DOW list 2250 - character placement question

[buckero0]

I have been mixing and making lists, trying to find something I like with a strategy I think I would like to play and here it is . . . for now.
Hired Wizard lvl4 BardMTD dispel scroll, dispel scroll, power stone, power stone
Hired Wizard lvl2 dispel scroll, dispel scroll
Paymaster BardMTD Heavy Armor, brace of pistols, Enchanted Shield
Captain BardMTD Heavy Armor, brace of pistols, Shield, Lance
Core
Duelists x10 musician w/ sword & pistol
LtCavalry w/spears, bows w/musician
LtCavalry w/spears, bows w/musician
Ricco’s Republican guard x19 Heavy Armor and Pikes
Voland’s Venators x5
Special
18x Norsemen shld/heavy wpn FC
Ironguts x4 musician
Leadbelchers x2
Leadbelchers x2
rare
cannonx2
Most of the guys in my club play medium to heavy magic, so I need defense for sure and usually like to be on the delivering end (though I do miscast quite often) I plan on having my lvl4 and paymaster in with Ricco's Pikes. The captain will probably ride with Voland (6x str6WS5 attacks on the charge.) Lots of bait and charge with either the Norsemen, Voland or Ironguts, hence the light cav. The Duelists are a hybrid, may flee into terrain or stand and shoot. I'm taking the cannons, because they are cheap and one seems too fragile. I think taking 2 giants is OverTheTop. Really the lvl2 is just there to hold scrolls and try to get some magic missile action going and draw out the opponent's scrolls. The question is, where should I put him? Or, should I drop him alltogether, put another scroll or two on the lvl 4 (4scrolls is hard to get through and usually buys me 2 turns before I get into combat) and then get some crossbowmen or better yet, dwarven crossbowment to sit on a hill and shoot for several turns.

[kooshlord]

What are heavy weapons on the norsemen? Did you mean great weapons? Their frenzy may make them a liability, you'll have to keep the duelists, ogres, or fast cav in front of them to ensure they don't get baited into destruction. I think dwarves might do better.

tactic: leadbelchers shoot things, then flee from charges through either dwarves or frenzied troops (even better, as the frenzied troops don't test!!). Then the infantry unit counter-charges, while the leadbelchers (hopefully) rally and reload.

If you want magic defense, I'd go with 2 lvl1 mages with 2 scrolls each. If you want offense, you are probably fine.

I'm not real fond of pikemen, and especially the RoR pikemen. The characters are too easily killed, yet still cost a lot, IMO.

The Venators are pretty nasty, well worth the points IMO.

You may have some trouble against shooting, your cannons will help there, but the pikes are a nice juicy target.

-Koosh

[buckero0]

yeah, I'm not too crazy about the pikes, but I don't know what else to put my paymaster and big wizard in to protect them. Like you said, the light cav, will hopefully draw units right infront of my Norsmen. I plan on running my captain with the venators for super killing power. I thought since my shooting is average, my magic ought to be able to kill some models as well.

The other option I have thought of, is switching the lvl4 out for a general, dropping the cannons, adding crossbowmen, Truthsayer of Albion (more supportive/protective magic) and adding a giant. I think I have enough fast moving guys that by turn 2, I should be targeting/charging. The Leadbelchers are for flanking, shooting, could take out some of the opponent's warmachines, same with light cav. The duelists draw units in and either flee or shoot and stand and shoot. VV, Ironguts and Norsemen should kill stuff and the pikes hang back and protect the mage and paymaster. In the altered list, the lvl2 could hang with the crossbowmen.

The reason I took the Ricco's Republican is that they are 1 pt more, but I get Ricco to do challenges for me, they are WS4 and harder to hit. With the Albion guy, I ll be ld 9, reroll break tests with Paymaster and ld 9 up front with my general where all the fighting is hopefully taking place. You're right, I have to move fast to take their wizards and warmachines out, but that's my plan and why I have some expendible units. I don't really like hanging back and doing nothing.

[Long.Drong.Silver]

Switch the Ricco's to Leopolds, I know the WS 4 is great, but Immune to Psych is even better, especially with the rise of VC and Demons. If your lvl 2 goes beasts Bears Anger is a great spell to buff RoR champions (who count as characters in all respects) or the mage himself. Personally, I really like to field a Mercenary Captain on a pegasus and sword of might. That way, you have a flyer with US 3 and 3 attacks S 5 and 2 attacks S 4, perfect for killing the crews or wizards that threatened your pikemen. I really enjoy pikemen personally, def a points sink but 6 x 4 ASF is nothing to laugh at, especially if you get the -1 to hit and -1 armour spell with metal (best lore). Truthsayer may not be worth it, but Dark Emmisaries are ballin'.