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Hi all

I have decided to get back into WFB, I have been away for more than 10years most of my attention as been focus on 40k and other tabletop games in that time.

I have decided to go with the Empire as this was my first love in Warhammer back when I was 14 god I feel old .

I just want some advice on the best way to run an Empire army in warhammer these days tactics strengths and weakness etc

Thanks.

The Empire are very flexible. You can run them in many ways with great success. I am sure there are some game breaker and tournament lists out there that people would prefer you take, but as always I recommend grabbing up what you think is the coolest. With Core units of Cavalry and cheap horded units, as well as detachments, you can pretty much put together any type of force and win games. Their hero/ lord choices are top notch and very cheap, and they have monstrous Cav and buff chariots to boot. Really the only question you need to answer is: What sort of army do I want to run?

Their real strength lies in flexibility. With the ability to use Heavy cav, loads of infantry with War Priest buffs, and artillery; you can handle anything.

In terms of their weakness, I would shoot for Leadership. Not referring to the leaders of the army, rather the Ld value and the average profile of the Empire soldiers. Granted these weaknesses feed back into your strengths, but I didnt want to leave a section blank. Even so, most units of Core have one thing or another to offset the mundane combat profile (ie Swordsman +1 WS, Halberdiers +1 S, or Knights having 1+ armor). A good General knows where to find strength in his weaknesses. That should be the Empire slogan as far as I am concerned.

Look through the models and pick out some that you really like to look of. Post those, then we can help turn that into a good list.

-Matt

I am also getting into fantasy and getting away from 40k. I will have about 250 for getting the ball rolling. In plan on getting the codex and battle force. What else would you suggest to flesh out the army? I would like a well rounded list with a mix of everything! I do prefer archers over rifles from a visual stand point. I also do plan on keeping it at a 1000pts. I prefer smaller faster games over long games.

Thanks in advance! Anyone got a good link to how to play warhammer I can't seem to find a good one.

I'm thinking of a nuln based army as this was the theme when I first collected empire.

I was reading through the army book and they do look flexible.
I really want a good foundation of core units to start with and plenty of war machines what would be the best way to go?

I was also looking a detachments what would be the best combo and way to use them

I too im planning to get into WHFB by starting Nuln empire army but I have no idea how to make effective army list.

Now this warms the cockles of my heart seeing people starting Empire...

Now, first thing you will want to do (for pretty much any list, apart from all cavalry) is get yourself a block of Halberdiers, 40-50 is ideal.
Nuln-wise, handgunners aren't BAD, they just aren't great, being BS-based shooting (one thing to note, if you upgrade them with a champion, give him twin pistols - he will make the rest of the handgunners fire stand-and-shoots at short range).
As for warmachines, you really cant go wrong with a pair of cannons, a pair of Hellblasters and a steam tank, just invest in a master engineer or two...

Can handgunners make up the core of your force or do you always need large blocks of melee state troops?

I ask because I've always wanted to do a napoleonic wars era empire army with large blocks of handgunners, cavalry and cannons.

Handgunners are core but I wouldn't recommend just taking them to make up the core

 EmilCrane wrote:
Can handgunners make up the core of your force or do you always need large blocks of melee state troops?

I ask because I've always wanted to do a napoleonic wars era empire army with large blocks of handgunners, cavalry and cannons.

You really do need that big block of halberdiers to anchor your battle line.

Bloc2000 wrote:
I just want some advice on the best way to run an Empire army in warhammer these days tactics strengths and weakness etc

Thanks.

As others have said, the Empire is classic all comers army. They've got every kind of unit available, and that's a great strength. But for all that variety, there is basic mediocrity to your average soldier - none of them ever rise above toughness 3, and the most skilled troop only ever gets to WS4. Sure, the Steam Tank and demigrpyghs pack a lot of high strength attacks in to small units, but they've got considerable weaknesses and can only be used in conjunction with the rest of your list.

So while you have a wide variety of choices, you don't have anything truly elite in the way that White Lions or Chaos Warriors are elite. Instead the Empire relies on synergy between all the various units types, as well as raw numbers of troops to win the day.

