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Isengard army advice?
http://test.one-ring.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=20494		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Amarthadan [ Sun Mar 27, 2011 4:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Isengard army advice?
Hey One-Ringers,

So I FINALLY did some painting again. I realised I had quite the amount of Isengard miniatures since my friend gave me all of his mini's. :P

So here's my current WOTR army list. I made it not in a tactical way, more in a "what-I-have" way.;)

I think it's about 620 points or so:
------------------------------------------------------------
3 companies of Uruk-Hai Swordsmen (with captain)
2 companies of phalanx
2 companies of Orc Archers (with captain) (I only have 3 Uruk-hai crossbows, so this is my only option in terms of ranged attacks.)

Saruman The White Hand
------------------------------------------------------------

Things I can add if it would be better tactic wise:

3 companies of Warg Riders
MORE ORCS! (No archers though.) :P

Lurtz
Grima

So I'd be glad if someone could give me some advice on how to improve on this list?:) I never played a WOTR game, so don't shoot me if this is a horribly bad list. :P

Thanks in advance!

Rueben
Author:  General Elessar [ Sun Mar 27, 2011 6:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Isengard army advice?
I assume you're building towards a 1000pts list. If this is the case, I'd drop Saruman; he's too expensive for that points level. Orcs really aren't that great, so I wouldn't recommend them. More Uruk-hai would be a better option.
Author:  Gildor Inglorion [ Sun Mar 27, 2011 6:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Isengard army advice?
Warg riders can also be quite useful as a skirmishing unit. I usually take 3 companies with no upgrades, and use the formation to threaten enemy flanks. Even if they end up not doing a whole lot of damage, for 60 points you get a unit that forces your opponent to waste valuable time/troops dealing with the threat, because if they don't they risk getting hit in the flank with a S4 unit with +1 to wound.
Author:  Xelee [ Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Isengard army advice?
General Elessar wrote:
I assume you're building towards a 1000pts list. If this is the case, I'd drop Saruman; he's too expensive for that points level. Orcs really aren't that great, so I wouldn't recommend them. More Uruk-hai would be a better option.

Saruman is great value, even for 1000pts. Epic Ruinations for free (via touched by destiny) every turn of the game makes the difference and he is Inspiring leader 6 with Overlord. Shatter shields is a very valuable spell and Exxisscate and bolt of fire do a lot of damage with the strength boost.

Orcs also are very good... in largish formations with 2HW. If you cast Dark Fury at the start of their movement (then the caster leaves) they hit like a freight train, even in column, due to all the supporting attacks. I think Orc bow for 20pts is not all that bad a way to spend 20pts and can be in small units.
Author:  Amarthadan [ Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Isengard army advice?
Thanks!

I was thinking about adding the wargs in anyways. And by the sound of it's a worthy addition.
And yes I would add more uruk-hai if I had them.;) Maybe in the not so distant future. For now I will replace them with lots and lots of orcs, of which I have plenty!

About Saruman: General Elessar, are you suggesting I use a cheaper hero like lurtz? I really have no WOTR experience so I have yet to discover the true value of most units.
And Xelee, thanks for the tactical insight which I will now already be able to put to use in my first game!

Rueben
Author:  Slythar [ Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Isengard army advice?
If you want to play immediately you could proxy some units.
I would suggest Thrydan Wolfsbane, a Rohan unit will do. A couple of Ballista's will soak some points and add a good threat for taking down bigger stuff. Very easy to build, just use your imagination and go for it. You could proxy all your Orcs for bows as long as you say every Orc model has a bow to make it simple. Its better when you proxy if you make every model the same ie. Uruk Pikes,Shields,Crossbows=All Shields. Just put the models that doesn't match in the back row. With that in mind, I'll suggest a list you could start with at 1000 pts. Put the Ballista's on a hill or in a tower and defend them at all costs.

Epic Hero's
Saruman
Thrydan Wolfsbane

Common Formations
5c of Uruk-Hai with Shields
6c of Orcs with Shields
6c of Orcs with Shields
3c of Warg Riders

Rare
1c of Ballista
1c of Ballista
1c of Ballista

Fate
Sigil of Fallen Kings (on Uruk-Hai making them Strength 5)

5 Formations, 23 Companies, 5 Might

If you wanted to go all range you could say all Crossbows for Uruk's and bows for orcs. I've done this a couple times just to keep my opponent on his toes.
Author:  General Elessar [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Isengard army advice?
Xelee wrote:
General Elessar wrote:
I assume you're building towards a 1000pts list. If this is the case, I'd drop Saruman; he's too expensive for that points level. Orcs really aren't that great, so I wouldn't recommend them. More Uruk-hai would be a better option.

Saruman is great value, even for 1000pts. Epic Ruinations for free (via touched by destiny) every turn of the game makes the difference and he is Inspiring leader 6 with Overlord. Shatter shields is a very valuable spell and Exxisscate and bolt of fire do a lot of damage with the strength boost.


I know Saruman is good, but at 1000pts he costs almost 25% of your army. I wouldn't want such a large percentage of my force spent on a unit which is vulnerable to Heroic Duels.

Instead, and in answer to Amarthadan's question, I would prefer Lurtz. I'd take him and a Nazgul.

By the way, I like the name "Amarthadan". Sindarin for "Doom Man", right? :)
Author:  Xelee [ Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Isengard army advice?
He is definitely worth it.

Played correctly, he is not overly vulnerable to Heroic duels. You can set your lines to minimise risk at the beginning. Even when someone goes after him later, it is 50/50 to not be able to be able to charge at all, then he is resiliance 3, and has three might.

I and one of my regular opponents have both used him extensively for 1000pt gaqmes and it is rare that he has actually been duelled out during a game. It requires thought about overall formations, adopting -_- battlelines to screen xbow units with him inside, that kind of thing. But playing the averages over the whole game, he tends to live if you play with appropriate consideration of the risks.

Playing him carefully is not overly constraining due to how LOS works in this game.

And Slythar, I agree. Whatever else goes in there, Thrydan is pretty much mandatory.
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