Right so the last army I have built for the time being ( I have had some free time):

2 Dwarf Captains w/shields- 130
9 Dwarf Warrior w/shield -81
10 Dwarf Warrior w/bow -90
8 Khazad Guard -88
2 Vault Warden Teams -50
4 Iron Guard- 60

499 points, 37 units, 4 might, 10 bows

I should mention that I have none of the models, this is just an army I want to start at some point. What does everyone think?

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http://noddwyr.wordpress.com

Named heroes are almost always a better deal than generic captains. Check out Murin and Drar as an example compared to your captains.

Other than that I haven't played dwarves enough to give good advice.

Cool thanks, I will check it out. Yeah I havent played dwarves at all though I want to start a dwarf army because I like dwarves second most after elves(for the good side) and I already have an elf army. I dont really know much about them in terms of play.

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http://noddwyr.wordpress.com

I would take a least one named hero. I would also then drop the vault wardens as they are unable to ally with a lot of the dwarven named heroes.
Just to give you a couple of ideas I've posted two lists, the first one I have experience with and it works well the second is one that utilizes elites but I have never used it.
Gimli
Balin w/ Durin's axe
12 warriors w/ shields
12 warriors w/ bows
12 warriors w/ two handed axes

497pts, 38 models, 6 might, 12 bows.

Gimli
warrior with banner
12 warriors w/ shields
12 warriors w/ bows
6 iron guards
6 khazad guards

500pts, 28 models, 3 might, 12 bows.

You may also want to consider taking a shield bearer as their rules look really good and in a test game he did really well.

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“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8

I like the second list, but what about:

Gimli - 90
13 warriors w/ shields -117
10 warriors w/ bows - 90
4 iron guards - 44
5 khazad guards - 75
1 Dwarf Ballista (3 crew) - 84

500pts, 36 models, 3 might, 10 bows.

I guess this erebor not khazad-dum anymore but whatever. Maybe I should take out the bows and add more warriors?

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http://noddwyr.wordpress.com

You could still make it a khazud-dum army. Maybe just take Mardin and a captain or Durin.

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"War does not determine who is right, only who is left."
- Bertrand Russel

In my opinion at least you should build up an erebor army first as they have access to good cheap heroes and then move on to Khazad Dum for larger games as Durin is very expensive and Mardin, the only other named heroe, is not better than a captain unless Durin is also field and you are facing a lot of trolls. But that is just my opinion.

As far as the archers are concerned I would say keep them. Dwarf archers are very effective and they give you more options as if you have no bows your opponent can just sit back and shoot at you until you rush at him and he would then be in a far more advantageous position. In some scenarios the lack of bows is not as harmful but bows will help.

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“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8

I dont mind it being erebor. And I agree Durin is too expensive and mardin is just basically a captain without Durin and fielding both of them would take up half my army. I could only field Durin if I want no elites in my army, but I dont like that idea. Do you that list would be competitive? Is the dwarf ballista useful at the points level?

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http://noddwyr.wordpress.com

I didn't actually mean using both of them together in a 500 points army. Maybe Durin isn't a good choice at this level on his own anyway.

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"War does not determine who is right, only who is left."
- Bertrand Russel

Ok so, here are 2 lists:
First the one listed earlier

Gimli - 90
13 warriors w/ shields -117
10 warriors w/ bows - 90
4 iron guards - 44
5 khazad guards - 75
1 Dwarf Ballista (3 crew) - 84

500pts, 36 models, 3 might, 10 bows

OR

Durin -160
12 warriors w/ shields -108
12 warriors w/ bows - 108
5 warriors w/ two handed - 40
3 Khazad Guard - 33
2 Vault Warden Teams - 50

499 pts, 37 models, 3 might, 12 bows

Which is better, or what would you change to make them better? I am pretty flexible, though I would like wither the vault Warden or the Ballista as part of my army. Doesnt matter whether it is Erebor or Khazad-dum.

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http://noddwyr.wordpress.com

I actually like Mardin, I dont like the model for him but thats different he is better than a captain by 1 point of might and a special rule (Omg hes like overpriced lol!) but if you compare him to murin or drar hes exactly the same in points cost and they all just have a special rule to make them different.

Well i still use him in my Khazad-dum armies of pretty much all vault wardens even if he does suck lol.

I don't know anything about Dwarves. Could somebody explain to me, apart from lower defense, the reason for not taking dwarf rangers in favor of dwarf warriors for your bowmen? Is there an army list, ally problem with them?

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Woodland Realms: 2382 pts: 18/08/2010

No idea actually. As i said dont know much about dwarves, but i like them.
@ncea how many vault wardens do you have exactly?

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http://noddwyr.wordpress.com

I have 8 teams of vault wardens and then i add in some khazad guard and rangers

That sounds like fun.
Murin also has 1 higher defense than a captain btw.

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http://noddwyr.wordpress.com

Personally I would not take a ballista in a five hundred point army. From my experience even with the extra range they don't hit often enough to really make a difference and if you are playing LOME scenarios in most cases it will be very vulnerable.
As far as rangers are concerned it is primarily because of the defence as once you get into combat they will seam to disappear. For me at least it is also because dwarf warriors are cheaper and more reliable and come with the other warriors while you will need to get two extra boxes of rangers as they don't work well alongside warriors with bows.

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“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8

I would consider using Dwarf Rangers with bows in the army.
They are 1 point more, and with 1 less defence, however they hit on a 3+ instead of 4+ and have a better range.

how about:
Balin with Durins axe
Gimli
8 Dwarf Warriors with Shield
8 Dward warriors with 2 handed weapon
4 Dwarf Warriors with bows
8 Dwarf Rangers With bows
9 Dwarf Rangers with 2 Handed weapons

12 bows (8 of which are longbows), 39 units, 500 points and 2 named heroes

How about:

Balin with Durins axe 95
Gimli 90
11 Dwarf Warriors with Shield 99
7 Dward warriors with 2 handed weapon 56
10 Dwarf Rangers With bows 100
4 Iron Guard 60
10 longbows, 39 units, 500 points and 2 named heroes

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http://noddwyr.wordpress.com

Looks nice and solid. A banner would be nice, maybe swap Balin out for a captain and a banner. Aren't dwarf rangers with longbows 11 points? Correct me if I'm wrong.

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"War does not determine who is right, only who is left."
- Bertrand Russel

Nope. They're 10 points (7 for the ranger and 3 for the longbow).

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"Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone"