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Yes, they're probably very large.

I'm looking for some advice on the basic building blocks of my soon-to-be Ogre Kingdoms force.

I've been looking through and picking up some tactics, and even though it seems like it will be an uphill battle, I'm looking for some help on making things easier for myself.

I've decided to go with an MSU (or, SSGOLO as I prefer. 'several small groups of large ogres') Which means I'll be taking the following basic groups of units.
Bullbait: 3 bulls with bellower - Cheap for Ogres, and useful to flee charges. I'm not sure whether I should keep them without anything, or give them ironfists in case I can charge something with them. It's 'only' 15 points for the unit, but that adds up.
The Guts of my list will be several units of 4 Ironguts. Nothing fancy, just lots of Ogres with Great Weapons.
Yhetees: I like the speed these fellows offer, and they have some neat abilities. I plan on running three of them with a champion to challenge wizards should the opportunity arise. Also, the Yhetee champ seems cost effective, since it's an extra attack for less points than it would cost to get a third of another model.
Gorgers: Sexy, sexy things. (I plan on using PP's Dire Troll Mauler model for them, since the Mauler is just so sweet)

Characters will be the usual General + Butchers. I like the thought of running a Hunter, especially since he has one of two long range weapons in the whole book. But if he's shooting, he shouldn't be moving otherwise I'll miss left right and centre. In which case the tusks are wasted. I feel like it'd be more fun and characterful than yet another butcher, but I don't see the effectiveness.

General game plan being to speed my way towards the enemies turn one, keeping the Ironguts spaced fairly from the bulls, bulls ahead. Goal with placement is so that if the Bulls can't Bull Charge, then the flanking Guts will, and vice-versa. Don't engage in combat unless I've got a flank, and get into combat early to minimize shooting casualties.

So, looking first at a 1500 point level.

1) I need a bruiser as my general. Should he be kitted out to smash as much as possible, or kept fairly plain and just used as a mandatory slot + Ld bubble?
2) Ogre characters are pricy. Can I get away with one Butcher as scroll caddy? Is two viable without gutting (har har) my Ironguts numbers?
3) Ironguts: I can afford 12 of them, should they be in 3x4 or 4x3? (units, not one formation.)
4) Standards on Ironguts. Should it happen? I feel like the guts should be bashing down all the opposition instead of waving a stick around.

Here's a vague list I whomped up.

CHARACTERS:
Bruiser 142 (HA + GW)
Butcher 180 (caddy)


CORE: 701
Bullbait 115 3 w/ bellower
4 Guts 192
4 Guts 192
4 Guts 192
Bullbait 115

Special: 215
Yhets 215 3 + champ

Rare: 75
Gorger 75


Also, in 2K I'm interested in taking a scraplauncher. Any thoughts on it? The thought of a large template versus ranked units (one of the two fellows I'm starting with is going Skaven, to boot) but the requirement of a gnoblar unit makes me sad. (it also makes me consider the excellence of a gunman hunter surrounded by 20 of these skirmishers who can stand and shoot to anchor a flank against whatever comes his way.)

Bump for great justice?

My thoughts on the list? Solid start, good numbers and certainly brings the heat. You definitely want bellowers on all of those guts, for rallying sure, but also because I wouldn't expect to win all your combats by very big margins. The dice can be extremely cruel to ogre players, as you're living and dying by Lady Luck's whim, with 0 CR and low WS in most cases. I like how striped down your characters are, though you can probably get by fine with 1 scroll @ 1500. I'd consider taking bangstick + scroll on the butcher, as you might actually be able to squeek out a spammed casting phase: level 3 bangstick + 4x single die casts of cruncher/cracker/guts/boo/heal as needed. It's not an awesome phase, but it stands a chance if, again, luck is with you

If I could fill out your list, I'd suggest:

H: Bruiser - gw, ha = 142
H: Butcher - bangstick, scroll = 180

C: 4 Ironguts - bellower = 202
C: 4 Ironguts - bellower = 202
C: 4 Ironguts - bellower = 202
C: 3 Bulls - bellower = 115
C: 3 Bulls - bellower = 115
C: 8 Trappers = 48

S: 3 Yhets - greyback = 215

R: Gorger = 75
-------
1496

Trappers are ace, really amazing little doobers. Mine out perform my ogres game after game, irritating things if not outright killing models way over their costs with sharpstuff + luck. And don't they count for getting a scrappy later? Or do you have to take fighters for that? I've clearly never taken a scraplauncher, though I think with the 8th edition change to no more partials they're going to be more attractive - there aren't many weapons that get to plop the 5" template down

Good luck with the yhets, I've found mine continually frustrating. When I run them any more I do like you with the greyback, but I take him to sop wounds, as incoming fire has to randomize between yhets or the champ, letting the unit avoid a panic check for a little while longer.

- Salvage

yo, trust the words of salvage, he taught me the way of the ogre. the yhets really get me irritated as well. i was always more of a block/deathstar ogre player, his list looks good though.

play with an open mind, the ogre book is pretty bad IMO.

STUDDERRRRRR

You still got your Ogre Army #2 kicking around? Did you end up Throgging it, or just putting your fantasy time into lizards?

*makes a note to e-mail you tonight*

- Salvage

Awesome. It's good to hear that I'm starting off on the right track. I'm starting Fantasy back up with two friends, who are both going with new books (WoC and Skaven), so I feel like I'm looking at an uphill climb right off the bat.

But hey, if this were easy, it wouldn't be as much fun.

Any recommendations on replacing the Yhets? I'm going to stick with them for a while, but if they don't perform well (and I realize I'm paying a lot for +1 movement and -1 to enemy to hit in cc), what would you recommend subbing in instead?