So as you probably guessed from the title, today we'll be discussing the humble core unit, the units that you're required to take even though you'd rather just take whole blocks of elite infantry and call it good. Again, keep in mind that this is based off of my personal opinion, but I will be supporting my opinion with fact. Also, no Chaos Dwarves will be included in this list, just a little heads up to all you Chaos Dwarf players.
#5: Saurus Warriors (Lizardmen)
I know, I know, I'm insanely biased since Lizardmen are my first army. However, I have good reason. Saurus Warriors are rocking a pretty solid stat line with 2 attacks a piece and a Strength and Toughness value of 4, and an armor save of 4+. They can roll with either a spear and shield or a hand weapon and shield, and they have a special rule that allows them to make additional attack on a roll of a 6 in the to-hit phase. They are not without their weakness though. They have an appalling Initiative value, and they can be pseudo-frenzy baited if there's no Skink character around to tell them otherwise. There was a time in 7th edition, when Chaos Warriors ruled the game and crushed all who stood before them. None, not even the ridiculously busted High Elves of 7th edition could stand before the black hordes of chaos. None of course but the humble Saurus Warrior could reasonably match the power of the Chaos Warriors, and tie the hordes of evil down in frustratingly long battles. In 8th edition, things have changed a bit. Lizardmen have fallen very far from their former place in the world, but the Saurus still remains a respected unit to this day. Especially when they're Cold-Blooded, which makes them core that are effectively Stubborn and going nowhere anytime soon.
#4: Dark Riders (Dark Elves)
While you have to respect Core infantry that can compete at the level of elite infantry blocks, not all core has to be that way. Some serve their respective armies in a different way. History shows us that the importance of cavalry drastically changed with the invention of the phalanx formation and especially with the invention of black powder. Gone was the era of heroic charges across the field of battle, here was the era of support and reconnaissance. If you look at the American Civil War, one of the key reasons for Confederate success throughout the war was the exceptional and almost unbelievable success of the Confederate cavalry in performing vital recon, sabotage, and perfectly timed advances. Dark Riders are the closest thing we will ever understand J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry corp to have been. They are in a sense the model fast cavalry unit. They are very mobile, they are surprisingly effective in close quarters combat, and have a ranged attack that can annihilate other chaff or war machine crews with contemptuous ease. While they may not be the one charging up the center and claiming the enemy's battle flag, they will be the ones that make that outcome possible. They are certainly the unsung heroes of any Dark Elf army.
#3: Errant Knights (Bretonnia)
A wise man once said that bravery is nothing more than being too stupid to be afraid. Yet it is courage like that which has turned the tide of many a battle in history. Perhaps one of the most interesting is the story of how the North Carolina is known as the Tar Heel state. In the battle of Bull Run, the first major engagement between the Union and the Confederacy in the America Civil War, the Confederates were initially on a razor's edge. The veteran troops serving under the Union had forced well-equipped Georgia and South Carolina troops to retreat, leaving only the thread-bare and poorly equipped North Carolinians to face the Union assault. Time and time again the Union troops advanced, only to be repelled by the stubborn Carolina troops, who instead counter-attacked the shocked Union soldiers despite the numerical deficit the Confederates faced. General Robert E. Lee later remarked to his subordinate generals that they should take their boots off and apply the same sticky tar from the pine trees common in North Carolina to their feet. The First Battle of Bull Run was won by the Confederacy, carried by the bravery of the North Carolina soldiers. I tell you that to tell you this. Cheap, heavily armored, and completely fixated knights on the charge, like Errant Knights are a scary thing to deal with, because they will not stop coming at you, no matter how dangerous the situation. Having a unit that can bare enormous loses without so much as a step in the backwards direction is a very serious advantage indeed. While the book is older and the units not quite up to the standard of other troops on other armies, Errant Knights have a unique place in the Core section that few other units can fill said niche.
