Lord_Fizzle wrote:
I was wondering why people here on the One Ring seem to avoid taking the Elf Blade. I've always found it useful to have a few in each warband to help deal with monsters and tougher heroes. Is there some big disadvantage to it I am not seeing?
Yes, the argument would come down to what is "a few"
The biggest disadvantage is that they come with elves...generally you a) don't have high enough numbers to risk suffering the -1, and b) you can't support a model that's wielding it two-handed. For these reasons, I prefer to use them as "hero support"...if a hero is in the fight, especially against another hero or monster, then I will pile on as many blades as I can (the hero will not use his own two-handed). But this means maybe 1 or 2 per warband. Any more and they'll be pulled into their own fights, which means I'll probably want them supported if possible, or they'll be alone so I wouldn't risk it, so it's a waste of points better spent on a shield or wood elf spear.Other people describe regularly pairing a blade with some other warrior, so that the blade takes the -1 and the other wins the fight, but this seems too dangerous to me: 50% chance the blade will be the highest die, and then what?
In short, in many ways the most critical part of the game is winning fights. If you win, you do not die, even if you fail to wound. It's the same principle that allows Wood Elves to win, despite their D3.
Anyway, just my 2 cents. YMMV...