Help for a 8th Ed Orc Noob

[Squig69]

Hi LO

I’m returning to Orcs & Goblins after a long absence and haven’t had a game with them yet in 8^th Ed. I used to run a pure Common Goblin army about three editions ago but a mate of mine recently swapped me his Orc force as he felt they were no good in the new version of the game. However with the advent of the current rules I’m wondering how my army shapes up in the face of the changes that have been made.

My lists of models looks like this:

33 Arrer Boyz
19 Boyz with Hand Weapon + Shield inc command
20 Boyz with two hand weapon inc command
14 boyz with spears inc command (wtf??)
10 Snotling Bases
25 Wolf Riders inc command
x2 Boar Chariots
35 Common Goblins with Bows inc command
30 Common Goblins with Spears inc command
3 Wolf Chariots
3 Pump wagons
3 Trolls
Giant
x2 Rock Lobbas
x4 Goblin Shaman
x2 Goblin Heroes on chariots
x1 Goblin Hero on foot
Goblin BSB conversion
Warboss (Grimgor Ironhide model)
Orc Shaman conversion
Orc BSB conversion

I’ve got no spare parts to chop off arms or swap weapons so I have to live with what I’ve got. I’m thinking that at least two units (the Orcs) need a major boost to be usable, though I'm not sure what to do with the massive horde of Arrer Boyz.

I’d appreciate any feedback people can give me to knock this army into shape

[Digger]

Oi there Squig95!

thats an impressive amount of chariots and pump wagons. I'd suggest you use a bunch of em.
Overall you have alot of different stuff which works out great for our army:
-A giant goes excellent with goblin units,
-Theres a BSB (these are too good to leave home nowadays)
-Although you have no Doom Diver, you do have lobbers.1 or 2 rock lobbers are usually quite a good deal
-3 trolls makes a nice start. 4-6 would make these babies a very scary force, now they are nice support. keep in mind, the more units with stupidity, or low ldrship units such as goblins you bring, the more important a good leadership general will be and the better a BSB will be. If you bring these trolls. Bring a BSB and a leadership 8+ general (i would bring those anyway but, meh)



about the Arrer Boyz: they are indeed alot and although they have a few uses, i would agree they're best left at home until you find a use for expensive orc archers.
same story with the Snotling bases. There are probably some tactics to be found, but leave em home for now!

about the spearboyz: In 8th there's one rule that's important and counts in every battle up to the biggest of tournaments:
over half of the unit has to be armed exactly right, the rest can have similar gear, so a unit of 30 sword n shield orcs can actually have about 10 spear n shield orcs and be just fine!
In fact, that unit with a few spearboyz will actually look better overall, i mean, who doesn't like looking at a chaotic bunch of ill equipped orcs??

[Squig69]

Thanks for the feedback Digger.

I’ve been having a closer look at the Orc Boyz and thought that I should form the up into a massive 50 strong horde! If I make them Big Un’s then I don’t have to worry about minimum core (if I include the Goblin units). The mixture of weapons will just make them look more ramshackle 

Speaking of the Goblins I think Sneaky Stabbas would work nicely and be a fun upgrade (charge me expensive character unit, charge me – then BOOM killing blow)

I agree with you about boosting the number of Trolls I have (plus the new models are fantastic) as the new 8th Ed rules almost makes six models in Monstrous Infantry mandatory.

The boar chariots are great. I thought about converting one of them to carry my General but I think he needs to be on foot with my infantry. These models seem to be an auto-include.

I think stripping a Goblin Hero off at least one Wolf Chariot and having two units of two running around causing havoc. You can shoot them and then my horde will be safe. Don’t shoot at them and then you have a problem coming at you with 2D6+2 impact hits.

I’m really not sure what the Snotlings will do (apart from die really quickly and cost a lot of points). They can suicide Knights and hope their Spores kill a few on the stand and shoot but then die horribly.

The Wolf Riders need splitting up into smaller “trouble shooter” units imo but I’m not sure if they should be in fives or ten/fifteen.

The army is shaping up nicely. Thinking about getting some Black Orcs and maybe a Aracknarock spider to bulk it up! 

[Miko de Adamyetz]

If you don't know what to do with the Snotlings, may I recommend using Kluppa? Rules for him are here (Kluppa the Little General). They would then die a horrible, yet heroic death (instead of just horrible).