#2: Longbeards (Dwarves)
You gotta love old people, am I right? Their inability to remember anything of relevance, their fear of things that are so not terrifying it's hilarious, but must of all their sheer stubborn will power to outlast anything and everything around them. Now imagine that, but in a race where they consider stubbornness simply a way of life. Talk about a nightmare! Longbeards are considered to be the elite infantry not by way of skill, or by way of noble birth, but by way of age. I believe the book specifically states that in time of crisis, Dwarves naturally look to the one of them with the longest beard to make the decisions for them. These guys are strong, tough, can be kitted out with either great weapons or axes and shields. They also have the Shieldwall, Relentless, and Resolute rules, meaning they get +1 to their parry save when they get charged, can't be march blocked, and hit with +1 Strength on the charge. Not only that, they also have a special rule called Old Grumblers, where any unit within 6" of them that fails a panic test can re-roll the failed test. Yes, they actually shame the unit back into position. That is fucking beautiful. How can you not love these old fellas?
#1: Ironguts (Ogre Kingdoms)
I love Ogres, the simplicity of the Ogres is something that almost brings a tear to the eye. They care about three things. Money, food, and fighting, and not in that specific order. Ironguts are really damned cool, because they're a lot more of a familiar unit for most people who don't play Ogres. See, Ogres don't really have armor. They have 3 wounds apiece (for the standard troops) and rely on that to mitigate their casualties. Ironguts are Ogre who put two and two together. Hmm! Metal plate equals stops sword, equals not getting hurt! Ironguts are like the Monstrous Infantry version of Dwarven Hammerers. Ogres are already tough as shit, but now they're hitting at S6 because the Ironguts are totting around great weapons. This is the unit that you tend to see the infamous Gut Star formation made up with. It's not that there isn't another elite infantry that they can use, but it's just that Ironguts are rightly priced and come out of the Core section, meaning you have more points to donate to other nasty things like Mournfangs and Ironblasters. They're tough, they're numerous (for Ogres), and they're scary to see across the table from you. What more can you ask from a Core unit?
So that was my Top 5 best Core units list, and I'm going to be pumping out quite a few of these lists, so stay tuned folks!
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
In a Nutshell; The Lore of Shadow
Lore Attribute: Smoke and Mirrors
Once a spell from the Lore of Shadow has been successfully cast and resolved, the caster can chose to swap places with a friendly character of the same troop type anywhere within 18". This attribute is interesting to say the least. I've seen this used to nuke whole hordes or terrifying character with a Shadow-Death tag-team. It's very iffy to say the least, but it can lead to shenanigans for your opponent to deal with. I've never used this attribute at all, but my buddy Will who plays Beastmen swears by it and I'll admit it's proved difficult to deal with in the past. His Shaman pops off a Miasma and then swaps it for a nasty combat lord, screwing my plans all to hell. If you're more subtle then I am (I have an excuse, I play Bretonnia, the anti-subtle army) then this attribute may indeed prove to be helpful. As it is for me though, it's the cherry on a milkshake. Nice, but nothing that would change the enjoyment of my milkshake, which BTW brings all the boys to the yard.
Signature Spell: Melkoth's Mystifying Miasma
A Hex spell with a range of 48" and a base casting value of 5+. The targeted unit has it's Weapon Skill, Ballistic Skill, Initiative, or Movements reduced by a D3 (to a minimum of 1) until the start of the casters next magic phase. It can be boosted to reduce all of the above mentioned stats by a singe roll of a D3 for an increased casting value of 10+. There is no game in which this spell will not be practical. It's the inverse of Wyssan's Wildform and it is most certainly every bit as effective as the latter is. Not much else I can say, but this spell is the fucking bomb. If you don't swap for it, there had better be damned good reason why. I give it a 5 out of 5, it's that damn good.
Spell #1: Steed of Shadows
An Augment spell with a range of 12" and a casting value of 5+ that can only target a friendly character or the caster him/herself. The target immediately makes a move using the Fly special rule as if it were the Remaining Moves sub-phase. I've already bitched about this spell pretty hard, so all I can say is a 2 out of 5 and always swap for Miasma.
