MSU / MSE - some observations and game experiences
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2003 10:45 pm
This is my take on the whole MSU/MSE issue and following that I would like to share some experiences with you which you may find interesting.
From the various posts made over the last few weeks or so it is apparent that a number of you have been playing a variation of this idea for anything up to 12 months or so now. Many with extreme success. For the newbies around here I would like to offer my version.
Malakithau's original idea was that for Elves in particular, all models behind the fighting line were pretty much redundant and that increasing the number of attacking models at any one time in a combat was more important, and more likely to help us succeed and thus win the combat. In order to maximise these numbers of attacks we should take smaller units thus allowing even greater movement opportunities on the battlefield, which in turn increases the number of opportunities to effect flank charges to support units engaging the enemy to the front.
A basic tactic we all know but which can be difficult to achieve in reality due to unit size as well as terrain etc.
Add to this principle the idea of cheap 'bait' units, made even more feasible by the Revision, and you increase your movement opportunities even further. How? Simply by marching your cheap little unit right up close and personal and invite your opponent to come to the party!
MSU needs a further principle too - the 'Knockout Punch' or Hammer or whatever other name you wish to use. But basically it is not enough to pull your opponent all over the board, set traps and run rings around him. Sooner or later you have to kill him and this needs to be done swiftly and convincingly. This area is very much down to personal taste in my opinion and may take the form of a Highborn carrying the Gauntlet riding a Manticore, or a couple of Chariots led by a Noble with a gw or a lance, or maybe a unit of Executioners with a banner and a champion. Whatever form it takes you need to have a clear vision in your mind ahead of the battle exactly how you intend to bring that 'hammer' down. Where is not as important as that is usually determined by your opponent and how he deploys his units. Nontheless your plan needs to have taken effect, in your mind, ahead of the battle.
The last principle is to have a back up plan. Look at every eventuality when you construct the MSU list and try to consider what to do if your initial plan goes wrong. What will you do if the Executioners die? How will the other units in your list combine together to make up for their loss? If they can't then I strongly recommend you reconsider your army composition.
MSU or MSE? Multiple Small Units or Multiple Small Elites? The basic principle of this tactic gives you further options and choices here and there are definite cases for both lists depending upon your opponent. MSU is better for Hordes as the low cost units allows for a greater number to be fielded while still reaping the benefit of our better stat line. MSE is ideal for other Elves and specialist Elite armies where we need a little 'extra' to counter their better stat line. I strongly believe that the MSE units benefit very well from the Bait and Flee tactic, drawing our enemies to open their flanks wherever possible.
MSU/MSE in conjunction with other established tactics. I feel that both types of lists have gained enough merit to be viable enhancements to a whole range of other tactics. In larger games in particular, MSU could enhance the benefits of a Cavalry army by being the bait for example, and MSE can enhance ranked Infantry lists as the flanking threats.
What do I feel is the best thing about all this? Simple, the fact that it has caused us all to rethink our view of the Dark Elf army and the way in which it fights / can fight or should fight. It has encouraged many of us to look again at what we do and to think'outside the box'. All very positive things and whether you choose to try the tactic or not we are all very much aware of it.
Some experiences and actual gaming observations. I have found the success or failure of this principle is very much determined by two very important factors - Deployment and Movement - both very closely linked together.
I have disovered that in order to make this work, and maintain your movement advantage the units must be very carefully deployed. If you notice how Dwarf players and Skaven players line up their fully ranked units, close together with the intention of presenting a mass block of troops - I have found this to be very prohibitive. This is because our units are much smaller and very often with wider frontages ( 6 or 7 models wide ) and to win most combats we need to put multiple units into the same combat. In order to achieve this you need the space on the battlefield. However, this does need to be balanced against the necessity for terrain protection from enemy missile fire, so again balance is needed.
I have had two particularly difficult games with this and both were when I deployed the units very tightly together. I found that I did not have sufficient movement opportunities to benefit from the tactic.
Deployment and Movement are unavoidably linked so as the game unfolds watch how the enemy are deploying and ensure that you maintain the movement opportunities you will need to get the necessary charges in. In the past I have utilised the Hard Punch in one area tactic very well with my cavalry army but with MSU it is better if you spread yourself out more, especially against an army that is going to come at you very quickly - Bretonnians, High Elf Cavalry, Skaven for example. This has a multitude of benefits in that it mitigates panic somewhat, the enemy have limited options in that they should not be able to roll along a flank very easily but you are putting them at risk to counter charges.
Another thing about movement, MSU by it's very nature of sheer number of units can be very forgiving of early losses in the game. I have had several games turn around in the end 3 turns due simply to the greater number of units I have on the table. The enemy are just not able to kill them all and units such as Shades and Harpies are great for capturing ( or contesting ) table quarters.
The Cauldron. As I have said in previous posts the Cauldron of Blood is the perfect addition to any MSU list but an MSE in particular. Bearing in mind we are looking to maximise attacks it is only natural that we would look to maximise wounds too and there is no better way to do so.
Magic can be a liablity due to the small unit sizes but no more so than you probably experience anyway, particularly if you play Cavalry armies. Sorceresses can be used in the same way as you would normally but, if you consider the Revision change to Word of Pain, can be much more effective. Range is less of an issue because a lot of races will be coming towards you.
To summarise. Well I would like to think you can come to your own conclusions about these principles and whether they can work for you. Personally I like them a lot but they all need to be considered AND used in cohesion for the list to work. Both MSU and MSE need to be maximising on attacks and both need to maintain their movement opportunities.
