No love for the Dwarves??

Lord Hurin · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2011 1:58 am

Hey all, I've noticed a distinct lack of Dwarf topics and army lists on here. Does no one really play them? I have a good amount of models (Dwarves were always my favourite race) and wouldn't mind putting together a list for WoTR. Are they any good?

ForgottenLore · **Joined:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:47 pm **Posts:** 491

I have never played Dwarves, but I have played against them a fair amount in WotR, and yes, they are pretty good. Crazy ridiculous Def values and awesome looking models. Their achillies heel is their slow movement, can be a problem when your trying to claim objective tokens or with the maelstrom of battle deployment.

I really like Dwarves too. I would probably have started them as my first army if I hadn't already had a bunch of goblins from the Mines of Moria.

Ultragreek · **Joined:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:03 pm **Posts:** 294

First of all,all races are good...To lose or win depends on the player strategy and how he use them.
So first the disavantages of the dwarves:Few common formations to choose from(not so much of a disavantage but lets include it),shorter move(1" can make the difference),shortbows(expect rangers).
Now advntages:High armour(epxct rangers that bring in tiewith the archers who have shortbows :wink:

),Stalwart(Not so much)
Soas a conclusion dwarves are brutal in fight but a little slow and not so good at shooting.So there you have it.
If you want ebgin to use them i suggest play gainst Misty mountains....You probably will win if you play smart.

Lord Hurin · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2011 12:00 pm

So does that mean that things like Hornblowers and Captains are practically a MUST to get the "At the Double!" and extra 1" of movement? What about their other Command options?

HRM · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2011 1:31 pm

Most WotR players I know Devlan Mud all over Musicians for their points-cost. I personally am a big fan of anything that improves movement.

Lord Hurin · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2011 1:38 pm

HRM wrote:

Most WotR players I know [word deleted] all over Musicians for their points-cost. I personally am a big fan of anything that improves movement.

Heh, even better. If I take them but most don't then I'll be moving at the same speed as Men, Orcs, Uruks, etc.

Beowulf03809 · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2011 4:24 pm

Good choice of a force.

I really want to start one myself (I have 2 boxes of warriors, 1 box of rangers and a few Heroes in my backlog already) but try to stay focused on one army at a time since it takes a lot of attention to get a decent WotR force on the table.

We have a local Dwarf player that has had a lot of success in SBG and WotR with his army. Some great Heroes, very solid core troops (you don't even need to invest in expensive metal models or rare formations). The Hornblower does help compensate a for the movement limitation at a reasonable cost. I think you will find they are a very forgiving army as well for while you are learning the rules.

Lord Hurin · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2011 4:49 pm

Thanks Beowulf! I know they're a lot of fun to play in the SBG, and I've always done well with them there. I have about 6 Companies' worth of Dwarves painted all told, with 3 or 4 more still unassembled. I'm batch painting 12 Rangers now, which is taking a while but will be worth it I think. Are they useful as Ered Luin Rangers or better off as the standard Common Formation?

Ultragreek · **Joined:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:03 pm **Posts:** 294

Look the only difference between Ered luin rangers and normal dwarves rangers are that the Ered luin ones can striek surprising the enemy(ambushers) and that they move faster on dificult terrain.I dont think is worth the 25 points(expect if you play in a a mountain-rocky area) and also they are rear(not so much promblem as the bigger cost).
So i suggest you the normal ones.But if you play a match in a rocky area with many wyas you can use very good their move and their ambush.
Hope i helped

Slythar · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2011 8:55 pm

I played against Dwarves several times. Since they are slow and few I try to flank them. I know if I fight them from the front I'll be on the losing side. I find my ranged does quite well versus Dwarves aswell. I'll trade bowfire any day with the more expensive Dwarf Rangers. Khazad Guard are a #1 priority to eliminate.

hero of gondor · **Posted:** Sun May 08, 2011 4:59 pm

Serious guys hornblowers are the most useless command options in a Wotr army even dwarfs. Shooting will not do very much damage to your dwarfs and with at the double you still move 10 inch.

Captain are fun but it's better to take a epic hero, always ignore command models if you other hero's to choose.

Banners are difficult for dwarfs, I'm still not sure if I take them but just depends on what you like a banner or another company.

And khazad guard are very good with strength 5 and +1 to wound and always fun is a gimli with epic rampage

Ultragreek · **Joined:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:03 pm **Posts:** 294

I agree with almost anythign you say hero of gondor.

The only i think i would change is that all modelsare important,all command option.Not just the hornblowers.

ForgottenLore · **Joined:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:47 pm **Posts:** 491

Like I said before, I love the musicians in WotR. Even if they weren't already folded into my Goblin Drum upgrade I would likely still buy them for my goblins.

