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Despite the title, this is not a cookery book for Tyranids.

I'm starting fantasy and I am torn between Empire and Bretonnia.

I adore the idea of massed cavalry in resplendent heraldry charging headlong into my enemies, but I'm concerned about what exactly I do with them post-charge... they seem to only have the one thing going for them, and that concerns me.
The filthy low-born make for good distractions and thorns in my enemies side and the Trebuchet is amazing (so 2 would be better.)

With the Empire, I love cannons and handguns and they seem to be able to do it all... plus phenominal facial hair adorning some of their units. But these are the second choice, and I know that if I field an Empire force it will hail from the border between the Empire and Bretonnia and I will use bretonnian miniatures for the cavalry, after all reiksguard wipe the floor with Bretonnian knights, albeit at a tremendous points cost.

Now, I said that Empire would be my second choice, but that doesn't mean I would regret taking them... I would regret not having Bretonnians, but only if they were worth the regret. I don't have enough expendable income to have both so it is a one or the other arrangement :(

TL;DR- What do I do with Bretonnians post-charge. Would Empire be less likely to disappoint?

Thanks, also hope this is in the right section.

Youre in the right section here.
If youre doing only friendly games, Im sure they will allow you to take a ombi of both rules.
Post charge?
They remain in fight.
I like to (with my cavalry) flank charge the unit already charged.

Oh, and have a nice stay on dakka

Generally, you are right, Bretonnians shine brightest when they have that glorious cavalry charge, and there's usually not a lot going on for them if said glorious charge doesn't explode the enemy before them.

However, that is where you use multiple units and unit in synergies your army. You can usually win the round of combat you charge and hold, but once the enemy is locked in with you, you flank with another unit of knights. Or lock them down with the unwashed peasant masses (cheap points wise and perfect for clogging up enemy blades) while your knights pull off the glorious flank charges and so on.

How appropriate that the first post by Homosapien is entitled "human flavor?" lol

Bretonnia is my first army, although I've been running my Wood Elves more lately. I love 'em.

The consensus is that Bretonnia and Wood Elves are the weakest books right now (some add Beastmen but that opinion is changing). But they both work and win.

Since the faq corrected ranks in the lance formation, there are many Bretonnian generals out there doing very well.

First, if you are considering the army, you really should take a look at roundtable-bretonnia. org in addition to dakkadakka. Second, most knight blocks should have at least a single paladin in the unit. After charging, he does most of the damage while the 2+ armor saves keeps the unit and ranks around. THEN your sneaky unit of 6 knights of the realm crash into the foe's flank and breaks his steadfast.

Your big blocks of knights should each have a level 1 beast damsel with the base spell for lore of beasts, so after the charge at least one or two of your blocks will have S4.

And of course you should have 2 trebuchets!

Lovely, thank you all for your replies they definately cleared up a few questions I had.

Now just one or 2 more.

My main Enemies will be WoC, Beastmen and Dwarfs for friendly games... should this influence which brand of human military I choose, Empire or Bretonnia. I 'm not looking to always win, but not always loosing is preferable.

Thanks.

Nom nom... bicep burgers... nom.... awwwww...

Aside from advising you to pic the one you would most like to paint etc.

I would ask how much a of a gambler you are?

The Brettonian book is in the pipeline and due to the books age the chance are that there will be new units and things will get a decent bump.

If you fancy a punt, then I'd go Brettonia - the current book is decent, the battalion boxes are cheap and good value, and the army offers good options to get you well used to the army for when the new book comes out.

I believe human taste like pork