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Seems like the perfect tme to get into fantasy battles. Being that I already have IoB, I've printed the rules and downloaded the Army Books for High Elves and Skaven. I plan to get started on Aos w/ a friend using these models.

Question 1- I added 10 White Lions of Chrace to my HE models. What should I add to my Skaven to improve the quality of the game? I know balance isn't the word, but I want evenly matched forces to use.

Question 2- I prefer Orcs to Skaven. If I buy this box from Mantic, which comes w/ rules, would these models make a good AoS Orc army as well?

http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/kings-of-war/orcs/product/orc-army-set-54-figures.html

3 Plastic Resin Trolls
1 Gore Rider Chariot
20 Plastic Orcs with Command
20 Plastic Greatax with Command
10 Plastic Resin Gore Riders

My goal is to have 3 evenly matched forces to introduce some friends to wargaming with.

Any insight? Thanks.

A lot of people are just using Wounds to estimate balance. It's a good a place to start as any -- make sure both sides have the about the same number of wounds, and about the same number of Named and Unnamed heroes (just a couple, don't go overboard).

If you just eyeball it and take a guess, and it comes out remarkably well. At least it has for us, when we gave it a go. I'm sure that part of it is just that we're not very good at AoS yet, and therefore not "exploiting" optimal armies, but when we went, "these wood elves look like they can take on those orcs", it actually worked out, and the game was pretty close. We didn't even count wounds or anything.

Regarding Mantic Orcs in AoS -- it depends on where you're playing and who you're playing with. With your buddies at home, sure, why not? You can use 40k orks, Mantic orcs, LoTR models, or paper triangles. But if you play with strangers at pick-up games, you may meet resistance, and obviously, it sounds like inviting a problem at a GW store

I think where the game will really shine is in scenario play. I'd recommend taking a look at some of the news and rumour pages that show snapshots of the scenarios and then try to replicate them using the most ls you do have.

Since many of them will use fewer models, you'll probably have time to swap armies and play the other side. I think that will give you a good feel for balance the fastest.

White Lions are monster killers. Or, at least, they were in 8th! I'd recommend adding something really crazy to the Skaven to balance them out, because they'll absolutely murder anything from the Island of Blood set otherwise. A Doomwheel would be a solid shout.

Thanks for the replies. So this really is a major work in progress huh?

I glanced at the High Elf and Skaven pdf's and I was concerned that I have way more shaven models than Elf. And most of them are one wound....

As far as the Mantic model thing, it'll be a non issue. I just really like the idea of painting some orcs.

Having read the 4 page rules last night, it seems like a simple play as you go, but I did not see anything about keywords. is that because key words are in the army books? and they will balance out the fact that clan rats and sword masters of hoethe have one wound.

All in all I am kind of psyched because I've been painting multiple 40k armies for years in hopes I could turn a few people on to start a small gaming group in my area.

This seems like a much lower hurdle to get them over, comprehension wise.

VanHallan wrote:
Thanks for the replies. So this really is a major work in progress huh?

I glanced at the High Elf and Skaven pdf's and I was concerned that I have way more shaven models than Elf. And most of them are one wound....

As far as the Mantic model thing, it'll be a non issue. I just really like the idea of painting some orcs.

Having read the 4 page rules last night, it seems like a simple play as you go, but I did not see anything about keywords. is that because key words are in the army books? and they will balance out the fact that clan rats and sword masters of hoethe have one wound.

All in all I am kind of psyched because I've been painting multiple 40k armies for years in hopes I could turn a few people on to start a small gaming group in my area.

This seems like a much lower hurdle to get them over, comprehension wise.

Keywords wont help balance out the difference between a clanrat and a swordmaster. Keywords are mainly used to allow units to get buffed by spells or abilities. For instance if I have a blood secrator, he can plant his standard and all friendly models with the Khorne keyword within 18" are given +1 attack and they ignore battleshock. Or in another case the Beastmen Great Bray-Shaman has a spell called savage dominion. It is cast on a 7+ and he can summon a a unit with the Monster keyword. As for the problem of a clan rat to a swordmaster well, their is any real solution to it. My suggestion would be to house rule it and when your playing games like that count the clan rats or slave count as half wounds. Hope this helped!

I agree with Mr Rampant above a Doomwheel seems a decent choice. Maybe that or some Stormfiends.

The Orks look good to me but as other have said probably shouldn't take them in the GW shop.

The best way to balance the armies out is to play a bunch of games with them. If it is constantly easier for one force to win buy in some reinforcements for the weaker force. or use a scenario that is in favour of the weaker force.