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 as the title atates?

my argument is... make them the same points by giving them a shield.

they both a 5+save.
they either +1ws or +1s
only the swordmen get a parry save... so theyre worth theyre points right?

+1 strength is better, as a nearby wizard-mobile will give them (usually) a 3+ to hit in combat, and the other wizard-mobile will give them a 5++. A shield works for shooting for halberdiers, but cheaper is better and the parry save for swordsmen will be useless with the hurricanum around. Just my $.02.

Depends on what you need the unit to do, and how big you're running it.
With halberdiers, you get the very nice STR 4, which is much better on offence, and will allow a Horde of these guys to inflict significant damage on most non-elite units.
Swordsmen, are better on the defense due to the parry save, so will last longer in CC, buying you time to maneuver around a bit for board advantage. You can also get away with a smaller unit of these guys to do the job too.

I'd go with the halberds, as it's typically better to just kill whatever you're in CC with, rather than just tie it up for a bit.

but that relys on me having both wizard mobiles...


Automatically Appended Next Post:
ah right... ill try them then...

It does, but boy are those wizard mobiles sexy.

Yeah, give the Horde'O Halberds a try. Buffed up from Life, or Light plus the new wizard-rides makes them pretty mean.

wellbim doing a peasent army so my wiz mobiles are gonna be glowing sheds on wheels... because i dont actually loke the models. i was going to take 1 jn my 2k... with 2 units of 30 halbsim also doing empire to switch and swap the wizards as i pelase...

Halberdiers with +1 to hit will have the same to hit roll as Swordsmen against many enemies and be better against many others(while also being Str4)

The only thing Swordsmen really give you is the possability of hitting on 2s(with wagon) and a natural 6++, but with only Str3 they won't kill much.

Str4 can actually kill stuff and when its hitting on 3s with rerolls(Hatred) it can be pretty nasty.

cool. well guys ive posted a list in the whfb army list section using this advice. so take a looksie guys. and please c+c

Swordsmen have a defensive advantage due to WS4 and the parry save, Halberds are better in horde formation. Don't buy shields for your halberds.

It's a simple question of purpose. If your goal is for them to play defensive and tarpit enemy units (ranks and flanks) then swordsmen are the superior choice. If your goal is to kill the enemy through wounds, halberds in horde formation are the superior choice.

Just... they're state troops. They're T3 bumpkins in pajamas. Swordsmen are slightly more durable, halberds are slightly more killy, don't expect any miracles from them.

oh i dont lol.

Radical idea here, but instead of Halberds and swordsmen, does anybody run big blocks of free company?

Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:Radical idea here, but instead of Halberds and swordsmen, does anybody run big blocks of free company?

In a shadow/beast based list, yes.

-Matt

I tend to like strength more than WS. against a lot of enemies WS4 isnt going to help you(Chaos warriros and elfy elites I am looking at you) and even if it does help you it is only ever going to mean you are not hit on 3s, but 4s or that you dont hit on 4s but 3s.

Strength will always increase your chance to wound unless it is T6 or higher(very little) AND is reduces armor saves. Reducing a save is a huge bonus as it drastically increases the number of wounds caused.

The increased armor save and parry save are nice, but they are only going to save you so much.

Swordsmen suck. You pay (we know how many) points per model for a chaff tarpit with WS4. There is literally nothing good about them.

Halberdiers have S4. That makes all the difference because they can actually do some damage. While swordsmen can take less casualties, that means NOTHING because they can't do any damage back.

Don't give Halberdiers the shields, they can't use them in combat anyway.

Word on the street is swordsmen make the best detachments. ...although I see your list, Lordjig6, has no detachments. So if you're going straight regiments only, then yes, Halberdiers > Swordsmen easily.

woh you saw my list?! great. yea just streght up halbs is what im doi.g? no ones commenting on my kist :-( please do? :-D

Haleberdiers are great due to Str4 and a rather effectiveness against heavy armour

Lordjig6 wrote:woh you saw my list?! great. yea just streght up halbs is what im doi.g? no ones commenting on my kist :-( please do? :-D

ehh, ok

From what I have heard (just starting fantasy now...), blocks of halberds with swordsmen detachments and wizards with LoB and that nifty Wyssan's Wildform.

LOB? I think that build would work better with Shadow

Either can work, but with Beasts you are garunteed to get a Str buff and can stack it.

And if anything having higher Str in fantasy....Especially stacking strength is a must!

Interesting there's no consideration for spearmen here. I mean, as long as you're looking at cheap grunts, then surely the best cheap grunt is the cheapest grunt?

I run the same big block of halberdiers and use them to win combat, and then in my second infantry block I've swapped out my swordsmen for spearmen, using a mass of cheap bodies to hold the enemy in place. WS 4 and a parry save used to be worth the 1 point price hike, but it is not worth 2 points, especially now that the 5+ ward save from warrior priests is so easy to access.