How do you like your spearmen?
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- Slave (off the Altar)
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2012 5:06 pm
- Location: windsor,england
How do you like your spearmen?
hi i've been searching for tips on spearmen.
usually i've been using i've been using a block of fifty ten wide five deep. on a good day they get fourty attacks, which are generally midrazored. they also provide sac ddager fuel but i'm looking for other techniques.
usually i've been using i've been using a block of fifty ten wide five deep. on a good day they get fourty attacks, which are generally midrazored. they also provide sac ddager fuel but i'm looking for other techniques.
when all else fails, send in the hydra(s)
Usual technique is NOT to horde them but to bus them.
The reason is that they are the least killy but the cheapest of our troops.
It makes sense to use them to provide ranks - and blood for the sac dag.
This said, they are still killy enough to do the killing job once in a while, especially with the appropriate buff.
It is just that other troops do it better - for more pts.
The idea is to hire them for one job: rank bonus, and all the kills they achieve eventually is just bonus, not something you were counting upon.
If the blood-thristy supreme sorceress happens to be the general, they are given the Ld magic banner, effectively raising the general's Ld.
The reason is that they are the least killy but the cheapest of our troops.
It makes sense to use them to provide ranks - and blood for the sac dag.
This said, they are still killy enough to do the killing job once in a while, especially with the appropriate buff.
It is just that other troops do it better - for more pts.
The idea is to hire them for one job: rank bonus, and all the kills they achieve eventually is just bonus, not something you were counting upon.
If the blood-thristy supreme sorceress happens to be the general, they are given the Ld magic banner, effectively raising the general's Ld.
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- Slave (off the Altar)
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- Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2012 5:06 pm
- Location: windsor,england
I am certainly not in the majority in my opinion on warriors, but I only use them for one purpose: a bunker unit for my sac daggered mage.
I have taking them as a combat unit once and they did absolutley nothing. I typically spend my core points on hoarded Corsairs. I know they are 4 more points each but they have a better save and with the Sea Serpent Banner can give you 61 attacks when blessed by the CoB (or 51 killing blow attacks). The 4+ armour save against shooting means they will not likely be a target pre-combat and the 5+ save in combat means they can stand up a little better against enemy core units.
Their Slaver ability also adds a nice bonus and could be the difference between catching and not catching a fleeing enemy.
I would also put RxBs in my list before warriors as they are good at thinning out units, no worse in HtH combat and, again, are only 4 points more per model.
I have taking them as a combat unit once and they did absolutley nothing. I typically spend my core points on hoarded Corsairs. I know they are 4 more points each but they have a better save and with the Sea Serpent Banner can give you 61 attacks when blessed by the CoB (or 51 killing blow attacks). The 4+ armour save against shooting means they will not likely be a target pre-combat and the 5+ save in combat means they can stand up a little better against enemy core units.
Their Slaver ability also adds a nice bonus and could be the difference between catching and not catching a fleeing enemy.
I would also put RxBs in my list before warriors as they are good at thinning out units, no worse in HtH combat and, again, are only 4 points more per model.
As Calisson said, to provide ranks. Other jobs, fill out core, give you more drops, give you cheaper drops, give you more bodies.
I use around 24-35 spears in a unit depending on what I need them for. At times I run some 15 man units of spears too, but most of the time it's a single large unit of 6 or 7 wide spears for some damage but ultimately to provide ranks. It's where my SS goes with the +1 Ld banner, even if she's not the general. If there's a mage in my army, then there's the aforementioned sized unit of spears in my list with +1 ld. Not for Sac dagger fuel, but simply a bulky bunker she can sit in.
I use around 24-35 spears in a unit depending on what I need them for. At times I run some 15 man units of spears too, but most of the time it's a single large unit of 6 or 7 wide spears for some damage but ultimately to provide ranks. It's where my SS goes with the +1 Ld banner, even if she's not the general. If there's a mage in my army, then there's the aforementioned sized unit of spears in my list with +1 ld. Not for Sac dagger fuel, but simply a bulky bunker she can sit in.
