Rangers of the North

ElfGeneral · **Joined:** Fri May 11, 2012 6:04 pm **Posts:** 336

Are Rangers of the north worth it or not

I know there independent heroes but I was thinking of using them as just better normal models e.g. Sentinels they cost more but are better than normal troops I original thought they weren't worth it but I was trying to find ways of getting cheap might into my army and they suddenly seem quite good, there are very few 25/26 point heroes on the good side (apart from Beregond but I don't have the right book for his stats) so we'll have to put 2 Rangers together at 50 points to the best of my ability I can't find any hero that has 2 Attacks, 2 Might, 2 Will, 2 Fate (if this is illegal tell me) at this level. so Yes or No

Shieldmaiden · **Posted:** Mon Sep 17, 2012 6:30 pm

Well RotN have 1/1/1, not 2/2/2.

I'd say they're worth it as part of an allied force - taking a decent hero like Halbarad, The Twins, etc, and taking a warband of Rangers of Arnor and adding 3 RotN to make it legal. As a full force though, I'd say you'd be very outnumbered.

ElfGeneral · **Joined:** Fri May 11, 2012 6:04 pm **Posts:** 336

Shieldmaiden wrote:

Well RotN have 1/1/1, not 2/2/2.

You miss read what I wrote I said there are very few 25 point hero so I will add together the stats of two rangers because there are loads more heroes at the 50 point or so level meaning there are more heroes to compare them to so you can get a better feel of how good they will be .

I was planning on using them as an ally to my elves (love the models and the theme) but I was thinking as allies generally they just seemed like good specialist units rather than as cheap heroes

They also has the advantage that you could place the three or four RoTN first meaning you could see how your opponent was going to deploy without giving away too much yourself

Shieldmaiden · **Posted:** Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:11 pm

Yeah, especially for warbands, that's a good idea.

I wouldn't miss the opportunity to take 100% 3+ hit bows though.

ElfGeneral · **Joined:** Fri May 11, 2012 6:04 pm **Posts:** 336

I was interested in the Bow rule but in warbands shooting is much less effective than it used to be and you get into combat quicker so The Grey Company's High shooting - low defence strategy doesn't really work which is a shame

SouthernDunedain · **Posted:** Mon Sep 17, 2012 8:11 pm

They are no slouches in combat and will go toe to toe with most evil troops and when backed up by arathorn etc they can be quite effective. Unless you are coming up against super elite evil troops (ie higher than FV4) then you should win about 70% of combat...providing you are good with dice.
I shoot for maybe 1-2 turns then charge in - tends to work (most times).

ElfGeneral · **Joined:** Fri May 11, 2012 6:04 pm **Posts:** 336

I was just thinking that there D4 might be a problem against the high defence pike support of the Uruk-hai and the Easterling or that of Gondor or the Elves (especially these guys as there fight is higher) and they might just lack the punch to take on harder enemies like trolls and mumakil*

*quick side question about mumaks can you use magic on them to transfix or compel them so you can move them (following this logic sentinels would be great against them also can I compel and them use which ever sentinels song it is that allows you to move them even I they have used there full move anyway on the same model in the same turn)

whafrog · **Posted:** Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:21 pm

ElfGeneral wrote:

*quick side question about mumaks can you use magic on them to transfix or compel them so you can move them

Not the mumak itself, but the model controlling the mumak can be targeted.

Beowulf03809 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 19, 2012 2:19 pm

ElfGeneral wrote:

I was just thinking that there D4 might be a problem against the high defence pike support of the Uruk-hai and the Easterling or that of Gondor or the Elves (especially these guys as there fight is higher) and they might just lack the punch to take on harder enemies like trolls and mumakil*

I've played, and won, a large number of games with Wood Elves vs. Isengard and tough Mordor (Morannon + Uruk Hai) and they are D3. I haven't played any Warband style games yet but have played several years under traditional LoME rules. I typically wouldn't be shooting as much as I hear some people complain about. A couple turns while the enemy closes (which against the heavy armored foe is typically only thinning the ranks a little) but then the melee fun. A key thing to keep in mind in SBG is defense only matters if you lose the Fight roll. I know the Rangers lack the ‘shield with spear’ option of Wood Elves so you need to focus more on keeping your teams tight so you have the best chance to roll multiple dice for your Fights.

