Pike blocks can be tricky to use effectively because you always have an unprotected side with the pikemen exposed so if you are flanked you face fighting the enemy with 2 handed pikemen with less defence. However if you choose to have an outside barrier of modles withouth pike sthne the issue becomes so models losing their attacks in certain posistions, therefore limiting the overall effectiveness.

If any of that makes sense...

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Sun is by sea-men always hoped for,
when they fare away over the fishes' bath,
until the brine-stallion they bring to land.
OERP

The most effective way I have used pikes is not as a common "block". For UH (or Galadhrim now) I generally take around 6 in the middle and don't fill up the line completely. This allows you to keep the numbers in your front line, provides a hard-hitting middle, and prevents many of the drawbacks from a pure block that are easy to abuse.
Easterlings have the best of both worlds though because all of the second line come with pikes so you can utilize the 3 attacks where and when you need them.
In any force I try and keep some elites on my flanks to dissuade the enemy and smash into his line with if the flank isn't threatened. This is doubly true for pike blocks so that your attacks don't get taken away if an enemy or two starts to get around your line - just send in the Berserkers.

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I agree with CreatureFear, I find that the most effective way to use pikes is to create a 3 deep hard hitting center and then elites on the sides to prevent flanking. I think it works really well with Easterlings.

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http://noddwyr.wordpress.com

Now you mention it having some elites to guard the flanks seems like a very good idea, even if they aren't in the 'block' itself.

_________________
Sun is by sea-men always hoped for,
when they fare away over the fishes' bath,
until the brine-stallion they bring to land.
OERP

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Subject of the Week
Wildmen of Druadan (Wose Warriors)
What use is Ghan-Buri-Ghan and his tribe of woses warriors? How would you go about defeating them?
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Previous Subjects Table of Contents(in progress of being edited)
Complete discussion/ Little Discussion/ Moderate Discussion

Aragorn the King Pg10 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=180
Archers Pg2 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... c&start=20
Area of Denial (Tactical/Strategic maneuver) Pg9 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=160
Army of the Dead Pg22 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=420
Castellans of Dol Guldur Pg16 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=300
Cornered (Scenario tactics) Pg8 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=140
Elves Pg6 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=100
Feral Uruk-hai Pg19 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=360
Gûlavhar, the Terror of Arnor Pg22 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=420
Goblins Pg6 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=100
Harad (Faction)
Hobbits Pg10 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=180
Isengard (Faction)
Isengard Trolls Pg18 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=340
Khamul the Easterling Pg16 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=300
Khandish Mercenaries Pg13 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=240
Morannon Orcs Pg7 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=120
Mûmakil Pg3 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... c&start=40
Rangers of the North Pg11 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=200
Riders of Rohan Pg4 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... c&start=60
Ringwraiths Pg4 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... c&start=60
Ruin of Arnor (Sourcebook) Pg23 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=440
Saruman Pg6 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=100
Shamans Pg5 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... c&start=80
Spearmen Pg7 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=120
Special Characters (e.g. Wormtongue, Denethor, etc.) Pg2 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... c&start=20
Standard Bearers Pg12 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=220
Swan Knights of Dol Amroth Pg2 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... c&start=20
Take and Hold (Scenario tactics) Pg8 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=140
Uruk-hai Pg3 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... c&start=40
Uruk-hai Demolition Team Pg9 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=160
Uruk-hai Scouts Pg20 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=380
Volley Fire Pg11 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=200
Wargs Pg1 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... 52&start=0
Pg6 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=100
Warriors of Minas Tirith Pg4 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... c&start=60
Wizards/Spellcasters Pg25 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=480
Wood Elf Sentinels Pg14 http://www.one-ring.co.uk/phpBB2/viewto ... &start=260

Havent used them yet, but I plan on starting on army of them because it seems like they could be very effective, especially if used with one of the wizards. Though I think they have to be used carefully, taking full advantage of terrain.
I think they could also be used as a small ambush force for the few armies that they can ally with. I guess one way to look at them is that they are kind of like wood elves except with lower fight value and courage and a couple more special rules.

