So, all the "Deadliest Warband" videos got me inspired to launch a campaign with one of my friends in our local club. We are holding a 48 (!) warband tournament, we are very eager to see which warband emerges victorious.

The rules!

Two warbands face off against each other in a 24" by 24" arena. There's very little terrain, only some single trees and pillars to create an in the way roll, nothing more.

Both warbands enter the arena trough doors in the middle of an opposite edge. They then play "last man standing". Normal rules for being broken apply.

Warband creation!
- 150 points. Not a single point more!
- No Monsters
- No magic, unless it is themed
- Bow limit applies
- Low on cavalry, unless it’s themed
- Low on filth! --> 52/53*
- Warband rules apply (1 hero + max. 12 warriors) --> 51/53*
- Leader of the warband is a generic Captain --> 40/53*

* We have drafted 53 warbands so far, some rules got broken in some warbands.

Whenever we play a game, we will randomly determine who plays which warband.

48 warbands will enter round 1 of the tournament. There will be 24 good warbands and 24 evil warbands. Each good warband will be randomly drawn against an evil warband.

The 24 winning warbands will advance to the 1/16th finals.

Double elimination! The 24 losing warbands will get one last chance to qualify for the next round. They will be drawn randomly against another losing warband. The winning warband advances to the 1/16th finals, the losing warband is eliminated.

--> if there are 12 good warbands and 12 evil losing warbands, the matchups will be good vs evil, in any other case all matches will be completely random. This rule also applies in all future rounds.

When 12 "losing" warbands have won their "double elimination" round, they will also advance to the 1/16th finals, joining the 24 winning warbands, for a total of 32 warbands.

From that point on, a single elimination tournament will wtart, leading to a single "HQ most deadly 150 points warband".

The evil warbands so far. This is a first draft. We need to eliminate 2 warbands. The ones that seem like the least fun to play with or against / vastly underpowered / overpowered. We will then finetune the 24 competing evil warbands.

1. Moria Goblins Moria (Moria & Angmar)

Moria Goblin Captain w/ Orc Bow

1x Bat Swarm
5x Moria Goblin Warrior w/ Spear
3x Moria Goblin Prowler w/ Shield
3x Moria Goblin Prowler w/ Orc Bow

#Warriors: 13 TOTAL: 148

edit 31/03: replaced Warg Marauder with Bat Swarm


2. Gundabad Blackshields Moria (Moria & Angmar)

Gundabad Blackshield Captain

9x Gundabad Blackshield w/ Spear
3x Gundabad Blackshield

#Warriors: 13 TOTAL: 150

3. Wargs United Moria (Moria & Angmar)

Wild Warg Chieftain

9x Wild Warg

#Warriors: 10 TOTAL: 147


4. Spiders United Moria (Moria & Angmar)

Ashrâk

4x Venom-back Spider

#Warriors: 5 TOTAL: 143


5. Angmar Angmar (Moria & Angmar)

Orc Captain w/ Shield

4x Warg Rider w/ Shield
4x Orc Tracker
3x Orc Warrior w/ Spear
1x Spectre

#Warriors: 13 TOTAL: 150
 

6. Mordor Orcs Mordor (Mordor)

Orc Captain w/ Shield

3x Morgul Stalker
5x Orc Warrior w/ Spear
3x Orc Warrior w/ Shield
1x Warg Rider

#Warriors: 13 TOTAL: 150


7. Morannon Orcs Mordor (Mordor)

Morannon Orc Captain w/ Shield

6x Morannon Orc w/ Shield
4x Morannon Orc w/ Shield & Spear
2x Morannon Orc w/ Spear

