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I have started a Skaven army, I have a codex but no rule book, and I don't plan on getting one until the new edition comes out. I have two questions.
1) How important is to make sure that my bases can be flush? As it is I have tails and weapons hanging over the edge of the bases so my models are not perfectly flush.

2) Are spears and shields worth it for clan rats?

Basing wise, it doesent matter if they hang over too much, aslong as you can rank the models together without gaps its fine (generally i fit a unit together so that one tail goes between another model behind it)
Once i have that order i number the bottom of the bases to make sure i can get them together again.

Spears are great, they really do help to no end.
You will be fighting in 2 ranks, so extra attacks should help you win combat.
If they also have hand weapons then the shields give a nice save.


However, havent played WHFB in a while, so some details may have changed a bit.

۞ Jack ۞ wrote:
Spears are great, they really do help to no end.
You will be fighting in 2 ranks, so extra attacks should help you win combat.
If they also have hand weapons then the shields give a nice save.

I disagree. HW/Shield is currently better(4+ vs 5+ save). More surviving Rats is more SCR for loner. If you're buying both options and only using the shield with hand weapons, you're pretty much wasting the points for spears.

We'll see how 8th ed changes things regarding the options.

I agree with the disagree.
Shields are generally the way to go. The only time spears are noticeably better is against units that remove your save completely but don't have to many attacks. Such as bestigors (str6, 1 attack).

In 8th i dont think anything will change in this instance.

Shields are the best bet for Clanrats, unless (as stated above) against S6 or better. Often times, Clanrats get most their active combat resolution against foes due to characters anyways.

I'm in the same position as the TS i.e. just started a Skaven army and from what I understand, spears are not that great because Clanrats tend to be a grinder type unit, as in they will use a war of attrition to win combat. Therefore shields are better due to the enhanced armor save which obviously equals better survivability.

I never take spears, My clanrats normally win combat by SCR alone. They sometimes will get a wound on something, but its rare.