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With the arrival of the new edition of WH, i decided to start a new army. after looking around, i felt myself drawn to the empire.
So i went to GW to get the armybook. So here's my first empire list. (1000 pts)

Heroes:

- Lv2 wizard (life) plus 1 dispell scroll, ring of volan =145
(the ring will contain the spell of the lore of beast to turn him in a dragon if the enemy comes to close)

Core:

- 22 handgunners and standard bearer= 186 pts
- 10 handgunners = 80 pts (detachement)

Special:

- cannon= 100 pts
- Mortar= 75 pts
- 5 pistoliers plus repeater pistol = 100
- 5 pistoliers = 90 pts

Rare:

Helstorm rocket battery 115
Helstorm rocket battery 115


i tried to make a gunline. But i think my list lacks "punch". Because i don't really have a combat oriented unit.
I thought about including knights, but they felt pricey for what they did.

All help is welcome.

Sillyboy

If you want a gunline, get rid of the pistoliers, and add more cannons, and mortars, also consider a volley gun and definitely want an engineer.
Crossbowmen usually outperform the handgunners for me. The longer range, lets them shoot more, and there is a 3" area that they are in short range vs long. I only take handgunners for the sniper rifle.

I'm not sure why you have handgunners as a detachment.

Also most people hate playing a gun line.

I think ring of volans is random so you choose beasts then you roll to see which spell you get and its also cast at its lowest casting value, so you cant use the best version.

I would swap 1 helstorm rocket for a cannon and make 1 unit of pistoliers- outriders that will give you more fire power.

Make it 3 units of 10 handgunners with standards in each because at the moment you havent met the 25% core requirement as detachments dont count.

ok, you're right about the ring so i'm dropping that.

about changing pistoliers to outriders: i don't know,..... pistol makes me shoot while i move, while repeater handgun is 'move or fire'.
the key for march blokking - harrassing the flank - hunting warmachines is to stay mobile so staying static isn't good.
So why change it in more expensive, less effective troops? Or am i not seeing something crucial?

About changing crossbows, i'll think i shall do that.

3 crossbow squads: ok but giving them standards? only helps in close combat, and I believe when they are in combat that standard won't do much.
(I added one just in case i rolled blood and glory, then they help by boosting my fortitude)
Maybe musicians to get them to have a better chance to rally?.

changing a rocket battery for a volley gun. they seem like lots of fun,
but don't they blow themselves up fast?

so changed my list a bit:

Heroes:

Lv 1 wizard plus 2 dispel scroll 115

Core:

10 crossbowmen plus standard = 90 pts
10 crossbowmen = 80 pts
10 crossbowmen = 80 pts

Special:

Cannon = 100 pts
Cannon = 100 pts
5 Pistoliers plus repeater pistol = 100 pts
5 Pistoliers plus repeater pistol = 100 pts

Rare:

Helstorm rocket battery = 115
Helstorm rocket battery = 115

more advice welcome,
and maybe an answer to my pistoliers-outriders question/and use of standards for ranged units.

Sillyboy

Pistoliers have never worked for me, march blocking is hard in this edition and there are so many modifiers they'll hardly ever hit.

Standards do not help your missile troops, they will not have the ranks to win any combat. Use the pistolier points and standard points to up the amount of troops if you really want a gun line.

Yea I rather get more cannons/mortars as the others have said. Hit better and harder

You can only have 1 arcane item so make him lvl 2 again and drop the second dispel scroll. Cannons= best warmachine hunters you dont need to use pistoliers for that reason, and march blockings difficult so thats why i said keep 1 unit but swap the others for outriders.

Outriders can move up 12 and set up on a flank in a good position (pre measure to make sure your 24 away) And have 15 shots at bs4.

After rethinking my list: i decided to throw away the pistoliers to get an extra crossbow squad.
the wizard lost his 2nd dispel scroll. throwed away the second pistolier squad. and used the remaining points to get 2 mortars.
And changed a helstorm into a helblaster volley gun. just for fun .

Heroes:

Lv 1 wizard plus 1 dispel scroll 90

Core:

10 crossbowmen plus standard = 90 pts
10 crossbowmen = 80 pts
10 crossbowmen = 80 pts
10 crossbowmen = 80 pts

Special:

Cannon = 100 pts
Cannon = 100 pts
mortar = 75 pts
mortar = 75 pts

Rare:

Helblaster volleygun = 110
Helstorm rocket battery = 115

So is this better, or worse?

Sillyboy

Better than 1st but worse than second lol, you still need some guns -2 armour save helps thats why outriders are good. Drop a mortar and make him lvl 2, and loose 10 crossbowmen for 5 outriders.

And swap the volleygun back to rocket battery, the volley gun is bs3 -1 for multi shot -1 for long range =6's to hit.(didnt bother to add - for cover etc as its bad enough as it is.)

A lvl 1 is pretty pointless in this list you might as well just have a master engineer.

=o your right , how did i missed that.

So after some fiddeling around:

Lv 2 wizard plus 1 dispel scroll 125

Core:

10 crossbowmen plus standard = 90 pts
10 crossbowmen = 80 pts
10 crossbowmen = 80 pts

Special:

Cannon = 100 pts
Cannon = 100 pts
mortar = 75 pts
outriders = 105

Rare:

Helstorm rocket battery = 115
Helstorm rocket battery = 115

I'm liking this list but have 15 pts left, any suggestions?

Sillyboy

Make an outrider a champion so hes 3 shots at bs5 or 2 more crossbowmen, or talsiman of protection 6+ward save on mage.

Theres not really alot of choices lol.

With that many war machines you might want to drop the mortar (or 1 helstorm because they have the same role) and get an engineer.An engineer can really help with misfires and getting that cannon ball to hit its target.

losing a warmachine to an engineer, doesn't look appealing to me. Plus i normally play an NG only army, so i won't cry when i see something blown up.

i think i'll ad 1 crossbowmen to both crossbow squads wich don't have a banner.

Thx for the help guys

Sillyboy