I hope this has been and will be of some use.
Thanx for reading.
From the various posts made over the last few weeks or so it is apparent that a number of you have been playing a variation of this idea for anything up to 12 months or so now. Many with extreme success. For the newbies around here I would like to offer my version.
Malakithau's original idea was that for Elves in particular, all models behind the fighting line were pretty much redundant and that increasing the number of attacking models at any one time in a combat was more important, and more likely to help us succeed and thus win the combat. In order to maximise these numbers of attacks we should take smaller units thus allowing even greater movement opportunities on the battlefield, which in turn increases the number of opportunities to effect flank charges to support units engaging the enemy to the front.
A basic tactic we all know but which can be difficult to achieve in reality due to unit size as well as terrain etc.
Add to this principle the idea of cheap 'bait' units, made even more feasible by the Revision, and you increase your movement opportunities even further. How? Simply by marching your cheap little unit right up close and personal and invite your opponent to come to the party!
MSU needs a further principle too - the 'Knockout Punch' or Hammer or whatever other name you wish to use. But basically it is not enough to pull your opponent all over the board, set traps and run rings around him. Sooner or later you have to kill him and this needs to be done swiftly and convincingly. This area is very much down to personal taste in my opinion and may take the form of a Highborn carrying the Gauntlet riding a Manticore, or a couple of Chariots led by a Noble with a gw or a lance, or maybe a unit of Executioners with a banner and a champion. Whatever form it takes you need to have a clear vision in your mind ahead of the battle exactly how you intend to bring that 'hammer' down. Where is not as important as that is usually determined by your opponent and how he deploys his units. Nontheless your plan needs to have taken effect, in your mind, ahead of the battle.
The last principle is to have a back up plan. Look at every eventuality when you construct the MSU list and try to consider what to do if your initial plan goes wrong. What will you do if the Executioners die? How will the other units in your list combine together to make up for their loss? If they can't then I strongly recommend you reconsider your army composition.
MSU or MSE? Multiple Small Units or Multiple Small Elites? The basic principle of this tactic gives you further options and choices here and there are definite cases for both lists depending upon your opponent. MSU is better for Hordes as the low cost units allows for a greater number to be fielded while still reaping the benefit of our better stat line. MSE is ideal for other Elves and specialist Elite armies where we need a little 'extra' to counter their better stat line. I strongly believe that the MSE units benefit very well from the Bait and Flee tactic, drawing our enemies to open their flanks wherever possible.
MSU/MSE in conjunction with other established tactics. I feel that both types of lists have gained enough merit to be viable enhancements to a whole range of other tactics. In larger games in particular, MSU could enhance the benefits of a Cavalry army by being the bait for example, and MSE can enhance ranked Infantry lists as the flanking threats.
What do I feel is the best thing about all this? Simple, the fact that it has caused us all to rethink our view of the Dark Elf army and the way in which it fights / can fight or should fight. It has encouraged many of us to look again at what we do and to think'outside the box'. All very positive things and whether you choose to try the tactic or not we are all very much aware of it.
Some experiences and actual gaming observations. I have found the success or failure of this principle is very much determined by two very important factors - Deployment and Movement - both very closely linked together.
I have disovered that in order to make this work, and maintain your movement advantage the units must be very carefully deployed. If you notice how Dwarf players and Skaven players line up their fully ranked units, close together with the intention of presenting a mass block of troops - I have found this to be very prohibitive. This is because our units are much smaller and very often with wider frontages ( 6 or 7 models wide ) and to win most combats we need to put multiple units into the same combat. In order to achieve this you need the space on the battlefield. However, this does need to be balanced against the necessity for terrain protection from enemy missile fire, so again balance is needed.
I have had two particularly difficult games with this and both were when I deployed the units very tightly together. I found that I did not have sufficient movement opportunities to benefit from the tactic.
Deployment and Movement are unavoidably linked so as the game unfolds watch how the enemy are deploying and ensure that you maintain the movement opportunities you will need to get the necessary charges in. In the past I have utilised the Hard Punch in one area tactic very well with my cavalry army but with MSU it is better if you spread yourself out more, especially against an army that is going to come at you very quickly - Bretonnians, High Elf Cavalry, Skaven for example. This has a multitude of benefits in that it mitigates panic somewhat, the enemy have limited options in that they should not be able to roll along a flank very easily but you are putting them at risk to counter charges.
Another thing about movement, MSU by it's very nature of sheer number of units can be very forgiving of early losses in the game. I have had several games turn around in the end 3 turns due simply to the greater number of units I have on the table. The enemy are just not able to kill them all and units such as Shades and Harpies are great for capturing ( or contesting ) table quarters.
The Cauldron. As I have said in previous posts the Cauldron of Blood is the perfect addition to any MSU list but an MSE in particular. Bearing in mind we are looking to maximise attacks it is only natural that we would look to maximise wounds too and there is no better way to do so.
Magic can be a liablity due to the small unit sizes but no more so than you probably experience anyway, particularly if you play Cavalry armies. Sorceresses can be used in the same way as you would normally but, if you consider the Revision change to Word of Pain, can be much more effective. Range is less of an issue because a lot of races will be coming towards you.
To summarise. Well I would like to think you can come to your own conclusions about these principles and whether they can work for you. Personally I like them a lot but they all need to be considered AND used in cohesion for the list to work. Both MSU and MSE need to be maximising on attacks and both need to maintain their movement opportunities.
I hope this has been and will be of some use.
Thanx for reading.