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I now have the first miniatures to my Empire Army. Here is what I have, everything is assembled plastic, but some pieces are missing:

40 Empire State Troopers

10 Greatswords

10 Hand Gunners

8 Knights

2 Empire Generals on Foot, 1 on Horse

5 Pistoliers/ Outriders

1 Steam Tank


I would like a 2250 list that uses all or at least most of the models I already have, isn't over the top competitive, but has enough teeth to have a reasonable shot at winning games.

I really like the Steam Tank model, and though I don't want to field 2, It would be hard to dissuade me from fielding the one.

I am initially thinking of doing a heavy Cav list. With a General on a Pegasus, two units of knights, a bunch of dudes on foot, Outriders, Steam Tank, 2 Cannons, and a Hellblaster Volley gun.

Thank you for the help.

Stay thirsty, my friend.

Here is my first list based on the units I have.

-Heroes-

Captain of the Empire w/ General, Sword of Sigismund, Hand Weapon, Pistol, Full Plate Armor, Shield on Warhourse w/ Barding = 125

Battle Wizard w/ Level 2 Upgrade, Hand Weapon, Dispel Scroll, Sigil of Sigmar on Warhorse = 150

Battle Wizard w/ Level 2 Upgrade, Hand Weapon, Seal of Destruction = 145

-Core-

State Troops = 261 Points
20 Swordsmen w/ Duellist, Musician, Standard Bearer
[Det] 10 Halberdiers
[Det] 10 Spearmen

10 Handgunners = 80

8 Knightly Orders Preceptor, Musician, Standard Bearer = 224

-Special-

10 Greatswords = 100

5 Outriders = 115 pts

-Rare-

Steam Tank = 300

Total Roster Cost: 1500

Personnaly I would definately boost the Great Swords to 20 and attach either a BSB or a hard hitting character, add a unit of flagellants with a warrior priest and a unit of 20 spearmen with 1 10 man det of handgunners

Being fairly new to both Empire and Fantasy Ill lend as much help as I can:
-Heroes-

Captain of the Empire w/ General, Sword of Sigismund, Hand Weapon, Pistol, Full Plate Armor, Shield on Warhourse w/ Barding = 125

Battle Wizard w/ Level 2 Upgrade, Hand Weapon, Dispel Scroll, Sigil of Sigmar on Warhorse = 150

Battle Wizard w/ Level 2 Upgrade, Hand Weapon, Seal of Destruction = 145

If you go up against alot of magic armies like I do, you will learn real fast to do 2 things: One scroll caddy wizard and priests are your best friends
Captains are surprisingly good for their costs and go well with knights when mounted
Putting a captain on a Pegasus with the casket is also incredibly effective. Iv stopped a few armies in their tracks with this combo, as it distracts the enemy, and makes them hide their wizards, something that is extremely helpful when you dont have to much magic resistance.

-Core-

State Troops = 261 Points
20 Swordsmen w/ Duellist, Musician, Standard Bearer
[Det] 10 Halberdiers
[Det] 10 Spearmen

10 Handgunners = 80

8 Knightly Orders Preceptor, Musician, Standard Bearer = 224

When taking swordsmen I like to take the 3x3 block of free company, through when counter-charging the pikes to work a little better in your favor.
Being a Nuln player I cant say no to hand gunners.
Knights, as you will learn, are extremely fragile against certain armies. Use them to charge the flanks as much as possible, and again putting the captain with them ensures anti-hero fun.

-Special-

10 Greatswords = 100

5 Outriders = 115 pts

Greatswords are to me kind of meh. They take away a special slot that could be used for cannons, but some people swear by them. I however have yet to see them do more than hold a unit until my knights could arrive.
Another toss up for some people, I prefer Pistoleers compared to outriders. Outsiders have to stay still to shoot their guns, something that can be very dangerous for such a small squad, pistoleers can run along the side of an advancing unit and take some shots off before moving out of charge distance the next turn. Maneuverability it the key to this unit, and outriders take that away.
Cannons are a must have. Being able to take out that Hydra coming after you, and shooting down the steg can do alot to the player across the table. And at 100 points you really cant go wrong.

