Best size for Skeletons

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**TheAngrySquig**

What is the best size for a regiment of VC skeleton warriors?

**Grey Templar**

30 or 40 would be my choice. they should survive a single round for you to grow them back.

**TheAngrySquig**

Thanks, you really do know everything about Fantasy don't you?

**tona7**

lol, yeah Grey Templar I see you like, everyone on the fantasy forums.

**Grey Templar**

I hardly know everything, I just have too much time on my hands

**HawaiiMatt**

The best size is Zero.
Run Ghouls

-Matt

**Jackster**

TheAngrySquig wrote:Thanks, you really do know everything about Fantasy don't you?

Blah, the fool cant even spell his friend's name right!

**Grey Templar**

Nah, I just like to annoy you

**Jackster**

Grey Templar wrote:Nah, I just like to annoy you

lol, remember at ardboyz semi when the organizer got our name mixed up?

**Grey Templar**

Yup, I actually had the same thing happen yesterday at Starbucks. they wrote my name down as Jacky

**Jackster**

Grey Templar wrote:Yup, I actually had the same thing happen yesterday at Starbucks. they wrote my name down as Jacky

WTH?!

**kingarthur**

HawaiiMatt wrote:The best size is Zero.
Run Ghouls

-Matt

I don't see this. My friend says the same but I'm not seeing the value of ditching skeletons for ghouls in my games. The ghouls die faster, don't have a parry save, and the poison doesn't matter a hill of beans against solid armor. I run 40 of both ghouls and skeletons and there are always only skeletons left of my force even though I raise and raise and raise into both.

My opinion is go big, 40 models in 8x5. If you can do 50 as a horde do it! LOL!

**TheAngrySquig**

If you do run 50 would you go 10x5 or 5x10

**Trondheim**

Skeletons in large formations, 40 is the minimum size, Ghouls should be used as a flanking force, they work wonders in thta role.

**TheAngrySquig**

Interesting, are the ghouls fast enough though?

**kingarthur**

If I had a unit of 50 it would be a ten wide horde. Having all those ranks to soak hits is nice, but you gotta dish them out to win. And with a horde you get three ranks of fighters.

**TheAngrySquig**

So with that do spears still give an additional rank?

**Grey Templar**

Yes, "Fights in Additional Ranks" is a cumulative special rule. so a horde of Spears fights in 4 ranks. a Horde of Elf spearmen fights in 5 ranks.

**TheAngrySquig**

Damn, thats hardcore

**Grey Templar**

yeah, shame the attacks suck.

Str3, rerolling to hit or not, isn't going to do much to anything with decent armor or any sort of buffing.

**Jackster**

That and HE spears cost a hell lot.

**TheAngrySquig**

So with your basic melee weapons, swords spears and halberds, which one is better in the big blocks? Would it be spears for the rank, swords for the save, or halberds for the strength?

**Grey Templar**

Halberds are generally the best option if you have access to them. Spears are generally avoided because its usually too expensive for just 5 more Str3 attacks.

The only time Spears are generally taken is when the models are cheap enough to where it really doesn't matter(TK Skeletons), the models are already a good Str(Lizardmen), or the models can be buffed to where the Str3 attacks become dangerous(Str buffs, Killing Blow buffs...)

**TheAngrySquig**

And Swordsmen aren't worth taking period?

**kenshin620**

TheAngrySquig wrote:And Swordsmen aren't worth taking period?

No, Hand Weapons are good for blocks you want to stay put and hold enemies

Even the most powerful of melee enemies will have a few of their attacks negated due to the parry save with the shield

In fact since hand weapons are usually cheaper than spears, I usually opt for them if theres no other options besides spears

**TheAngrySquig**

So in terms of effectiveness it goes
1) Halberds
2) Sword and Shield
3) Spears

**Vermillion**

In general yes, obviously theres the exceptions as mentioned

.

**TheAngrySquig**

Awesome. Now as for handguns vs crossbows, what are your thoughts?

**Grey Templar**

Well, it depends on which is more useful.

6" more range vs Armor Piercing.

If you are facing heavily armored opponents, the Handgun is superior.

If you need another round of shooting before Melee, the Crossbow might do a little more damage. You also might cause more damage overall if facing low T, poor save, troops.

Generally, I would go with Handguns.

**HawaiiMatt**

TheAngrySquig wrote:Awesome. Now as for handguns vs crossbows, what are your thoughts?

I don't really see how either applies to skeletons, or sizes of units, but...

Handguns give armor piercing, crossbows give you 6" more range.
Range is only useful if your opponent deploys within your range, since you can't move and fire.
If you're opponent deploys out of your range, you're likely to get 1 shot at long, 1 at short, and stand and fire.

I really wouldn't call either better, because the benefit of both are situational.
Take whichever you like the look of.

Now, if you're talking about dwarf handgun/crossbow, it's a different story.
Dwarf handguns get +1 to hit, but dwarf crossbowmen can get great weapons.
That makes dwarf guns more shooty, and dwarf crossbowmen more flexible.

-Matt