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Jacks -Shade
- WS 5 - - S 3 - - T 2 - - D 6 - - I 5 -
Equipment
Short Sword, MC Long Sword*, Dagger, RxB & RHB [20/10] MC Shade Cloak, 4 Throwing Daggers, 3x Healing Vials, 451C, [3]Dark Venom, [4]Unseen Chains, Food, Dark Steed- Spike
Skills
Basic Stealth, Awareness, TWF, Suithenlu Khythan, Ride
Magic Item
Eye of the Jabberwock
*Magical properties possibly imbued
Now that we understand each other, lets get down to business.
Jacks -Shade
- WS 5 - - S 3 - - T 2 - - D 6 - - I 5 -
Equipment
Short Sword, MC Long Sword*, Dagger, RxB & RHB [20/10] MC Shade Cloak, 4 Throwing Daggers, 3x Healing Vials, 451C, [3]Dark Venom, [4]Unseen Chains, Food, Dark Steed- Spike
Skills
Basic Stealth, Awareness, TWF, Suithenlu Khythan, Ride
Magic Item
Eye of the Jabberwock
*Magical properties possibly imbued
I've been having a huge amount of fun reinventing phalanx warfare by employing 40-50 Warriors in a horde, led by a Stubborn crown Master or Dreadlord. Whilst it is not at all optimal, it looks great on the tabletop and a lot of fun to play with. Whilst they may only be T3 5+ AS, the sheer number of bodies plus Steadfast Ld10 (often re-rollable) really gives me some staying power - which Dark Elves otherwise lack.
Again, Corsairs and Mindrazor probably does it better, but drop the Cauldron +1 attack buff or Killing Blow, and with the Dreadlord they often don't do too badly in combat, either.
Again, Corsairs and Mindrazor probably does it better, but drop the Cauldron +1 attack buff or Killing Blow, and with the Dreadlord they often don't do too badly in combat, either.
- Sacaspearman
- Trainee Warrior
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:21 am
Yeasir wrote:I am certainly not in the majority in my opinion on warriors, but I only use them for one purpose: a bunker unit for my sac daggered mage.
Agreed. If I bring my Supreme Sorceress then she's coming to the fight with her Sacrificial Dagger and 25 unsuspecting Spearmen. If the Spearmen end up getting in hand to hand and actually killing something, then it's just a bonus.
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- Slave (off the Altar)
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2012 5:06 pm
- Location: windsor,england
Spear Elves only as a sacrifical bunker?
They are probably one of the better units in the game. They are incredibly cheap for their stats, especially with hatred, and with all the synergies within our army, a single block of spear elves can do incredible things.
In my games, I have at least one block of 30-40 spear elves, and I actually wouldn't be without them. They are one of the very few things in our army that can soak a charge from deathstar units for enough rounds to get backup. They are one of the few things that can help you kill hordes of tough troops, just by breaking the steadfast and having other combat units to deal the damage.
With the help of KB, I've used my blocks of spear elves to take down ALL kinds of characters, even the "invincible" dreadlord, vampire lords who wipes almost a whole BG unit each round, and even knights (just because of combat resolution).
Personally, I find them a much better core option than corsairs.
They are probably one of the better units in the game. They are incredibly cheap for their stats, especially with hatred, and with all the synergies within our army, a single block of spear elves can do incredible things.
In my games, I have at least one block of 30-40 spear elves, and I actually wouldn't be without them. They are one of the very few things in our army that can soak a charge from deathstar units for enough rounds to get backup. They are one of the few things that can help you kill hordes of tough troops, just by breaking the steadfast and having other combat units to deal the damage.
With the help of KB, I've used my blocks of spear elves to take down ALL kinds of characters, even the "invincible" dreadlord, vampire lords who wipes almost a whole BG unit each round, and even knights (just because of combat resolution).
Personally, I find them a much better core option than corsairs.
Personal quote: "It's better to do little damage and lose nothing than to do lots of damage and lose everything."
Final tournament score for 7th DE book in 8th edition - W/D/L: 25/5/10
Final tournament score for 7th DE book in 8th edition - W/D/L: 25/5/10
55+ in ranks of 5. No one ever breaks that steadfast, at least not without pouring in their entire army (leaving them weak and exposed for my other forces...) My level 4 as general goes in there with a sacrificial dagger, as she can easily afford to chop a few down during the magic phase with no real risk of weakening the unit too much. And the unit has standard of discipline for that leadership 10 twelve inch bubble goodness.
