Topic: Reikland, 2250

[Racticas]

From Graf von Carroburg's thread:

I've been watching your list and blog-- looking good!  I have a vested interest in your success, of course, as a fellow Reiklander.  When I first started into Warhammer, I dug through a lot of fluff and found that the "trademark" characteristics of Reiklanders were high discipline and favoring shooting over close combat where possible.  Additionally, of course, you have the province's wealth and proximity to Altdorf, Nuln, etc.  the possibilities are basically endless.

...

I wonder, do you have a tournament sized list posted up somewhere I could have a look at?

This is my current list

1   Reiksguard Grand Master
         Laurels of Victory, Sword of Power
1   Battle Standard Bearer, barded warhorse, full plate
         Banner of Sigismund
1   Battle Wizard, Level 2
         Dispel Scroll, Dispel Scroll
1   Battle Wizard, Level 2
         Doomfire Ring
10   Wissenland Crossbowmen
5   Reiksguard Knights, full command, Banner of Arcane Protection
5   Reiksguard Knights
5   Knights Panther
28   Reikland Swordsmen, full command
10   Halberdiers detachment
24   Unberogen Guard (Greatswords), full command
10   Halberdiers detachment, shields
5   Pistoliers
Great Cannon
Great Cannon
10   Sigmarite Zealots (Flagellants)
Helstorm Rocket Battery
   2250   points, 128 models

I am most ambivalent about the Rockets.  If I replace them, it'll be either to upgrade my TGM to Kurt Helborg (which is actually fluff-friendly in this case, but unfortunately cheesy), or to pick up 10 handgunners and 8 DoW duellists (from Bogenhafen, using Mordheim Marienburger models)-- the latter would require me to reluctantly drop the Banner of Arcane protection and the shields off my Unberogen guard's detachment.

I might do spearmen in the end instead of swordsmen.  Fluff-wise, I like the WS 4 for Reikland, but also fluff-wise, the unit seems like it should be a detachment rather than a big block. 

The result is a stubborn, LD 8 battle line, and the TGM is free to join any knights he wants.  In the new rules, he can join the Knights panther, but won't make them immune to psych (this is deliberate-- if he's in the Panthers, he can flee!).

I think the only questionable entry is the flagellants.  They're not the "disciplined troops" that the rest of the army is, and they'll look a little out of place.  Maybe someday I'll convert a unit of warrior-priest-looking guys instead with witch hunters, etc.  At least Sigmar was from Reikland

One last thing-- this is kinda funny.  I've waffled back and forth over whether to make my Greatswords Carroburg or not.  I finally decided not to; I think there are too enough Carroburg greatswords running around already, and somebody needs to represent the others, like Helmgart greatswords or something.  So I call them my "Unberogen Guard", in contrast to an obvious equivalent on the other side of the river.

I think you've seen my guys already, but they're here (the painted ones). 
http://www.seandeitrick.com/miniature.htm
Any advice (on the list or otherwise) would be greatly appreciated.

[Rufas the Eccentric]

Its a strong list so, I will only make a couple of personal preferences.  Ignore them if you wish.  I am still  a big fan of the Rod of Power over dispel scrolls and the wizard could also go with a Power Stone or Ring of Volans.

Flagellants Fluff. It is hard to imagine any professional army putting up with a bunch of half crazed peasant lunetics ruining around their flanks.  However, perhaps they recognize and appreciate Cannon fodder when they see it.  If you want a good looking substitute consider the Sisters of Sigmar from the Mordheim range.

The full comand and banner of Arcane Warding seems to be a lot of points for such a small unit of knights (they are not even IC).

[Racticas]

The "command" knights is just a vessel for my Grand Master.  I don't want his unit fried.  But the banner might not be my best-spent points, you're right.

I'm extremely happy with my magic phase; I like all the other items and combos you suggest, but I just can't see ever taking fewer than 2 scrolls.  I used to take 3.