Spell #2: The Enfeebling Foe
A Hex spell with a range of 18" and a casting value of 10+. All models in the targeted unit have their Strength value reduced by D3 (to a minimum of 1) for the duration of the spell, which by the way is a Remains in Play spell. It can be boosted to have a range of 36" and a casting value of 13+. Yeah, this spells is pretty nice to have as if you couldn't tell. This spell can neuter units that you'll be frightened to get into combat with, and thus will almost always prove to be useful. If you roll it up, it's a pretty good spell to have in your back pocket for a quick combat adjustment before things get out of hand. I give it an easy 4 out of 5 and a recommendation not to necessarily swap it unless you're playing an all infantry based Skaven list.
Spell #3: The Withering
Another Hex spell with a range of 18" and a base casting value of 13+. It reduces the targeted unit's Toughness by D3 (to a minimum of 1) and this spell is indeed a Remains in Play spell. It can be boosted to have a range of 36" and a casting value of 16+. What can I say other than it's an inverse of Enfeebling Foe, and it's also always as equally useful as the #2 spell. I give it another 4 out of 5, and I promise to go into a bit more detail in the following spells.
Spell #4: The Penumbral Pendulum
A Direct Damage spell with a range that is equal to 6D6" in a straight line directly from the caster and a base casting value of 13+. It works like a bouncing cannonball, and any unit in the way of the line must pass an Initiative test or suffer a S10 hit with the D3 Multiple Wounds special rule. The boosted version of this spell has a range equal to double whatever is rolled on the 6D6 result for an increased casting value of 18+. I went into a lot of detail about the spell and even got a few comments on it, telling me that my position on this spell was not right. I personally believe that this spell is much more effective than Pit of Shades. It's more accurate, it can crank out tons of damage with D3 Multiple Wounds and a S10 hit. Unless whatever you're targeting has a Ward Save and/or Magic Resistance, you're going to kill whatever you target and it can be used as either a razor-like attack or a precision strike to kill of characters should you need to. Pit of Shades is a Vortex (technically), it is random and unreliable. True, it will kill whatever it hits and gives the target no chance to protect itself, but out of the ten times I cast it, it works probably three or four times out of those ten uses. Pendulum will work every time unless I roll a 1 to-wound with it. It's also got much better range. I'm not disputing the power of the Pit of Shades, but I simply like my spells to actually hit when I cast them. I give this spell a 4 out of 5.
Spell #5: Pit of Shades
A Direct Damage (technically still a Vortex) spell with a range of 24" and a base casting value of 14+. Place the small round template anywhere within 24" of the caster and then scatter it D6". All models beneath the template must pass an Initiative test or it is removed with no saves of any kind allowed. It can be boosted so that you can use the large round template for an increased casting value of 17+ and an increased scatter rate of 2D6". So this spell is like George Foreman's (circa 1970's) right straight. It may not hit, but if it does then god above help you. This spell and other like it really pick on low Initiative armies, like Lizardmen, Ogres, and Greenskins, and making other armies who can take it very, very scary. The good thing about this spell is that no matter what you face across from you, there's probably something that has at least a coin flips Initiative. It's great, I don't like to use it but I won't deny how powerful the spell is. As such, I give it a 4 out of 5.
Spell #6: Okkam's Mindrazor
This spell pretty much epitomizes everything that the Lore of Shadow is in a general sense. It's not how many models it can remove with a single spell, but how it sets up a player to be in such a great tactical position. After all, is it better to be smart or lucky? This spell is an Augment spell with a range of 18" and a casting value of 18+. It's very difficult to get off, but for good reason. What this spell does is it allows the targeted unit to use their Leadership value instead of their Strength (any bonuses from weapons like great weapons or two-handed weapons are ignored) when rolling to-wound with all close combat attacks and lasts until the start of the caster's next magic phase. This spell can be boosted to have a range of 36" for an increased casting value of 21+. Now, this spell is really nice but it got even better per the last FAQ I read on BRB magic. Per the FAQ, this allows the unit to use their General's Leadership value if their within the Inspiring Presence aura when the spell goes off. Meaning, Elves and Undead can now hit at S10. That is very scary. This spell is one of those that will turn even experienced players into fanatics who chuck all their dice to stop this spell at all costs. It would be perfect, if it wasn't so expensive to cast. Even with a Level 4, you'll need at least four dice to cast the base version, and that's just to get it off without worrying about your opponent chucking a scroll or enough dice to shut it down. The risk/reward payoff is huge, so I would seriously suggest keeping this spell should you need it.
