Dikey wrote:
I start with something that cannot be denied: allied contingents are necessary. Aside from Isengard and Mordor, almost every other army has weakness that the core forces alone cannot compensate. i think of the old Dwarves, who lack spellcasting, cavalry and spear support.
Point is...when do you think that a perfectly legal allied contingent is unacceptable? Where do you set the line?
And not only for allied contingent, but for other strategies as well, such as sculpting equipment that a unit would have never had (giving axes to everyone, for example)
Example: Alfrid and Bombur allied in an High Elf Army led by Gil-Galad where elves have been given axes as hand weapons. Perfectly legal but, should my opponent use something like this, I'd feel morally justified to kick him 'till kingdom come.
I think most allied contingents are acceptable. I play with a lot of people who like to take one warband dwarves, one elves, and one men from random armies. Thats fine. If thats all they own or they like diversity, who am I to disagree or hinder their fun as long as it makes sense.
What I hate is power gaming to an extreme degree. I played someone who mixed 26 watchers of karna with a shade and some spectres. I wanted to throw up. This wasnt even in a tournament.
Also, he suggested he wanted to use hunter orcs with uruk hai pike support.....like come on man......grow up.
Otherwise, if someone wanted to do isengard Uruk Hai with some Angmar hero like buhrdur with shades and orcs just because thats all they have and I know them personally, thats fine. The best thing to judge this is are they my friends, and how much do I know them.....
If the first time I play someone they come with like 2 dozen watchers of Karna or Bombur and Alfrid I will be cordial, play to the best of my ability and have a nice conversation, and never, ever play with them again.
If I see someone in a store that Im already at for example after I finish a game with a friend and they try to play me with wood elves with axes Im going to laugh at them and leave. Reavers with axes are bad enough too.
Ill think its fine if I see a Uruk hai Captain with an axe, or some scouts with axes here and there...like 2 per warband....but thats because i saw them in the movie with an axe or two.....
Basically, its common sense and courtesy.
One thing I like to do is use Thranduil with Mirkwood Rangers, Thorin with Erebor warriors, Alfrid and lake town spearmen, and Beorn.
I think thats the worst Ill do but it is themed to a point and competitive, and has a nice mix. Theres no modded weapons or any bombur and stuff like that.
Furthermore, allied contingents between friends often takes away from your armies goal and may hurt you easily.
If you take dwarves and arnor for example which I thought in an army once, I lose troops to help close combat with the dwarves, and the rangers are all alone without more support since they shoot and the dwarves are headed to combat. So yeah those are my thoughts in general.