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My friend and I are starting LOTR , and I pick up a boxed set of Easterling warriors (the old 20 man one) at my LGS, and was just wondering what else I should pick up for an Easterling/Harad force. We are looking for small games and aren't getting into the whole WoTR just yet, so any advice would be really helpful, thanks .

Considering the new warband rules, a few heroes to lead them (the command box is pretty good). Maybe add Amdur or one of the mounted charachters for some punch? Also, Kataphrakts. They're the only Easterling cavalery you're gonna get, and you should be able to make 2 captains on armoured horses with shields from a single box (2 sprues in the kit, each with the ability to make a captain).


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Just remembered that White Dwarf did an army list with the same foundation that you have now... They basically added 5 kataphrakts, 1 captain with an armoured horse and shield (made with the kataphrakt kit), Amdur on armoured horse (not neccesary), a dragon knight and a war priest (both on armoured horses). It weighed in at some 650 points

Basically what greytemplar said. It's pretty good advice.

Have you thought about Khand? You could get them as allies. Get a few chariots and stuff. They're really fun to play as/with!

Well, I don't really know much about the Khands, I mean whats the general strategy with them?

Basically with Khand you want to have at least a King in Chariot and 2 Charioteers. IIRC the Chariots count as monstrous mounts - very nice against cavalry and infantry! Also, the infantry is fairly cheap. They're quite squishy but they're really not that bad - they all have 2 handed weapons for a start! Back them up with Easterling spearmen and you'll have some fun!

So charge your 3 chariots into a big group of enemy cavalry. They're fast enough to outrun most enemies unless they fly. Use infantrymen supported by Easterlings to fight enemy infantry.

I wouldn't take cavalry. They're really not that powerful.

You might have talked me into purchasing some chariots, they are in fact monstrous mounts

I wouldn't take cavalry. They're really not that powerful.

Cavalry in general, or just Khand cavalry?

 Doomsday B wrote:
You might have talked me into purchasing some chariots, they are in fact monstrous mounts

I wouldn't take cavalry. They're really not that powerful.

Cavalry in general, or just Khand cavalry?

You want Katapraks or at least Khand cavalry in your Rhunic army, you need the manoveability and the sheer treath value they bring to the tabel Its a reason why I always include two war bands of 10 Kataprakts in any game I need to win. Also Chariots are good, just use with some care.
And I always give them the Black Dragons upgrade, that raised statline really helps with combat and such.

Thing is, the Kataphrakt kit is a good source of banners, war drums and mounted captains, as well as bits and pieces to use in conversions. While they lack the sheer killyness of many other units of cavalery, they are D6 and come with armoured horses and shields as standard. Give them a war drum (for increased speed) and stick a mounted Amdur and a mounted Dragon Knight in there, and they'll slaughter most foes.

In fact, it's possible to play a (rather ineffective, it lack numbers) 500p list consisting of a single warband of cavalery and several mounted Dragon Knights: (You probably won't play this, but the cavalery models are a nice thing to have as you expand):

Warband 1:
Easterling captain with shield, mounted on an armoured horse - 65 points
10 Easterling Kataphrakts, Black Dragons, War Drum, Banner - 200 points

Warband 2: Easterling captain with shield, mounted on an armoured horse - 65 points

Independent Heroes:
2x Easterling Dragon Knights mounted on armoured horses - 85 points each (total 170 points)

Really? Since A Shadow In The East, I've used Kataphrakts. They're nigh on unstoppable - arrows bounce off them, they're fast and they hit mighty hard.

greytemplar wrote:Thing is, the Kataphrakt kit is a good source of banners, war drums and mounted captains, as well as bits and pieces to use in conversions. While they lack the sheer killyness of many other units of cavalery, they are D6 and come with armoured horses and shields as standard. Give them a war drum (for increased speed) and stick a mounted Amdur and a mounted Dragon Knight in there, and they'll slaughter most foes.

In fact, it's possible to play a (rather ineffective, it lack numbers) 500p list consisting of a single warband of cavalery and several mounted Dragon Knights: (You probably won't play this, but the cavalery models are a nice thing to have as you expand):

Warband 1:
Easterling captain with shield, mounted on an armoured horse - 65 points
10 Easterling Kataphrakts, Black Dragons, War Drum, Banner - 200 points

Warband 2: Easterling captain with shield, mounted on an armoured horse - 65 points

Independent Heroes:
2x Easterling Dragon Knights mounted on armoured horses - 85 points each (total 170 points)

You must be doing something wrong then, I have killed more heros and monsters than I care to think about with my kataprakts. They will leave all foes in a red ruin each time I get them into combat.

ExNoctemNacimur wrote:Really? Since A Shadow In The East, I've used Kataphrakts. They're nigh on unstoppable - arrows bounce off them, they're fast and they hit mighty hard.

Agreed, you are hard pressed to find more heavy hitting cavalry in the game