Which Army has the Best Core?

[rothgar13]

It kind of is, if you don't have any hammers that can get there to swing the combat (TK does have some options in that department, though I like none of them). I'm personally not a fan of it, and I've smashed one too many Empire armies with the setup you describe to put my faith in Swordsmen - you won't run, and that's fine, we'll just kill them all, and they can't kill us back with S3 weaksauce.

Reiksguard are also a lot more useful than Inner Circle Knights once you factor characters out, though let's be real here - if you're going to put up Special points, you're bringing Demigryphs. 6 DGK's with musician and standard-bearer cost exactly as much as 20 Khorne Halberd Warriors with the same amount of command, and beat them 1-on-1, with no support. They're the true stand-alone fighting unit Empire has been waiting for, and the best thing is they do get better with support.

[Marnepup]

I'm not putting up specials, and the swordsmen standing there like a pain sponge is perfect! Except for khorne GW marauders, you won't 'just kill them all,' fast enough, and they absolutely will kill marauders back. And a GW KoTIC hammer in the flank is going to faze most anyone.

As for gryphs, I like them the way I like my chariots, in fours. Taking six is an expensive bid to disrupt with zero margin for casualties and only the riders attacking from the second rank. Anyway, saying that, sans character support, reiksguard are better than KoTIC is meaningless in a discussion where you are comparing the prospects of armies that DO have characters and DON'T have special choices.

TK are viable in a core/character only setting because they have the ultimate anvil units, and chariot squadrons for core hammers. Empire are viable in that setting with priest led swordsmen anvils and a KoTIC hammer. Not saying they're better than WOC in this format (core trolls around throgg FTW!), just saying they're competitive. WOC are not the only game in town when you disallow special and rare choices.

[BloodRider76]

I voted, High Elves.

Large blocks of 50 spearmen.

Units of 15 - 18 Silver Helms.

Martial Prowess, ftw !