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Going to be starting a 2500 point, Blood in the Badlands campaign with another seven players from my local gaming group. The line up consists of High Elves, Wood Elves, Ogre Kingdoms, Warriors of Chaos, Vampire Counts, Empire and Bretonnians with myself fielding Orcs and Goblins.

We are having an initial game to play for who gets what territory on the map which will be 1500 points in total so I'm hoping to get some advice on a 'competitive' Orc and Goblin force from your good selves. Here is what I had in mind, feel free to dismantle, critique or comment on it.

Orc Warboss with Armour of Destiny and Shield
Orc Great Shaman (Level 3) with Dispel Scroll
Night Goblin Shaman with Level 2 upgrade
Night Goblin BSB with Gamblers Armour, Talisman of Endurance and Shield

25 Big 'Uns with dual choppas, banner and musician - also have Banner of Discipline
35 Night Goblins with 2 fanatics, nets, spears and a musician
6 Common Trolls
12 Boar Boyz with spears shields and heavy armour
2 Goblin Wolf Chariots


Probably no surprises here with the intended tactics. Faster moving Boars and Trolls to the flanks with the Goblin bus as an anvil and the Orc Boys as a hammer while the Chariots will sit between the central units and the flanks to give support. General joins the Big Un's to hand out his Inspiring Presence boosted by the Banner of Discipline. Goblin BSB joins the Goblin BSB to provide rerolls. Wizards set up as lone characters within 3'' of the main block units to get LOS roles.

Here's my thoughts. First off as much as I love boar boyz they have no place in a competitive list. Your character builds are a bit funny. On the BSB you have purchased two ward saves. Because the Talis of Endurance is better than the gamblers armour ward you are paying 20 pts just for heavy armor. I recommend replacing both with the armour of fortune. That will give ypu the same saves for 25 points less. 25 biguns is kinda small for a central combat block.

Thats my two cents

With the BSB, you can't take repeats of common items in an army and ward saves stack like armour. The Gamblers armour and Talisman of Endurance works out at 50 points (same as armour of destiny) and offers the same level of defensive protection. (4+ armour with shield and 3+ ward in combat with parry save).

With regards to the Boars, this was my biggest concern as the unit is 260 points and only 12 models. If they lose 3 then they can no longer contest ranks etc so I can see where you're coming from. Any suggestions of a replacement?

I could lose the dispell scroll and take an Araknorok for the points. Or I could take a Squig Herd, some Artillary and a Manager for the same points.

Thanks for the input.

On page 44 of the brb it states in the upper right corner "note that ward saves cannot be combined blah blah blah." You cannot stack wards. This si why I recommend the armour of fortune. For replacing the boar boys you are lacking fastcav. Replacing them with two units of wolfriders will give you more flexibilty and some extra points for more biguns.

You're missing 2 Doom Divers and 2 Manglers

Ahhhhh, didn't notice that one. Cool, so wards can't be stacked.

Are fast cav worth taking? In my experience so far, they just get shot at when-ever they get close to missile units/warmachines. I can see the charge redirection use but again, if they are in range of bows they just tend to get maimed before they can really be of any use. Unless there is something fundamental I am doing wrong here.

I have taken a horde of Spiders before with great success vs Ogres in a larger game. They had no leadbelchers so made a run for the main battleline with vanguard, slipped between the units on my 1st turn and reformed to the armies rear facing. 30 Spiders ain't cheap though :(