Banners I am less sold on, but that may be because of my choice of army. With 9 companies of goblins I don't much care if my enemy gets a couple extra dice on the attack by charging so I don't value the reroll much. That might be different with a more elite army where extra casualties might matter.

Captains pretty much depends entirely on what Epics you have available.

For Dwarves, I'm not sure about shieldbearers. If you happen to roll a 5 on the panic test on the turn when your opponent's big formations has called a heroic fight they could be the difference between winning the game and being slaughtered. But if you never roll that 5, or win all of your combats, they are a waste of points.

Lord Hurin · **Posted:** Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:33 am

Ok, so I should have enough for a good-sized force in WoTR. This is what I've got so far:

Dain, Gimli & Balin
21 Khazad Guard
3 Iron Guard
45 Dwarves with shield
29 Dwarves with bow
25 Dwarves with 2-h axe
8 Rangers with throwing axe
8 Rangers with 2-h axe
8 Rangers with bow
1 banner
2 Musicians

Then I'm in the midst of trading for 2 more boxes of Dwarves. After that I was thinking of getting a few more Khazad Guard blisters, another box of Rangers and that should be that.

Ultragreek · **Joined:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:03 pm **Posts:** 294

By musicians you mean hornblowers? :roll:

Lord Hurin · **Posted:** Thu Jun 02, 2011 1:32 pm

Ultragreek wrote:

By musicians you mean hornblowers? :roll:

Heh, yep

That was my Warhammer Fantasy side popping up for a second, don't mind him...

Anyway, I figure I could make the following:

4 Companies of Dwarves with shields & Hornblower
4 Companies of Dwarves with shields
5 Companies of Dwarves with 2-handed axes & Hornblower
3 Companies of Dwarf Archers
3 Companies of Dwarf Archers
3 Companies of Dwarf Rangers with 2-handed axes
2 Companies of Dwarf Rangers with bows
4 Companies of Khazad Guard
Balin, Lord of Moria
Dain Ironfoot, King Under the Mountain
Gimli, son of Gloin

Even with Gandalf added, that only comes to about 1800 points...

Ultragreek · **Joined:** Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:03 pm **Posts:** 294

Good army... Throught ballistas would be useful too..

Slythar · **Posted:** Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:34 pm

A couple Balista's and King's Champions and you're set. Nice army.

Lord Hurin · **Posted:** Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:00 pm

Ok, the rough draft for my Dwarf army is as follows:

COMMON FORMATIONS
Fror's Kinband - 210pts
4 Companies of Dwarves with shields, Banner & Hornblower

1st Company, Aglarond Kinband - 160pts
4 Companies of Dwarves with shields

Gimli's Axemen - 290pts
6 Companies of Dwarves with 2-handed axes, Banner & Hornblower

Erebor Bowmen - 105pts
3 Companies of Dwarves with bows

Archer of the Glittering Caves - 105pts
3 Companies of Dwarves with bows

Nali's Iron Hill Rangers - 160pts
4 Companies of Dwarf Rangers with 2-handed axes

Watchers of High Pass - 80pts
2 Companies of Dwarf Rangers with bows

RARE FORMATIONS
King Thorin's Guard - 200pts
4 Companies of Khazad Guard

Troll's Bane and Orcrist - 120pts
2 Companies of Dwarf Ballistas

Nain, Champion of Erebor - 175pts
King's Champion

Farin, Champion of Aglarond - 175pts
King's Champion

Epic Heroes

Thorin Stonehelm, King of Durin's Folk - 200pts
Dain Ironfoot, King Under The Mountain

Gimli, son of Gloin - 175pts

Fror - 100pts
Balin, Lord of Moria

ALLIES
Gandalf the Grey - 200pts

Grimhelm, Marshal of West-Mark - 75pts
Erkenbrand, Captain of the Westfold

Grimhelm's Eored - 210pts
5 Companies of Royal Knights with Banner

Riders of West-Mark - 120pts
4 Companies of Riders of Rohan

Riders of Helm's Deep - 120pts
4 Companies of Riders of Rohan

45 Companies, 21 Might. 2980 Points Total

Xelee · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 9:31 pm

Lord Hurin wrote:

HRM wrote:

Most WotR players I know [word deleted] all over Musicians for their points-cost. I personally am a big fan of anything that improves movement.

Heh, even better. If I take them but most don't then I'll be moving at the same speed as Men, Orcs, Uruks, etc.

I'm not sure that they do HRM. It looks like Forgottenlore likes them and (points efficiency focused as I am) I still consider them worth having for some units, whereas I consider banners a huge waste. I'd be putting shieldbearers in every unit that can have thme first, though.

No love for the Dwarves??

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