If you are bringing them along as an ally force (my favorite use) keep them near the flanks or close to other Warbands where they can fill a good supporting role in combat as well as the flank shooting.

Your thought on using the independent Rangers to help force early deployment steps on the part of your opponent is one of the things I was looking at as well. It could make a very big difference in getting a strong position early.

ElfGeneral · **Joined:** Fri May 11, 2012 6:04 pm **Posts:** 336

I do play wood elves as well but there defence 3 is negated a little by there shielding rule and high fight without both of these I still think they will be a little fragile but as I'm planning on using them with my high elves so will have a solid centre to counteract this

As allies loads of bows and cheap(ish) spear support sounds great and I might be a bit of a ****er and ally in some GoTGC for pike support as well

I always thought of bringing Lobilia and Fatty to do the 'Forced Deployment' trick but always felt like it would just be an abuse of the rules and my gaming group not that competitive so it seemed a little unfair but the Rangers would be a fairly integral part of my force and cost 25 not 5 points so I wouldn't feel so bad.

As for Wargear should I take a spear, I'm really using them for there will and might both of which can be used behind somebody else so might be a good way to keep them alive longer, or a horse more attacks and easier to get them and there might were I want it (can they still take a horse my new sourcebook is still in the post)??????

Lord Hurin · **Posted:** Thu Sep 20, 2012 2:13 am

The Grey Company under the LoME rules could be downright oppressive in some scenarios. I had more than one totally unfun game where my opponent would just retreat and shoot and I couldn't do anything.

In an allied capacity under the new rules, they're still effective but not overbearing. The deployment of independent Heroes makes things much more interesting and can put your opponent off-balance right out of the gate.

Beowulf03809 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 21, 2012 2:47 pm

The independent deployment is a place where you have to regulate yourself, just as many 'power game possibilities'. Just because you can do a thing doesn't mean you must do that thing, as the saying goes.

You could feel very well justified by deploying an independent Ranger first, let your opponent put something down, then deploy a Warband (as if the Ranger was a lead scout for that group). Repeat. This will let you place Warbands as reactionary to opponent placement without going crazy of having them burn up all of their deployment options before you put anything real down. And it comes across themed. Just don't be surprised if your opponent brings some independent models to the next game though. :-)

ElfGeneral · **Joined:** Fri May 11, 2012 6:04 pm **Posts:** 336

Yeah I was planning on regulating myself I don't want to be 'that guy'. I really like your idea to stop this not overpowered and still thematic. I have started putting my army together as my Rangers of Middle Earth and the North arrived a few days ago, the glittering legions of Rivendell flanked by subdued tones of the Grey Company with the Banner of Arwen Evenstar fluttering in the breeze they look great

ElfGeneral · **Joined:** Fri May 11, 2012 6:04 pm **Posts:** 336

Could someone answer the question about whether to equip them with nothing a spear or a horse, also is the Banner of Arwen Evenstar worth it

Shieldmaiden · **Posted:** Sun Sep 23, 2012 6:40 pm

I wouldn't use the banner in less than 1000pts, and I still wouldn't use it if your Ranger force is the smaller allied force.

As for RotN, if you have the spare models and skill, give them a horse! Otherwise I doubt the spear is useful.

SouthernDunedain · **Posted:** Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:16 pm

I give them spears if my list is like 498 or 997 or something like that to max out points. If my converting skills were better i would give them horses.

ElfGeneral · **Joined:** Fri May 11, 2012 6:04 pm **Posts:** 336

Why wouldn't you use it at 750 with my high defence elves it would make a fairly sizeable block really powerful at this level , I was thinking about adding a Stormcaller, some GoTGC, some 'cheap' wood elves for some numbers and maybe even a sentinel or 2 when I go up to 1000 points so I would prefer to get the Banner into my 750 point army.

Why are horses so good??

SouthernDunedain · **Posted:** Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:46 pm

Halbarad just becomes very expensive and for the price you pay for him with a banner, you can get better heroes.

The horse allows the rangers to be a bit more mobile plus it allows them to move 5" and still be able to shoot bows. Also gives them an extra attack if you can charge into combat.

Rangers of the North

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