8th Edition Orc & Goblin Armybook Tactics

[Djekar]

I think that you should be alright if you think of them like dwarves. I mean, they do have hobbos, but those don't count towards core and the actual dwarves are decently expensive (though they can take GWs, so that might suck if your opponent ascribes to the "bigger is better" rule). The biggest worry that I can think of is the blunderbusses - mostly because in the Ravening Hordes list they hit *every* model in the unit. At S5. Yeah, that might suck, no matter how many bodies you have. The earthshaker sucks a lot too because it keeps you from moving very quickly - kind of like the rune of wrath and ruin, only with a template.

The indy list is a bit more balanced, but chaos armor on every dwarf is a possibility and WS5 dwarves with GWs and Fear in special might suck a bit too, especially if they catch something outside your LD bubble. Other than that, they have a lot more chaff (though iirc it still doesn't count towards core, so maybe you won't be overwhelmed) and warmachines that can fight back (think Hellcannon).

All in all though, I think that if you can make it through the shooting that you'll be fine. That's a metagame thought though, because from watching your BReps no one in your area has yet learned the lesson that you've been beating them with for months - that they need bigger units.

[Felworth]

Rat Box breaking 101

I need to get more agressive with the Hand of Gork then. Yeah, alright, I think I can handle that. That or three Arachnaroks. He couldn't stop all three of them from flanking him surely...

Thanks for the ideas Russellmoo.

[Malorian]

The biggest worry that I can think of is the blunderbusses - mostly because in the Ravening Hordes list they hit *every* model in the unit. At S5. Yeah, that might suck, no matter how many bodies you have.

Well that sounds like all kinds of crazy.

The one time I faced CD their blunderbusses got extra shots for extra ranks but if every night goblin in my 100 unit got a str 5 hit that would really hurt...


I don't really expect him to have hordes of great weapon dwarfs, but if he does then that could be a problem.


Thanks for the tips.

[amysrevenge]

Don't understimate the effect of the Earthshaker's movement reduction either. Lots of units can get bogged right down.

[Djekar]

Let me state that I was wrong - it isn't every model in the unit. They are move and fire and project a 12" fire zone in front of them and hit every model in that fire zone on a 4+. They can stand and shoot, which *will* most likely hit every model, but then they only hit on a 5+. But as long as they have 3+ ranks of 4 models all those shots are at S5.

[Welfstar]

I hope your Black Orcs especially, stomp those damn Dwarfs, Mal.

[russellmoo]

My guess is they probably play similar to WoC, so treat them accordingly- go Mal and the Waaagh.

[Malorian]

Well the list is made and I made it semi competitive going with a strong orc revenge theme.

I'm thinking chariots are the best thing to take on the blunderbusses and then just overpower the rest.

Should be fun


On a seperate note, I am growing ever closer to being able to field a non-proxy troll horde (18+). Has anyone tried this yet?

630 points is a lot but then again my typical hordes are over 500 points and the trolls pack a bigger punch.

I know they should work in theory but has anyone playtested them yet?

[Shimmergloom]

I encounter so much fire banners and Int spells that I have limited my trolls from 6 to 4 to just 1.

I can't imagine trying 18 of them anymore.

[Culsandar]

2500 pt List

Let me know what you think. Orcs is a new thing for me, the only people in my area play goblins, so it's something new for the Meta (which is mostly Lizards and WoC).

[Djekar]

I have tried the Troll Horde, but with a caveat - it was WoC trolls. So, more expensive and they get better when they pass 2+ regen saves in the same phase. I'd have to say that bar the unit of my opponent's with the flaming banner (which I tied up with another unit) the Trolls wrecked everything thrown at them. They are pretty extremely brutal.

[Malorian]

Well the last 5 trolls I need are currently on the way. Looks like I'll be able to test this for my self soon enough

I figure it will be the perfect center unit as almost nothing will want to mess with it EXCEPT units with the flaming banner. This is why I'll plsce it first and then when my opponent sets up to counter I'll know exactly why. Then I'll have units on either side that can deal with them (basically my units fights 1 unit to the left or right rather than straight ahead).

[Djekar]

Sounds like an excellent plan! It has the potential to turn into a real game of chicken though - at least with your regular opponents. After a few games, they start countering with a center unit that doesn't have the flaming banner, and onward convoluted mind games!

[Tregar]

Don't be too worried about facing units with the flaming banner- unless they're a unit of something like witch elves with mindrazor and cauldron boosts with flaming banner or Grave Guard in 2+/2+ mode, then they're not going to do too much to your unit. No need to worry about characters either, as they'll probably have a magic weapon, which doesnt benefit from flaming. Even a powerful unit like chaos warriors with halberds and flaming attacks will kill about 3 trolls, and then you fight back with 42 attacks and 5 stomps and kill 15 of them, and more than likely run them down (or at the very least, stomp their standard bearer with the flaming banner into the dirt)

I had a unit of 8 Trolls ALMOST defeat a unit of Witch Elves with flaming banner and cauldron buff; add another 7 trolls' worth of attacks, and the witch elves would be toast.

[Malorian]

I had a unit of 8 Trolls ALMOST defeat a unit of Witch Elves with flaming banner and cauldron buff; add another 7 trolls' worth of attacks, and the witch elves would be toast.

I don't doubt it.

We're talking about 54 str 5 attacks and then 6 str 5 stomps.

I would also love to be hit by one of those knight hordes and puke on them all

[Tregar]

I used 6 (Chaos) Trolls to puke some Dragon Princes and their 1+ re-rollable BSB to death yesterday... satisfying

[Okuto]

Actualy on the topic of trolls whats the consensus on 1 troll units?

I'm pondering one in my no shooting/infantry horde, I like to think a single troll would be helpful for my black orc/big um horde

[Malorian]

I love them.

They act as mini-chariots, can go after hero characters, be a speed bump, and jump into unknown terrain.

[Okuto]

Yes I'm trying to find something to sub in for chariots and be more killy. I don't have alot of night gobbos so the bulk of my army is reg orcs, needed something to keep up with the ladz and act as a mini detachment

I'm liking the sound of one man troll units already, I only have one special choice in my 2500 pt list anyhow(30 black orcs) so I like I can spare some room for trolls,

[Djekar]

I'm going to try the single troll soon myself. I have almost given up on a medium sized unit of trolls. Not because they aren't worth the points (oh hold me closer ridiculously lucky regen rolls) but because I hate trying to babysit them after combat is joined and blocks get seperated by the ensuing chaos. The single troll is cheap enough to do what Mal is suggesting with the added benefit of me not needing to sweat about keeping him in range of the general if it comes to that.