Hi guys.

I've just started playing LOTR and have just bought a box of easterlings and Khamul. I've written up my first 500pt list. Pure easterling phalanx-y goodness.

8x Easterling Warrior 64
- Sword and Shield

8x Easterling Warrior 80
- Bow and spear

8X Easterling Warrior 80
- Spear and Shield

Easterling Captain 55
-Sword and Shield

Khamul 135
- Armoured Horse

Easterling Kataphrakt 84
-6 Kataphrakt


The idea is basically hammer and anvil, with the sword+shield guys leading, with the bow+spear guys in a second rank, and the shield+spear guys in the rear. As the enemy gets closer I'll swap the sheild+spear guys into the second rank, which leaves the bowmen to either safely support via phalanx rule, or disengage and use their bows to engage another enemy. The Hammer is obviously Khamul and the Kataphrakt.

The list idea was a mix of a 500pt list from the GW website and a tactic posted here using the bowmen with spears.

What do you guys think?

looks good, but i would take the spears away from the bowmen

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spare some man flesh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PSeEuu6pW4

thats a really good list in my opinion. Similar to one i've used before! the spears on the bowmen give you so much more versatility

one of the problems you may have is when facing an enemy that out heavily out numbers you (hobbits, goblins or perhaps even Rohan). A good way to counter this would be to have the men with spear and shield join the men with sword and shield in a long front line of 16, have the spear armed archers support in the middle and the guys with no support use the shielding rule, and wait till your supported block and cavalry have done the damage!

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The darkness of Moria you say? Nothing compared to the mess in my bedroom!

Also I would punch the numbers of archers to 10 as then they can volley, sometimes very very useful

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I am the Mouth of Sauron, here him speak'

Are you nuts?! That's one of the great strengths of easterlings! If you have archers with spears then you can shoot and progress and then you can support with them and support through them.

B=bow men
S=shield men
M=spear men

MMM
SBBBS
SSSSS

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

Is there anything I should avoid charging with the cavalry? It seems like Easterling kataphrakt's are pretty sturdy, but what sort of things should I avoid with them and Khamul?

Khataphrakts are very good all round. I'm not really sure who you wouldn't want to charge, perhaps avoid superior cavalry (like KoDA.).

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

Avoid fighting more than 2 fighters a turn with Khamul this way (if he punches his attacks to 3 , assuming he is the one who charges) he is able to "regenerate" his lost will points quite easy... Also I don´t recommend fighting against fighting skill 5 opponents (unless your fighting against elves) cause Khamul might not win against tied fight rolls...

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I am the Mouth of Sauron, here him speak'