Dogs of War

Thanks to my friends’ comments on my battle versus the Skaven, here is my updated list for my Mercenary Army, “Cardo’s Tigers,” which now consist of the following individuals and troops:

Lord:
Arklan, Wizard, Level 4—310 points. (He is a Lore of Fire wizard.) He joins the Tilean Crossbowmen.
He has 4 spells and 4 dispel scrolls.

Heroes:
Michael Cardo, Mercenary Captain—118 pts. I lead the 1st Lancer (Light Cavalry) company.
Captain Cardo wears heavy armor, has a shield, a pistol and a hand weapon. He also has Van Horstmann’s Speculum and the Helm of the Skaven Slayer. Rides a warhorse.

Paymaster Ulrich Basinger—75 points.
He has heavy armor, a shield, a hand weapon and a brace of pistols.
Ulrich’s treasure chest is on a cart, pulled by a donkey. The cart carries the Tiger’s Battle Standard.

Thaler, Wizard, Level 2—155 pts. (He is a Lore of Life wizard.)
He has 2 spells, a dispel scroll and a staff. Rides a warhorse.

Special:
Golgfag and 3 Ogres—285 pts. Includes Skaff, his Standard Bearer, and a Horn Blower.
Instills fear. They are equipped with heavy armor and 2 hand weapons (axes).

Long Drong and 9 Pirate Slayers—195 pts. Includes Standard Bearer and Drummer.
Unbreakable. They have pistols.

Rare:
1 Cannon, with 3-man crew—85 pts.

Malakai Makaisson and his Goblin Hewer, with 2 other Dwarf Slayers—130 pts.
Unbreakable.

Core:
Voland and 9 Venators—315 pts. Includes Standard Bearer and Musician.
Heavy cavalry, with lances, shields, hand weapons and heavy armor, riding barded warhorses.

Leopold and 16 Leopards (Paymaster’s bodyguard)—250 pts. Includes Standard Bearer and Musician.
Unbreakable. Heavy armor and pikes.

15 Tilean Crossbowmen—120 pts.
Crossbow and hand weapon.

Pirazzo and his Lost Legion: 4 Crossbowmen and 16 Pikemen—270 pts.
They wear light armor. Pirazzo is armed with a hand weapon and a crossbow.

24 Light Cavalry, with shields and spears—336 pts.
Fast Cavalry, with light armor.

16 Duellists, with pistol and throwing knives—176 pts.
They are Skirmishers.

Total: 2,590 points.

From left to right, I would place these units as follows:
1st Lancers (5 Light Cavalry horsemen)
2nd Lancers (5 horsemen)
Pirazzo’s Lost Legion—positioned at a 90-degree angle behind the Tilean Crossbowmen. When the lancers charge, the Legion will wheel into place next to the bowmen.
Tilean Crossbowmen
Malakai Makasson and his Goblin Hewer
Long Drong and his Pirate Slayers
Cannon and crew
4 Duellists
Golgfag and his Ogres
Voland and his Venators
3rd Lancers (5 horsemen) and Captain Michael Cardo
5th Lancers (5 horsemen) and Thaler (Lore of Life)
Headquarters, behind the Long Drong and his Pirates:
Paymaster
Leopold and his Leopards (bodyguard)
Duellists, outside the Leopards
Reserve:
4th Lancers (4 horsemen).

Place the 1st and 2nd Lancers last, to surprise your opponent.
Some generals say this list is a bit different, but it is designed to be strong but flexible, like historians say the ancient Assyrian army was.

Duellists have to have a min unit size of 8+ and the cav have to be in units of 5+. You can't just split them up, unless this is a house rule or you are playing warband rules.

So, just so we are clear, in your gaming group, you allow Dogs of War armies to select equipment from the Empire army book, correct? Normally, that is not allowed, and Dogs of War are limited to the common magic items which each race has, but whatever works for you guys! (and don't worry, if you use that as a house rule, it's not going to 'overpower' the Dogs of War! )

Would your 24 light cavalry be split up into groups of 6, normally? I find that a pretty good number, personally, and I assume your duelists are split into two groups of 8, since 8 is the minimum sized unit you are allowed to take?

Additionally, what is the benefit of having the Throwing Knives on your dualists? The pistols give them shooting power and an extra hand weapon, so I don't see why you would give them anything besides just that.

Other than those questions, I like it. Good number of Regiments of Renown in there, and I love Pirrazo's Lost Legion, they are just fun.

(05-20-2010 09:36 AM)arkfatalis Wrote: [ -> ]Duellists have to have a min unit size of 8+ and the cav have to be in units of 5+. You can't just split them up, unless this is a house rule or you are playing warband rules.

Thank you, arkfatalis. I have wondered about that rule. I thought it could either be interpreted as minimum size per unit, or minimum overall size. So, to get that 15th unit of cavalry (5+), I think I'll follow Shane's suggestion, to drop the throwing knives for the Duellists (see above).
Thanks, arkfatalis, for clarifying that for me.

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(05-20-2010 09:48 AM)Shane Wrote: [ -> ]So, just so we are clear, in your gaming group, you allow Dogs of War armies to select equipment from the Empire army book, correct? Normally, that is not allowed, and Dogs of War are limited to the common magic items which each race has, but whatever works for you guys! (and don't worry, if you use that as a house rule, it's not going to 'overpower' the Dogs of War! )

Would your 24 light cavalry be split up into groups of 6, normally? I find that a pretty good number, personally, and I assume your duelists are split into two groups of 8, since 8 is the minimum sized unit you are allowed to take?