#Warriors: 13 TOTAL: 150


8. Mordor Uruk-hai Mordor (Mordor)

Mordor Uruk-hai Captain

8x Mordor Uruk-hai
4x Mordor Uruk-hai w/ Shield

#Warriors: 13 TOTAL: 150


9. Black Guard of Barad-dür Mordor (Mordor)

Captain of the Black Guard

7x Black Guard of Barad-dûr

#Warriors: 8 TOTAL: 144


10. Black Numenoreans Mordor (Mordor)

Black Númenórean Marshal

10x Black Númenórean

#Warriors: 11 TOTAL: 150
 

11. Uruk-hai Warriors Isengard (Fallen Realms)

Uruk-hai Captain

6x Uruk-hai Warrior w/ Pike
4x Uruk-hai Warrior w/ Shield

#Warriors: 11 TOTAL: 150


12. Mauhúr’s Marauders Isengard (Fallen Realms)

Mauhúr

6x Mauhúr’s Marauder w/ Shield
3x Mauhúr’s Marauder w/ Orc Bow

#Warriors: 10 TOTAL: 150


13. Uruk-hai Berserkers Isengard (Fallen Realms)

Uruk-hai Captain w/ Heavy Armour & Two-handed Weapon

6x Uruk-hai Berserker

#Warriors: 7 TOTAL: 150


14. Uruk-hai Elites Isengard (Fallen Realms)

Uruk-hai Captain w/ Crossbow

5x Feral Uruk-hai
3x Uruk-hai Warrior w/ Crossbow

#Warriors: 9 TOTAL: 148


15. Dunlendings Isengard (Fallen Realms)

Dunlending Chieftain

11x Dunlending Warrior w/ Shield
1x Dunlending Warrior

#Warriors: 13 TOTAL: 150

 
16. Harad Harad and Umbar (Fallen Realms)

Haradrim Chieftain

3x Haradrim Raider w/ War Spear
4x Haradrim Warrior w/ Bow
3x Haradrim Warrior w/ Spear
2x Watcher Of Karna w/ Bow

#Warriors: 13 TOTAL: 150


17. The Serpent Sting Harad and Umbar (Fallen Realms)

Haradrim Chieftain w/ Spear

8x Serpent Guard
3x Serpent Rider

#Warriors: 12 TOTAL: 149


18. Far Harad Harad and Umbar (Fallen Realms)

Mahud Tribesmaster w/ Shield

8x Mahûd Warrior w/ Blowpipe
1x Half Troll of Far Harad

#Warriors: 10 TOTAL: 150


19. Mahûd Raiders Harad and Umbar (Fallen Realms)

Mahud Tribesmaster w/ War Camel

5x Mahûd Raider w/ War Spear

#Warriors: 6 TOTAL: 150


20. Umbar Harad and Umbar (Fallen Realms)

Corsair Captain

4x Corsair of Umbar w/ Boarding Pike
2x Corsair Arbalester
2x Corsair of Umbar w/ Bow
2x Corsair of Umbar
1x Corsair Reaver
1x Corsair of Umbar w/ Shield

#Warriors: 13 TOTAL: 150


21. Easterlings The Eastern Kingdoms (Fallen Realms)

Easterling Captain

4x Easterling Warrior w/ Bow
3x Easterling Warrior w/ Shield & Pike
2x Black Dragon w/ Shield & Pike
1x Easterling Kataphrakt

#Warriors: 11 TOTAL: 150


22. Khand The Eastern Kingdoms (Fallen Realms)

Khandish Chieftain

7x Khanidish Warrior
3x Khandish Horseman

#Warriors: 11 TOTAL: 150


23. Goblin Town Goblin Town (An Unexpected Journey)

Goblin Captain w/ Two-handed Axe
Gollum

15x Goblin Warrior w/ Two Handed Axe

#Warriors: 17 TOTAL: 150


24. Hunter Orcs Azog’s Hunters (An Unexpected Journey)

Hunter Orc Captain

9x Hunter Orc Warrior
2x Hunter Orc Warrior w/ Fell Warg
1x Hunter Orc Warrior w/ Bow

#Warriors: 13 TOTAL: 150


25. Gundabad Orcs Azog’s Hunters (The Desolation Of Smaug)

Gundabad Orc Captain w/ Shield

6x Gundabad Orc Warrior w/ Pike
3x Gundabad Orc Warrior w/ Shield

#Warriors: 10 TOTAL: 150


26. Dark Denizens of Mirkwood (The Desolation Of Smaug)

3x Mirkwood Spider
8x Fell Warg

#Warriors: 11 TOTAL: 147

27. High Elves Eregion and Rivendell (Free Peoples)

High Elf Captain w/ Shield

3x High Elf Warrior w/ Spear
2x High Elf Warrior w/ Elf Bow
2x High Elf Warrior

#Warriors: 8 TOTAL: 150


28. Noldorin Exiles Lothlórien and Mirkwood (Free Peoples)

Gildor Inglorion

4x Noldorin Exile
2x Noldorin Exile w/ Elf Bow
2x Noldorin Exile w/ Wood Elf Spear

