Thinking of a new army

[Kaffl]

I played Empire a while back, and I still have a soft spot for the humans, but I don't think they'll accept me back after I mutilated a good amount of them to make Zombies for my Vampire Counts army. And so I'm thinking about Dogs of War!

I just have some questions about them before I go half-heartedly making my own lists. First, I know they're underpowerd. I'm not too concerned about that really. Second, I'd like to know if the Regiments of Renown really have a place in a Dogs of War army. I like a lot of the RoR, but I don't know if they're really any good at all. It seems like a good way to add way too many characters, and to do the cheesy Helf deal with a dragon in under 2K. Third, what kind of numbers are we talking about here? Are they as hordie as the Empire?

Then, I need to know a bit about the models. What models do I use as Pikemen? Do I just use a bunch of the RoR pikemen, or do I convert them in a vain effort to not spend $55 for 12 of them? Are Ogres, Dwarfs, or Norse Marauders generally used at all either? Are they worth it?

Basically what I'm asking is... Is it really worth trying to make an army out of this on a relatively limited budget, or should I beg my Empire for forgiveness? That and, on the table, does it look like a respectable army in most cases, or does it just look like a hodgepodge of models from any race imaginable tossed on the table by an over-eager 7-year-old who wants to play with all his armies at once?

Anyhoo,
-Kaffl

[Arguleon Veq]

RoR are rarely a good idea, there are few decent units for them. I have a thread in the General Fantasy board about them.

It doesn't look hodgepodge if you choose the right models and converted spearmen look decent as pikes but I think you are better off with the actual RoR Pikemen models.

Ogres, Norse Marauders and Dwarfs are all very much worth it in DoW armies, they are some of the best choices.

They are about as Horde as Empire, just with stuff like Cannons replaced by Ogres etc.

You can make a pretty cheap army from plastics if you do it right, it doesn't look as good as most of the Metal models though and if you go down that route it gets very expensive.

[Kaffl]

Another thing I'm looking at is while I'm building my Dogs up I can use what I've got alongside some of my other armies, which is nice. For example, cannons in my Vampire Counts army (guess who doesn't use VC rare choices?). Speaking of which, I have some cannons just laying about that I can...

Anyway, as long as I can get them cheaply and it doesn't look like I just got bored and started throwing armies together, then I'm fine with the look.

Let's assume I want to start them then. I know I need a paymaster and 1 other character. Should I take a Captain and a Wizard as my two characters then? The wizard would be a scroll caddy and maybe some minor magic support. I then need my two minimum core, Pikemen I suppose? What unit size do pikemen work the best in? 20 or 25? Then what, Duellists? Crossbowmen?

On the topic of Duellists, do they work best with no upgrades, or is it worth giving them this and that. Are Pistols and Throwing Knives worth considering? What about the additional hand weapon?

I had more questions but I forgot them...

Let's assume I want to make a largely Pirate DoW army (I was having a look at the map of Tilea, and noticed the Pirate Principality. I assume that means "Argh" pirates. How would I go about composing an army like that? Lots of Duellists and other Skirmishers? And definitely Norse Marauders would fall in with them, right? I like Norse Marauders.

[Arguleon Veq]

Yeah, you CAN use the Cannons in your Vamp Counts....'can' being the key word

At 1500 yeah Id go with a Captain and Scroll Caddy.

Pikemen are best in about units of 25. Duellists in about units of 8 and Crossbows in 10-12.

The Duellists Weapons depends on the role you want. If you want re-directers then I like Pistols for the Stand and Shoot. If you want Flankers I like the Shield [so you dont give away Res] or additional hand weapon. For baiters just give them nothing and as harassers give them Pistols or Throwing Knives.

As you want a Pirate theme though, just give them Pistols, they work just fine. You could always convert some throwing knife units to be throwing Belaying Pins [Curved sharp pieces of wood for securing rigging, the pirats often use them as thrown weapons].

Long Drongs Slayer Pirates are one of the few good RoR, so they are a must in pirate armies. Backed up by Pistol Weidling Duellists and perhaps Blunderbussmen/handgunners representing Crossbowmen. The Blunderbusses from the Militia Sprue would be ideal.
Plus Cannons obviously.