-Rare-

Steam Tank = 300

My personal favorite unit. I feel empty inside if I dont take one. To some, taking two is a douchey move, but then again the people saying that tend to be Daemons, VC, and DE, so its best to ignore it.
So far Im not impressed with the Hellblaster, its blown up on me twice in two games on the first turn of shooting, but people are genuinely afraid of it, putting alot of their expensive units on the opposite end of the table. This alone could be used to your advantage as you can basically use this piece to guard a section of table while the real threats like knights and steam tanks, are on another.

Again Im fairly new but have played a number of games, and slowly building my own army up. The war alter is the way to go for Lords I hear.

combatmedic has pretty much nailed it. You can have a non-cheesy empire army and still win agaisnt most armies. If you want to be truely cheesy take double stank and an arch lector on a war altar, that sort of army would probarly be your only chance again daemons for example, but never use it for a pick up game. Also make sure to have at least one mortar, their cheap and if you can get a good shot (much easy than using a helstorm) you can get a fair amount of kills with it.

Thank you for the advice, here is my new list:

New List!:

1492 Pts - Empire Roster

-Heroes-

Captain of the Empire w/ Sword of Sigismund, Hand Weapon, Pistol, Full Plate Armor, Shield on Warhorse w/ Barding (General) = 125 pts

Warrior Priest of Sigmar w/ Prayers of Sigmar, Hand Weapon, Great Weapon, Heavy Armour, Helm of the Ratslayer on Warhorse w/ Barding = 137 pts

Battle Wizard w/ Level 2 Upgrade, Hand Weapon, 2 Dispel Scroll = 150 pts

-Core-

8 Knightly Orders w/ Musician, Standard Bearer (w/ Steel Standard), Preceptor, Lance and Shields = 244 pts

State Troops (41#, 305 pts)
25 Swordsmen w/ Musician, Standard Bearer, Duellist
10 [Det] Halberdiers
10 [Det] Handgunners

-Special-

10 Greatswords = 100 pts

5 Outriders w/ Champion = 131 pts

-Rare-

Steam Tank = 300 pts


There where a few things I liked in the fluff and things I am changing around as I assemble things.

I dropped a second Wizard to get a Warrior Priest because I think they are cool, and I thought it made more sense to have a Close Combat Character in the Knights, and make the Knights hate you. I also added the Helm of the Ratslayer just to mess with a friend of mine who is a skaven player.

I also upped the Swordsmen to 25 because there is something appealing to a fully square unit.

I decided to keep the Outriders, because my goal is to have a pretty decent static gun line type army buffed with quick things like Knights. I was told that they are still good, because they can rapidly redeply.

The change also nets me 5 less guys I have to put together, and gives me some spare for conversions and paint tests.

8 Knightly Orders w/ Musician, Standard Bearer (w/ Steel Standard), Preceptor, Lance and Shields = 244 pts

Good hammer unit with the priest especially. Warbanner would be a better choice though, as the steel standard is very situational. Valid option would also be taking multiple small units of knights.

State Troops (41#, 305 pts)
25 Swordsmen w/ Musician, Standard Bearer, Duellist
10 [Det] Halberdiers
10 [Det] Handgunners

Otherwise good, but in larger games you end up having problems for room in your deployment zone, so it's good to keep melee detachements small (6 is a good size), as they take less space and are even more sacrificial by being cheaper. It's rarely the case you get the classic infantry vs infantry melee where you negate the opponents ranks with the detachment. Oftentimes melee dets are just pushed forward for redirecting, harassing and speedbumbs.

10 Greatswords = 100 pts

These guys would benefit from a bsb upgrade so they would get more out of the stubborn. Perhaps you could make the capitan a bsb and priest your general? Beware fear-autobreaks as these guys are easily outnumbered.

Steam Tank = 300 pts

Fine for 2k+ games, but bear in mind that some/most opponents have no way of destroying this thing in smaller games, especially if you play it giving no points if not completely destroyed.
---

Tip for enlargening the army: Next logical step would be 2 great cannons as they are a good answer to monsters and the like.

My $.02:

Why 8 on the Knights? You are paying a premium for +1 combat res (assuming you put both the general and the priest in the unit) that goes away as soon as one is killed. How about 5 or 6 and save the points.

Consider close combat detachments in units of 9. Set up 3x3 and use to flank charge or sacrifice to set up a counter charge. 3x3 gives a smaller footprint which as Chaoslord says, becomes a premium in larger games.

Expect to get a lot of flak for a steam tank in under 2k points. There's just not a lot that can take it on at that points level.