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.

In the midst of everything else in my life and trying to build up my WoC, I started thinking about DE the other day after seeing some cool mini's and have now been thinking of my Dark Elves

As the title suggestions, I am wondering about setting up a second unit of Corsairs in my army. Right now I am running one 24 man unit with 2 hw, SSS, mus, and sb. They fill the "lots of attacks role" and usually get KB from cauldron when needed.

That being said... Would an additional unit:

24 Corsairs-- hand-bows, musician, standard bearer, and (not) banner of murder

be beneficial/ complementary to a DE army? Also, I am operating under the assumption that banner of murder gives AP to the hand bows as well as regular attacks.

***edit: I am now scratching the BoM but leaving in here so the posts are not confusing.

No. BoM and the Razor Standard both only apply to close combat. In fact, I believe it says that right in the item descriptions.

If I were to run a unit of RHB corsairs, I don't know what banner (if any) I would put on it. Some swear by the SSS. I think that Frenzy would be too likely to cause you to charge, when you really just want to walk up, shoot, and recieve the charge (and get the S&S reaction).

I've seen good results using them as a Sorceress bunker. Ten or so, hanging back from the battleline, make a fairly cheap bodyguard for the Sorceress, and they can shred any light units that come after her. Being guaranteed the S&S means light cav, scouts, and most flyers will go <POOF>, if not from the S&S than from the combined S&S and subsequent close combat. Assuming they don't panic and run away... Of course, this is not the unit you want to bunker the SacDag Sorceress in.


However, if you have a minimum of GS skills, RHB corsairs are easily converted into Shades. Just GS over the scales of the cloak.

Hmm I was wondering about the transfer of AP for the banner of murder as it does not specifically say in the description.

Both of those banners simply say "provides the Armor piercing special rule," which admittedly applies to close combat attacks and only weapons that specifically say they are AP-ing...

*cough* feel like I just proved myself wrong...

Back on topic, yes I too swear by the SSS for my one unit, but by adding a second (if i choose too) I was wondering what banner would bolster my hand bow corsairs (if any is necessary) because as you said, I mostly want to walk up, shoot, Stand and shoot, and then not get murdered in combat so something can bail them out

For keeping your RHB corsairs around after a serious attack, I think either Cauldron buffs or augment magic will serve you better than most magic banners. An extra attack, killing blow, or Mindrazor goes a long way to making them dangerous. Or, you could just stick to a small unit and use them as close-range charge baiters/redirectors.

I run a unit of 18 with handbows and full command.
They do a very good job at flanking and cleaning up fast cav and redirecters.

I tried a mix of banners, but if you go magical I'd take the +1 movement. It can really make the difference with rapid reforms and moving into point blank range.

-Matt

But do you feel that the 18 handbows is any better at cleaning up than 18 with ADW? Because honestly in my testing it is not the case.

This is coming from someone who ran two units of them. I am currently ripping the bows off mine to just give them the AHW.

L'Etat C'Est Moi wrote:But do you feel that the 18 handbows is any better at cleaning up than 18 with ADW? Because honestly in my testing it is not the case.

This is coming from someone who ran two units of them. I am currently ripping the bows off mine to just give them the AHW.

Yeah, the handbows are nice. It lets me reform and move 6" at an enemy, then double tap. That's 14" of threat range, for things that try and sneak past you.
I wouldn't want them in the center, but on the outside, it has paid off a few times.

-Matt