You can also have Pirate Maneater Ogres with Braces of Handguns who are a Fantastic Choice. Id be tempted for 2 units of those, the Slayer Pirates and a Block of Marauders as your mainline units with your Skirmishers as flankers.

[Kaffl]

This smells of pure awesomesauce to me. As a few quick questions, as I don't have a rulebook on hand, what do Braces of Pistols and Throwing Knives do? I know what Long Drong's Slayer Pirates do (if it's downloadable, I have it), but I don't know what a normal Brace of Pistols does.

I assume Pikemen have no place in a Pirate themed army, which is unfortunate as I really wanted to gloat in the face of those High Elfs with their ASF 3-rank spearmen (behold my ASF-ish 4-rank Pikemen!). However, I'm happy with Duellists and Slayer-Pirates. And Manflayers could be convinced to join Pirates, I'm sure. So long as they don't eat the pirates .

[Arguleon Veq]

Count as an additional CC Wep and they give you 2 Pistol Shots in the Shooting Phase.

[Kaffl]

I wrote my first list just now, and I want some critique on it please.

Paymaster 105
Sword of Battle
Enchanted Shield
Amulet of Protection


Mercenary General 116
Brace of Pistols
Heavy Armour


Mercenary Captain 68
Brace of Pistols
Heavy Armour


Hireling Wizard 110
Dispel Scroll
Dispel Scroll


8 Duellists 82
Pistols
Champion


8 Duellists 82
Pistols
Champion


8 Duellists 82
Pistols
Champion


8 Duellists 82
Pistols
Champion


8 Duellists 82
Pistols
Champion


10 Crossbowmen 80


10 Crossbowmen 80

14 Dwarfs 240
Champion
Standard
Crossbows
Great Weapons
Heavy Armour


12 Long Drong's Slayer Pirates 219

14 Norse Marauders 132
Champion
Standard Bearer
Flails


12 Beorg's Bearmen 269

Cannon 85

Cannon 85

So, I'm sure you're all wondering why all the Duellists have Champions. Well, I was looking at my empty wallet and the 50 points I had left over and I thought that this would be an easy way to round it all out.

Tell me true, is this going to stand half a chance of ever winning a game? Obviously this list is more about "Yay! Fluffy army!", but I'd still like to stand a half a chance of maybe winning a game or two.

At current this is gonna cost me about $200. I wish it wasn't, but oh well. We all gotta amke sacrifices. I just need need need to know if it's gonna be worth sinking more money than I have into this. Anybody?

[Kaffl]

Oops, I forgot I wanted the Manflayers as well. That means the Bearmen are gonna get dropped, and the Manflayers will take their place. I'll have to drop the Champions off a few units of Duellists as well. I can take a unit of 8 without major alterations to my army list - 4 units of Duellists lose their Champions the the Bearmen are getting axed. Good idea? Yea or nay?

[Arguleon Veq]

The Manflayers are a much better choice than the Bearmen. Yuo could even use the new Corsair Models as them if you want to save money.

I dont like the regular Dwarfs, you will be much better served with a unit of Maneaters with Braces of Handguns, that will give you 6 Accurate Long Ranged Shots and a Stubborn ITP unit that packes 15 S5 Attacks after a Stand and Shoot Reaction. They are a great as Anvils OR Hammers which is handy as you have other Hammers and Anvils for them to work off [The Slayer Pirates and Marauders]. They are one of DoW's most powerful units AND they are VERY fluffy for your army.


The Paymaster is better off on a Barded Warhorse but it wont really fit your theme.

With those changes your list becomes much more competative and I dont see why it shouldn't win games against armies that arent total power armies.

[Kaffl]

They also occupy 2 Rare slots. That means both of my cannons will be out - not something I really want.

Unless I'm mistaken and the UK GW site is wrong about this. Is there a spot in the Ogre book that lets you use Maneaters as not 2 Rare choices? That'd be boss. I'd love to use them, I mean, they're just so cool, and there is a Pirate maneater.

[Arguleon Veq]

Thats in an Ogre army. They take a single Special Choice in DoW armies.