I figured that he could deal with them more efficiently, and .... well it turned in to a nice article. As it can easly by done with the use of our unit's, I decided to post it here also.
The original battle report: http://warhammer.org.uk/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=94823&start=840
As promised, a way to deal with crushers deployed on flanks. I would like to note, its easy to suggest play's, once the battle is over. With having lots of time to analyze and plan out, a "better" way to do thing's.
Also note that an irritated opponent, might divert some unit's to help the stranded crushers, this I didn't take under consideration as it is impossible to predict what your opponent might or might not do.
For keeping crushers or any frenzy unit out of the battle, it is essential you have a lot of movement, and preferably cheep unit's.
I started with the way you deployed your unit's.
I assume the centre of the battle went as it did, as it would open up too many possibilities to analyze, I'd be probably writing for at least a week :wink:.
The trick is basically to force overrun moves off of the table edge, once that is done use your fast unit's to deny the crushers any possibility of engaging valuable target's.
Ok, part one
Feeding the crushers
The red boxes is where I would suggest to make your vanguard moves, as it gives you much flexibility and your close to the border edge, making certain you will not be short by an inch or two. To get the proper overrun angle for the crushers. Just a reminder an average swiftstride roll is 9, also it is extremely important to remember that there is a 89% for rolling 6+.
There is a few reasons for having the fast cav, 2 wide
1. If the Crushers fluff their attack rolls, you can manipulate the centre to centre flee path removing casualties in a favourable way.
2. It limits the number of attack's, by using the charge rules to prevent the crushers to contact you with the centre of their unit.
3. Keeps the unit fairly short.
Now I would move up a bit more aggressive, feeding your riders to his crushers, and supporting with Sword masters and White lions if the crushers make a low overrun roll (less then 10% chance of that happening, but still one must prepare as it can happen.), also a small chance to get a unit of DP in there. But only if the WL have a nice target closer to the centre of the table.
Please notice you still have a nice kill zone on the left.
While the right flank, is almost same, as it was in your game still allowing you to concentrate your bow fire.
It's good to mark where the unit has to return. it will make further moves much easier to predict.
Part two - Limiting movement possibilities
Since returning to the battle field, limits your opponents options, it's good to limit them some more :wink:.
Blocking the way past the tower with your Sword masters, is a good move. It will also make your opponent think twice before exposing his unit to a flank charge, if he want to move towards the centre.
I'd keep the eagle away from harm of possible charges, but somewhere in the vicinity of the SM (more then 6" in case of any panic check's). This will give us a back up plan if something goes wrong.
Also, it is most logical, that the crushers will face the SM's, as they clearly can take them out on the charge.
It's a better option then risking a flank charge, and a possible brake test, or if things go bad for the SM's, forcing crushers in to a bad pursuit direction.
With the Crushers away off the field, I assume the DP, WL and other SM could assault the centre of the battle field over powering the WoC forces there, and not take part in staling the crushers, until their work in the centre is done
. On the right
Feed the crushers an eagle. It's nice to move in such a way, that will force an overrun path, out towards the table edge. This is the easily done by keeping the eagle 1" deep in the crusher unit. it will also keep the majority of the crusher in it's front arc, and will give up only 1" of table, stalling them even longer.
Remember of a due panic, it's best to keep your fast cav, further then 6" from the eagle.
In our example, the chance of the crushers going out of the table is again well over 90%.
And if they don't we have our fast cav to block their advancement.
turn 3 - Rinse and repeat
.On the left
Feed the eagle to the crushers, reform the SM and possibly move them back, to stay clear of the overrun path, threatening a flank charge if the crushes don't go off the table. Again an over 90% chance of success.
On the right
Congo line your Fast cav, but make sure to leave enough room for the crushers to enter the field. again stopping any advancement. Remember
1. you return to the table with the back of you unit touching the table edge.
2. to make a reform you must keep the centre of the unit in the same place, this will not allow you opponent to face up or down as there is no room.
Turn 4
On the left, use the SM to stop any advancement, of the crushers, in the same why you did, with the fast cav on the other flank.
On the right, reform your fast cav, to ensure a safe flee thou that building.
Move your shadow warriors out of the way, as an redirect could be devastating, you also don't want to flee with them, as they will be needed in your movement.
Here I stopped on your turn, as the leap to the next might be confusing. Hopefully both SM and Fast cav will rally, while the Shadow warriors block any crusher advancement (swift reform).
Turn 5 - End game
by this time you should be mopping up the centre of the table, and have enough unit's to take the crushers down. Also every time the crushers are un-engaged it's nice to whittle them down with shooting and magic.
On the right the crushers have no option but to swift reform, do to the reasons mentioned earlier, the crushers cant maintain their formation and have 2 options, presented with red and green arrow. By going up the crushers can hope for a charge, but moving your SM back will render them useless. If he decides to go down, then reforming your SM, will endanger any actions the crushers can do in the last turn.
On the left
reform the shadow warriors to a congo line and facing the crushers, so when stacking up the front model remains in place. this will force an either pursuit of overrun in to the corner of the table, meaning that in the last turn, they will not be able to charge.
Turn 6 - no available target's
The beauty of facing frenzied troops, is you opponent cant do anything, to stop the crushers being pulled in to bad positions.
This would allow you to to keep his heavy hitters out of the game completely, while maximizing your combat efficiency in the centre, by diverting 3 unit's from engaging the crushers, to clear the centre of the field.