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http://noddwyr.wordpress.com

Insanly cheesy-low stats cannot make up for outrageous pointcost-to-special-rules-ratio.

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"Woe to the Vanquished!"
-Brennus-

There only downside is defence 3 but they are very strong

Subject of the Week
Siege Engines
Catapults, trebuchets, ladders, battering rams, towers, explosive mines, etc. What use are they to you in SBG games and how do you go about utilizing them or disabling them? As well as supporting & defending them.

Note: This is my last week for contributing in topics because I'm losing my internet due to moving and not sure if I'll be getting it back. So if anyone wants to take over for next week feel free.

Can I please take over the topic, I have some really great IMO ideas.



Anyway...
Siege weapons are something I have never faced in the field but looking at their stats I think that cav would be great at disabling them if you get close enough, as long as a troll is not attached to the device. Archers are good as well but you enter a duel of sorts to smash the enemy first.
As for using them always fire at packed groups to hit with scatter and any area of effect shots you may have. Always keep a squad of (expendable) guys near by to block shots and engage potential threats, possibly with an aforementioned troll.

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"Woe to the Vanquished!"
-Brennus-

Shadowmaster take over the next week if you have ideas

And for siege engines I've faced them a lot on the fields and they are frustating catapults smash whole areas in your armie and balistas kill a whole line an d they are killing your heroes with ease if they hit them. The best thing to deal with them is fast calvary but the calvary must survive cause your enemy has most of the time also archer4s.

Well for demolation charges, in a non seige game i would get 2 of them and place them in between 2 pieces of scenery just find the smallest gap you can get on the field and drop them there, or at an objective(the bombs have a range of 2" and are 1" long so this gives you 6" to cover with your bombs so if theres a 6" gap place them there) . If you oppenent is stupid they will walk right through them and get blown to pieces with everyone dying. If they are smart they will have to walk around. Which pretty much blocks out one whole part of the board.

This isnt that good but it can stop your oppenent from going to some places on the board and it makes a "Death wall" which you die if you go through lol. It can also stop your oppenent from going to the objectives. just make sure there archers dont have LOS to the bomb which they can shoot at and blow it up. Apart from those reasons there pretty pointless and cost heaps! I would always use them in a seige game though.

Subject of the week
Easterlings
The hard-bitten warriors of Rhun! Do you have any stratagies for defeating or using them?

_________________
"Woe to the Vanquished!"
-Brennus-

Hammer and Anvil, nuff said.

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

Easterlings have several good Heroes, such as Khamul and Amdur, but they have very little troop variety. Their infantry are good, with a combination of D6 and pikes. The Kataphrakts, although resilient and tough, lack a strong punch.

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"There are few left in Middle Earth like Aragorn, son of Arathorn." - Gandalf, Many Meetings

I think the Kataphrakts are preety good atcually.

_________________
"Woe to the Vanquished!"
-Brennus-

I use the hammer and anvil tactic, but i use Morgul knights instead of Khataprakts

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"I will take it. I will take the Ring to Mordor...though I do not know the way."
—Frodo, at the Council of Elrond

Give the archers spears and make a solid pike block.. using the hammer and anvil tactic.

I played an opponent who did that once, it was so annoying. It's so difficult to break through a D6 shieldwall that's getting three attacks.

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"There are few left in Middle Earth like Aragorn, son of Arathorn." - Gandalf, Many Meetings

Yeah I almost always do that. The one problem with Easterlings is the lack of elites. I mean you have kataphracts, but that about it. You could opt for a dragon knight but they are so expensive.

Though i do agree hammer and anvil is the best way to go. Morgul Knights seem like a good idea. Too bad I dont have their stats.

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http://noddwyr.wordpress.com