#Warriors: 9 TOTAL: 150


29. Wood Elves Lothlórien and Mirkwood (Free Peoples)

Wood Elf Captain w/ Elf Bow

4x Wood Elf Warrior w/ Elf Bow
4x Wood Elf Warrior
2x Wood Elf Warrior w/ Wood Elf Spear

#Warriors: 11 TOTAL: 150


30. Galadhrim Lothlórien and Mirkwood (Free Peoples)

Galadhrim Captain

3x Galadhrim Warrior w/ Bow
3x Galadhrim Warrior w/ Spear
1x Galadhrim Knight w/ Shield
1x Galadhrim Warrior w/ Shield

#Warriors: 9 TOTAL: 150


31. Rivendell Knights Elrond’s Household (The Desolation Of Smaug)

Rivendell Knight Captain

2x Rivendell Knight w/ Shield
1x Rivendell Knight

#Warriors: 6 TOTAL: 145


32. Mirkwood Rangers Thranduil’s Hall (The Desolation Of Smaug)

Mirkwood Ranger Captain

5x Mirkwood Ranger

#Warriors: 6 TOTAL: 145


33. Palace Guards Thranduil’s Hall (The Desolation Of Smaug)

Palace Guard Captain

3x Palace Guard w/ Shield
2x Palace Guard w/ Spear

#Warriors: 6 TOTAL: 150


34. Mirkwood Elves Thranduil’s Hall (The Battle Of The Five Armies)

Mirkwood Captain

3x Mirkwood Elf w/ Elven Glaive
2x Mirkwood Elf w/ Elf Bow
1x Mirkwood Cavalry
1x Mirkwood Elf w/ Shield

#Warriors: 8 TOTAL: 150


35. Dwarf Warriors Durin’s Folk (Free Peoples)

Dwarf Captain

5x Dwarf Warrior w/ Shield
2x Iron Guard

#Warriors: 8 TOTAL: 150


36. Dwarf Rangers Durin’s Folk (Free Peoples)

Dwarf Captain

5x Dwarf Ranger
3x Dwarf Ranger w/ Dwarf Longbow

#Warriors: 9 TOTAL: 150


37. Erebor Army Of Thror (An Unexpected Journey)

Captain of Erebor

5x Warrior Of Erebor w/ Shield
5x Warrior Of Erebor w/ Spear

#Warriors: 11 TOTAL: 150


38. Grim Hammers Army Of Thror (An Unexpected Journey)

Grim Hammer Captain

7x Grim Hammer

#Warriors: 8 TOTAL: 147


39. Hobbits United The Shire (Free Peoples)

Meriadoc, Captain Of The Shire w/ Elven Cloak, Pony, Shield
Peregrin, Captain Of The Shire w/ Elven Cloak, Pony

4x Tookish Hunter
4x Battlin’ Brandybuck
4x Hobbit Shirrif

#Warriors: 14 TOTAL: 147


40. Woses Wanderers In The Wild (Free Peoples)

Ghân-buri-Ghân

12x Woses Warrior OR 15x Woses Warrior

#Warriors: 13/16 TOTAL: 129/150

 
41. Warriors Of Minas Tirith Minas Tirith (Kingdoms Of Men)

Captain Of Minas Tirith w/ Shield

6x Warrior Of Minas Tirith w/ Spear & Shield
5x Warrior Of Minas Tirith w/ Shield

#Warriors: 12 TOTAL: 149


42. Knights Of Minas Tirith Minas Tirith (Kingdoms Of Men)

Captain Of Minas Tirith w/ Horse, Lance

6x Knight Of Minas Tirith w/ Shield

#Warriors: 7 TOTAL: 149


43. Citadel Guards Minas Tirith (Kingdoms Of Men)

Beregond w/ Horse

8x Citadel Guard w/ Spear
3x Citadel Guard w/ Longbow
1x Citadel Guard w/ Horse & Longbow

