Xelee wrote:
Sadly for the Elves, they do not get to face many lists like that. If you have a look at my Batrep of the poor Elven bow line vs sixteen coy of cav cowering behind a shieldwall (1000 pt Ithilien vs Galadrim, battle for the pass), you'll get a sense of the types of problems and Elven player usually has to cope with. Even if you play it longways and the whole enemy army moves at the rate of the foot, Elven bow do not do much against heavy infantry. Even when they get to shoot at something else, enemy numbers are generally too great to stop before they hit and the expensive Elves start to die!
I agree with you about playing with the painted stuff. We've all modeled our command groups here. Many of us have also just permanently stuck all the models to scenic bases. None of us actually use the rules for those command groups though, they are just for decoration. The only time this would even be an issue for us is if we were fielding a legendary formation that actually had a banner (say Osgiliath Veterans) then we'd need to take the rest of the command bases off the table.
I agree with you about playing with the painted stuff. We've all modeled our command groups here. Many of us have also just permanently stuck all the models to scenic bases. None of us actually use the rules for those command groups though, they are just for decoration. The only time this would even be an issue for us is if we were fielding a legendary formation that actually had a banner (say Osgiliath Veterans) then we'd need to take the rest of the command bases off the table.
I had reread of your report, and can see how an elven line can be overrun by fast moving heavily armoured foes. Perhaps one extra to consider, although expensive is Glorfindel. He only acted once in our game but it was decisive
Leave him out of harms way behind the elven line, then, when your opponent has priority and moved forward to attack your line, "fly" Glofindel over the top and land behind them, ready to charge their rear. He'll go first (monster), probably cause horrendous casualties, and reduce their return attacks to 1 die due to being caught in rear. Between the hammer and the anvil.
Of course this will only work if your opponent attacks in one wave. Perhaps even if in two waves, a heroic fight might allow him to carry on into second unit??
I think I'll always try and take him in my elven forces... he's just cool; devastating on the charge and a nice model.
I agree with you taking command figures, they look great in a unit, and even if not pointed for, and your opponent knows clearly which are real and which are not, its fine.
As a general point, one thing with WOTR is that low points games will be over fairly quickly as the first main charges will usually be successful. I found this the same when I used to play Warmaster. That game improved radically once armies got bigger, and you had successive waves of troops crashing into each other. I feel WOTR will be the same, its really a game for big armies.
The smaller size games are fine for learning the rules and getting the hang of things, but I reckon games will become a real spectacle both visually and game-wise, as we increase army sizes to 3,4 or 5000 points... Of course you'll need a big table to get the feel for these size battles and allow room for maneuver.
