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.

I was researching the troll bloods overnight and came across what I want so far in my army but don't have the rule book. Can someone tell me if these units are any good doing combos? Picked the coolest models in the gallery so far.

Grim Angus
Holthol
5 long riders
Fell caller
Stoned scribe
Full fennblades with everything.

I'm guessing scribe and caller cast supporting spells to whittle down the enemy with angus while fennblades run up on the enemy and holthol and riders move up on opposite flanks. I have no idea how the game works but have seen people play it at kingdomcon.

1--you'll need at least 1 warbeast, preferably 2-3 to start out with.

2- Grim is best as a skirmisher, not a great melee focus, so you'll want at least one other warlock

3- the warpack will fix both of these problems: Madrak runs melee infantry well, and the 3 warbeasts that come with the box are pretty reliable (and run well with both warlocks)

after that, it's a question of how you feel the game is going, but that'll get you off to a good start. Also, it's worth noting that horthol and the long riders don't need to be together to benefit from related abilities, so they work well as opposite flankers. Full Longriders are probably too expensive in small games.

Here are models you'll want as soon as you can pick them up:

Janissa Stonetide (Best Solo Ever)
Krielstone
Dire Troll Bomber (Great Range)
Impaler (Animus + Bomber = Dead infintry)
Pyre Troll (Immunity to fire plus a dmg buff? Yes Please)
Earthborn Dire Troll (IMO, the best heavy they have next to Mulg)
eMadrak/Borka (Some Pimp Casters)


After all that, you can put lists together and see what else interests you.

Other's I'd highly recommend:
Kriel Warriros with all the trimmings and x3 Cabers. They are a fantastic tarpit and the Cabers hit like a truck.
Burrowers (Read about how to use them, and laugh as they slaughter the enemy.
Mulg (Because he's amazing, but expensive)
Dire Troll Mauler (Animus is good, and works well in certain lists.)


There aren't too many models in Trolls that are bad especially when supported properly. Trolls have a slightly higher learning curve due to how their faction is so Synergy heavy and it takes a while to get a handle on it.

Best of luck to ya, and welcome!

Thanks for the advice guyxs. It looks like almost my enitre wishlist needs to be changed. Ill talk to the people at my FLGS when Warmachine is being played next week for some extra wisdom.

I was actually suggesting supplementing your list. I don't really like the chronicler, but all of those are solid.

I agree with Hivemind's top picks, but think that Kriel warriors are simply too expensive for what you get: they're good, but that's a ton of money, vs. the fennblades, which are equally good (though a different role) for around half the cost.

spiralingcadaver wrote:I was actually suggesting supplementing your list. I don't really like the chronicler, but all of those are solid.

I agree with Hivemind's top picks, but think that Kriel warriors are simply too expensive for what you get: they're good, but that's a ton of money, vs. the fennblades, which are equally good (though a different role) for around half the cost.

Ya, fennblades sound very crazy. I was reading a strategy online, I guess if I bought Grissel I could launch them 20" across the field and take borka to give them iron flesh. Would I be able to cast iron flesh and then have them hoof it if I activate Borka then Grissel?

Yes, but very rarely you will be playing with two warlocks at the same time. Most of the time it'll be up to 50 points with a single warlock/warcaster leading your army.

Yeah, I've been playing WM/H since the game started, and played less than a half-doze 2-caster games.

Whatever PP's trying to push, 2-caster games simply take too long for even the not-so-casual gamer with a life.

spiralingcadaver wrote:I was actually suggesting supplementing your list. I don't really like the chronicler, but all of those are solid.

I agree with Hivemind's top picks, but think that Kriel warriors are simply too expensive for what you get: they're good, but that's a ton of money, vs. the fennblades, which are equally good (though a different role) for around half the cost.

Its true, they cost a fortune.

I find the Fenns and KWs are very similar but perform different roles well. Fenns are fast, get to the enemy and jam while dealing a decent amount of damage. They tend to be more aggresive but less effective as a tarpit. KWs on the other hand screen much better, can take a charge and still have cabers for a counter-charge. They are also an amazingly good unit to throw in with eMadrak who can make that unit effective weapon masters. They take the charge and with their prayers, fell call and that eMadrak they turn into a meat grinder. Its amazing and by the time they make their way through that mess, you pop up your burrowers with the fell call and pop your feat and charge in with heavy beaters. Its silly good.

Fenns dont have the stamina to last as long as the KWs, but money/PC wise Fenns are more efficient and better (IMHO) in more lists. I'd recommend picking KWs up at some point because they are really good and well worth the investment.

Something funny I figured out a while back-- buying a unit of fennblades and all appropriate arm bits from PP's marked up bits store is still cheaper than getting a unit of kriel warriors (and, in my opinion, would look nicer). WHFB orc arms would be cheaper still, but not tourney legal.

I thought the tourney rules said the basic model had to be PP (50% or some such)?

Doesn't that mean if you're using mostly PP model but sub in the arms it would be ok?

Oh, they may have made the rules more lenient. If that's the case, then, yeah, presumably, swapped in arms would be fine. (Wow, that's a lot of grammatically necessary commas!... ,)

The conversion rules say that at least 50% is supposed to be the original model. However, the TO has final say as to whether it is ok. So you could make a conversion by adding a Santa's hat and get it rejected or use a good looking and totally reasonable model with only 15% of original model and be told it's fine.

