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I want to field a 100 man archer unit and I was wondering if I could field 5 ranks of 20 (Tomb Kings). Is there any rule that restricts this? I couldn't find anything in the rulebook or my army book that said anything about maximum rank size. The base size of these models is 20mm and they are infantry if that helps.

The unit has to be deployed 100% on the battlefield(unless they deploy specially like ambush or tunneling).

That is the only restriction.

You could deploy them 100 wide and 1 deep if you really wanted to.

I don't think you'd be able to reform much though, since that would involve a model moving more than twice its movement allowance.

The question is why?

Yeah, for an archer unit, you want to maximise the models that can shoot. With 100 models, 10x10 is going to be the most efficient.

That will get you 60 shots a turn(volley fire) assuming you have range with everyone.

a 5x20 unit will have 64 shots, but you will never have all of those models in range of a target. The unit itself would be almost 2" long, thats the range of their bows.

The TK dude from a bit back I think went 40x2. But his whole strategy was built around that.

One of the reasons to build wide instead of deep is because stuff like Purple sun, cannons, stone thowers, etc, become totally sucky. A cannon hits 2 guys. Basically all the templates are garbage against wide units unless you can get on the flank, and that's not likely to happen to something that wide.

The other reason is to stick Khalida in there, get flaming banner and flank with some Sphinx. Most armies can't do this, however. Or there's no reason to.

Plus with a frontage that long, it presents a very large and easily attacked target.

Keep in mind that 90 degree arc of sight, and that a unit can only shoot a single target, so not all of your archers will even be able to fire in some cases. Then there is range to keep in mind as well.

 Grey Templar wrote:
Yeah, for an archer unit, you want to maximise the models that can shoot. With 100 models, 10x10 is going to be the most efficient.

That will get you 60 shots a turn(volley fire) assuming you have range with everyone.

a 5x20 unit will have 64 shots, but you will never have all of those models in range of a target. The unit itself would be almost 2" long, thats the range of their bows.

5x20 gets 70 shots with volly fire.
The unit is a bit over 15" wide.

-Matt

No, its 64 shots.

First 2 rows = 10 shots.

Then 18 ranks 5 wide. Its half rounding up, so 3 shots a rank. 18x3 is 54. plsu the 10 for the first 2 ranks.


And really? The unit is only 15" deep? 20 20mm bases is only 15"

I think the confusion is with the unit measurements.

5 wide by 20 deep or 20 wide by 5 deep?

Also, 400mm= 15.748"

Don't you half the total people left not rank by rank?

 DukeBadham wrote:
Don't you half the total people left not rank by rank?

Yes that is correct. Grey templar miscalculated. It should be a total of 55 shots

No, its half the models in each rank rounding up. Its not half of the total rounding up.

5 wide and 20 deep.

first 2 ranks. 10 shots.

Each additional rank adds 3 shots. half of 5 rounding up is 3.

There are 18 additional ranks. 18x3=54. Plus the 10 shots for the first 2 ranks. 64 shots.

I htought you rounded down in fantasy? Or does the bow volley fire overrule this?

Volley Fire says round up.

The Rules states
'half of the models in the third and subsequent ranks, rounding up, are allowed to shoot.'
And the FAQ says:
'Q: When a unit fires using the Volley Firespecial rule and not all
of the unit can shoot, do you work out how many models can shoot in
the third and subsequent ranks and then halve the result, rounding
up? (p78)
A: Yes.'

 DukeBadham wrote:
The Rules states
'half of the models in the third and subsequent ranks, rounding up, are allowed to shoot.'
And the FAQ says:
'Q: When a unit fires using the Volley Firespecial rule and not all
of the unit can shoot, do you work out how many models can shoot in
the third and subsequent ranks and then halve the result, rounding
up? (p78)
A: Yes.'

This makes the math seem weird. If you add up the remaining models as a total, then halve it, you end up with 45 extra shots.
If you take half of each rank individually rounded up you get a total of 54 extra shots.

That is a rather large difference, and from the BRB I read it as each rank halved, rounded, then added; the FAQ reads as total models after first two ranks are counted, halved, then rounded.

The order of events in this case is very important.

I suspect that RAI is the FAQ'd order of take all the extra models, halve that number, round up, shoot.

True, the order does change the number significantly.

I think its you add models in rank, half rounding up, then multiply by number of ranks.


Not that it matters. you'll never get all those models in range unless the enemy is 2-3" away from the front rank.