A steady start for 2011

Updating my goals for the year, I can say things are goin well so far. I bought a box of outriders, helrocket, empire wizard kit, Imperial Confessor for a Warrior Priest, and a HE griffin to possibly convert a new empire griffin general. I currently have a karl franz griffin model and also the empire general on griffin. I just love the look of the new griffin, frick'n sick nasty. Besides buying stuff, which is the easiest part of the goal list, I have managed to assemble some models. 40 Halbidiers, Wizard, 27 Saurus Warriors, Helstorm Rocket, and some odds and ends is what I have managed to build. Next up 18 Empire Swordsmen, 5 Outriders, and hopefully some green stuff projects.

I am still tweaking my Empire Army to include an engineer in a artillery battery of Great Cannon, Mortar, and a Helstorm Rocket Battery. I have been getting more confident with the empire but they are still heavily reliant on the BSB and General Leadership Bubble. Utilizing the Large Target 18" General on Griffin Leadership helps keep the 9 Ld across the army. I am dropping a cannon form the old list to add the engineer and swap out a mortar to get the helstorm rocket. I am curious to see what difference will make in the list. It will reduce a cannon ball per shooting phase for a re-roll and improve a pie plate to Strength 5. I am also putting my lvl 4 wizard into the swordsmen unit with the BSB to help protect the wizard. I am not sure if this a good idea or bad, yet. Miscasting could hurt the unit, though its intent is a bunker for the BSB. I moved the Warrior Priest out of the Swordsmen and into the Greatswords to help combat efficiency. Re-Rolls for the S5 hits should help the non-elites get some extra kills. Any comments or tip or changes with explanations would greatly appreciated.

2500 Empire Army
Lords:
General on Griffon with Sword of Sig (+1 S and ASF) Full Plate, Shield, Ironcurse Icon (6+ ward against warmachines)
Lvl 4 Wizard - Ruby Ring (I am trying Fire for the first time for the next game)

Heroes:
Captain BSB Armor of Meteoric Iron (1+ AS) Luckstone (re-roll a single AS)
Warrior Priest - HA, shield in Halbidiers unit
Warrior Priest - HA, shield in Greatswords unit
Engineer - pigeon bombs(given them a try)

Core
39 Halbidiers full cmd - WP
38 Swordsmen full cmd - BSB and wizard
24 Flagellants

Specials
29 Greatswords full cmd Gleaming Penant (Re-roll 1st failed Ld test) - WP
10 Outriders
Great Cannon
Mortar

Rare
Helstorm Rocket battery

total 2500 on the button


I will give an update on the battle against the shooty elves once the blood bath has taken place. Hopefully my changes will show a direct good or bad to make any other decisions easier.

Post Pumpkin Pie Post...thats right 4 P's in a row

After a long break from pre-Thanksgiving to post-Thanksgiving our gaming has taken a halt. :( GOOD NEWS! We are back and in action and with new ideas and articles to come b4 the Christmas Rush Season. Arnie and I did get a quick game in b4 all the Turkey Feasting. HE vs Empire with a new list mentioned below: (I do believe on my final tweaks to the list)

General of the Empire
Griffon, FP, shield, sword of Sig

Lvl 4 mage - shadow

BSB - AoMI

3 warrior priests - HA, Shield

38 Swordsmen full cmd with BSB and WP

39 Halberdiers full cmd with WP

29 Greatswords full cmd with WP

2 mortars

cannon

6 outriders

6 outriders

with 32 points left i need to figure out some magic items to enhance the army

Maybe gleaming penanet for GS unit, Sword of might for BSB, Iron curse icon on WP with GS, and Potion of Fool Hardiness on Griffon General.

The game took a quick turn with some unfortunate dice rolling for the HE BSB and Prince that they both slipped and fell into a Pit of Shades on turn 2. I still don't particularly care for the 8th ed game changing over powered spells such as the Pit of Shades. But besides that the game still was very close after some bad dice rolling for my Empire troops. Overall the Empire did well against the ASF HE's which gave me alot of confidence with the transformed list. I wanted to play up the strengths of the Empire which are cheap hordes, vast amounts of support characters, artillery including black powder outriders, and Warrior Priests.

