Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

What should I give my night goblin hordes? spear n shield or hw and shield?

Bows. Not kidding here. Sure, a shield might save a few losses, but overall, with bows, you easily get at least 2 turns of shooting in which will definitely net you a few kills simply due to mass of fire. Buff them with some nice magic (Poison!) and you're good to go.

Depends...

Less than 30: hand weapons
30+: spears

If you deploy them 10x3 when less than 30, giving them spears is a waste as you will not get any extra attacks as the first two ranks can hit in combat, and, since you are in a horde formation, the third rank can attack as well.

shields also give a parry save.

Never ever have a NG unit with less than 40 Goblins unless they are only used as Fanatapults. A NG horde should at least be ~60 models.

 Sigvatr wrote:
Never ever have a NG unit with less than 40 Goblins unless they are only used as Fanatapults. A NG horde should at least be ~60 models.

Yeah thats the only way to run them, in MASSIVE hordes. with bows if you can

18" range Short Bows are pretty underwhelming.
-1 to hit beyond 9", and moving gives another -1 and takes away volley fire.
My experience with short bow shooting is you get to shoot once at long range after moving, once at short, and maybe a stand and fire.
Against targets in the open, with a block of 60, that's, ~30 S3 hits from the bows, split over 3 turns.

Shields for parries seem good; but then you'll be making ~12 attempts a turn, so you might save 6 points worth of goblins. Basically, why give up the other 2 options to save ~6 points a turn in goblins?

Spears give you another 5 to 10 attacks, at WS2 S3. Considering the massive goblin death rate in combat, I'd be surprised if the spears wracked up the same number of extra hits as the bows. But, the spear hits are in combat, so you do have the chance of armor-piercing or re-rolls to hit from the goblin lore attribute; and wounds in combat are combat res, wounds by arrow is not.

In summary; all 3 flavors are underwhelming.
It doesn't really matter what you take, you're just putting lipstick on a pig.

-Matt

You could either make it as large as possible with just HW and light armor, give them shields to make a considerable roadblock unit, or bows and poison banner for hilarity in taking down a surprising number of enemies.

Minimal size, as cheap as possible, with the maximum load of fanatics. Anything else is a waste of points.

 Sigvatr wrote:
Never ever have a NG unit with less than 40 Goblins unless they are only used as Fanatapults. A NG horde should at least be ~60 models.

I agree this is how to run them in a effective manner.

 Vulcan wrote:
Minimal size, as cheap as possible, with the maximum load of fanatics. Anything else is a waste of points.

Disagree. NG make for a very cost-effective tarpit.

How to equip night goblins?
The correct answer is easy enough: large ball and chain.

Arm the rest with whatever you like, all the options are cheap enough and it doesn't matter what they are armed with, just how many they are.

 Sigvatr wrote:

 Vulcan wrote:
Minimal size, as cheap as possible, with the maximum load of fanatics. Anything else is a waste of points.

Disagree. NG make for a very cost-effective tarpit.

I'm new to OnG, but I'd generally agree and want to run a horde of them regardless.

Still, would you put max fanatics in these units anyway though? Seems silly not to put all those tricks in everywhere you can.

Horde does have a hidden advantage. It gives you a lot more frontage to release from.
I would run a big horde on my flank, and it could throw those fanatics across toward the center, at the charging enemy, or out on my flank to boggle up the flank.