The new Imperial Guards have printing on their backs. So do you still add a backpack to them or not?

Previously I had not because they do have printing on the back and I did not want to cover it up. But now they look out of place next to my older Imperial Guards that do have backpacks and I'm beginning to think they look better with the backpack.

Can an admin turn this into a poll?

No! The Governor has beaten the Admins to it!

I think the printed ones would be ammunation specific so a larger one for the rest of the regular equipment is really necessary, but only if they're in campaign

Anyone got a picture of the printing on the Imperial Guard's back - I am yet to acquire these wonderful mini-figures so I cannot provide a picture myself...

I voted yes, although the backpack may look strange with the epaulet on too.

No for me. Although backpacks aren't hard or tight fitting enough to scratch the print, I prefer them without, applying to all Imperial figs, not just the new ones.

Anyone got a picture of the printing on the Imperial Guard's back - I am yet to acquire these wonderful mini-figures so I cannot provide a picture myself...

I voted yes, although the backpack may look strange with the epaulet on too.

Epaulettes on first - it looks silly otherwise

I vote no, they already have a satchel on their backs to carry stuff in.

I'm just assuming this, but the box that is on the back of the Imperial Guards is, in fact, not a place to carry personal stuff like you would in a backpack. I would assume it to be the cartridge box that holds their rounds.

However, it's not on the white bandoleer, so it makes no sense, now.

So, I'm withdrawing my said statement above, , and assuming it to be a haversack.

Anyway, I said yes. But also think no. A backpack adds a nice depth to the minifigure. With the shako, epaulets, etc. Without it, the figures look a little unbalanced. But not too much. It looks good both ways!

Epaulettes on first - it looks silly otherwise

Yes, it would look silly with epaulet on top, but wouldn't it extend the head too high up from the body?

Epaulettes first, then a backpack, just like the old soldiers, that's how I prefer them.

I've decided to use the new soldiers as marines on my English ships. For sure, when they are on their ships I leave away the backpack as they just wouldn't wear such a big packpack on a ship (no use). For short interventions on land a big backpack has also little use and the printed little bag can easily contain all they need (bullets, a bit of food and some water, ...). The larger backpack should be added for longer expeditions on land to store a blanket, food, ... . The fact that the new soldier has printing on the back makes no differences to me. So I would answer "sometimes" if that option was available in the poll :-)

I'm with the good Dictator on this!

i vote no. i let the newbies have prints only, and i make the "veterans" (old imperial) carry EVERYONE'S stuff.

I added backpacks to all my new soldiers.

I voted no, as I'm pretty satisfied with what Lego has given us. Arrr

I say no. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with back printing, though the sack that's printed in the back does factor into my answer. It doesn't make sense for them to have both a backpack and an ammunition sack in the back. If say, there was a separate ammunition pack piece, then a backpack would be acceptable. As a backpack doesn't match the current design, I say no.

However, I would like backpacks on my imperial minifigures, if the back printing allows for it, and I would prefer a backpack piece over the back printing entirely. I'd even trade the epaulet for the backpack, though ideally, the epaulet would be for the officers and the backpack would be for the peons.

A backpack was included with the soldier impulse, therefore all soldiers from there will wear a backpack in my collection. The intent is obviously to show that a soldier in the field would wear one, while the ones in the regular sets do not because they're in a port or attacking a ship.

I plan to keep it that way. Backpack where included.

now ive decided no backpacks at all and leave them in a British storage house for extra stuff.

The pouch on the back of the new soldiers uniforms is the same as used for ammunition only. This was common in armies of this period. The best way to use the backpack is when your soldiers are on campaign marching. If they are in port or at their barracks or on a ship they definately dont need to wear a backpack then.

This is a very interesting topic!

Recently, I have started and completed my Pirates collection that are released this year. I assembled all my Imperial Soldiers from the Solders Arsenal and Cannon Battlepack together, to consolidate as an united army of my own. Personally, whether there is back print or not, to me, it is a good to have feature. However, backpack for all Imperial Solderis is a must have, which is why, I bought more Solder Arsenal than Cannon Battle. Solders without backpack are served as light weight solders that are meant for other purposes such as Artillery, Officers, Support staff, while solders with backpack are considered to be my main arsenal that is out to the field for a great battle against the Pirates. It looks much better with its full equipment from the shako, epaulettes, backpack and musket, and that is what I called marching out in full battle order (FBO).

This is my personal arrangement for my Pirates collection. I can't compare with the rest, especially those with Classic Pirates. The standards of displaying and standardising the army can be quite different.

If they're just battling pirates, then I would say no. But it would probably be a different story if they're going way out to sea.

I've decided to use the new soldiers as marines on my English ships.

Thats funny, because I decided to use the old soldiers as marines on my ships, and the new soldiers as my "bad guy" army Im building. I figured I only have a certain amount of old soliders, but new ones I get weekly.

I've put backpacks on mine. I think they look a bit naked without them.

I think that knapsacks are absolutely necessary for the 'campaigning' look of the soldier. I don't usually add them because I usually build non-campaign MOCs. ~LW 8~

I'd say, if the soldiers are marching a long way, it would be very useful for them to have a beckpack, but when they are fighting it's just an annoying obstacle. So it depends on the situation the soldiers are in.