I'm a relatively experienced 40k player who has just begun working on a VC army for WHFB. I'm going to be playing (at 2500 pts to start) with a small group of much more experienced players who have spent significant amounts of time fine tuning their armies and playing practice bouts against one another. I'm not looking to go completely beardy, but I'd like to get some help in leveling the playing field so that I don't get squashed every time I go over there to play.
First, my army. I'll probably be playing Blood Dragons, but I'm going to build and paint a large number of extra skellies and zombies so that I'll hopefully be able to field a Necrarch force if the desire to do so seizes me. I like Grave Guard and love the Wight Lord model so pretty much any army I field is going to have at least one chunky (16+) unit of GG with a Barrows Banner led by a Wight Lord with the Sword of Kings. I like the Black Knights, too, so I will probably field one or two units of them, as well, though I'm not quite sure yet on the size. I'm planning on putting my Lord on foot in the middle of a unit of 30 armored skeletons. I have lots of zombies, but I'm still not sure yet how many I plan on putting in the list. I will be summoning significant numbers of these guys, as well, since I want 2 level two necromancers in the list. Despite the fact that they're fragile, I like wolves for their speed and maneuverability. I hate the ghoul models and their abysmal leadership, but fear causing skirmishers with two poisoned attacks sound like they would be fun to play. I'm not going to be using a Black Coach because I a) don't like the model and b) don't think it would fit the fluff for my army. It seems more like a Von Carstein kind of unit. I'm still on the fence about the two kinds of bats...I'm waiting to be convinced, one way or another. The same thing goes for Spirit Hosts and Banshees. I would like to include some Dogs of War units in my army to make up for it's inherent weaknesses, ie no missile fire, war machines. Dwarvish crossbowmen in heavy armor and a cannon would be nice, but I still haven't decided yet and would like advice on this.
Ok, now for the armies of my prospective opponents (hopefully, victims). One player is playing an Ogre Army and from what I can tell is going to be taking some wicked special character general with a weapon that causes d3 wounds and some kind of summoning device that brings large numbers of Gorgers onto the field. I'm not sure if he's bring Gnoblars or not, but I'm pretty sure that he's going to have a Scrap Launcher. He's also going to bring a Hunter with cats and a harpoon launcher. As far as I know, he's not bringing much else in terms of missile weaponry. With this guy, I'm worried about getting flanked by the Gorgers and straight up charged by the Ogres.
The second player is going to be playing Orcs and Goblins. From what I know, he's not going to be bringing much in the way of missile weaponry. I expect to see some Wolfriders and Black Orcs, but I can't say how many of each for sure. I do know that he has Boar Chariots and will be fielding some sort of sick lvl 4 Shaman with a backup shaman or two. I'm sweating a little bit over his magic (I don't want Gork stomping on my army!), but with their low leadership, I expect this army will be my least difficult opponent.
Lastly, my friends wife is bringing a Lizardman army, led by a second generation Slann Mage Priest with access to all kinds of killy spells. IIRC, this thing has a 2+ ward save against all missile fire and will be surrounded by something like 20 temple guard. She's also got a fair number of Skinks for harassment and march blocking and some other minor casters to provide more dice. There isn't a lot of missile fire in this army, either, unless you count spells. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do to make a good fight with this army.
Sooo... I'd like to solicit the advice of forum veterans on what I need to do, list-wise and on the table to give these guys a nasty fight.
Thanks!
Psyan
First, my army. I'll probably be playing Blood Dragons, but I'm going to build and paint a large number of extra skellies and zombies so that I'll hopefully be able to field a Necrarch force if the desire to do so seizes me. I like Grave Guard and love the Wight Lord model so pretty much any army I field is going to have at least one chunky (16+) unit of GG with a Barrows Banner led by a Wight Lord with the Sword of Kings. I like the Black Knights, too, so I will probably field one or two units of them, as well, though I'm not quite sure yet on the size. I'm planning on putting my Lord on foot in the middle of a unit of 30 armored skeletons. I have lots of zombies, but I'm still not sure yet how many I plan on putting in the list. I will be summoning significant numbers of these guys, as well, since I want 2 level two necromancers in the list. Despite the fact that they're fragile, I like wolves for their speed and maneuverability. I hate the ghoul models and their abysmal leadership, but fear causing skirmishers with two poisoned attacks sound like they would be fun to play. I'm not going to be using a Black Coach because I a) don't like the model and b) don't think it would fit the fluff for my army. It seems more like a Von Carstein kind of unit. I'm still on the fence about the two kinds of bats...I'm waiting to be convinced, one way or another. The same thing goes for Spirit Hosts and Banshees. I would like to include some Dogs of War units in my army to make up for it's inherent weaknesses, ie no missile fire, war machines. Dwarvish crossbowmen in heavy armor and a cannon would be nice, but I still haven't decided yet and would like advice on this.
Ok, now for the armies of my prospective opponents (hopefully, victims). One player is playing an Ogre Army and from what I can tell is going to be taking some wicked special character general with a weapon that causes d3 wounds and some kind of summoning device that brings large numbers of Gorgers onto the field. I'm not sure if he's bring Gnoblars or not, but I'm pretty sure that he's going to have a Scrap Launcher. He's also going to bring a Hunter with cats and a harpoon launcher. As far as I know, he's not bringing much else in terms of missile weaponry. With this guy, I'm worried about getting flanked by the Gorgers and straight up charged by the Ogres.
The second player is going to be playing Orcs and Goblins. From what I know, he's not going to be bringing much in the way of missile weaponry. I expect to see some Wolfriders and Black Orcs, but I can't say how many of each for sure. I do know that he has Boar Chariots and will be fielding some sort of sick lvl 4 Shaman with a backup shaman or two. I'm sweating a little bit over his magic (I don't want Gork stomping on my army!), but with their low leadership, I expect this army will be my least difficult opponent.
Lastly, my friends wife is bringing a Lizardman army, led by a second generation Slann Mage Priest with access to all kinds of killy spells. IIRC, this thing has a 2+ ward save against all missile fire and will be surrounded by something like 20 temple guard. She's also got a fair number of Skinks for harassment and march blocking and some other minor casters to provide more dice. There isn't a lot of missile fire in this army, either, unless you count spells. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do to make a good fight with this army.
Sooo... I'd like to solicit the advice of forum veterans on what I need to do, list-wise and on the table to give these guys a nasty fight.
Thanks!
Psyan