Lore of Shadow is perhaps the most versatile and popular lore in the current meta of Warhammer Fantasy, and for good reason! Shadow is a very flexible, and thus I can suggest fielding it in anyway you see fit. You can run the Level 4 in the bunker casting Okkam's and Pit to clear entire regiments, or a Level 1 and/or 2 rocking Miasma or any other of the Hex spells in this lore to debuff this shit out of your enemy. Either way, it works. It works pretty well in all kinds of lists too. Whether you're running an offensive or defensive army, the Lore of Shadow has spells that will help out with your strategy. Again, beware of Vampire Counts when they have a wizard on this lore, because S10 Zombies are fucking terrifying. A lot of people consider this the best lore in the game, and there is plenty of evidence to prove this point. I should also note that Lore of Shadows combos very well with other lores, especially with Dark Magic and Death Magic from my experience. Great lore, if you have access to it, take it.
Once a spell from the Lore of Shadow has been successfully cast and resolved, the caster can chose to swap places with a friendly character of the same troop type anywhere within 18". This attribute is interesting to say the least. I've seen this used to nuke whole hordes or terrifying character with a Shadow-Death tag-team. It's very iffy to say the least, but it can lead to shenanigans for your opponent to deal with. I've never used this attribute at all, but my buddy Will who plays Beastmen swears by it and I'll admit it's proved difficult to deal with in the past. His Shaman pops off a Miasma and then swaps it for a nasty combat lord, screwing my plans all to hell. If you're more subtle then I am (I have an excuse, I play Bretonnia, the anti-subtle army) then this attribute may indeed prove to be helpful. As it is for me though, it's the cherry on a milkshake. Nice, but nothing that would change the enjoyment of my milkshake, which BTW brings all the boys to the yard.
Signature Spell: Melkoth's Mystifying Miasma
A Hex spell with a range of 48" and a base casting value of 5+. The targeted unit has it's Weapon Skill, Ballistic Skill, Initiative, or Movements reduced by a D3 (to a minimum of 1) until the start of the casters next magic phase. It can be boosted to reduce all of the above mentioned stats by a singe roll of a D3 for an increased casting value of 10+. There is no game in which this spell will not be practical. It's the inverse of Wyssan's Wildform and it is most certainly every bit as effective as the latter is. Not much else I can say, but this spell is the fucking bomb. If you don't swap for it, there had better be damned good reason why. I give it a 5 out of 5, it's that damn good.
Spell #1: Steed of Shadows
An Augment spell with a range of 12" and a casting value of 5+ that can only target a friendly character or the caster him/herself. The target immediately makes a move using the Fly special rule as if it were the Remaining Moves sub-phase. I've already bitched about this spell pretty hard, so all I can say is a 2 out of 5 and always swap for Miasma.
Spell #2: The Enfeebling Foe
A Hex spell with a range of 18" and a casting value of 10+. All models in the targeted unit have their Strength value reduced by D3 (to a minimum of 1) for the duration of the spell, which by the way is a Remains in Play spell. It can be boosted to have a range of 36" and a casting value of 13+. Yeah, this spells is pretty nice to have as if you couldn't tell. This spell can neuter units that you'll be frightened to get into combat with, and thus will almost always prove to be useful. If you roll it up, it's a pretty good spell to have in your back pocket for a quick combat adjustment before things get out of hand. I give it an easy 4 out of 5 and a recommendation not to necessarily swap it unless you're playing an all infantry based Skaven list.
Spell #3: The Withering
Another Hex spell with a range of 18" and a base casting value of 13+. It reduces the targeted unit's Toughness by D3 (to a minimum of 1) and this spell is indeed a Remains in Play spell. It can be boosted to have a range of 36" and a casting value of 16+. What can I say other than it's an inverse of Enfeebling Foe, and it's also always as equally useful as the #2 spell. I give it another 4 out of 5, and I promise to go into a bit more detail in the following spells.
