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This was just some random list i threw together...

Lord

Wizard lord //Lore of light
Level 4
Rod of power
Total - 235 pts

Heroes

Captain
Full plate
BSB
Banner of eternal flame
Total - 93 pts

Warrior priest
Additional hand weapon
Heavy armor
Van Horstmann's speculum
Total - 128 pts

Core

20 crossbows
Musician
Total - 165 pts

6 knights with great weapons
Musician
Total - 146 pts

6 knights with great weapons
Musician
Total - 146 pts

Special

34 greatswords // Priest and BSB here
Full command
Total - 370 pts

Great canon - 100 pts

Rare

Volley gun - 110 pts

Total - 1493 pts

Tried it out and my thoughts are :

-Greatswords, dont seme killy enough.

Volley gun is too random. Probably should replace it with two mortars.

Warrior priest is for challenges, but hes really easy to kill by being singled out. And he doesnt have the armor save or killing power for challenges either. Not sure what to do with him.

Rod of power might be a waste, not nearly enough dice to store in it.

Knights are to screen flanks but they dont kill enough. Not sure what else i can use to screen flanks though...pistoliers are a joke and outriders are too expensive.

No comments?

I havent gotten a chance to use mine yet, but i play high elves and i am pretty good with them, and the empire player that i game with a lot destroys my elves everytime, but even in the large games we play in he never fields more than one unit of 8 knights(With a few characters in the unit too) he usually does, a big block of halberds, with either crossbowmen detachment or handgunner detachment, and around 20 Flagellants(to tie up my strong units while he goes around the back with knights) dont know if this helps but he is really good, and he has been playing Empire for like 15 years(maybe just 10)
Anyway sorry if this doesnt help very much best i can do for ya now

Lance

I guess nobody here plays empire?

it looks like you just made a big unit of Greatswords to march around while everything else just orbits them and does thier own thing, a DeathStar list I guess (not quite, I know) but the Empire doesn't do it as well as other armies can.

Question wrote:I guess nobody here plays empire?

It's because Empire are shocking.

Lotet wrote:it looks like you just made a big unit of Greatswords to march around while everything else just orbits them and does thier own thing, a DeathStar list I guess (not quite, I know) but the Empire doesn't do it as well as other armies can.

Eh its hardly a deathstar list. I could have used a big block of halbrediers or swordsmen of course, but thats what every empire player does.

For me, spending over 1/3 of your points on one unit in this size of army is too much.
I'd definitely be looking at a second block of troops to keep my tactical options open.

I also like using detachments. You can't beat standing and firing as your parent unit gets charged.

I use detachments to screen the flanks of the big units too.

What are your thoughts about the level 4 Wizard?
I'm finding that anything above level 2 isn't worth it with the current magic system. You can now cast big spells with a level 1. Plus I'm not as bothered if they miscast and blow their heads off.

If you are running a level 4 you have to protect him doubly so if hes your general form what i can see he has no saves, use the bent wizards armour that empire have then talisman of endurance although preservation would be better

Im not sure where you are getting the 1/3rd figure from...

IMHO a level 4 is really important if the lore has plenty of good spells...with a level 2 you risk getting the ones that are useless. And bonuses to casting and dispel never hurt.

Ive run the maths, no point spending points on shooting units that will never make their points back. You spent 320 on 40 crossbows to stand and shoot, you kill a handful of models.

Detachments cant screen warmachines and flanks good enough IMHO. Not mobile enough to catch flyers or cavalry.

In 1500 ive noticed that not many things can actually single out a wizard hidden in a ranged units. Unless of course, they get into melee, which is what your other troops are for(and what net can help with).

Range on death spells are pretty low and most people dont run a mage close enough because they dont want to risk theirs either. A ward save would be nice but its also expensive. I guess i could drop some points for a 5+ ward though.

Warrior priest : How do people kit them out?

The 1/3rd was the cost of the unit, the BSB and the WP added together.

