Little help with an Isengard army?

MRmehman · **Joined:** Sun Feb 22, 2015 6:51 pm **Posts:** 61

Sorry if you're all sick of looking at Isengard lists (and creating them for that matter) but I could use your help with making one. Not 100% sure what points limit I should start with, I was thinking of between 200 and 500 point though. Would this be a good place to start with the hobby?

So far I have a few models:
10 Uruk Hai Warriors
12 Uruk Hai Scouts
3 Mordor/Feral Uruk Hai (They're Mordor Uruks really, but they seem to do the job as Ferals)
6 Uruk Hai Crossbows
Saruman
Lurtz
2 Captains (One is Shagrat but he works well as a Captain, plus he fits with the Ferals)

Where should I go with what I've got? More Warriors? Evil Men? Berserkers? Any advise would be much appreciated.

I was also thinking of using some Bat Swarms from the Moria list, to keep me safe from Monsters and high fight heros. Will this work well at this point level? Assuming they're being backed up by Pikes and Berserkers. Also, what hero should I use with them? Druzhag seems too pricey for my points but I don't know.

Thanks for your time

AlatartheRed · **Joined:** Tue Feb 03, 2015 4:20 pm **Posts:** 63

How many point are you looking at getting

MRmehman · **Joined:** Sun Feb 22, 2015 6:51 pm **Posts:** 61

AlatartheRed wrote:

How many point are you looking at getting

Eh, in total? Until I decide to try something different. For a full, playable army? I was thinking of taking it up to 1000 points but I don't know what a good point size is to start playing with seeing as how I've never played a full game against an opponent.

Valadorn · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2015 6:25 pm

Tournament size is 500, 600, 700 and 750. It can be 100 but in special cases. Imo your 1st priority is to find a Vrasku to lead your crossbowmen. He is a an excellent hero for his points and a key model for Isengard.

MRmehman · **Joined:** Sun Feb 22, 2015 6:51 pm **Posts:** 61

Valadorn wrote:

Tournament size is 500, 600, 700 and 750. It can be 100 but in special cases. Imo your 1st priority is to find a Vrasku to lead your crossbowmen. He is a an excellent hero for his points and a key model for Isengard.

Ok, I'll aim for 500 points and Vrasku top on my list of heros to get. How many crossbows would the average 500 point list contain? The full 12 I'm guessing.

Valadorn · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2015 7:02 pm

MRmehman wrote:

Valadorn wrote:

Tournament size is 500, 600, 700 and 750. It can be 100 but in special cases. Imo your 1st priority is to find a Vrasku to lead your crossbowmen. He is a an excellent hero for his points and a key model for Isengard.

How many crossbows would the average 500 point list contain? The full 12 I'm guessing.

Many people say that. Personall, while I have many of em I use about 8 especially for 500 pts. The reason is that, if the crossbowmen are many, it is difficult to position em (together) and always have the 100% of em find a fine target. For me, use less than 12 to get maneuverability .

MRmehman · **Joined:** Sun Feb 22, 2015 6:51 pm **Posts:** 61

Valadorn wrote:

MRmehman wrote:

Valadorn wrote:

Tournament size is 500, 600, 700 and 750. It can be 100 but in special cases. Imo your 1st priority is to find a Vrasku to lead your crossbowmen. He is a an excellent hero for his points and a key model for Isengard.

How many crossbows would the average 500 point list contain? The full 12 I'm guessing.

Many people say that. Personall, while I have many of em I use about 8 especially for 500 pts. The reason is that, if the crossbowmen are many, it is difficult to position em (together) and always have the 100% of em find a fine target. For me, use less than 12 to get maneuverability .

What about if I took the full 12 with Vrasku and then split them up so as they could cover two areas? Seems a shame to not fire the full 12 in one turn, even if they're shooting at the same target.

Aulë, the Valar · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2015 8:58 pm

Vrasku and Mauhur imo are just essential to lead the crossbows and the scouts

Aulë, the Valar · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2015 9:00 pm

I'm really interested in this topic since I'm starting an Isengard army too to get started in the game

MRmehman · **Joined:** Sun Feb 22, 2015 6:51 pm **Posts:** 61

Aulë, the Valar wrote:

I'm really interested in this topic since I'm starting an Isengard army too to get started in the game

Hey, awesome, hopefully we can help each other out then.

