades—move through the labyrinthine corridors, hunting down and exterminating any remaining resistance.

The equipment of a Princeps Assault Trooper is designed for durability. Their armor is reinforced with additional plating, greaves, and leather protection. Unlike lower-ranking Fusiliers, they are not expected to carry full campaign gear, as their role is focused entirely on decisive assaults and key offensives; they bear only their armor and personal arsenal.

To belong to this corps is a great honor. Servants and slaves are at their disposal, and the Princeps can be certain that—unlike lesser troops—their lives will not be squandered in expendable assaults by the War Clerics. The most exceptional among them, those who combine religious fervor with remarkable feats in battle, may rise to become one of the Heresiarch’s Chosen—the highest honor a soldier can attain.

The Hastati Fusiliers form the backbone of the Heresiarch’s army: an almost endless tide of soldiers armed with rifles and long distance weapons, recruited from the least skilled of the Cult’s faithful. Inspired by the early formations of ancient Rome, these warriors make up the front line of battle. Their role is to fill the trenches once the Velites have cleared the way and to provide long-range covering fire for the more specialized units advancing behind them.

The Hastati Fusiliers are neither precise marksmen nor skilled tacticians; it is their sheer numbers and their ability to absorb losses without breaking that allow them to hold ground and maintain constant pressure on the front. Their equipment is basic—crude armor, loosely standardized uniforms, sometimes little more than rags—and they carry most of their campaign gear on their backpacks. Their mobility is relatively high, as these masses of soldiers are constantly redeployed wherever they are needed.

In the eyes of the Heresiarch, their value does not lie in individuality, but in their function within the whole. They are the first to be sent into battle, tasked with absorbing the enemy’s initial strike. For many, serving as a Hastati is only the beginning, a test of faith and endurance that, if survived, may open the path to higher ranks within the Legion.

Rome is both an obsession and a mirror for the Heresiarch’s domain. Not only for the mockery it represents—venerating the killers of Christ and perverting their symbols in defiance of the Papacy—but also for the legendary effectiveness of its Legions. Like early Rome, the Heresiarch’s forces are divided by role according to the wealth and equipment of their soldiers.

The Velites-Berserkers are made up of young, destitute recruits who cannot afford proper gear. They are issued only the most basic weapons. To survive, most resort to scavenged pelts and hides, along with lengths of chain stripped from destroyed vehicles. Gunpowder and firearms require industry and resources, which are not wasted on these outcast recruits; instead, they are given crude melee weapons of questionable quality. If a Velite carries a proper weapon or shield, it is almost certainly stolen. Most end up supplementing their arsenal with improvised tools, crudely modified for combat.

The Velites stand only one step above the Slaves and are tasked with similarly miserable duties: building and repairing fortifications, reinforcing low-priority positions, and preparing the ground for more capable regiments. Even so, fury has its uses. When the Veiled Priests need to storm a difficult position and seize new trench lines, they distribute hallucinogens and unholy incense among the Berserkers, inflame their rage, and unleash them like vermin in the first assault. The casualties are always horrific—few survive the machine guns—but once they reach close combat, their frenzy can deliver a bloody surprise to the enemy, buying time and distraction for the following waves of Fusiliers and Assault Troops to advance under relative safety.

Custom made Artillery Witch unit, pre-sized for 25mm base, no holes or known manifold issues. Should be print-ready both with Resin and PLA. Comes in 4 flavors.

Bomb from cape
Bomb raised
Bomb from cape (No feet)
Bomb raised (No feet)
Consider supporting the original creators of Trench Crusade at https://www.trenchcrusade.com

Custom made Anointed Heavy Infantry unit, pre-sized for 32mm base, no holes or known manifold issues. Should be print-ready both with Resin and PLA. Equipped with 2 left and 2 right hand options:

Hammer / Coin Hammer
Axe / Executioner's Axe

Empty hand

Trench shield

Flamethrower available for Purchase here: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/heretic-heavy-flamer