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Blackpowder versus medieval weaponry and monsters is the main thing that attracts me to WFB. So I'm attempting a blackpowder list (which I define as a list with at least 75% of the points dedicated to blackpowder units). this kinda limits me to Handgunners, Pistoliers, and the heavy weapons (cannons / mortars / rockets / barrage gun / steamtank).

I'm HOPING this kind of list is more viable in 8th edition, given that ranged units can fire in two ranks and so don't need to be so spread out. So if ya feel like it, help me out with this concept army and try and make it competitive.

Total: 991 pts

Heroes
(General) Captain w/Sword of Power, Pistol, Full Plate, Shield, Warhorse
Lvl 2 Battle Wizard w/Dispel Scroll, Wizard's Staff

Core
State Handgunners
-- 19 Handgunners
-- Full Command
-- Marksman w/Brace of Pistols
State Handgunners
-- 19 Handgunners
-- Full Command
-- Marksman w/Brace of Pistols
State Handgunners
-- 19 Handgunners
-- Full Command
-- Marksman w/Brace of Pistols

Special
Cannon
Cannon
Pistoliers:
-- 6 Pistoliers
-- Musician
-- Outrider

XXXXXXXXXX CC XXXXXXXXXX CC XXXXXXXXXX PPPP
XXXXXXXXXX CC XXXXXXXXXX CC XXXXXXXXXX PGPP

X = Handgunners
C = Cannon and crew
P = Pistoliers
G = General

edit: Removed the barding on the captain, as it made him slower than the pistoliers (thanks Aenir).

Hrm. Would more people be into this kind of list if I increased the points to 1250 or 1500?

I'm really looking for a smaller army though, so I can start collecting and get into the game before I put a serious commitment into it...

Melissia wrote:Hrm. Would more people be into this kind of list if I increased the points to 1250 or 1500?

I'm really looking for a smaller army though, so I can start collecting and get into the game before I put a serious commitment into it...

Clearly play Ogre Kingdoms and get 1,000 points with two boxed sets and a Tyrant. 13 models!

As long as you don't mind their... chestiness.


I think Empire gunlines are completely viable in 8th, Empire might well be one of the strong armies around. I've only had one game against them but their ability to make all of your monsters and large targets just kind of die instantly is scary.

Yes, well, I'm not interested in Ogres.

I like guns, so it's either Handgunners or Thunderers for me. And I don't feel like painting beards...

Melissia wrote:Yes, well, I'm not interested in Ogres.

I like guns, so it's either Handgunners or Thunderers for me. And I don't feel like painting beards...

Poor Dwarfs. So do you intend to have EVERY unit equipped with guns of some sort? You might suffer against certain armies but I suppose that's the point of a themed list. Large blocks of infantry have become much stronger so I don't know if you'd be willing to invest in a big horde of Halberdiers that will be stubborn with a re-roll with your Battle Standard alive to anchor your line.

Now is definitely the time to get into Fantasy though. Everyone has kind of switched to a Fantasy mentality here (after 2 months of 40k on Fantasy night)

If you go up to 1500 points it'd probably be wise to look into more magic defence, namely something with a higher Wizard level than 2. Adding your Wizard level to your dispels is such a huge change (or if you're a dirty High Elf you can add like SIX to your dispels and have your opponent never actually cast anything without double 6's)

I intend to have at least 75% of my points dedicated to blackpowder (not including my magic defense anyway).

I'm working on a similar army but at 2000 points to go against Dwarves-

General with 2nd hand weapon, gilded armour and holy relic

Warrior priest with Dawn armour and enchanted shield

Warrior priest with armour of meteoric iron

3x 20x handgunners with marksman and standard, 10x handgunner detatchment and 10x spear detatchment

2x 5x pistoliers with command

3x cannon

2x mortar

Mick

Instead of the brace of pistols take the Hochalnd Longrifle. Being able to snipe characters in a 1000 pt game is cruel and awesome at the same time.

realy funny, maybe i will do it to!

Such gunlines are not going to work very well. Much more terrain means many more to hit modifiers. You are looking at hitting on 6's at long range, and that's without a skirmisher screen. Depending on the opposition, you could see charges on turn 2. How much damage do you think you can do in what perhaps amounts to half the game?

Add to this the effects of some spells or items such as the Stormbanner or the inability to S&S against certain units and you will see that it isn't a good idea. Everyone with an L4 will nuke you.

So I'll want a wizard lord to dispel spells, and set up the terrain on my side of the table to benefit me, deploying to ensure a "home stretch" of land has to be crossed where my army is able to fire at the enemy. With random movement, some armies might be able to get into combat on turn two... or they could get into combat on turn four. It depends on the rolls.

Hi there, I wrote a similar list. All black powder units though. I won't go into details of upgrades ect.
Master Engineer
70 Handgunners. (7 units)
3 great cannons.

Its unfair and people don't verse it becuase they will die very fast.

From Iron-Templar

I would think three units of twenty (remember, two ranks can shoot now) and then add in a wizard for dispelling would work better in 8th edition.

I agree with you, units of 20 work much better. Two ranks firing is a good amount of firepower. With the heroes I thought if you dropped the wizard and captain you could have a warrior priest. Warrior priests have good leadership for your army and they will give an extra dispell dice for magic resistence. This would give you some extra points. I would turn the Pistiloirs into outriders. Outriders are much better and the point of a gunline is to not move.

This is a VERY intriguing concept, and something I've considered doing myself.

I look forward to seeing where you go with this, and how it performs!

Given what the BSB does for the army, would it be a good idea to get a few cheap captains with BSBs?

Warboss Grimfang wrote:Instead of the brace of pistols take the Hochalnd Longrifle. Being able to snipe characters in a 1000 pt game is cruel and awesome at the same time.

While the Hochland lets you snipe, the brace of pistols lets you Stand and Shoot at Short range (You count as shooting at the Max Range of your shortest ranged range weapon).

Jin wrote:

Warboss Grimfang wrote:Instead of the brace of pistols take the Hochalnd Longrifle. Being able to snipe characters in a 1000 pt game is cruel and awesome at the same time.

While the Hochland lets you snipe, the brace of pistols lets you Stand and Shoot at Short range (You count as shooting at the Max Range of your shortest ranged range weapon).

So Jin, you value the stand and shoot over the sniping ability?

Melissia wrote:Given what the BSB does for the army, would it be a good idea to get a few cheap captains with BSBs?

It's THE Battle Standard. Multiples are not allowed.

@Alph, haven't tried it out myself, but have always been recommended that option over the Hochland (I think the feeling for the HLR was take lots or take none).

The Short Range Stand and Shoot makes charging Handgunners a bit more of an intimidating prospect.