What are good elite armies to play. I like empire but I don't like the idea if spamming units and trying to keep my cost down. I only plan on doing 1000pt army.

lynxstrife wrote:
What are good elite armies to play. I like empire but I don't like the idea if spamming units and trying to keep my cost down. I only plan on doing 1000pt army.

Ogres are a nice cheap low model count army.
Same with warriors of chaos.

-Matt

lynxstrife wrote:

I will have about 250 for getting the ball rolling. In plan on getting the codex and battle force. What else would you suggest to flesh out the army? I would like a well rounded list with a mix of everything! I do prefer archers over rifles from a visual stand point. I also do plan on keeping it at a 1000pts.

I recommend Wayland Games Online Store. A tad slow but dependable and affordable:

Empire general (Foot & Mounted in one, one can serve as a BSB) - 21
Battle Wizards (2 models) - 21
AB - 35
Warrior Priest - 12
Box of Demigryphs - 40
Battalion - 77

That's around $ 206 plus whatever postage they charge. Gives you enough characters, INF and CAV as well as a hard-hitter with the Demis, and a cannon. If you have more to spent, get either a second battalion OR a box of State troops and another cannon OR a buff wagon OR....you get the gist. The battalion is a good deal, and you want State troops at least 30 strong. Okay, 25 would do in 1k.

This list gives you lots of options at this point level and you can easily buy more every other month, say, a unit of archers (get the Militia box, 20 dolls which can be assembled in all kinds of ways, contains 10 bows) or Pistoliers.

 japehlio wrote:

Now, first thing you will want to do (for pretty much any list, apart from all cavalry) is get yourself a block of Halberdiers, 40-50 is ideal.

Haha, there goes the vaunted flexibility!

 EmilCrane wrote:
Can handgunners make up the core of your force or do you always need large blocks of melee state troops?

I ask because I've always wanted to do a napoleonic wars era empire army with large blocks of handgunners, cavalry and cannons.

It's possible but remember that this is Fantasy. Handgunners are very expensive for what you get. Remember you might face a Phoenix or Chimera or a Hellpit Abomination, stuff that flies or that you're not allowed to shoot - or simply big blocks of infantry that shrug off those 1-2 wounds per turn.

Hello, I am also considering starting an Empire army, I play 40k (Imperial Guard) and got a little taste of the Empire via the Warhammer fantasy RPG (2nd ed) and y'know, human FTW.

Would Militia be a decent type of Detatchment? They can only be taken as such anyways, but getting some weak troops with 3 attacks on the flanks sounds mightly intresting backing up a unit of state troops

Inquisitor Jex wrote:
Hello, I am also considering starting an Empire army, I play 40k (Imperial Guard) and got a little taste of the Empire via the Warhammer fantasy RPG (2nd ed) and y'know, human FTW.

Would Militia be a decent type of Detatchment? They can only be taken as such anyways, but getting some weak troops with 3 attacks on the flanks sounds mightly intresting backing up a unit of state troops

Militia, halberd and swordsmen all make good melee support detachments.
Spearmen don't because charging takes the spear effect away.
Crossbows/handgunners make an ok detachment. I've seen people forget that the shooters can charge into the flank instead of shooting, and the 5 point swing in combat res has made the difference before (taking away ranks, giving a flank, and gaining the charge bonus). I wouldn't plan on something like this, just something to keep in the back of your mind when you are taking a charge, and your opponent is laughing about 14 shots at his giant block.
I like swordsmen detachments myself. Not knowing what army I was going to fight, I banked on survivability and static combat res, which empire always does well.

-Matt

Safe to assume a shooting action still gives the -1 due to being a stand and shoot action? ...Thougth charging would a nice "Woah!" moment for my opponent as they are unarmoured and well, ranged untis.

I actually thought of making a regiment of either lances (due to extra rank fighting) or halberds (Str 4 is actually a good thing in fantasy vs 40k) supported by handgunners rahter than crossbowman, purely because of the armour piercing and militia thanks to the numbers of attacks to can dish out.