Additionally, what is the benefit of having the Throwing Knives on your dualists? The pistols give them shooting power and an extra hand weapon, so I don't see why you would give them anything besides just that.

Other than those questions, I like it. Good number of Regiments of Renown in there, and I love Pirrazo's Lost Legion, they are just fun.

Yes, Shane, I had forgotten to delete the Empire items. I guess we DOWs just have to make do with generic "Common Magic" items. I wonder if we could make up our own items, based upon Tilean history or our own battles--like a Skaven seer's skull being used to cause fear among them. That could be pretty cool!

I had originally thought I'd use 4 units of 5 horsemen, with one unit of 4--based upon available points--in my reserve unit. But, following your suggestion to drop the throwing knives, I should have enough points to hire a fifth horseman for the reserve unit, too. (I had thought that if the Duellists had used their pistol, they might still be able to use their throwing knives for a second round or opponent. But, I'll try to use the points otherwise.)

Thank you, Shane, for your information and encouragement!

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Thanks to my friends’ comments on my battle versus the Skaven, here is my updated list for my Mercenary Army, “Cardo’s Tigers,” which now consist of the following individuals and troops. (Note: Since ROR leaders cannot be everywhere at once, my leaders are similar in personality to the famous ones.)

Lord:
Arklan, Wizard, Level 4—300 points. (He is a Lore of Fire wizard.) He joins the Tilean Crossbowmen.
He has 4 spells, 3 dispel scrolls and a staff.

Heroes:
Michael Cardo, Mercenary Captain—95 pts. I lead the 3rd Lancer (Light Cavalry) Company.
Captain Cardo wears heavy armor, has a shield, a pistol and a hand weapon. He also has the Sword of Might. Rides a warhorse.
(Cardo’s “real name” is Michael Holzmann.)

Paymaster Ulrich Basinger—75 points. He is with the Leopards.
He has heavy armor, a shield, a hand weapon and a brace of pistols.
Ulrich’s treasure chest is on a cart, pulled by a donkey. The cart carries the Tiger’s Battle Standard.

Thaler, Wizard, Level 2—155 pts. (He is a Lore of Life wizard.) He rides with the 4th Lancers.
He has 2 spells, a dispel scroll and a staff. Rides a warhorse.

Special:
20 Dwarfs (Paymaster’s bodyguard)—180 pts.
Heavy armor, shields and hand weapons.

Golgfag and 3 Ogres—285 pts. Includes Skaff, his Standard Bearer, and a Horn Blower.
The instill fear. They are equipped with heavy armor and 2 hand weapons (axes).
(My “Golgfag’s” real Ogre name is Goltzag, and “Skaff’s” real name is Skronk.)

Long Drong and 9 Pirate Slayers—195 pts. Includes Standard Bearer and Drummer.
Unbreakable. They have pistols.
(My “Drong’s” real Dwarf Slayer name is Duraz, which means “stone.”)

Lumpin Croop and 8 Halfling archers—111 points. Includes his Standard Bearer, Neddly Hamfist, and a Horn Blower.
(My Lumpin’s “real name” is: Larkin Swoop, and Neddly’s “real name” is: Wrenly Beefinger.)

Rare:
1 Cannon, with 3-man crew—85 pts.

Malakai Makaisson and his Goblin Hewer, with 2 other Dwarf Slayers—130 pts.
Unbreakable.
(My “Malakai’s” real Dwarf Slayer name is Mahaz Mordinsson.)

Core:
Voland and 9 Venators—315 pts. Includes Standard Bearer and Musician.
Heavy cavalry, with lances, shields, hand weapons and heavy armor, riding barded warhorses.
(My Voland’s “real name” is: Kurt Vogler.)

10 Tilean Crossbowmen—80 pts.
Crossbow and hand weapon.

Pirazzo and his Lost Legion: 4 Crossbowmen and 5 Pikemen—160 pts.
They wear light armor. Pirazzo is armed with a hand weapon and a crossbow.
(My Pirazzo’s “real name” is: Fernando Corvetto.)

20 Light Cavalry, with shields and spears—280 pts.
Fast Cavalry, with light armor.

16 Duellists, with pistol—144 pts.
They are Skirmishers.

Total: 2,599 points.

From left to right, I would place these units as follows:
1st Lancers (5 Light Cavalry horsemen)
2nd Lancers (5 horsemen)
Pirazzo’s Lost Legion—positioned at a 90-degree angle behind the Tilean Crossbowmen. When the lancers charge, the Legion will wheel into place next to the bowmen.
Tilean Crossbowmen
Malakai Makasson and his Goblin Hewer
Lumpin Croop and his 5 Halfling archers
Long Drong and his Pirate Slayers
Cannon and crew
8 Duellists
Golgfag and his Ogres
Voland and his Venators
3rd Lancers (5 horsemen) and Captain Michael Cardo
4th Lancers (5 horsemen) and Thaler (Lore of Life)
Headquarters, behind the Long Drong and his Pirates:
Paymaster
20 Dwarfs (bodyguard)
Duellists, outside the Dwarfs

I stack my Light Cavalry units, while deploying them. Then, when they charge into No Man's Land, they spread out and choose their target(s).
Lumpin Croop and his Halfling archers act as a Skirmisher screen in front of Long Drong’s Slayer-Pirates.