Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

At 2250pts I bring two units of 20 Spearmen with Full Command. I'm thinking of increasing the size of the units to 28 (7 wide). Is this viable, or should I just add another unit of 20? I'm not looking to add another unit elsewhere (I'm solid in the other areas), but I'm looking at my spearmen differently these days. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I usually just run two units of 10 for the core requirement and call it good. 2 units of 28 is a huge point sink. 286 points for each unit isn't good, especially since they aren't going to do much. sure they'll hold up some crappy core choices, but if they meet anything else (or anything with Str 4) that's 286 free Victory points, 386 if they capture the banner.with only a 5+ save they will kill enough to cancel your combat res fairly quickly. the most you should use would be 21 and run them at 7x3.

Ditto on the 21 at 7x3, though I've been pleased with their results thus far.

mine always run in groups of 15
small and cheep but still enough to prevent most oponents from giving them the flank so they can help reinforce the main battle units.

I always used them 3 deep to capitalize on their third rank being able to attack. Other than that, they're there because I need to fill core choices.

I take archers...

But to your original question...
You would probably be better going for units of 21, 7 wide, 3 ranks.
Still pump out a horrendous amount of hits, everyone gets to attack (as opposed to your rear rank not getting an attack in a 28 model unit 7x4)
Most important stil (relatively) affordable to allow you to get more special units where the real action is in the HE army...

I miss the days when Silver Helms were core...

Silver Helms are still useful, but if you got the points you might as well take the dragon princes.. Still, 10 Silver Helms with a hero with the battle banner can see off almost any unit on the charge.. They count as unit strength 22 (potentially giving them +1 for outnumber), they have +1 for rank, +1 for unit banner, +1 for battlestand and +d6 for battle banner. That's 5-10 for combat resolution, then they get their ASF attacks and they're likely to get the charge as they are cavalry.

BUT if silver helms were still core you could have an all cavalry army.

I'd love to take:
Lord on dragon
Mtd BSB
x2 mtd mages
2 units 6 silver helms with command
2-3 units dragon princes (character in each)
4 eagles

Unfortunately I'm forced to take archers or spears.

Waaagh_Gonads wrote:BUT if silver helms were still core you could have an all cavalry army.

I'd love to take:
Lord on dragon
Mtd BSB
x2 mtd mages
2 units 6 silver helms with command
2-3 units dragon princes (character in each)
4 eagles

Unfortunately I'm forced to take archers or spears.

To be fair, the spears aren't a terrible unit, though it would've been nice if Silver Helms weren't competing with everything else for Specials slots (not to mention being vastly inferior to the Dragon Princes).


I'm running into a similar query right now:

(@2k points) Is it worth taking 2 blocks of spears? Or would it be better served to run 1 block of spears and 10 archers?

From my experience at 2250 pts (or even 2000 pts for that matter) two blocks of spearmen will suffice. I will usually have one unit that sticks around till the end, and one that is destroyed before Turn 5. I'm having a real hard time taking archers since the bolt throwers tend to do a lot more damage. I don't have any eagles, so my rare slots are usually filled with the bolt throwers.

I love the spearman but they need to be in big blocks to ensure that they stick around for at least one round of combat. Then you can get help into the combat to finish your opponent off. This is why I like them in 5x5 blocks smaller frontage to allow counter front charge. Yes I have ran them 6x4 and even 7x3 but the 5x5 are more movable. I am considering a all cav HE army except for the mandatory core choices. I am even thanking of 2 units of 10 LSG and using them as mobile archers. I need to really look at my army book again because it might be better to take the archers instead. It is a work in progress as I need Ty model.
It is a personnel thing but spearman need to be in big blocks to accomplish what they are designed to do. Hold for a turn or two in combat.