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So the recently released price increase to the TK battalion has left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. I've started considering dwarves for a couple reasons:

1) I already own the "starter" set from Battle for Skull Pass

2) It seems there is fairly broad support among 3rd party mini companies like Mantic and Avatars of War

It appears that while you get 16 Dwarf warriors for $35 with GW, you can get 20 Dwarf "Ironclads" from Mantic for $25. AoW is soon to release 20 Dwarf "berserkers" for $35, compared to GW's 5 Slayers for $25. I've heard good things about AoW hero models, but I'm curious if the Mantic figs are inferior? Anyone have any first-hand experience?

I'm looking to play "beer and pretzels" games, not hard core tournaments or anything, but I'm curious...if you were playing a game with someone, who unloaded an army that was 50% GW/50% 3rd party, would you think "WTF?!?" or would you shrug your shoulders and play away?

Dwarfs are great. Are you planning on playing at a local GW or support a local gaming store? If you play at a GW you must use their model line. If you don't have a local gaming store you care to support buy battalions online at $72 a pop free shipping. This gives you. I posted this guide an another post which I consider a good way of getting into dwarfs:

Try and get a BFSP dwarf set and 2 battalions.

You get 32 warriors in each battalion, make 32 as great weapon wielding warriors and convert the other 32 into hammereres see this link:
http://www.bugmansbrewery.com/topic/20562-a-converters-guide-to-plastic-hammerers/
These hammerers also can double as great weapon warriors when you need them to be.

With the Battle for Skull Pass you will also get some shield warriors you can use as filler if you need too buff units up just put them in the back.

You also get 10 thunderers in the BFSP so use the 32 you would get in each battalion to make that 20 then use the other 22 as great weapon quarrellers

In the BFSP set you also get a cannon and a pony cart which you can convert a cannon or organ gun too with the left over bitz in the battalion:
http://www.bugmansbrewery.com/topic/31388-dwarf-cannonorgan-gun-mount/
http://www.bugmansbrewery.com/topic/29204-the-army-of-droum-peak/page__p__297469__fromsearch__1#entry297469 - Scroll down a bit about 60% of the way down and you'll see it.

So for war machines you should have 2 Organ Guns and 2 Cannons

The dragon slayer that comes in the BFSP set is actually pretty good at hanging back with your warmachines and protecting them. Any light cavalry or units that turn up on table edges will get tarpitted 1-2 turns by this guy because of his high WS and T.

The Thane in the BFSP makes a great Runesmith/Runelord as a shield is a cheap investment for a RS/RL, all you really need up to like 1.5k maybe even 2k is the Rune Smith/Lord and a BSB, I really like GWs bsb model but it's special order they don't carry it in stores but it is worth the 1-2 week wait.

You will also get miners in your BFSP set, 8 of them, you can use them as intended or stick them in warriors blocks as filler.

So there you go a solid army...

76 warriors (32 hammerers can double as warriors) or 82 with miners
22 quarrellers-work great as rangers
20 Thunderers-These guys are cool, Organ Guns generally do the job cheaper
2 Organ Guns
2 Cannons
Runesmith/Lord
BSB
Dragon Slayer

Solid start, I highly recommend picking up a Grudge Thrower as well they are the best thing in our army book when runed up. I took down 18 of my buddies blood letters even with the 5+ ward save before he reached my warrior lines, GW warriors and hammerers are the next best thing.