Protecting your characters inside infantry block

[Calisson]

Following Lord Tsunami's inputs, I'd like to pursue the discussion about how best to protect a vital character inside an infantry block.

A BSB is vital. A general is so. A DH is not vital but her martial value makes her a top priority for the opponent to get rid of. Same for an assassin.
In the examples below, I'll concentrate on the BSB. Especially a DH BSB, which is simultaneously highly vulnerable and vital to your army.

The trouble is that no matter the number of foes they may kill, except if they challenge (but the opponent may select to refuse the challenge), there will be more foes stepping in. All these foes, including the second rank support attacks, are likely to aim at the most dangerous opponent (our hero).

The problematics is well explained by Lord Tsunami:
Witches as suicide squads
Executioners and the battle standard

Basically, in order for your character to be efficient but not vulnerable, he must be on a corner of a unit, which is at least 2 models wider than its opponent. Only in that case would the "max both opponents" rule allow this specific character to be in contact with only one model (plus one support attack from rear ranks), hence increasing a lot his life expectancy.

The miscast table is another high incitement to put wizards at the top edge of any unit sheltering them.



Let's explore all solutions we can imagine.



1. Wider unit (7 wide).
In the WE example, the solution for the suicide squad to get at the BSB was to become as wide or wider than the opponent.
This is when a unit of 7-wide BG is great to shelter a BSB: units of 5 will barely touch the BSB.
Getting even wider serves no purpose if you receive the charge, but will allow your BSB to be totally untouched if you charge yourself... unless there is a 2nd unit threatening to charge you.

Your unit better be stubborn for that purpose, because it is likely to have less ranks than the opponent, however, it is not necessary if your elite smashes through the opposing troops for a high ACR.

Of course, if the single model in contact with the BSB is a hero (on a monster or inside a unit), it will challenge the BSB. Therefore, it is important that the BSB has some room behind, to be able to refuse a challenge he may loose: his duty as BSB is far more important than his honour.
The trouble is that the opponent will expect that and is likely not to challenge himself.
This is why you need a champion to challenge the opponent if he consists of a monster riding character.

I can see a problem, though: the opposing unit, if winning, or if loosing + Ld test, may rearrange itself wider and get 3 models in contact with your precious BSB.

Of course, if you face a horde, you have to go 12 wide.


2. Narrower unit (3 wide)
This is a new concept I'd like to explore:
a unit sheltering the BSB, FC, 3 wide.
FC takes the whole frontage. So BSB can go in the centre of the 2nd rank (like a Bretonian Damsel!).
Of course, there is no rank bonus so the unit better be stubborn (not using the BSB's Ld but able to use his reroll anyhow).
Of course, you don't get any attacks at all.
The use of such unit is more to be a tar pit than to smash through opponents. It means that you need the rest of your army to get in position and side-charge.

The champion refuses challenges if any and swaps place with a R&F in the rear.
Muso and pennant cannot be targeted.
No room for character in the first rank, the BSB goes in the second rank, where he can only make 1 attack, and where he cannot be attacked at all.
All models killed come from the rear ranks.

If your unit is attacked on the side or rear, it doesn't change anything.
The unit must be stubborn in order to have any effect.
The BSB may be in the 2nd rank, still its BSB action is valid.


3. Über body guard Lord in a cheap narrow unit of pages.
A problem with the previous solution, though, is that the champion can be lost, forcing the BSB to get in the front rank.

Solution: replace the champion with an unkillable crowned Lord. This Lord could be the general. He bettter have Null Shards than fighting gear.
Instead of a crowned Lord, you can select to get a DH BSB, if you're close to a COB. Then the unit would be stubborn under the DH's Ld.
Both Lord and BSB go inside a solid large unit of whatever rather cheap troops (AHW corsairs, RHB corsairs, spears, RXBmen), with no champion.
These troops need just to be many and rather reistant, their role is not to fight (except small units) but to absorb hits.
The BSB stays behind his Liege as said.
Stubborn/rerollable Ld10, the Lord gets some kills, the perfect tar pit.
This goes in the middle of your army.
The narrow unit is less vulnerable to templates as a 5x6 unit.
There are enough troops for Look Out, Sir.
It has a 12" bubble around the BsB in which you organize the more serious fighting troops (2 units on each side).
The BSB is pretty much immune to anything nasty, as long as the unkillable bodyguard survives and as long as 2 members of the escort survive.
I'd say that AHW corsairs are suited for that job, because they fight with 2 attacks on flanks as well as on the front.
Example of a unit of 16 + Lord + BSB:

