Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So looking through the armies of fantasy, I decided to pick Brettonians for their cavalry and chivalric ways. I picked up a battalion and a standard bearer to get a playable force, however I have now read many things saying how weak they are, and my confidence in them have wavered.

I'd probably keep them though since I'm quite a casual gamer, but I was just wondering what builds and tactics work best for Brets for them to be able to compete with the other armies?

Here you can see some good bret tactics in use.
For more check out the army list, battle report and tactics sections, where various discussions have/are taken(ing) place.
Either way brets may lack the brake face builds that a few armies can field but are genrally still quite viable, certainly flag them as a finesse army.

Bretonnians are still a solid middle-tier army. Unfortunately, in previous editions of the game cavalry was outright overpowered, so a lot of longtime Bretonnian players seem to be struggling now with the fact that the army no longer plays itself.

SkaerKrow wrote:Bretonnians are still a solid middle-tier army. Unfortunately, in previous editions of the game cavalry was outright overpowered, so a lot of longtime Bretonnian players seem to be struggling now with the fact that the army no longer plays itself.

This.

I have rescently played Bretts in GTs and done pretty well with them (always 4-1 and top 4 finnish), but the key is to make an army that operates in all phases, rather than tries to ram 6 busses down the enemy's throat like the 6th edition list. Most older Brett players seem to refuse to grasp this concept.

They bring a lot to the table, with a solid magic phase (access to Heavens and Life, with two scrolls), solid shooting phase (flaming archers with longbows at a cheap cost), mass cheap hordes (peasants are well decked out for 5pts a guy, S5 Stone Throwers), and good late game hammer units (lances still have good static and Peg Knighst are phenomenal). I have done well just bringing a good mix of all the elements and playing to my opponent's weaknesses. Really, the only armies that give me issue are full frontal male nudity gunlines and dwelller spammers. It takes practice, but the list is solid when played well.

Go for them if you feel you want to build the army (IMO by far the most important thing if your aim is to end up with a painted army on the tabletop), there are disparaging comments about almost every army on this board at some point or other, and like Phazael says it's probably more to do with how they aren't as powerful in the current edition of the rules as they used to be.