Spell #4: The Penumbral Pendulum
A Direct Damage spell with a range that is equal to 6D6" in a straight line directly from the caster and a base casting value of 13+. It works like a bouncing cannonball, and any unit in the way of the line must pass an Initiative test or suffer a S10 hit with the D3 Multiple Wounds special rule. The boosted version of this spell has a range equal to double whatever is rolled on the 6D6 result for an increased casting value of 18+. I went into a lot of detail about the spell and even got a few comments on it, telling me that my position on this spell was not right. I personally believe that this spell is much more effective than Pit of Shades. It's more accurate, it can crank out tons of damage with D3 Multiple Wounds and a S10 hit. Unless whatever you're targeting has a Ward Save and/or Magic Resistance, you're going to kill whatever you target and it can be used as either a razor-like attack or a precision strike to kill of characters should you need to. Pit of Shades is a Vortex (technically), it is random and unreliable. True, it will kill whatever it hits and gives the target no chance to protect itself, but out of the ten times I cast it, it works probably three or four times out of those ten uses. Pendulum will work every time unless I roll a 1 to-wound with it. It's also got much better range. I'm not disputing the power of the Pit of Shades, but I simply like my spells to actually hit when I cast them. I give this spell a 4 out of 5.
Spell #5: Pit of Shades
A Direct Damage (technically still a Vortex) spell with a range of 24" and a base casting value of 14+. Place the small round template anywhere within 24" of the caster and then scatter it D6". All models beneath the template must pass an Initiative test or it is removed with no saves of any kind allowed. It can be boosted so that you can use the large round template for an increased casting value of 17+ and an increased scatter rate of 2D6". So this spell is like George Foreman's (circa 1970's) right straight. It may not hit, but if it does then god above help you. This spell and other like it really pick on low Initiative armies, like Lizardmen, Ogres, and Greenskins, and making other armies who can take it very, very scary. The good thing about this spell is that no matter what you face across from you, there's probably something that has at least a coin flips Initiative. It's great, I don't like to use it but I won't deny how powerful the spell is. As such, I give it a 4 out of 5.
Spell #6: Okkam's Mindrazor
This spell pretty much epitomizes everything that the Lore of Shadow is in a general sense. It's not how many models it can remove with a single spell, but how it sets up a player to be in such a great tactical position. After all, is it better to be smart or lucky? This spell is an Augment spell with a range of 18" and a casting value of 18+. It's very difficult to get off, but for good reason. What this spell does is it allows the targeted unit to use their Leadership value instead of their Strength (any bonuses from weapons like great weapons or two-handed weapons are ignored) when rolling to-wound with all close combat attacks and lasts until the start of the caster's next magic phase. This spell can be boosted to have a range of 36" for an increased casting value of 21+. Now, this spell is really nice but it got even better per the last FAQ I read on BRB magic. Per the FAQ, this allows the unit to use their General's Leadership value if their within the Inspiring Presence aura when the spell goes off. Meaning, Elves and Undead can now hit at S10. That is very scary. This spell is one of those that will turn even experienced players into fanatics who chuck all their dice to stop this spell at all costs. It would be perfect, if it wasn't so expensive to cast. Even with a Level 4, you'll need at least four dice to cast the base version, and that's just to get it off without worrying about your opponent chucking a scroll or enough dice to shut it down. The risk/reward payoff is huge, so I would seriously suggest keeping this spell should you need it.
Lore of Shadow is perhaps the most versatile and popular lore in the current meta of Warhammer Fantasy, and for good reason! Shadow is a very flexible, and thus I can suggest fielding it in anyway you see fit. You can run the Level 4 in the bunker casting Okkam's and Pit to clear entire regiments, or a Level 1 and/or 2 rocking Miasma or any other of the Hex spells in this lore to debuff this shit out of your enemy. Either way, it works. It works pretty well in all kinds of lists too. Whether you're running an offensive or defensive army, the Lore of Shadow has spells that will help out with your strategy. Again, beware of Vampire Counts when they have a wizard on this lore, because S10 Zombies are fucking terrifying. A lot of people consider this the best lore in the game, and there is plenty of evidence to prove this point. I should also note that Lore of Shadows combos very well with other lores, especially with Dark Magic and Death Magic from my experience. Great lore, if you have access to it, take it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)