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Is the point cost usually worth it for the extra mobility of a mounted mage on an elven steed?

On foot my mage can hide in a unit of archers or in a bunker unit like phoenix guard or spearmen and cast spells, but how would he do on his own on an elven steed?

Has anyone had good results of him mounted?

Also, if a mage is mounted he gets a +6 armor save right? and with Barding he would get 5+ up... but reduced movement... barding worth it?


I'm asking because I have extra sprues to make 2 mounted mages and am thinking about trying to paint them up or not.

I've only ever seen them on foot.

As they will either be in a large unit of infantry... so can hide from being wounded.

Or

Running on foot hiding in terrain for points denial and little else.

the extra cost may be worth it to give them a 5+ ar,or save wth the steed and barding. thats what I used to do, but I have recently only put them in infantry units.

In general I run mine on foot. He is usually running arround in the back ranks and hiding in units so he is generally safe.

I also love to hide him in forests and on a horse screws with that.

I thought if you put chars in units they have to be in the front rank and not back rank?

If mages are in the back rank, can they cast spells with LOS?

No mages in the back rank cannot cast spells.

So how do mages "hide-in-the-back" ?

I thought all chars in a unit had to be in the front rank

Only Skaven can have characters in the rear rank and lead

they can "hide" but they won't have line of sight to anything and won't be able to lend their leadership to the unit.

If hidden in the rear rank, Can they still cast spells that dont need LOS? Like casting on himself, or the unit?

i would use a barbed horse, for my empire army when i play people i stick the wizard front infront of there army to cast spells and when he charges i just run away and leave his battleline deformed, if you do use this tactic make sure they can't shoot your mage.

exocorp wrote:If hidden in the rear rank, Can they still cast spells that dont need LOS? Like casting on himself, or the unit?

The idea is that they aren't actually hidden in the rear rank because they aren't actually in the unit. They're hanging out near the rear of the unit, but aren't actually in it. If they join it, then they zip up to the front.

i can't do that mainly because my empire start running the second things look bad

bigchris1313 wrote:

exocorp wrote:If hidden in the rear rank, Can they still cast spells that dont need LOS? Like casting on himself, or the unit?

The idea is that they aren't actually hidden in the rear rank because they aren't actually in the unit. They're hanging out near the rear of the unit, but aren't actually in it. If they join it, then they zip up to the front.

Gotcha,

That makes sense now. I was looking at the rulebook and actually cant find the rule where characters MUST be in the front rank. Can anyone cite the page number?

On a side note. I just noticed HE Mages can also be mounted in a Tirronac Charriot thus confering a +2 up save or able to use the charriots armor save. Is this beneficial in anyway aside from being on foot or barded?

On Chariot I believe thay are unit strength 5 which can aid in certain situations.

On a chariot they are beggin for a cannon ball to the face.
I tried it for a while. Big mistake.

If you get the plastic mage boxset,,which is recommended, you get a mounted mage, wanted or not.

Now the main reason not to mount him is to save 12pts. The main reason to do so is for mobility. You can get an armour save, buty iof you need it you are in trouble. I would rather save the points and keep my mounted mage mobile. He can also join Ellyrian Reavers this way, if you find the sitaution helpful for doing this.

Courage of Aenarion profits from having a mobile caster, so you can support different parts of the battle line as needed.

As for the disadvantages. You are labouring on the illusion that mounted characters are vuilnerable. They used to be but are not now. You cannot pick them out unless they are US5 or more. So a mounted mage can happily stand amongst the archers and be under no more threat than a mage on foot.

you can always mount the mage and put him in a unit of spearmen or something similar, mounted models in infantry units can no longer be picked put by shooting or magic so he'll be safe and you'll have a way to use your mounted model for once. also your replacing two models with the mounted mage in the end cost you nothing that you wouldn't already be spending on a spear elf etc.

I will never EVER field a mage alone again, done it with HE and Bretonnia and its not funny when they get blasted in the first round of shooting.

...unless its a Mounted Chaos Sorcerer with a 2+ save.