PLM......Pennant, unkillable Lord, Muso
RBR......R&F, BSB, R&F
RRR......3 R&F
RRR......3 R&F
RRR......3 R&F
RRR......3 R&F


4. Showing assassin.
So the opponent spotted your BSB on a corner or a 7-wide unit, and attacks with a steroid-boosted lord in the facing corner of his 5 wide unit.
His intention, obviously, is to challenge your poor BSB with his über-lord and chop it to pieces.
Suddenly, an assassin shows up, in front of the über-lord.
Now, if the lord challenges, the 'sass takes it and the BSB is safe (only 1 attack from 2nd rank). If the lord does not challenge, then he has first to survive the 'sass plus the BSB's attacks (supposed at high I) before he can do anything.

5. Showing asses.
So you're about to be charged by the opponent's Über-unit-o-doom?
Show them your disdain.
Rearrange your unit, in 5 ranks, showing them your rear.

This could done with Execs with DH, if you face an opponent you don't want to take on his terms, but it could be worth for AHW corsairs.
Your execs will receive the charge on the rear. No possible challenge. As long as 2 ranks remain, only R&F will die.
Your unit will retaliate with 5 models each turn.
The BSB is very safe, provides both his/her Ld and the BSB reroll. Even your rank bonus is preserved.
You concede a -2 CR for rear charge and forfeit 2nd rank support attack, but the most important role of that unit is to tar pit and preserve the BSB. Another unit, next to it, will have the role of doing the real dirt-hand killing job, from inside the 12" radius.
Only when your're about to charge with some rescue units will you rearrange your ass-showing unit to face the opponent and participatte to the last bloodbath with the 2nd rank.

[Lord tsunami]

You only concede a -2 CR for rear charge.

erm.. you cant make supporting attacks to the rear can you? you forfeit a bunch of attacks...

His intention, obviously, is to challenge your poor BSB with his über-lord and chop it to pieces.

why would he challenge? he can just bash the BSB without challenging. if you challenge with a champ, he will accept with his champ. if he challanges with his lord, you will accept with your champ (even if you have no assasin). there is no reason fro him to give you the opportunity to just accept the challenge with a lowly champion. he can smash the BSBs head in just fine without doing so in a challenge

[Calisson]

5. You concede a -2 CR for rear charge and forfeit 2nd rank support attack (5), indeed, but the most important role of that unit is to tar pit and preserve the BSB, until another unit comes.
This other unit will have the role of doing the real dirt-hand killing job, from inside the 12" radius.
Finally, that may not be the best job for Execs...


4. The überlord may wish to challenge just to avoid himself the R&F retaliation! Who knows? He may be wary of BSB's + champ + 1 R&F + 3 support R&F high I attacks (or ASF attacks in case of a DH in Execs).



The next thread I have in mind will deal with duels of heroes.
In this duel, high I plays a much larger role than when fighting masses.

[Meteor]

Though you wouldn't really want to stick a BSB in a mere tarpit that's just there to get battered to pieces and may die. Well it's the more likely unit to die since that's the fate of most tarpits.

Whilst idea #2 and #3 really does protect your BSB well, I can't imagine many instances where you'd use them. A DH as a BSB is usually fielded in a unit of Executioners with ASF banner for the purpose of early chopping which #1 and #4 doesn't deny as much of. Any other time you would rather take a Master instead, and a Master has plenty of protection choices so it makes it unnecessary for #2 and #3 tactics either. Unless he winds up on an unfavorable position, in which case his unit needs to protect him till help arrives.