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Much like my other thread, this is a discussion I started on the PP forums, but I'd like some more opinions to plan my purchases.

I've been not been playing WM long, but my experience with Cygnar tends to indicate that the faction does not really NEED a tough front line unit, but would love to get one anyway, to play more melee centric armies.

So, what can I use with something like eStryker? I was originally thinking Sword Knights, but they dont let you shoot through them, which is a shame for Cygnar. I'd really like to get to shoot my Sniped Stormblades at the second line.

I see that Precursor Knights could work, but people keep saying that they dont make for a good front line unit. Do I have to resort to Boomhowlers? I dont particularly mind mercs, but I would prefer something I can shoot through. Perhaps even Trencher Infantry? Stormguard seem too weak defensively to be considered.

If your wanting a Front line Tarpit.

Boomhowlers are a great choice.. Cheap and 4+ Tough. along with all Medium bases.

The option of Precurser Knights is always there.

The problem with PKs is that in order to remain hard to kill they have to walk because their bonus defense comes from Shield Wall which is an order.

That being said, there is a reason so many people run Boomhowler and Co. They just don't die and when they do die it is ok because that means the rest of your army probably hit or will hit it's mark (of course this is a general statement).

I play eHaley and my front line unit is a unit of Horgenhold Forgeguard. Yea I know they are only spd 4 so forget that. With my style of play a slow unit does not have much affect on me. I play mainly gunline and only use my melee units as a shield to protect my gunline.

All that being said eStryker likes to jam. He wants units that can move and move quickly if you are looking for a gunline unit with eStryker you might be looking at the wrong caster (just my opinion).

Try mercenary units with Murdoch. Forge guard have ranked attacks all the time and go to ground gives every other unit one turn of getting out of the way. They also have some real premier units like nyss hunters and those filthy trolls.

Not sure filthy is the right word to describe Boomie, unless you mean how he is behind closed doors(ladies of all races love 'im).

Would you prefer smelly, ugly, stupid, or uncultured?

Yea Murdoch for sure with some mercs would give you what you want.

The problem with HHFG is they are so slow.

Ive got a unit of Sword Knights with a marshaled Firefly for my front line/tarpit until. Now I havent had a chance to test it in combat yet, but in theory its sound. The SK are a fair tarpit unit, and the reach of the Fireflys CC weapon helps it in setting off the SKs Flank rule. Im betting they wont survive most battles, but their job is mostly harassment/denial, and they should do that quite well.

My front line unit with eStryker tends to be stormblades with the UA. I just assault them up every single turn which works and they get to wreck face during eStrykers feat turn

I love stormblades but they have what you might call "victim defenses". 12/15 is so low that rat 5 pow 10 guns devastate them and even the weakest mat 6+ charges kill them in droves. They are fantastic offense but have the defenses of cardboard. Not what I would call front line material.

I always try to run stormblades as a skirmishy counter-threat that isn't as exposed to enemy attacks.

 Dais wrote:
Would you prefer smelly, ugly, stupid, or uncultured?

As any good Menite, I would prefer him upon a wrack.

Yeah, for a front line tarpit unit you'd either be looking at Boomies for being Tough and rather durable, or alternatively you could take the twenty man "max unit" of Steelhead Halberdiers to just clog them up with bodies for only three points more.

 Dais wrote:
I love stormblades but they have what you might call "victim defenses". 12/15 is so low that rat 5 pow 10 guns devastate them and even the weakest mat 6+ charges kill them in droves. They are fantastic offense but have the defenses of cardboard. Not what I would call front line material.

I always try to run stormblades as a skirmishy counter-threat that isn't as exposed to enemy attacks.

True, their armor is meh-ish but then considering Cygnar has a solo that buffs armor in the first place... I usually run my stormblades with arcane shield and deflection on, which makes them armr 20 vs shooting, which isn't really that easy to kill anymore.

Boomhowlers are good too but you really need Murdoch with them for assault and the fact that certain warcasters ie. eStrykers spells/feats are all friendly faction models only.