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I thought I might start a discussion on a topic I am curious about. I've been exceedingly busy an unable to game (or design for that matter) much in the last few weeks, but something has always fascinated me. When playing Kings of War, how do you personally determine how many points you will allocate to buying items for units/unnamed heroes?

I am of a mind where I personally prefer to spend my points on additional units in almost every instance. There are some terrific and versatile items I might buy in a few games, often to represent a model I am using in a more distinctive way (treating it almost like a custom entry for a proxied model, for laughs), but when it doubt another unit, even a speed-bump often feels more right to me than making a killy unit, killier... lol.

I'm not looking for a right answer, of course, and mostly just want to hear personal philosophies on the topic.

Not having actually played my method is to add items to units that have a close profile but need a little extra to be what I think they are creating a new "base" profile then build to the point level using the base profiles for what I own then add items to close the gap.

Playing Dwarfs in a missiles and artillery heavy army, I very much believe that Jar of the Four Winds is a very good choice to boost my best/biggest Ironwatch Rifles or Crossbows (generally the Crossbows - the range becomes something that can dominate an area).

Adding a touch of Speed to my biggest/best Pathfinders or Brock can likewise make a major difference, so at 15 points I will take Brew of Haste for one unit. (The banner that the unit carries is rude, crude, and socially unacceptable. Suffice it to say that they like to take the enemy in the rear.)

Over the course of a game that can add up to an extra turn's worth of movement.

Basically, I pick something that the unit is already good at, and boost it.

The Auld Grump

+1 armour for Dragons always.

Helm of Confidence for any allied unit saves a few points over getting a source of inspiring for them.

Honeymaze wings on cheap killy characters to be a pain to any unit/warmachine.

Jar of the winds on muskets/crossbows allows them to fire without moving a fair bit more.

When in need of points the Kaba Warbow and flying hammer go onto standard bearers.

Most of the time though I am a believer in more units less items.

I will say that I believe there is a point of diminishing returns which varies player to player, but surely exists. I played a game a few weeks back, presumably with a WHFB refugee. I say this because he took the biggest blocks he could, and would absolutely stack his list with items (i'm talking like... 250+ points in items).

The result was a 2000pt list with a few hordes that were just about the easiest things to flank I had ever encountered.

NewTruthNeomaxim wrote:
I will say that I believe there is a point of diminishing returns which varies player to player, but surely exists. I played a game a few weeks back, presumably with a WHFB refugee. I say this because he took the biggest blocks he could, and would absolutely stack his list with items (i'm talking like... 250+ points in items).

The result was a 2000pt list with a few hordes that were just about the easiest things to flank I had ever encountered.

Yes you only take most of them as an after thought. At 2k points I spend less than 50 on items usually. Often you give one or maybe 2 units a buff with items, but more often than not around 50-70 points seems to be the common amount I see at tournaments and games here.

Lately my lists get built sans items until I'm at the last chuck and cannot field anything worthwhile then those last less than 30 points go to items.

I will say, I love that the items exist, and are (mostly) so interesting. I am a huge believer in giving players options, and the game is so devoid of Deathstar tactics, that it means items can be interesting, or useful, without breaking the game.

So yeah... don't take 'em often, but love that they exist, and are numerous.

My experience with KoW is, as yet, entirely theoretical, but I see magic items as a way to show that a unit is just slightly more elite than non-item-equipped units. For example, I plan to give my hatamoto the Blessing of the Gods to distinguish them from the standard samurai, despite both being Foot Guard.