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- Dyvim tvar
- Lord of the Dragon Caves
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The only reason I use spearmen is as a bunker/fuel source for a Supreme Sorceress with the Sac Dagger. Although other troop options are more expensive, for any other role I take something else -- generally corsairs or crossbows. Crossbows are obviously a ranged threat, but can also be more resilient in combat if you give them shields since they can get a parry save. Corsairs stand up better to shooting and pack more punch on the charge, especially when frenzied.
So for the assigned role, I generally take one unit of spears, 25 to 30 strong, with command and Standard of Disciple.
So for the assigned role, I generally take one unit of spears, 25 to 30 strong, with command and Standard of Disciple.
Truly These are the End Times ...
It all depends on what you want them to do.
Dagger fodder: 24 no shields with muso and banner usually standard of discipline.
Steadfast breaker/holder: 35-55 shields with banner and muso. A magic rag is not necessary here but a nice to have.
I have fielded both on occasion and it does provide for flexible force.
Dagger fodder: 24 no shields with muso and banner usually standard of discipline.
Steadfast breaker/holder: 35-55 shields with banner and muso. A magic rag is not necessary here but a nice to have.
I have fielded both on occasion and it does provide for flexible force.
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- The warchief
- Cold One Knight
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It also depends on the meta game in your area – if you are creating an ‘all-comers’ list it comes down to playing the percentages – what armies are you most likely to face frequently?
For example, with the resurgence of Ogres around DE Spearmen in horde die in droves against Mournfangs and charging Gutstars / Bullstars. As a horde they are not that manoeuvrable and even with quite a lot of chaff to redirect they usually end up taking a charge eventually. I run all comers / tournament lists and I’ve considered changing my spear horde to 2 x 25 primarily as dagger dice and to give my sorceress two units to bounce between for safety. They are also now ‘back up’ Mindrazor options as opposed to the first choice they used to be.
For example, with the resurgence of Ogres around DE Spearmen in horde die in droves against Mournfangs and charging Gutstars / Bullstars. As a horde they are not that manoeuvrable and even with quite a lot of chaff to redirect they usually end up taking a charge eventually. I run all comers / tournament lists and I’ve considered changing my spear horde to 2 x 25 primarily as dagger dice and to give my sorceress two units to bounce between for safety. They are also now ‘back up’ Mindrazor options as opposed to the first choice they used to be.
@the_warchief
Cheltenham Warchiefs
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Well, I play 3k all the time and my Core is practically always the same
-24 RXB
-50 Warriors
-20 Corsairs
-5 Harpies
-5 Harpies
I put my Sac.dagger sorceress in my RXB's.
50 Warriors do very well for me. IN Horde formation. (I use them in horde 90% of the time)
When its possible I try NOT to get all my units into combat in the same turn.
That way I can focus my CoB and/or magic buffs on one unit.
I'm not saying they can win against everything but with the 5+WS, enfeebling foe, withering, Flaming sword of Ruin, .... They can very well hold up a more powerful (expensive) unit OR Destroy a unit.
And when thing turn bad you can make them a bit smaller.
I always go with the 5+ws on the warriors (if no one else need the buff)
that (on paper) makes them 66.66 strong.
And the way I roll, makes them 80 strong
-24 RXB
-50 Warriors
-20 Corsairs
-5 Harpies
-5 Harpies
I put my Sac.dagger sorceress in my RXB's.
50 Warriors do very well for me. IN Horde formation. (I use them in horde 90% of the time)
When its possible I try NOT to get all my units into combat in the same turn.
That way I can focus my CoB and/or magic buffs on one unit.
I'm not saying they can win against everything but with the 5+WS, enfeebling foe, withering, Flaming sword of Ruin, .... They can very well hold up a more powerful (expensive) unit OR Destroy a unit.
And when thing turn bad you can make them a bit smaller.
I always go with the 5+ws on the warriors (if no one else need the buff)
that (on paper) makes them 66.66 strong.
And the way I roll, makes them 80 strong