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Hello all, I am a new player and am starting out with an Empire battalion box. I do not yet have a list but I wanted to get some ideas for a 2500 point army that uses the contents of the battalion box and that is focused on artillery. The main issue I need help with is what infantry units to use and how big they should be (how wide and how deep). Beyond focusing on artillery I want the rest of the army to be pretty balanced. My main goal here is to build a solid foundation and not waste a bunch of money on worthless units in the process, and eventually have a competitive army to play in local tournaments.

Thank you in advance for any helpful input.

I just finished up my empire army (around 2500-2750 pts) and although my theme/direction is a little different I can try to help a bit.

First question is are you trying to play a gunline army (5-7) artillery pieces or a balanced army as a whole? That will dictate much of what your army composition will look like.

However in general, blocks of 30-40 are good size for infantry. I run mine 6 wide, but 5 wide makes for a smaller footprint if your battle line is a little tight. For what infantry to run its pretty much up to you, all have their pros and cons. I use swords, but many swear by halberds because of the +1 str. Not as many use spears, as they aren't really as good as the other two, unless you are throwing some str buffing spells into them (which you should be throwing as many buffs into your infantry anyways).

Besides infantry, a few shooting units is nice to clear chaff and such. Think about getting some Outriders or Pistoliers, both are useful for what they do.

Knights are good, reiksguard are better, and demigryphs are the best for hammer units in my opinion. They will tear through units pretty goods without taking a whole lot of hurt back.

Steam tanks are pretty much an auto include in my opinion as well. I know it is a pricey model, and is expensive points wise as well, but for what you get out of it, it does wonders. You will rarely lose all 10 wounds in a game with it, so you dont give up VPs. It can tarpit pretty effectively, as well as being a support hammer. The cannon is just icing on the cake to boot.

Basically the Empire revolves around buffing your infantry with spells/prayers/etc. so they can stand up to tougher opponents and tie them down while your artillery blasts them away and your hammer units can hit flanks/rears/ etc. So that being said to get your army started a battalion box or two will give a good foundation. Get a Steam Tank and some Demigryphs. Also you can be crafty and make your own characters out of State Troop/Knights or you can get the general box. Get the wizard box or find some cheap wizards on eBay. Grab a warrior priest or two.

2 battallion boxes should get you to about 1000-1200 pts or so with 1 mounted Hero (just turn one knight into a mounted hero by giving him some extra bits and painting him a bit different from the rest) 40 state troops, 20 ranged troops, 15 knights, and 2 cannons/mortars.

From there throw in the Steam Tank, a few more artillery pieces (this depends on how many you want and what you want your army to look like), some Demigryphs, and a few characters (BSB, wizards, priests) that should get you close to if not over 2000 pts. Then you have some flexibility with the last pts. You can get the Luminark or Hurricanum, both are viable options. Greatswords are great but usually in blocks of 35-40 (which can be pricey money wise). Outriders and pistoliers are great as mentioned above.

Sorry that got a little long winded haha. However overall luckily for you the Empire is an army that has lots of flexibility and can be fielded in a couple different ways with lots of different units that all work together pretty well. So there are not really too many units that are a waste of money (don't get 50 archers and expect them to rain death down from the sky) but honestly most units can find a niche. Hope this all helps, and of course its just my 2 cents so take it with a grain of salt, all players have different opinions. Cheers!

Thanks for the awesome reply, My initial plan was to use great swords but I am flexible if something is cheaper and works better. I don't mind paying the money for them, I am just trying to avoid doing that with units that will rarely if ever get used.

Would a block of 30 to 40 Greatswords with 2 blocks of 20 handgunners taken as detachments work pretty well? or is the a better detatchment option?

For what they do for the Empire, Greatswords don't really have another equal. Other things might hit harder, but lack durability like a big block of GS do. Also throw in a Warrior Priest and a BSB and they aren't going anywhere and will dish out some hurt as well. They would definitely be money well spent.

As for the detachments, the only problem that I see with ranged unit detachments is that they don't do a whole lot honestly. Handgunners can't move and shoot and they have to stay within 3 inches to stay a detachment. That means if you want to move your greatswords at all throughout the game the handgunners will either because unattached or not be able to fire. Also being able to stand and shoot isn't that awesome, mostly because your hitting on 5's or 6's so a unit of 20 will only be doing a wound or two if your lucky. Also if you want to get 20 shots from the handgunners you have to run them in 2 ranks, which means they are 10 wide frontage. Add that with the GS unit, and even another detachment, that unit is going to be massive and kind of unwieldy in deployment.

I would say run a block of 20 halberds as a detach. This way then can slam into the flanks of your opponent, and you get all the benefits of your warrior priest hatred and the Stubborn on them as well.

That being said, I do run a lot of handgunners in my army (mainly because I love the idea of a lot of guns), so I do not think that they are without their place. I just think they are better off by themselves so that they are not as limited in what they do. However in this edition unfortunately BS shooting isn't as good, so don't expect to mow down your opponent with them (probably just make a lot of noise and smoke). Use them to clear chaff and small units of knights and such. BS shooting rarely can make a big enough dent in large infantry blocks to make a difference.

No ones mentioned it so I will. Steam tanks are awesome as are cannons (the mortar is worthless now) however the Volley gun with Engineer is a must take in a defensive army!

A bing block of great swords is a nice stubborn anchor to such an army. Demigryths provide the punch and mobility. Pistolliers Knights and Reiksguard make good chaff and chaff hunters. Little units of 5 Reiksguard make great road blocks due to stubborn and 1+ (let your opponent flank charge them to cut down his attacks).

Personally as for infantry I like Halberdiers for main fighting blocks as you need the damage out put. Swordsmen or handgunners make good detachments. Hand gunners for shooting obviously but only with static units. Swordsmen because they can hold a flank well get steadfast or stubborn from the parent unit and they will be the hardest to kill with the parry save.

Lore choice is also critical get a good understanding of what the Lores bring and work out which you need to support your army.

Flingit Allaboutgames said a tribute to the stank.

Also from my little experience of fantasy empire mortars are not useless for the fact they will clear away low T units like skaven, elves and other empire.

Lores I like are life (duh) death (normaly wizard lord on flyin horse), shadow for lords, and beasts, light, fire for lvl2s.

I love large blocks of swordsmen with halbers to guard flanks.

The luminark of planets is the better of the 2 because of the +1 to hit (helps with basic dudes).