D.R.A.I.C.H. The making of your army.
Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:59 pm
In this thread, I will try to determine factors to be taken into account when writing a list for the 8th edition.
The constraints of the army in 8th edition are known.
See D.R.A.I.C.H. 7th => 8th analysis for a quick analysis.
1. 3k-1?
One aspect which is not clear yet is how many pts are going to be standard.
2.250 Pts is gone. It has no justification anymore, and it is not easy to calculate 25% of it.
Overall, it seems quite easy to increase the size of the army, using some units you owned but you could not previously take because of the character or special slots limitations.
Given that there is much less limits for characters, you could consider adding more characters to your usual 2,250 pts. You could spam more small elite units as well. Or you could just grow one or two units in size.
I would expect the new standard to be set either at 3k or at 3k-1 (2,999 pts), the only difference being the ability to spam 6 same special and 4 same rare instead of 3 and 2. Therefore, 3k is practically “no limit” while 3k-1 seems more reasonable.
Magic has critical influence on smaller games. I'd recommend, for friendly 1k games, either to agree not to take any wizard, or to specify beforehand that magic is going to be used.
Reversely, the larger the game, the lesser importance has magic, as you're limited by the pool. This pool limitation is harsher when you play allied battles and have to share the precious PD.
However, whatever the set size, the first thing is to figure out what is 25% of it.
2. Size matters.
2.1. Size matters for Lords.
A Lord, his dragon, or a Level 4 are each in the 300 pts range.
Hard to squeeze one of them below 1k, two of them below 2k, three of them below 3k. If you try, they will not get their full amount of magic objects, so they will become unreasonably vulnerable.
You’ll be better off with no Lord below 1k, a single Lord or High Sorceress (without dragon) at 1k-2k, and either a Dragonlord, or a Footed Lord & a High Sorceress, or 2 High Sorceresses at 2k-3k.
As we are going to see in the 2 next chapters, in small games, it is important to get a Sorceress but your Hero allotment is going to be in high demand, so a Level 3 is a good option.
My recommendation would therefore be a Level 3 at 1k, a Level 4 at 1k-2k and a DragonLord at 2k-3k.
2.2. Size does not matter for Magic.
Magic is commanded by the pool of dice, which is 2-12 whatever the size of the army.
In order to optimise the use of that pool, you’ll probably aiming at a total of 5 levels of magic-users, with the ambition to cast 3 spells each turn.
More Sorceresses could be useful in order to grant you more Lores to choose during the battle, using the most useful one against your specific foe and letting the unused Sorceresses cut daisies.
Or you could wish to take a level 2 with the same Lore of the Level 4, so that the junior Sorceress selects junior spells, increasing the odds that the senior Sorceress gets the most powerful spells.
In small games, if you struggle for scarce pts, then any Sorceress empowered with many PD is probably better than taking any fighting Lord.
In large games, Sorceresses will struggle for Powerdice; two of them is probably optimal, at levels 4+2 or 3+3.
Remember, you may arrange your plans for magic according to the other Characters you take. You may take only Lord slots, Hero slots or mix.
In larger games, if your army is going to fight alongside with an ally (but can we really call anyone as such?), then you should take half the magic users as usual, because the pool will be divided evenly.
Also, the choice of the Lore depends on your army:
if you run large units, the Lore should be chosen with them in mind.
If you don't then the Lore should be chosen with an opponent large unit in mind (with its own vital supporting characters).
2.3. Size does not matter for some Heroes.
The single most important hero is the BSB. Whatever the size of the army, you get 1.
Only if you play MSU can you afford not to take one. If you intend to run one or more large units, you need desperately one BSB.
If the army is small, you must take him, eating most of your hero pts (and therefore take a Level 3).
For us DE, another very important unit’s buff is granted by the COB.
A cheap solution is to merge the two requirements into a single BSB COB. This is an excellent solution.
The BSB is going to be a high priority target for your opponents. Therefore, I suggest to be very careful before giving him a magic banner, unless that banner increases his life expectation. Not only he would be more vulnerable with only mundane protection rather than magic protection, but also the bounty would be higher.
Exception: the COB BSB. Not many banners would be that useful, however I see a benefit in the ranger’s standard, the strider’s rule being handy for a warmachine for which otherwise any terrain save hill is impassable.
Be it a Master of a DH, it is worth providing all the defences you can afford. This guy/girl is essential to your plans, and your opponent is likely to know it.
2.4. Budget your Heroes.
Besides the BSB, it would be nice to get a second COB, one or two Level 2, and a couple of chariot-riding Masters., plus Lokhir and Malus.
OK, stop dreaming.
A kitted BSB is around 180pts, a COB is 200 pts, a COB BSB around 250 pts. At 1k, this is it.
A level 2 is around 200pts, a Master on Chariot/Peggy or a Named Hero are close to 250 pts.
At 1k-2k, a second hero can be considered, at 2k-3k, there is room for a third one.
The BSB is the first to be taken, unless you play MSU. A COB is always useful, so the best is to merge them.
Next on your shopping list comes a sorceress. Therefore, named characters or dual COB are to be expected in larger games.
Finally, if you need more heros than the 25% allows, don't hesitate to take an assassin. Also Kouran could be taken for no price to pay on the Hero budget.
2.5. Character combinations.
1k.
Level 3 and COB BSB (if you’re running one large unit).
Footed Dreadlord and Level 2 (MSU).
1k-2k.
Level 4 and BSB + COB
Lord (no Monster) and BSB + level 2
2k-3k
Dragonlord and BSB + 2 Level 2.
Lord + Level 4 and COB BSB + Level 2.
Level 4 + Level 3 and Peggy Master + Named hero.
Which is the best combo?
Build the rest of your army and come back to determine the appropriate support that your characters are designed to bring.
