I've been brain storming this for awhile and i thought it would be nice to get some outside competative opinion. How do you set a unit of 20 BG in rank and file? My thoughts were two options: 5 across with 4 ranks-gives most of its combat rez through ranks, or 7 across and 3 ranks deep (with character. also included in ealier example i.e 19 bg with chara)- this set up would get more attacks but less ranks. The question, what set up have you expierienced generating more combat rez. This is not to say that you can't give other set ups but please try to stay to 20strong and close to the topic of BG....TY

7x3 all the way. Black Guard are stubborn and ItP, so they don't need ranks. Also, since the most you could possibly have is 4, which you lose with 1 death, most heavily ranked units will still have stubborn against you. Better to get more attacks for more killy death.

With units such as Black-Guard, ranks don't matter. The enemy can't really beat you over the head with combat res due to your stubborn, and Black-Guard are high on the killy factor. Set them to whatever their targets width is +2, then munch your points back.

I'd probably go 6x3+2 as an all-rounder formation. I mainly want them to maintain two ranks for as long as possible so that when they have an opportunity to flank someone, I can get the disruption effect off to help win combats easier.

This advice all the way.

When using BG as a fighting unit, I rank them so wide, that they are 2 models wider than the opponent's unit, they are opposing.

Bye
Thanee

Yes, agree 100%. Go for this.

Keep in mind, that with the cauldron blessing, you can chop through around 100 WS2 troops in horde formation so long as you are 12-wide.

Agreed with the advice of running them +2 to the width of your opponent. They're meant to hit things, and they are quite good at it, so maximizing the number of attacks is virtually always the better solution.