AlatartheRed · **Joined:** Tue Feb 03, 2015 4:20 pm **Posts:** 63

those are both great hero's but I hate the high cost of crossbow men

Aulë, the Valar · **Posted:** Fri Feb 27, 2015 2:49 pm

Who do you guys think is absolutely essential in an Isengard army?

Paradigm · **Joined:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:56 am **Posts:** 264

Aulë, the Valar wrote:

Who do you guys think is absolutely essential in an Isengard army?

I'd never leave home without 2 blocks on Uruks. Preferably a 4 Shield 8 Pike formation led by a Shaman for maximum effectiveness, but even a 5/5 split can work well enough. Your Crossbows are nice, and your Ferals/Beserkers can do some damage, but the army will live and die on its battleline. Uruks are some of my favourite troops in the game, good S and D and plety of attacks with Pikes, all for a pretty reasonable cost.

Don't discount cheap Orcs as well, they can bulk your numbers (and therefore bow limit/break point) well and also provide some nice support when you need it, even if that's just catching arrows for your Uruks!

LordoftheBrownRing · **Posted:** Fri Feb 27, 2015 4:12 pm

When I think Isengard(and I think most would agree who play it) my top choices go in this order:

Shaman
Vrasku

Then a lot of other leaders are here or there about on par.
Some good call outs are Sharku, Uruk Captain, Saruman at higher points levels like 700+ etc

Warriors:

Berserkers
Ferals
Crossbows
Pikes

Either Mauhurs marauders or sharku lead warg riders for tournaments or objective grabbing.

Tungdil · **Posted:** Mon Mar 02, 2015 10:04 am

Like mentioned; Vrasku (even if he is not leading xbows, still a great hero) and Uruk-Hai Shaman.

Not sure if you are familiar with magic, and in particular the spell the Shaman can pull off: Fury.

If cast used the channeled version (by spending his 1 Might), you will avoid wounds with the Fury save of 5+ (within 6'' of the Shaman).
This can really be massive, and definitely a game-changer for you, especially at lower point matches

Lurtz just does not do it at all..
If possible you could ask your opponent if he is okay with you throwing away the almost useless Orc Bow, so that Lurtz gets his +1 Defence from the Shield.

MRmehman · **Joined:** Sun Feb 22, 2015 6:51 pm **Posts:** 61

Tungdil wrote:

Like mentioned; Vrasku (even if he is not leading xbows, still a great hero) and Uruk-Hai Shaman.

Not sure if you are familiar with magic, and in particular the spell the Shaman can pull off: Fury.

If cast used the channeled version (by spending his 1 Might), you will avoid wounds with the Fury save of 5+ (within 6'' of the Shaman).
This can really be massive, and definitely a game-changer for you, especially at lower point matches

Lurtz just does not do it at all..
If possible you could ask your opponent if he is okay with you throwing away the almost useless Orc Bow, so that Lurtz gets his +1 Defence from the Shield.

Yeah, Lurtz's profile is really underwhelming. He really need a rule that means he can use both throughout the game or just a far better bow. Oh well, guess there's always house rules!

Grungehog · **Posted:** Fri Mar 13, 2015 10:11 pm

guys if I go isengard, I go for 24 zerks 12 xbow , led by lurtz, ugluk, and vrasku, not much in the way of finesse but a nice blunt hammer to obliterate foes with

Tungdil · **Posted:** Mon Mar 16, 2015 8:20 am

Since we are discussing the topic of building an Isengard army:
Would it be possible to give Pikes to the Uruk-hai Crossbow units ?

Edit: Going to make a new topic about this subject

Dikey · **Joined:** Tue Feb 03, 2015 10:19 am **Posts:** 508

Tungdil wrote:

Since we are discussing the topic of building an Isengard army:
Would it be possible to give Pikes to the Uruk-hai Crossbow units ?

I don't think is possibile. Pikes requires two hands to be used, and so do the crossbows.
It seems unlikely, but it could use an official faq..

Little help with an Isengard army?

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