Most TO's aren't going to be a complete tool and DQ models. I'd wager it being extremely rare especially at big tournies where there are more important issues to worry about like logistics and keeping the games flowing/judgment calls/ rulings etc.

Depends on how things look. Just check in advance.

Defeatmyarmy wrote:Grim Angus
Holthol
5 long riders
Fell caller
Stoned scribe
Full fennblades with everything.

Fennblades + Long Riders are great together! And Grim Angus is a really cool caster! Even if you decide to try another caster (I would get 2) you can use him for a second caster list (many events let you bring 2 lists with different casters).

Here are some links:

Page showing some tricks for using Long Riders with Kriel Warriors or Fennblades (slam your own models!):
http://www.trollbloodscrum.com/2011/01/trollkin-long-riders-and-horthol-long.html
(The same content is here on the PP forums, with lots of comments. Unfortunately he didn't add the caster section yet!)

Page showing things that mesh well with Horthol:
http://www.trollbloodscrum.com/2010/12/here-comes-thunder-horthol-long-rider.html

It should be noted that Long Riders and Fennblades both have reach, making them really, Really good for Epic Madrak's feat (that lets models attack everything in their melee range immediately with one attack on each model. So a larger melee range can equal lots of attacks against things!). Both are also in his tier. However, I think it's cool to try, and they can work really well with, other casters, too.

Casters I think these two units could work well with: Jarl Skuld, Borka Kegslayer, Grim Angus, Grissel and Epic Grissel, Epic Madrak

Personally, I'd avoid Borka for starters, as he's a bit tricky to get the hang of with "topping off" to act like a Fury 7 warlock, even though he's technically Fury 5.

Links to guides on these warlocks. Like I said, I'd pick 2 and run with it for now . Also know that Long Riders are not always seen at low to normal game point levels (15 - 35) and I think come into their own at 50. But you can certainly run them at 35, and they'll look awesome doing it!

Jarl Skuld. Has an AWESOME sculpt, to boot: http://www.trollbloodscrum.com/2011/10/jarl-skuld-devil-of-thornwood-tactics.html
Borka: http://www.trollbloodscrum.com/2010/07/borka-kegslayer-guide-to-front-line.html
Grim: http://www.trollbloodscrum.com/2010/07/dude-grim-angus-is-after-you-guide-to.html
Grissel: http://www.trollbloodscrum.com/2011/01/grissel-bloodsong-queen-of-jams.html
Epic Grissel: http://www.trollbloodscrum.com/2012/03/grissel2-song-of-love-and-hate-guide-by.html
Epic Madrak: http://www.trollbloodscrum.com/2010/07/epic-madraks-gonna-destroy-world-right.html

Seriously go for Fennblades for now! Don't worry about Kriel Warriors. Also, you're going to want a Fell Caller and Stone Scribe Chronicler fairly soon to add buffs to things (you may not always run both models, and in a Grim list might actually want the Stone Scribe first if you have to choose), and will need to decide on some beasts. An Earthborn is pretty insane with Grim, but some shooty beasts can be, too.

Hope this helps, Trollblood Scrum is a great resource that I really put a lot of stock in




Automatically Appended Next Post:
If you decide to go with Grim, there's some nice advice in that article listing what beasts he likes. A compelling argument is made for:

Earthborn
Pyre OR Slag OR Axer
Impaler

Axer gives you speed, but the Pyre or Slag gives a needed damage buff.

That puts you at 15 points (counting the -6 warbeast points from Grim) or 14 using the Pyre. Common levels after that are 25, 35, and 50.

You may want to save Horthol + Long Riders (16 points) to go from 35 to 50, and add in other things to get to 25 and 35.

An easy one is Fennblades. Fennblades + UA (Unit Attachment, the officer and drummer) are 10 points, so that puts you at 25. Another 2 for the Stone Scribe Chronicler would leave you 8 left to get to 35, so you could see what one more unit you might like is to get there. Then add Horthol and Long Riders and you're at 50... and I never see folks play above 50, around here it's almost always 35, 50 at most.

Finally, to try out the Long Riders you could always drop a light beast at 35. Something like:

Grim Angus OR Jarl Skuld (+6)
Earthborn OR Bomber 10
Pyre Troll OR Impaler 5
Fennblades 8
Fennblades UA OR Stone Scribe Chronicler 2
Long Riders 11
Horthol 5
Total - 35

Personally, I think that would be a fun and awesome-looking list. You don't often see Long Riders at 35, but I may just give it a try now that I've worked it out . I put in some options for things to consider / try out. I also think you might really like Jarl Skuld with these units . Alright, time to sleep...

With how much time I put into that post, I really hope you see it

As a consolation, though, I do think I'll be trying out the list I put at the end myself. It's fun (and a challenge!) to try to get those full long riders to fit in at 35! Another big selling point for using the Earthborn with them: he can use Horthol's POW 6 axe, if you charge the same target and put him in melee range of Horthol. Along with a buff from the Pyre troll, if you take it, you can have the Earthborn hitting at P+S 20. Should be good enough to take out hard targets like the opposing army's heavy beast/jack.

It may also let you get away with taking the Impaler over the Pyre, although that's a really tough choice, and ideally you want them both (although they didn't fit in the list that I posted). Personally, I'm going to consider trying a unit of Scouts instead of the Fennblades, which would let you put that second light beast in and not have to make that choice.