Your characters are not there to win the battle, but to support the rest of your army doing so.
The constraints of the army in 8th edition are known.
See D.R.A.I.C.H. 7th => 8th analysis for a quick analysis.
1. 3k-1?
One aspect which is not clear yet is how many pts are going to be standard.
2.250 Pts is gone. It has no justification anymore, and it is not easy to calculate 25% of it.
Overall, it seems quite easy to increase the size of the army, using some units you owned but you could not previously take because of the character or special slots limitations.
Given that there is much less limits for characters, you could consider adding more characters to your usual 2,250 pts. You could spam more small elite units as well. Or you could just grow one or two units in size.
I would expect the new standard to be set either at 3k or at 3k-1 (2,999 pts), the only difference being the ability to spam 6 same special and 4 same rare instead of 3 and 2. Therefore, 3k is practically “no limit” while 3k-1 seems more reasonable.
Magic has critical influence on smaller games. I'd recommend, for friendly 1k games, either to agree not to take any wizard, or to specify beforehand that magic is going to be used.
Reversely, the larger the game, the lesser importance has magic, as you're limited by the pool. This pool limitation is harsher when you play allied battles and have to share the precious PD.
However, whatever the set size, the first thing is to figure out what is 25% of it.
2. Size matters.
2.1. Size matters for Lords.
A Lord, his dragon, or a Level 4 are each in the 300 pts range.
Hard to squeeze one of them below 1k, two of them below 2k, three of them below 3k. If you try, they will not get their full amount of magic objects, so they will become unreasonably vulnerable.
You’ll be better off with no Lord below 1k, a single Lord or High Sorceress (without dragon) at 1k-2k, and either a Dragonlord, or a Footed Lord & a High Sorceress, or 2 High Sorceresses at 2k-3k.
As we are going to see in the 2 next chapters, in small games, it is important to get a Sorceress but your Hero allotment is going to be in high demand, so a Level 3 is a good option.
My recommendation would therefore be a Level 3 at 1k, a Level 4 at 1k-2k and a DragonLord at 2k-3k.
2.2. Size does not matter for Magic.
Magic is commanded by the pool of dice, which is 2-12 whatever the size of the army.
In order to optimise the use of that pool, you’ll probably aiming at a total of 5 levels of magic-users, with the ambition to cast 3 spells each turn.
More Sorceresses could be useful in order to grant you more Lores to choose during the battle, using the most useful one against your specific foe and letting the unused Sorceresses cut daisies.
Or you could wish to take a level 2 with the same Lore of the Level 4, so that the junior Sorceress selects junior spells, increasing the odds that the senior Sorceress gets the most powerful spells.
In small games, if you struggle for scarce pts, then any Sorceress empowered with many PD is probably better than taking any fighting Lord.
In large games, Sorceresses will struggle for Powerdice; two of them is probably optimal, at levels 4+2 or 3+3.
Remember, you may arrange your plans for magic according to the other Characters you take. You may take only Lord slots, Hero slots or mix.
In larger games, if your army is going to fight alongside with an ally (but can we really call anyone as such?), then you should take half the magic users as usual, because the pool will be divided evenly.
Also, the choice of the Lore depends on your army:
if you run large units, the Lore should be chosen with them in mind.
If you don't then the Lore should be chosen with an opponent large unit in mind (with its own vital supporting characters).
2.3. Size does not matter for some Heroes.
The single most important hero is the BSB. Whatever the size of the army, you get 1.
Only if you play MSU can you afford not to take one. If you intend to run one or more large units, you need desperately one BSB.
If the army is small, you must take him, eating most of your hero pts (and therefore take a Level 3).
For us DE, another very important unit’s buff is granted by the COB.
A cheap solution is to merge the two requirements into a single BSB COB. This is an excellent solution.
The BSB is going to be a high priority target for your opponents. Therefore, I suggest to be very careful before giving him a magic banner, unless that banner increases his life expectation. Not only he would be more vulnerable with only mundane protection rather than magic protection, but also the bounty would be higher.
Exception: the COB BSB. Not many banners would be that useful, however I see a benefit in the ranger’s standard, the strider’s rule being handy for a warmachine for which otherwise any terrain save hill is impassable.
Be it a Master of a DH, it is worth providing all the defences you can afford. This guy/girl is essential to your plans, and your opponent is likely to know it.
2.4. Budget your Heroes.
Besides the BSB, it would be nice to get a second COB, one or two Level 2, and a couple of chariot-riding Masters., plus Lokhir and Malus.
OK, stop dreaming.
A kitted BSB is around 180pts, a COB is 200 pts, a COB BSB around 250 pts. At 1k, this is it.
A level 2 is around 200pts, a Master on Chariot/Peggy or a Named Hero are close to 250 pts.
At 1k-2k, a second hero can be considered, at 2k-3k, there is room for a third one.
The BSB is the first to be taken, unless you play MSU. A COB is always useful, so the best is to merge them.
Next on your shopping list comes a sorceress. Therefore, named characters or dual COB are to be expected in larger games.
Finally, if you need more heros than the 25% allows, don't hesitate to take an assassin. Also Kouran could be taken for no price to pay on the Hero budget.
2.5. Character combinations.
1k.
Level 3 and COB BSB (if you’re running one large unit).
Footed Dreadlord and Level 2 (MSU).
1k-2k.
Level 4 and BSB + COB
Lord (no Monster) and BSB + level 2
2k-3k
Dragonlord and BSB + 2 Level 2.
Lord + Level 4 and COB BSB + Level 2.
Level 4 + Level 3 and Peggy Master + Named hero.
Which is the best combo?
Build the rest of your army and come back to determine the appropriate support that your characters are designed to bring.
Your characters are not there to win the battle, but to support the rest of your army doing so.