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Me and my mates are starting to play Mordheim.
I've been reading stuff online but I've never played the game so would love some advice from experienced players.
I've chosen Skaven as I always wanted to do a Skaven fantasy army but no one ever plays it.

Here is what I've been thinking to start out with....

Assassin Adept - Warplock Pistol, Buckler - 100

Sorcerer - Spear, Buckler - 60 (Because I'm using the gamesday 2011 model =D)

Black Skaven x 2 - Fighting Claws - 150

Night Runner x 2 - Sword, Sling - 64

Verminkin x 2 - Sword, Sling - 64

Verminkin x 2 - Sword each, 1 with Sling, 1 with Dagger - 62

Total - 500Gc

What do you think?

If you are running Skaven, drop most of the upgrades at the start, load up with as many bodies as possible, give everyone slings.

Step 1: Play a game of keep-away, pelting the enemy with slings until they are weakened.

Step 2: Charge in your hard-hitting HQs after the enemy is softened-up and Smash face.

Step 3: Calculate your upgrades, as the game should be over at this point.

Thanks for the reply mate,

I read online somewhere that it is hard to get hold of the dirty warplock pistol and fighting claws and that Skaven are dirty with these?

Also I hear all of your friends will hate you if you fill your army with slings? =P

If you don't want to load so heavy on the slings, then drop swords and add in a few more bodies without upgrades (either giant rats or basic verminkin)

The biggest strength of Skaven is their large numbers. You should be running at least 13 right away, if not more (I reccommend more).


Automatically Appended Next Post:
It is true that later on it is hard to find some of the rare items, so if you want them, buy one or two at the start, but don't buy a lot, as you will not have the numbers you need to win.

Yup, and it all depends on if you guys are playing one off games or starting a campaign.

If it's a campaign that get as many bodies as you can starting off, and take as many heroes as you can starting off. Remember that henchmen will die 1/3 of the time when taken out of action so give them as little as possible. Maybe just a sword. Or sling and their free dagger until you can stash away enough money in between buying replacements and equipment for those off games where a lot of models will end up dead at the end.

Spears have a cool strike first rule.....

Generally, Skaven are quick enough on their own to not need spears.

True, I hope that the something we have said actually helps. But if I was playing a campaign this is probably how I would start my Skaven list off as;

Assassin Adept w/ weeping blades

Edging Sorcerer w/ warplock pistol, sword

Black Skaven w/ fighting claws

Black Skaven w/ fighting claws

Night Runner w/ sling

Night Runner w/ sling

Verminkin w/ club

Verminkin w/ club

Verminkin w/ sling

Verminkin w/ sling

Stash 16gc to help when one of your henchmen die.

That way you are still putting out ten models into the fight, they all come with free daggers so the models with clubs are still putting out two attacks in close combat. And, if they die you are not losing much. You have max heroes starting off so if you can keep them alive by not rushing them into combat for your first game or two, they primarily already have the best weapons, will max out basic eploration dice, so that even if you lose you still make a decent amount, and get an advancement or two from sitting back and only joining the fight when it favors them. With 16 gc in the stash you can already buy a sword after the game for one of your Night Runners, but I wouldn't suggest it right away because you will probably lose a henchman or two by rushing them clearest to soak up the hits so you can either bottle right away or if things are going well press the advantage and go for a win. But, the six heroes putting out exploration die, and the extra in the bank will help you recoup your losses if needed, and not use the stash and extra you earn to buy two swords each for the Night Runners, or use a hero or two to search for another warplock pistol for another hero or the Sorcerer so he has a brace and can fire every turn. Or buy another henchman or two to bolster your ranks.

That is just my suggestion, and everybody has their own play style.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, once you save up enough to replace the clubs with better weapons on your henchmen, you can out the clubs in the stash to rotate to new guys who do not have any experience and advances so that they can in turn become the bait and/or throw away troops if things don't look like they are going to go well so you can voluntarily bottle to save your heroes and henchmen that have advanced well from suffering serious injuries or death... Severly limiting your exploration dice so you make less per match.

Ah thanks I do get what your saying.

Sounds like I'm going love this mordheim thing =D

looks like this thread is a month old, but still front page,... so if this a necro im sorry.

i played ina mordhiem campaign recently... one of the guys in it played skaven

he went with 6 heros kitted to the nines with pistols, claws, etc. then just took a few other henchmen with minimal gear. first game, he ran the henchies for the first game, he just ran his henchmen right at the other guy and got them OAA'd while hiding his heroes, and retreating from anyone that got close. when his henchies died, he volentairly routed.

at this point he bought veskit, then filled out his henchmen ranks. same thing for game 2 as 1. send enough henchies for the route check, then just volentarilly routed. by game 4 he had max warband, awsome gear, no injuries, and veskit, along with a rat ogre. i was the poor fool who got him in game 4... and wow. i just did not have a chance in heck of taking him down. super cheesy way of playing skaven...but then the rats DO like their cheese...

You can do this with almost any faction DarthSpader.

Dwarves are the best for this strategy, as they can take all the amazing dwarven items right away.

If one of my friends, or someone in a campaign I was playing in did this, he/she'd be banned - it's a dick move.