Empire List Revised

After a few test games under the belt, I have adjusted my empire army. The changes are small and also use other models already purchased and assembled. Comments, Advice, and Critics are welcomed. Having all phases of the game covered, I am confident to use the war of attrition to win. Utilizing the Warrior Priest's remain in play spells (4+ Ward Save) on the first turn is the largest improvement to remember. Oh and a quick shout out: CONGRATS to Rhellion on his recent tourney victory! Onto the list:

Lords:

General of the Empire - 345
Full Plate, Shield
Sword of Sigi
Potion of Foolhardiness
Griffon

Wizard Lord lvl 4 - Shadow - 225
warhorse

Hero:

Captain of the Empire -100
BSB and Armor of Meterioc Iron

Warrior Priest - 96
Heavy Armor, Shield

Warrior Priest - 96
Heavy Armor, Shield

Core:

38 Swordsmen - 253
Full Cmd with BSB and WP

39 Halberdiers - 215
Full Cmd with WP

20 Flagellants-200

10 Knights of the Griffon-230

Specials:

30 Greatswords - 330
Full Cmd

10 Outriders - 210

2 Cannons - 200

2500 total

Empire Army Results/Insight

Ok with the first launch of my empire army. I learned more strengths than weaknesses. First off I made a mistake with my points on my list. (to be adjusted before the battle or just take the time to figure out) I played against arnie's Beastmen which he was testing out alot of options with his army. He had no magic, experimental, and I used Shadow magic with my lvl 4. Shadow magic ROCKS! with this army. Lowering Toughness and/or Strength on units is powerful. The Outriders shot at his T2 reduced Minotaurs and chewed them up first turn. Shadow is a strong magic to take with any shooting army to reduce T and then fire away at the unit. Cannons are great even if they both blow up second turn, hurt the confidence a'lil. Griffon General is ok but not a big monster/character killer, more of a unit supporter or to take out fast cav, chariot, or single monsters with no riders. Never got my knights into combat to try out. I fled when a giant and a chariot charged them. The new 8th rules on fleeing and rally really hurt. Once you rally from fleeing you cant move or shoot at all for the rest of that turn, unless you are fast cav(i think). Hordes are nice cause you can go 10x4 or reform to go 5x8 to go at it for the long haul of combat. I possibly may change the list to have a unit of 15 cav core with full cmd just to experiment with non bretonnia cav unit. Until next time, enjoy the weekend!

The Emporer Demands Solland to be Reclaimed!

Tonight I tried out my new Empire Army List based on the Reikland Providence. The theme for the army is the Emporer called together a warhost to take back the fallen providence of Solland. Gathering units from the major cities, the Emporer charged General Lieter Olah to lead the battleforce. Dispatched to round out his ranks are Outriders, Knights of the Red Griffon (look up your old Empire history), Greatswords of Carroburg, and 2 Great Cannons. As the venerable general decided to bring a wide range of what the Empire has to offer to combat the forces now roaming the ravaged land of Solland. Facing all sorts of foul beasts, two Warrior Priests devoted to cleansing the land drew close bonds with the Griffon Tamer. Set to challenge the evils in the former state range from Beastmen, Orcs and Goblins, Undead, Skaven, and the foul stench of Chaos.

General of the Empire
Full Plate, shield, Sword of Sigismund (ASF +1S), Griffon

Wizard Lord
lvl 4 Shadow, 5+Ward talisman, Rod of Power, Warhorse

Captain of the Empire - Swordman unit
1+ A.S. Armor of Meteoric, BSB upgrade

Warrior Priest - Swordman unit
HA, shield

Warrrior Priest - Halberdiers unit
HA, shield

38 Swordmen full cmd

39 Halberdiers full cmd

12 Knights of the Red Griffon with Musician

2 Great Cannons

10 Outriders with Musician

30 Greatswords full cmd

2500 points total

comments, advice, or tactics please post a comment...will update after battle testing!