Ask a Longbeard

[King Ulrik Flamebeard]

As to dwarf blocks, its a general consensus that you should not go over 25-30 per block. Any bigger and it becomes terribly unwieldy, and makes it so very easy to flank. A personal preference is 25 (five wide, five deep) or 20.

Royal_Marine_Machine has a good suggestion for the giant (and of course you're allowed to answer!). Otherwise, a lucky shot with the GT would work. But the BT would be ideal - D3 wounds and +1 to hit due to a large target. Add in the Master Engineer, you'll be hitting on 3s or 2s. Two or three turns would see it off. Or, two or three BTs.

Kuffy

[GDMNW]

What about when I am planning on getting flanked?

I'm thinking along the lines of 48 hammerers with a Lord, Oath Stone, Master Rune of Challenge. Eight wide and six deep.

Does that only strike me as a good idea? I think it would be awesome...

[Royal_Marine_Machine]

Thanks for the map

My little dwarfs officially hate you. They were hoping it was closer

That would be awesome at taking out enemy characters and holding up their troops...

[King Ulrik Flamebeard]

I think its a bad idea. While your unit will be stubborn, you lose most chances of winning. You lose the rank bonus given to you, and the master rune would be pointless if you got them to charge your flank. A hero has to be in contact with them to fight, so he'd have to spend a turn moving through the unit. Also, as you have great weapons and a 5+ save, hammerers cannot take the punishment. If you wanted to do something like that, you'd be better off with ironbreakers with their 3+/2+ save.

To my eyes, that is an extremely large and expensive unit that could be worked the same as a smaller unit of 20 - 25.

Kuffy

[GDMNW]

With an Oathstone you can't lose your Combat Res if you are charged in the flank or rear and count and simply fight normally, nonetheless I take your point about the size of the unit.

[King Ulrik Flamebeard]

With an Oathstone you can't lose your Combat Res if you are charged in the flank or rear and count and simply fight normally, nonetheless I take your point about the size of the unit.

This is true, I had forgotten that. But it also means that you may no longer move, and your super-hard-uber unit is now just ignored by everything except war machines and missile units. I just don't see it being cost effective, but then again, there is nothing to stop you trying it.

Kuffy

[Royal_Marine_Machine]

Hey,
I'd really like to have a very Original Dwarf force with a cool theme behind it, with an army to match and some nice models to be a centre to it. I have a few Norse Dwarf Lords, but the rest of my army is definitely southern!

I was thinking of maybe buying a cool miniature from the collectors range, and seeing as I have lots of artillery etc. maybe getting Dwarf Engineer Guildmaster, Burlock Damminson, as there is a Model for him, and having an Engineer Guild army, with his Norse cousins or something, or maybe a group of Norse Nobles that his Throng rescues.

So I was wondering if the Longbeards could give a little Beardling an Idea or something, thanks

[furstenburg]

Dear Longbeards.

I'm a fan of dwarf warriors (who isn't) and i was wondering if you old timers could answer me a couple of questions on fielding them.

1. Usually i field them in units of 20, for combat resolution. Is it maybe worthwhile upping that to 25 so that i still get full resolution after shooting and magic losses? (maybe disregard this one as i just saw advice above!)

2. Is it worth taking a veteran? i'm not sure that 10 points for an extra attack is worth it, especially as we do not usually win combats from casualties inflicted. that ten points could buy me 10 shields for my thunderers!

Hopefully you can help one with a shorter beard and maybe i'll stand for a few pints of bugmans best in the future!

[King Ulrik Flamebeard]

Dear Longbeards.

I'm a fan of dwarf warriors (who isn't) and i was wondering if you old timers could answer me a couple of questions on fielding them.

1. Usually i field them in units of 20, for combat resolution. Is it maybe worthwhile upping that to 25 so that i still get full resolution after shooting and magic losses? (maybe disregard this one as i just saw advice above!)

2. Is it worth taking a veteran? i'm not sure that 10 points for an extra attack is worth it, especially as we do not usually win combats from casualties inflicted. that ten points could buy me 10 shields for my thunderers!

Hopefully you can help one with a shorter beard and maybe i'll stand for a few pints of bugmans best in the future!

If you have the points, then yes the 25 warriors is very useful. As you said, it shields you slightly from any reduction in rank bonus.


On combat units, yes. The fact is, unless the champion is specifically targeted then he will always get to strike, even when there are enough kills to mean your first rank cannot. He is expensive, but I personally say the extra attack is worth it. This means double if he's in a GW armed unit.

Kuffy

[Royal_Marine_Machine]

Also if a character attacks a unit the Champion can call them into a duel, if they refuse then thy are stuck at the back, and if they accept they are no longer a threat to the unit.