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So, after a fair length of time reading up on Fantasy Battle Reports, and looking at lists, I've been looking at all of those lovely Deathstar units. Part of me still rebels against it (especially as I used to be an MSE DE player in their last book, and now I play Ogres...) but I'm coming around to that way of thinking.

So, this post has two parts.

1) How can Ogres deal with these Deathstars, especially in a competitive environment?

Here are the issues I'm seeing that make it tougher to deal with those deathstars.
A) Lack of shooting/very fast threats to get rid of the deathstar's screens/flankers/support.
- While m6 all around is quite pleasant, we don't really have anything to give fast cav/skirmishers a big 'don't go here sign'. I'd feel more inclined to put leadbelchers in here, but, like men getting on in years, they need some time to recover after they blow their load.
- Trappers have a lot of s2 shots, and since they're so cheap can cover a fair part of the board, but they're prime bait for said fast cav to just smash into and laugh while their horses are suddenly really effective in combat.
- Scraplaunchers are best fired at big blocks (especially of 20mm). However, on the charge they could annihilate fast cav. Assuming, of course, everything goes absolutely right and nothing looks at it and it's ld5.

B) Lack of static CR.
- Yeah, it's nice to take some really killy troops and crush some skulls, but when you're looking at units with 5 standard CR who are, on top of that, tough opponents... You're not looking like you're sitting pretty.
- The usual response to that is to flank them and use something really killy. Which is great, but tougher to do whilst being harassed by those aforementioned fast cavalry/skirmishers we can't really deal with.


I'll let you folks ruminate on those things. I have some ideas about them, but I'll wait to hear them.

The second part of this post is an idea I saw on the Ogre Stronghold and I've been playing with in my head.

The Manstar
Tyrant - BoH, HA (several options here I like to go with a fairly survivable lord with 2HW, rather than a great weapon, as I expect him to smash RnF)
Bruiser BSB - the Tenderizer, lookout gnoblar
2 Maneaters. 2 Braces of Handguns, HA

Stick them all together and smash into the enemy deathstar. Supported by butchers giving them whatever buffs seem appropriate/make it through enemy Magic defence. Bruiser issues a challenge (d3 wounds at a time really helps that Overkill) and the Tyrant + Maneaters kill rank and file. It can also be good to take only one brace on the maneaters so you can have 4 separate wound groups.

Thoughts?

My best tip on ogres is that i know a guy that might sell you some Orks and Goblins.

Otherwise, just wait it out for a new book man, only thing i remember about OK is that you run them in units of 3 and ironguts kill everything they charge.

I've played at 1500 points against "bruiser-star" variants. Both involved the jade griffon to protect from psychology tests, and both included a bunch of Mawseekers (multi-wound Toughness 6 is tough). One had them in a big block of bulls to actually generate SCR, the other was with a pair of maneaters.

Three bulls all hitting together is tough to deal with at that level, and killed a *lot* of dwarves.

RZ

After playing with the 2x Maneater (BoH, HA), BSB, and Tyrant combo I can tell you that they will chew through units. If they are armored (i.e. Knights, Ironbreakers, etc...) it will take longer, but so many attacks are being thrown out that you should be ok. Toothcracker/Troll guts is so sweet on this unit. 2x T5 and 2x T6 yes please. Regen on this unit is devastating as well.

They are also a unit that can take a charge. If you are facing a Deathstar Unit then let them charge. Assuming you survive the initial charge on your turn you can now counter charge with some Ironguts or Bulls (heck maybe even some Leadbelchers or a Giant).

I'd think that either maneaters with handguns or units of 3 leadbelchers would be effective at dealing with screening units.

Putting a butcher with a skull mantle in either of those units any panic tests caused by their gunfire extra dangerous.

Gorgers and sabretooths also seem like they're dangerous enough to deal with your average unit of skirmishers or fast cavalry.

Interested in hearing responses. New ogres player. Taken to not be easy.