I'll stick with the flaggies for now, with an eye for conversion or something in the long term.  Who knows, maybe they weren't even invited 

[Andre von Gruenberg]

I think in the NEB Grand Master can join all units, not only knights.
So you can put him in swordsman or Greatswords (if it makes any sense).
Another reason for not taking General.

[RonBrown]

Hmm, however I think he only passes his immune to psych to a unit of the same knightly order.

Of course, after reading the initial post this was covered and used.

Racticus, how often is your BSB targeted (leaving one unit no longer stubborn and the other a less than reliable ld8 stubborn with no re-roll)?

[Atchman]

I'm not a big fan of the Rocket or the Banner of Arcane Protection.  I think you can spend these points on something else.  I think two detachments of handgunners (five) and four more knights to give you a real hammer and to help them survive the shooting onlslaught.  (Think 10 Jezzails)

My other thought is a unit of spearmen and a detachment to deploy behind your knights on that flank. 

[Graf von Carroburg]

Offshoot of Graf's tournament army thread becomes more popular than thread itself! I love it... 

As for the army itself, it's solid, but if you're taking the GM, I'd lose the Panther unit and consolidate them into the main Reiksguard unit. It feels more fluffy, and really I can't think of many (any?) cases where you want your general and a major unit NOT to be immune to psych.

Other than that, musician on the 'Nilla Knights and the Pistoliers, and you're sweet!

Although, I am wondering why you have *Wissenland* crossbows?

[Racticas]

Offshoot of Graf's tournament army thread becomes more popular than thread itself! I love it... 

As for the army itself, it's solid, but if you're taking the GM, I'd lose the Panther unit and consolidate them into the main Reiksguard unit. It feels more fluffy, and really I can't think of many (any?) cases where you want your general and a major unit NOT to be immune to psych.

Other than that, musician on the 'Nilla Knights and the Pistoliers, and you're sweet!

Although, I am wondering why you have *Wissenland* crossbows?

Hmmm... Well, the REAL reason I'm taking Knights Panther is that I have the models, and no more Reiksguard.  I usually just deploy them on the far flank from the GM and it never comes up.

As for the Wisseland Crossbows... Well, I've waffled on this a bit myself.  I was thinking of crossbows as more provincial, and so I figured that I might prefer some allied, neighboring province to have provided that one unit.  Maybe mercenaries or something, just not Tileans.  The colors are also very close (only difference is grey trousers), so it's not visually disruptive.  I'm interested, though, if you think it's an interesting change from a solid-but-boring theme or if it messes up my theme.

[Racticas]

This is the list that I ended up bringing today to the Team Tennessee Tournament:

1   Reiksguard Grand Master
         Laurels of Victory, Sword of Power
1   Battle Standard Bearer, barded warhorse, full plate
         Banner of Sigismund
1   Battle Wizard, Level 2
         Dispel Scroll, Dispel Scroll
1   Battle Wizard, Level 2
         Doomfire Ring, Wizard's Staff
20 Spearmen, shields (no command)
10   Crossbowmen detachment
5   Reiksguard Knights, full command, War Banner
5   Reiksguard Knights
5   Knights Panther
28   Reikland Swordsmen, full command
10   Free Company detachment
24   Unberogen Guard (Greatswords), full command
10   Free Company detachment
5   Pistoliers
Great Cannon
Great Cannon
10   Sigmarite Zealots (Flagellants)
   2250   points

In the end I was short on painting time, so I fielded free company instead of halberdiers and used some of the spare points on the Wizard's staff, which I never used.  I also brought a generic block of spearmen, just to fill up points and be able to protect my crossbowmen (now a detachment) and wizard that I usually place on my static flank.  They were only quasi-useful, only fighting once-- and losing when they did.

The army (and my deployment) was surpsisingly efficient.  A flyer-heavy or magic-heavy army would have ripped it up, but it was very good against Orcs, Bretonnians, and Dwarves, my 3 opponents at the tournament today.