HUMBLE ARCHIVE TROLL - The Regiments Of Renown: Bugman's Rangers
Released along with the Warhammer expansion "Forces of Fantasy" in 1984, these were originally offered in sets of 8 solid based figures plus a command figure, they came in boxes with vacuum formed trays and clear lids. Each regiment had its own tray. You had to buy 3 sets to get all three command figures. RR1-12 were available in this packaging.
A fourth command figure, the Champion, was introduced in the second edition of Warhammer in January 1985. RR13 and subsequent regiments incorporated a champion. The Spring 1987 flyer shows slotta based champions for the early solid based regiments. Styrofoam trays replaced the vacuum formed ones and a new box sleeve with Regiments of Renown artwork was used. RR13-18 were released in this packaging, along with the re-sculpted version of RR3, RR4, RR7 and RR8.
The range was revised and recoded in late 1986/7, with new packaging and more remodelled units. RRD1-6 were new designs in custom regiment boxes, specific to the regiments. RRD7-12 were repackaged from the older range in clear plastic bisterboxes. A complete set of troopers and command was in each box.
Joseph Bugman was possibly the most famous Dwarf master brewer of all time. The brewing community of Bugman's Brewery, in fact a small town, had been founded in ages past by the great Samuel Bugman, Joseph's long-dead grandfather. By the time of the Goblin Wars Joseph was a prosperous and wealthy brewing merchant, and a reasonably passive and contented Dwarf. His small community lay well off the beaten track, away from the worst excesses of the fighting, and Joseph felt no inclination to meddle in what seemed to him to be a domestic quarrel. After all 'Brass was Brass', and Bugman's Bitter sold well to Goblins and Dwarfs alike.
Joseph found himself unexpectedly involved in the war when a convoy transporting Bugmans Best Bitter into the Troll Country was attacked by a rampaging Goblin band. Every last Dwarf was slain, including Samuel's only son Bono. The news came as a terrible blow to the old Dwarf, who instantly swore uncompromising revenge upon the Goblins for this foul deed of theft and murder. Without hesitation Joseph took up his sword and his armour and gathered a small band of his workers - all of whom had lost relatives or friends in the massacre.
The band disappeared into the Bad Lands, and little was heard from them during the following years. Rumours from the south told of the ravages of Bugman's Rangers, of cunning ambushes, of deadly nocturnal raids and the consternation of the Goblins.
Eventually, wounded and deathly exhausted, Bugman and his now pitifully small band returned to their homes, only to fight their last battle defending Bugman's Brewery from the advancing armies of the Goblins. Joseph Bugman's body was never found, it is generally assumed that he died along with every other member of his Regiment and their families.