I must admit that my use of magic is more for a bit of amusement throwing fireballs around and making sure that I can dispel whatever the enemy throws at me.
What spells do you like best from the Lore of Light?

My experience is that the threat of a stand and shoot can be actually more effective than how many models they actually kill. If an opponent is unsure about charging, it can add to his uncertainty.

I agree that detachments aren't going to do anything amazing on the flanks, but they act as a bit of a speed bump and don't cause panic tests.
If I actually want to hold a flank I go for Flagellents. If I'm happy to just delay the unit coming my way then a detachment gets the job.

I tend to stick wizards in ranged units too. Seems to make sense. I have, however, on a couple of occasions had trouble with the wizard exploding and taking the unit with him.

On the Warrior Priest question - my standard set up (and if i'm only taking one) is great weapon and armour of meteoric iron.
Do you normally go for the extra hand weapon rather than higher strength?
Last night, going toe to toe with a Stegadon, the extra strength came in very handy.

Personally I hate knights, they suck now. Take a big block of 40 swordsmen with a WP and razor standard, tends to stay around and dish out a fair bit of punishment(considering they are empire) as well.

Greatswords are good, stubborn and killy is a good combo, plus they dont suffer from the problem of being less killy as they have a decent save.

Lore of Light is a great lore to have as empire. Bironas+greatswords=doom. You also have what I think is the best spell in the game in the form of phas protection. Cast on a 6+ enemies are -1 hit, BOOM!

Empire missile troops are very average. I find my handgunners are there just so my mage doesnt anhiliate an expensive unit when he goes nuclear.

Volley guns are really not very good. Ive used one in roughly 10 games and its pants. They are ok for the "scare" factor they instil in your opponent but for overall damage output having 2 mortars is a much better bet, especially because of the "horde" nature of WHFB now.

Hope this helps!

Lights got plenty of good spells...Speed of light for example means that your troops are now hit on a 5+ instead of a 3+. And they have initiative 10.

Net can help to shut down a mage and his bunker.

I didnt give the 1+ armor save to the warrior priest because he cant take both that and the speculum...and if i use the speculum to swap stats, the initiative advantage is lost if use a great weapon.

What do people normally put on the warrior priest?

I would drop rod of power, all its going to do is kill your lord. Also I really dislike Lore of Light, though I do not know which lore I would swap it with (beasts springs to mind if you dont wanna change your list, as the sig spell goes great with greatswords and most stuff is easyer to cast on calv)

Why would the rod of power kill the lord?

Get it confused with Forbidden Rod....sorry bout that!

Im thinking of dropping the rod anyway. Unless the opponent takes no or little magic, i never have spare dice to store anyway.

First of all, Dont use GW on knigths. Second run them in bigger blocks for effect. Or drop them and get 60 swordmen with BSB and a decent standard. Volleyguns are not worth the points, take cannons or mortars instead. Greatswords are good, they do their jobb well. Have the priest join them, and you can have good results

Whats the point of lances on knights? With init 3 they usually strike last, and lances only take effect on the turn they charge. If i drop the knights, i have nothing to screen my flanks either.

if anyone comes up with a good empire list, please let me in on it.

I like the basic set up,

Thought on the warrior priest, possible the best unit in the book, give the unit hatred and decent prayers that if used right do have an effect.

I wouldn't have 2 small units of knights, they will bounce off whatever they charge. If you think a standard unit will get on average 4 to combat resolution before they attack from the banner and ranks, 6 knights will do nothing.

I would change the volley gun for a mortar, volley guns were good last edition but not so much in this one.

keep the BSB but drop the magic banner,

The WP only needs an additional HW everything else is not needed, most opponents target plebs in combat anyway.

The great swords are good but only if your opponent doesn't have a unit that will kill them before they get to attack.

Also the Wizard lord could swap his magic item for an earthing rod as he is likely to kill himself at the worst possible time.

I do like the general layout, I personally when I make an empire list use it for at least 5 games before making any changes, try not to drop anything after one game with it.