New player. Want some advice on harad.

[Noobie2k7]

It is likely that Harad is going to be my first force (seeing as my local toy store still has boxes of 24 haradrim warrors) and i was wanting some advice on what is and what isn't worth taking.

I only have access to the old harad book at the minite so i can assume some of the point costs and options are changed (along with more troops likely to be in the new sourcebook)

Here are the choices i want advice on

Serpent Guard + Serpent riders - Are they worth it over the regular haradrim?

War Mumak -

Corsair arbalesters -

Mahud warriors and riders -

half trolls -

Plus is there anything new in the sourcebook that i'm missing and if so is it possible to fill me in? It is likely the bulk is going to be made up of regular haradrim warriors but i'm asking about the above guys for various support and different types to use, so i'm not just running loads of the same thing.

[C-Coen]

Harad now has a nice little rule that allows 50% bows (instead of the usual 1/3rd, to fit what's in the boxes) when only taking certain warriors. Among those certain warriors are all basic (plastic) and some other real Harad troops (but no Corsairs for example). Although Haradrim warriors and raiders have gone up by a point compared to the old rules, that 50% bow rule easily makes up for it (with the only disadvantage that you can no longer have a corsair frontline or so when using that rule). Other than that, there are some upgrades for warriors and raiders, but I'm not quite sure if they're worth it to be honest. That's about it as far as normal Harad is concerned.
Corsairs have changed a bit, if anything become better I think. For example, I believe arbalesters have a hand weapon now.
Far Harad ('Mahud') have changed a lot. Perhaps okay for their points (no idea, haven't played with or against it) but by no means as spectacular as they used to be.
Note that all of these are in one armylist, so you can have any mix of troops you want.

As for the usefulness of those guys:
Serpent Guard: reasonable, but Merchant Guard are just too much better, I'm afraid.
Serpent Riders are great, unless you plan use Raiders as archers, you're probably better off with Serpent Riders. Especially since there's only a 1pt difference now.
Mumak: not sure if much changed, but it's still a 'very fun, sometimes effective but not competitive' model. Great in a collection and in friendly games though.
Arbalesters: solid archery, though much safer at range than in combat. If going for a Corsair list, a good choice.
Can't comment on the others.

Black Numenoreans (just the infantry, not the Morgul Knights) are in the Harad list too by the way, though I hate the models, they are a very effective front line unit.

Anyway, Harad is (still) a very effective and strong army, starting with 2 boxes of warriors and 1 box of raiders will give you an excellent starting force. Converting some warriors to chieftains should allow you something like a 600pts army with just that I think. (3 warbands of 1 chieftain and 12 warriors and 1 warband of a mounted chieftain, 5 raiders (1 banner) and 6 more warriors for example.)

Hope this helps, good luck and enjoy!

[Noobie2k7]

Thanks a bunch. Well i can get the 24 man boxes still so that helps :P Would probly have to pick up more boxes than i need though if i'm going to fill out the 50% bow limit But it;s likely all my raiders will have bows as i'd want to use them as harassing units more than straight up charge units.

I think pure harad would be fun. Not too keen on the models for the serpent riders and serpent guard though but if they're worth it then i could take them anyway but i'm one of those people that won't use models i don't like looking at. I do have to spend time painting them afterall.

[C-Coen]

Harad boxes come with 12 spearmen and 12 archers, so you don't have to waste anything actually. Raiders have 2 bow armed models, but the other 4 can be given bows too (4 seperate bows and quivers in the box). It's certainly worth the points to give all Raiders bows and warspears, you rarely want to charge straight in with them (they'll die within 2 turns) so they might just as well make themselves useful in the meantime!

I think pure harad would be fun. Not too keen on the models for the serpent riders and serpent guard though but if they're worth it then i could take them anyway but i'm one of those people that won't use models i don't like looking at. I do have to spend time painting them afterall.

I can see your point there, I'm just like that! Even to tournaments I just take models/a force that I like the look of. Now I must say that the weird 'horned backpacks' the serpents carry are seperate parts, those were the main issue I had with them. When I was sure leaving them off was easy, I immediately bought 10! (finding them on eBay for a couple of euros helped too...) Guard I still don't really like (poses), but luckily I'm working on an all-cavalry army now so don't need those anyway.

[Noobie2k7]

Oh wow, if the horned bits are seperate then i may have to pick some up after all :P and finding out the boxes have 12 and 12 is great cheers for that info.

I shall have The Betrayer leading my army anyway as he's pretty much a must have. But not sure on his price in SBG. I know that wraiths are squishy targets though so i'll have him hanging back with my archers shielded by some bodies.

[C-Coen]

I know, they're a lot better without that stuff! Some pictures below to prove it (converted as well, but you get the point). Same goes for Suladan I think, much better if there's no huge banner on his back. Even my raiders are all riding around without that decoration they usually have, as especially if you've got a lot, they end up looking like a fence or so. Must say that those raiders are more difficult to 'fix' by the way, they have a huge gap in their backs where the rack is usually placed.

Betrayer is a solid leader, also in the Harad armylist now by the way, so can lead a warband of Haradrim. As posting points isn't really allowed, let me tell you he costs the same as 2 Haradrim Kings. Not only do you want him at the back to keep him safe, his special rule (enhancing effectiveness poison) is also much more useful when near archers. Altough a frontline of Serpent Guard (with poisoned spears) with him nearby is rather scary as well!
He can be pretty good in combat too if you put him on a horse, with a poisoned blade similar to the one used by Hasharii he can kill even tough heroes with some ease. Just make sure he never gets too close to a non-transfixed enemy hero!

[Noobie2k7]

Those riders look really good well done. I don't mind the rack thing the raiders have as much but i would get rid of all the trimmings from suladin :P They just look kinda silly.

My plan for the Betrayer was going to be babysitting the archer warband anyway, always trying to have 2/3 archers in between him and there main ranged threat. I'm pretty sure there isn't a lot that can hold up for long against 12 archers with the improved poison. They hit on 4+'s anyway with the arrows i think and being able to reroll 1's and 2's mean i'll only be unlucky rolling 3's at first. Not sure what volley fire does >.>

is it better to have my archers mixed with spears or in a warband of their own? With the Betrayer i'm thinking warband of their own. Then he can be safer sitting back and anything that tries to rush his archers are going to get flanked by raiders and turned into pin cushions then charged.