High Elves Tactica: 8th Edition
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 2:39 pm
With 8th Ed looming ever closer I was thinking we should start a tactics section for it. This is just a small run down which hopefully will evolve as 8th edition hits. If anyone has any other ideas to add them pop them down. I will also do more when time allows (did this during my lunch break )
A lot of our good old days will be gone. No more can small units of sword masters hack through larger units. No more hitting regiments with dragon princes in the front due to the stubborn rule. No more re-roll able 1+ lord save with a 4+ ward.
We will probably start seeing mass blocks of troops from the enemy which can take a hell of a beating and still get a lot of attacks back. I mean imagine a big block of saurus with spears… 2 attacks each front rank, 1 attack each 2nd rank, 1 from the 3rd rank…and if 10 wide another rank gets 1 attack. Potentially 40 Strength 4 attacks…..
So what do we have that can counter this now?
ASF:
Looks like High elves ignore the “great weapons always strike last” and since we now always strike in initiative order PLUS the chance or rerolls vs Lower WS enemy (which if pretty much most armies) then looks like we will be very good in combat (bar the fact we are low T)
Army options:
If the rumours are true then High Elves are and “elite” army. This means we can pretty much ignore the army restrictions.
Characters:
Because we will have more of a limit on characters and lots of new fancy items in the new rule book we can look at taking more of a mix. Since you only get 1 save in 8th then it seems pointless wasting too many points on armour. I will probably still use Vambraces of defence on a lord but then some support/killing stuff. I will still give him armour but just not armour of Calador or enchanted shield. Plus with a pretty high WS and the reroll chance, more attacks might be better than high strength.
Core:
With units losing that extra +1 to there armour save for hand weapon/shield (6+ ward in stared) we will have the advantage against Most core (obviously chaos warriors and co will still be an issue)
Archers:
The addition of the extra ranks shooting will make archers a great as small 5x2 units of 10 kicking around to support the advancing troops while not getting in the way.
SeaGuard:
2 ranks shooting with a 3rd doing half shots….free reform end of each move….extra ranks in combat…I think these guys will play a big part in 8th Ed High elf army’s. Being very tactically versatile will make them great to support your more combat effective units.
Spearmen:
Cheaper than seaguard and with 4 ranks normal now (5 if 10 wide) that’s a hell of a lot of Strength 3 attacks. Also if your unit is bigger than the enemy and attacked from the front you become stubborn. Could mean big blocks of stick elves handing around.
Special:
Lion chariots and Tiranoc Chariots
With the fear of instant str 7 now gone, these could become real players again. A lion chariot (with seems to be str 6 elves now due to mounted troups will get full great weapon bonus) means a harder to kill, fear causing (+1 combat res) big hitter. Could be very useful against big block infantry armies.
Swordmasters/white lions/ phoenix guard
For swordmasters the second rank gets to attack that means 22 attacks with rerolls against most things (at 7 wide). 3 ranks of 7 sword masters will allow for casualties and still deal a lot of damage
White lions will also extra attacks (again if 7 wide, the unit could now have 15 strength 6 attacks with rerolls…painful!)
With these 2 units comes the problem of numbers vs striking back. While spearmen are cheaper, our elites just don’t have the armour save to be able to take getting smacked back. We just have to support them more with knights since knights wont be able to take units solo anymore.
Phoenix guard are an exception. They will have the bonus row of attacks (so 5 wide = 11 attacks with champ) and with armies getting 1 save there 4+ ward save could be pretty damn useful. Coupled with the fear combat bonus these boys could be a great solid unit.
Shadow warriors:
Will remain the same pretty much from what I have seen except the march blocking might not be as good.
Dragon princes/silver helms
Will have problems due to large number units and stubborn rule. I think knights will turn into support units for infantry rather than shock troops. With having to have 2 ranks to remove enemy rank bonus/stubborn rule, the cheaper silverhelms might come back into armies just as flank hitters. Dragon princes will be better at taking small enemy units or aiding spearmen/other elites.
A lot of our good old days will be gone. No more can small units of sword masters hack through larger units. No more hitting regiments with dragon princes in the front due to the stubborn rule. No more re-roll able 1+ lord save with a 4+ ward.
We will probably start seeing mass blocks of troops from the enemy which can take a hell of a beating and still get a lot of attacks back. I mean imagine a big block of saurus with spears… 2 attacks each front rank, 1 attack each 2nd rank, 1 from the 3rd rank…and if 10 wide another rank gets 1 attack. Potentially 40 Strength 4 attacks…..
So what do we have that can counter this now?
ASF:
Looks like High elves ignore the “great weapons always strike last” and since we now always strike in initiative order PLUS the chance or rerolls vs Lower WS enemy (which if pretty much most armies) then looks like we will be very good in combat (bar the fact we are low T)
Army options:
If the rumours are true then High Elves are and “elite” army. This means we can pretty much ignore the army restrictions.
Characters:
Because we will have more of a limit on characters and lots of new fancy items in the new rule book we can look at taking more of a mix. Since you only get 1 save in 8th then it seems pointless wasting too many points on armour. I will probably still use Vambraces of defence on a lord but then some support/killing stuff. I will still give him armour but just not armour of Calador or enchanted shield. Plus with a pretty high WS and the reroll chance, more attacks might be better than high strength.
Core:
With units losing that extra +1 to there armour save for hand weapon/shield (6+ ward in stared) we will have the advantage against Most core (obviously chaos warriors and co will still be an issue)
Archers:
The addition of the extra ranks shooting will make archers a great as small 5x2 units of 10 kicking around to support the advancing troops while not getting in the way.
SeaGuard:
2 ranks shooting with a 3rd doing half shots….free reform end of each move….extra ranks in combat…I think these guys will play a big part in 8th Ed High elf army’s. Being very tactically versatile will make them great to support your more combat effective units.
Spearmen:
Cheaper than seaguard and with 4 ranks normal now (5 if 10 wide) that’s a hell of a lot of Strength 3 attacks. Also if your unit is bigger than the enemy and attacked from the front you become stubborn. Could mean big blocks of stick elves handing around.
Special:
Lion chariots and Tiranoc Chariots
With the fear of instant str 7 now gone, these could become real players again. A lion chariot (with seems to be str 6 elves now due to mounted troups will get full great weapon bonus) means a harder to kill, fear causing (+1 combat res) big hitter. Could be very useful against big block infantry armies.
Swordmasters/white lions/ phoenix guard
For swordmasters the second rank gets to attack that means 22 attacks with rerolls against most things (at 7 wide). 3 ranks of 7 sword masters will allow for casualties and still deal a lot of damage
White lions will also extra attacks (again if 7 wide, the unit could now have 15 strength 6 attacks with rerolls…painful!)
With these 2 units comes the problem of numbers vs striking back. While spearmen are cheaper, our elites just don’t have the armour save to be able to take getting smacked back. We just have to support them more with knights since knights wont be able to take units solo anymore.
Phoenix guard are an exception. They will have the bonus row of attacks (so 5 wide = 11 attacks with champ) and with armies getting 1 save there 4+ ward save could be pretty damn useful. Coupled with the fear combat bonus these boys could be a great solid unit.
Shadow warriors:
Will remain the same pretty much from what I have seen except the march blocking might not be as good.
Dragon princes/silver helms
Will have problems due to large number units and stubborn rule. I think knights will turn into support units for infantry rather than shock troops. With having to have 2 ranks to remove enemy rank bonus/stubborn rule, the cheaper silverhelms might come back into armies just as flank hitters. Dragon princes will be better at taking small enemy units or aiding spearmen/other elites.