Hi guys, I'm bet unread to the war if the ring and a friend and I stayed up all night readin my new rulebook and we think we know how to play the basics of the game. (ie. we can do all the phases properly but without some advanced rules).

So how are these armies?
Also, what is the point of taking a generic captain over an epic hero?

Isengard
Lurtz
3 Uruk-Hai Phalanx
8 Isengard orcs with shields
4 dunlending cavalry
Dunlending huscarls

Rohan
Théoden
5 oathsworn militia
2 oathsworn bowmen
5 Elfhelm's Riders

Comments and criticisms and explanations please.

Thanks,
LordElrond

Drop the Huscarls if they're one company - no formation should be a single company unless it's of heroes, a monster or Indomitable. Use the points and maybe some orcs for another company or two of uruk-hai. Don't underestimate pikes against cavalry, after all - or in general: numbers help win this game too.

For Rohan, switch one, maybe two, Militia to Bowmen - bows are EXTREMELY weak in this game and 2 companies of VERY basic infantry will never hold against anything - except maybe one company, lol.

With regards to generic captains: it's generally because they're cheaper and give extra Might, allow you to Move at the Double! etc. In most cases, it's better to take a named character: but something like Elves, you may not have 100+pts, so 50pts is easy.

But the twins are less than 40 pts each for elves.

And I should replace the archer militia with more Rohan swordsmen?

Also, what should I get instead of the huscarls.

Change the Huscarls and pikes both for Uruks with shields or crossbows - either a very good heavy infantry unit Rohan will have big trouble with, or absolute ranged death to everything. Also, Thrydan is a far better idea then Lurtz at these points (or indeed, any points).

As to captains, there is no point, really.

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"... Telchar wrought it in the deeps of time."
-On Andùril, The Lord of the Rings

Do not change the Pikes if you are fighting that Rohan Army! lol or almost any other army, the fact that Pikes always get the +1 fight and prevent any charging bonuses from anyone is huge in WOTR. Cavalry literally are obliterated by pikes in this LOTR game (as it should be). I'd drop the Huscarls and add in some normal Uruks (exchanging some orcs too if need be) or else crossbowsmen, I actually have found archery to be useful in WOTR in contradiction to what most people say.

As to normal captains their use is in leading units when you are playing a decently large battle. Your are playing a rounghly 500 point battle, Ive never played a WOTR under 1000. So for you an epic hero or two can fit in nicely, but once you hit the larger scaled battles and you need good leaders for your squads (plus the extra attack that they normally confer).

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They are the best value heroes you get. You should try to ally them in if you have the models.

Pretty much everything you need to hange has been covered already, so heed their noble advice

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-FSM.

Have a quick re-read of my last post I said MOST named heroes are more expensive, lol. There are a few cheaper (including those two).

The other way around - switch some "Swordsmen" with more archers.

See first post - drop them for more Uruks. I had meant to add that you should take some Uruk Crossbows, but that depends on the availability of the models to you.