Ok this is my first attempt at a CD list with LoA and wanted a bit of critique, It isn’t supposed to be mega competitive, The main thing affecting some of my choices are: appearance of models/lack of available models in other choices, stuff I like the fluff for and lastly and probably most importantly its the list I can complete most quickly/cheaply.
LORDS
Sorcerer Prophet
Lore of Hashut
lvl 4, Talisman of Preservation 345pts
HEROES
Infernal Castellan
BSB, GW
Armour of Bazherak the Cruel, Dawnstone. 210pts
Daemonsmith
Lore of Fire
lvl 1
Dispel Scroll, Talisman of Protection 140pts
CORE
40 Hobgoblin Cutthroats
FC, Shields and Bows 246pts
42 Hobgoblin Cutthroats
FC, Shields 215pts
28 Infernal Guard
FC, HW/SH, Razor Standard 413pts
SPECIAL
Deathshrieker 100pts
Deathshrieker 100pts
Magma Cannon 145pts
RARE
5 Hobgoblin Wolf Raiders
Spears, Standard, Musician 80pts
TOTAL: 1994pts
So the basic thoughts are to deploy in a corner with the infernals in between the 2 hobbo units and the war machines at the back, The castellan and Sorc proph will be in with the IG giving the unit Magic resistance 2 from AoBtC. Daemonsmith will be back with the warmachines for the re-roll. Raiders can flank attack units who engage battleline for additional combat res. Deathshriekers take out anything really nasty at distance while the magma cannon targets stuff hit by ash storm if I manage to roll it. Obviously this list isn’t optimal but I don’t often play with mega competitive groups so not too worried about that but does the army have enough punch? I want to put in a destroyer but won’t until there is a model for it as I haven’t seen an alternative that I’ve really liked and the thought of converting something that big I find a little daunting at this point.
I think you’re right to identify the lack of punch as the obvious deficiency in this army. I think one of my issues with the LoA list is that it doesn’t give you much choice but to go for gunline, unless you just take the Destroyer and rely entirely on it stamping everything in its path. Which is just as boring in its way. Infernals just don’t deal enough damage for their points.
I think it’s a solid list, but I’m not sure how exciting it will be to play! You’re limited to a quite defensive style. I’d maybe chuck in some Bull Centaurs or Fireborn to mix it up a bit. Try to tarpit someone with the Hobgoblins or IG, then smash into the flank with your combat unit. That would give you a bit more versatility.
Yeah I hear ya, The only reason I left Fireborn or BC out was because of lack of models atm, Its gonna take me until late spring/early summer to get ready for the table anyway so If models for those come out between now and then I may well get them. I would go for converting some BC but all my bases come from Dragonforge games in the states so I don’t want to fork out for bases only to realise the size is wrong when WF get round to either releasing models or clarifying the base size.
Edit: I don’t mind the defensive style too much as I don’t play often enough to get bored of it plus my other armies are quite offensive being a 40 Ork and BA player so I don’t mind something a bit different here.
You have to take the K’daai destroyer. It is probably the single best unit in the game. Unless your opponent is smart and has a 2+ fire ward item.
Best way to use it is to put it into the biggest blocks of S4 or less troops which have no way of wounding it, and let it grind them down/break and pursue them.
I think you have just the right number of war machines. Also I’d avoid putting any gear on the lvl 1 fire guy if he get into combat its not worth the points.
If you don’t take the destroyer, I recommend a Hellcannon and use it for flank denial, set up in a corner with it holding the flank, park big blocks of stubborn gobbos near by.
I would drop the shields/FC and buy more gobbos, if you are wanting to keep the parry save consider that only works on a 6. So 1 in 6 gobbos will be saved. When you can get a gobbo for 6 pts (bow shield, less if AHW) in the first place, I’d rather have the extra shots/wounds/attacks.
Also drop the Razor standard, that is way overpriced, Instead take the War Banner or the flaming Banner. Also I know 15pts a model for GW’s is a lot but it really is worth it. I would run a block of 23 GW dwarfs with War banner, and then 40 Hobgobs with bows.
I consider this to be the core of any LoA CD list, At only 974 points it leaves lots of room for adding other things:
Heros:
Daemonsmith Sorcerer
Lvl 1 Lore of Fire
Dark Castellan
Battle Standard Bearer
Armor of Bazherak the Cruel
Dawnstone
Great Weapon
Special:
Magma Cannonx1
Death Shrieker x2
Rare:
K’daai Destroyer
Add in a lvl 4 hashut with 100 pts of gear leaves you about 16 pts to throw on the lvl 1 or a couple gobbos. I would go with the 4+ ward. D3 wound potion, and power stone. Or if you see him getting into combat the The other Trickers shard and the potion of speed.
Don’t you guys like Ward saves on your BSB’s? There are too many things that can wound him that either deny armor save or you roll crappy. Maybe I’m used to OnG where a BSB is essential. I would think with the Hobgobs, though, that it’s the same thing. The best BSB defense I’ve seen is the Talisman of Preservation and Enchanted Shield. It leaves the lvl 4 without the 4+, though. I am thinking Armor of Destiny.
As said above I don’t like proxying and have no current ideas for a conversion on the Kdai so thats why I’m not taking one atm as soon as their is a model available I will probably reconsider. As said this army isn’t built to be super competitive, more to utilize the models I have/want. I don’t particularly like the Hellcannon model and while I have a few ideas for a conversion its way down the to do list atm mainly due to the fact that it will take me a while to accumulate all the parts.
The reason I take FC and shields with my Hobbos is simply because it looks good and I refuse to sacrifice aesthetic for effectiveness, I spend alot of time, money and effort on my armies and take pride in even the individual infantrymen and for the small amount of games I actually play I would rather people said of me that I had a good looking army than had an effective list.
I also like my list to be fluffy which is why I also put FC in all units as realistically all units would have a musician a standard and a leader of some sort.