Cathayan Expeditionary Force

[Mephistofeles]

Fantasy Army: Empire

Hi all, I have lately tried to do an army list with the Empire Rules, representing the army of Cathay. For all who do not know what Cathay is, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathay_%28Warhammer%29 (written by yours truly :P)

Well, since what is written about Cathay says that they have thousands upon thousands of soldiers, I decided to make a horde army. This far this army has won me 4 games (2 Massacres, one Solid Victory and one Minor Victory) and only got beaten once (Solid Victory), so it's working fairly well so far.

So, without further chit chat, here comes the list, say what you think, and give me tactical tips as well as army selection ones, I am still a real beginner in the warhammer game:


Cathayan Expeditionary Force

General Taipingzhenjun (Elector Count) 116 p.
Armour of Meteoric Iron
Great Weapon

Zhaowang, Bearer of the Emperors Grand Standard (BSB) 183p.
Full Plate
Imperial Banner

Brother Chenguang (Level 2 Wizard) 145 p.
2 Dispel Scrolls



Zhaowang's Guard 205p.
30 Spearmen
Full Command

11 Free Company Detachment 55p.


Taicheng's Vipers 205p.
30 Spearmen
Full Command

11 Free Company Detachment 55p.


Xiang's Lions 205p.
30 Spearmen
Full Command

10 Free Company Detachment 50p.


The Brothers of the Crescent Moon 270p.
20 Greatswords
Full Command
Warbanner

10 Free Company Detachment 50p.


Sisheng's Trappers 100p.
10 Huntsmen


Shaodi's Thunder 80p.
10 Handgunners


Yuan's Storm 80p.
10 Handgunners


The Dragons Breath 100p.
Great Cannon


The Serpents Kiss 100p.
Great Cannon


Number of Models: 191
Dispel Dice: 2
Power Dice: 4
Dispel Scrolls: 2
Units: 13

[EvC]

Sounds nice, though I'd be tempted to add a Hellblaster Rocket Cart to fit in with the theme

Might be worth dropping the wizard;s second level and just using him for dispelling, in exchange for a few more models.

[Mephistofeles]

Yeah, perhaps you are right, but in all the games I've played he has actually managed to cast some spells and be of some use, but I'll look into it.

I refuse to use the Helblaster, simply because it's to much of an "Empire-must-have", and I don't like being predictable :P

Plus the fact that I've allready found myself the models which I will use, and they don't really include anything which to use as a Helblaster.

(I'm using the Perry Twins own non-gw range of miniatures)

[Kedlav]

Its an interesting list to say the least, but with 4 infantry blocks with detachments, you're going to have manueverability issues on a 6'x4' table. I'd probably try to fit in a mortar or another cannon, as when you don't field the helblaster, it pays to bring extra artillery.

[Dspankdo]

perry twins eh, you couldn't provide a link to the website could you?

[lorcan]

www.perry-miniatures.com

[Mephistofeles]

I have tried it, and manueverability is sometimes an issue, just to get everything where you want them to be, but it has so far been of no importance, the only real problem has been to get the detachments enough room to countercharge, but now when I only have one detachment per gruop (I used to run two per group) then I think that I will be allright.

And, I saw someone left the link here, it's the "Samurai Armies" range, but I will probably just use the "Ashigaru" and "monks" to represent Cathay, since I don't want a Nippon-force.

[Dspankdo]

I just re read the list and were are your militia beurocrats

[Mephistofeles]

My what?

I've read home-made Cathayan lists, and I still can't see what the beurocrats are supposed to do, or what they are supposed to be, there is no mention about such things in any GW-book, right?

[Alathir]

This looks great.. and has got me inspired to do a Cathayan force myself. Thanks a bunch!

I was just wondering about that Perry Minitures site... for example if I order on set of Samurai with swords charging... do i only get those 6 shown?

[Mephistofeles]

I think that the models shown are the actual and ONLY models that exist of the particular type. That is probably why they have 4-5 different boxes of normal Spear-men. Much better then GW; since you know exactly what you get.

Are you going to use the rules for The Empire then, or something else? I think that both DoW and Brettonia works.

Just don't go to heavy on the samurai, they are after all from Nippon :P

[Dspankdo]

My what?

I've read home-made Cathayan lists, and I still can't see what the beurocrats are supposed to do, or what they are supposed to be, there is no mention about such things in any GW-book, right?

The celestial beurocracy is basically the second most powerful organization in cathay (after the religon) it runs all non-military and non-religous affairs in cathay. the militia beurocrats are the ones who go and deal with things like tax collecting ect.

[Alathir]

I think that the models shown are the actual and ONLY models that exist of the particular type. That is probably why they have 4-5 different boxes of normal Spear-men. Much better then GW; since you know exactly what you get.

Are you going to use the rules for The Empire then, or something else? I think that both DoW and Brettonia works.

Just don't go to heavy on the samurai, they are after all from Nippon :P

I'll probably use Empire... although I could do Bretonnia and base it after the Takeda Clan ... their cavalry forces were awesome.

I'm not too fussed about having samurai in a cathay army... I'd probably do a generic oriental force.

[Mephistofeles]

1: Is this something you've read in some WFRP book/Fan-source or something GW has actually stated? I've never heard anything official about them.

[Dspankdo]

there is very little official about cathay but it seems to be a very popular idea and does fit in with a chinese theme. though im sure ive read a mention of the celestial beurocracy somewhere in the official fluff.

[Mephistofeles]

I've read quite a bit about it in the un-official WFRP-fluff, but I'm sticking with the "Extremely-official-GW-book-stuff", just in case they write something new in the upcoming book (not likely) or in some later source.

I like Cathay the way GW describes them, but most of the unofficial sources have turned them into some kind of pop-culture version of late medieval China, like something taken out of a Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon movie or something. I like Cathay as a large country, with an Emperor and inexhaustible armies. So thats what I'll do :P

(By the way, just got my models by the mail, and OMFG they are so awsome! All hail the Perry-Twins!)

[Alathir]

So what did you order?

[Mephistofeles]

I ordered 36 Spearmen, the Yari Ashigaru, with Command. I have finished painting two of 'em, and they sure look nice. Really cool models!

[Alathir]

Awesome. you should try and post some pics.

So how big are they compared to WHFB models? And how many do you get in a single pack of spearmen?

[Mephistofeles]

You get 6 Spearmen (Metal) for 6 £, making them about half price compared to GW. My whole army will cost about 200 £, which is quite good to be a 2000 points warhammer army.

They are looking really great too, I'll post some pictures during the week-end hopefully.