#Warriors: 13 TOTAL: 149


44. Dol Amroth Fiefdoms (Kingdoms Of Men)

Captain of Dol Amroth

6x Man-at-arms of Dol Amroth w/ Pike
4x Knight of Dol Amroth

#Warriors: 11 TOTAL: 145


45. Lossarnach Fiefdoms (Kingdoms Of Men)

Forlong the Fat

10x Axeman of Lossarnach

#Warriors: 11 TOTAL: 150


 
46. Lamedon Fiefdoms (Kingdoms Of Men)

Angbor the Fearless

11x Clansman of Lamedon

#Warriors: 12 TOTAL: 143


47. Riders of Rohan Rohan (Kingdoms Of Men)

Captain of Rohan w/ Horse & Shield

6x Rider of Rohan w/ Throwing Spears
#Warriors: 7 TOTAL: 150


48. Rohan Royal Guard Rohan (Kingdoms Of Men)

Gamling, Captain of Rohan

5x Rohan Royal Guard w/ Throwing Spears
4x Rohan Royal Guard
#Warriors: 10 TOTAL: 150


49. Helmingas Rohan (Kingdoms Of Men)

Grimbold of Grimslade

6x Helmingas w/ Shield
4x Helmingas w/ Bow
1x Helmingas w/ Throwing Spears & Shield
#Warriors: 12 TOTAL: 150


50. Warriors of Arnor Arnor (Kingdoms Of Men)

Captain of Arnor w/ Shield

11x Warrior of Arnor

#Warriors: 12 TOTAL: 143

 
51. Warriors of Númenor Númenor (Kingdoms Of Men)

Captain of Numenor

4x Warrior of Númenor w/ Spear & Shield
4x Warrior of Númenor w/ Shield
4x Warrior of Númenor w/ Bow

#Warriors: 13 TOTAL: 150


52. Dale Garrison of Dale, City of Men (The Desolation of Smaug)

Captain of Dale w/ Shield

7x Warrior of Dale w/ Spear & Shield
4x Warrior of Dale w/ Bow

#Warriors: 12 TOTAL: 150


53. Laketown Guard The Army of Laketown (The Desolation of Smaug)

Master of Laketown
Alfred the Councillor

8x Laketown Guard w/ Spear
4x Laketown Guard w/ Bow

#Warriors: 14 TOTAL: 142

So there's the introduction to our campaign.

Which warbands would you eliminate and why?

We need to cut 2 evil warbands. I personally don't like the filthy "Uruk-hai Elites" with all the Feral Uruks.

We need to cut 3 good warbands. The High Elves seem a bit 'plain' to me at first sight. And we have so many other Elves entering the tournament.

I had to break a few rules to include Goblin Town and Hobbits. Did I break too many? Are they too powerfull now?

What about the Woses? Should I add 3 more Woses Warriors, giving them a numbers advantage? Or should I just bring on the 129 points warband?

I really wanted to field an Army of the Dead! But I couldn't make it work. Any solutions?

I wanted to make Blackroot Vale Archers, Faramir's Rangers and Grey Company too, but decided against them because I wanted to enforce the bow limit. Haldir's Elves just looked like more plain elves.

Did I overlook some obvious lists?

We had our first three practice games tonight. The format feels right, the games were quick, two were very tense untill the end. The third game taught us that one Warg Marauder is one too many. We'll replace it with a Bat Swarm for now.

I would recommend getting rid of any with named heroes, eg lossanarch, lamedon, citadel guard, goblintown, helmingas, royal guard

_________________
AlextheGreat789
Armies:
Durin's Folk
Eastern Kingdoms
Harad & Umbar
Isengard
Fiefdoms
Gondor
Rohan
Rivendell
Moria

You don't have to get rid of fifedom forces, just use a capt of dol amroth to lead them.

Did anything become of this? would love to know the outcome

Oh that was nice! Awaiting for the result/feedback!

_________________
Conversation/Ideas over painting etc, can check here:
http://www.one-ring.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=29455

Yes! We were debating which warbands we were going to use when GBHL launched their World Cup. We absolutely love that formula and decided to organise a 32 warbands 150 points Word Cup.

We are currently painting up some of the models. I'll post more details over here in a new topic.