Will's WAB Blog

[William Benson]

Hi,
This is gonna be my first attempt at a blog, so please, take it easy on me.

This will only be a short addition to the blog as im at my Dad's and have not got the Shieldwall book with me.

Well this may seem slightly out of the blue, as I have not really shown any interest in WAB at the club or here on the forums, but secretly I have been spying on all of you WAB players , but I think its time to give a blog a shot.

Basically, seeing as my AT-43 Red Blok is done, and my birthday is just aroud the corner, I think im gonna give WAB a shot, along with FOW.

Currently I only have the Sheildwall book and thats it (and I havent really had time to look at it in depth, just the basics.), but before I chose what army i'm gonna start or anything like that, I was just wondering if people who play the game could post up what army they play, and the period in the army.

From what i have seen and taking into account my style of gameplay, I am either edging towards mid/late saxons or welsh, but still i have no real idea at this time.

All posts and advice are highly highly apreciated, and I should be able to post up the next installment either tommorrow or Monday.

Cheers,
Will.

[Kiwidave]

Welcome to the New World, Will!

I've got Pagan Rus, 750-950AD (list aimed at about 900) and this can morph into Era of the Princes Rus, 950-1100 AD (list will be 1000AD or so, to fit in with the other players).

One approach to choosing an army would be to take one that interests you from an historical perspective. That way you will get more involved with the army as it develops, as you research the background etc.

Dave

p.s. If you like, I can give you a game of Blitzkrieg Commander (WW2 game), before you follow the Dark Side to FOW...

[William Benson]

I would love that Dave, unfortunately though I do not have any models but if you were avle to supply some that would be awesome.

Well historically wise, the saxon/viking era's have probably interested me the most (typical boy hey ) and I also like to play a horde type army, with large units of 'fodder' and small unit of elites.

[Toby]

Hiya Will,

I play Danish Vikings from the shield wall book.

If you want a large army from the same era & book I would suggest the English (saxons), they have loads of cheap troops complimented by expensive elite guys, the Viking army is a bit more expensive all round and tends to be smaller. The welsh, scots and Irish in the book can be massive armies but are made up of rubbish troops without the elite units.

I also plan on getting hundred years war army, as that is my favourite period.

[Kiwidave]

I can supply both sides for late war Eastern Front, so that's not a problem! I've got a BKC game on tomorrow, so feel free to look in if you're not too busy thrashing Scott's Elves....

If you like horde-type armies, then Saxon might be better than Viking, as I think the troops are generally cheaper. Have a chat to Scott, as he has a Saxon horde of Biblical proportions.....Another alternative would be any of the 'barbarian' armies - Celts, Germans etc, but these are from an earlier period in history.

[William Benson]

Cheers for the advice Toby and Dave.
I was thinking along the lines of (very rough, and due to models that can be supplied)
For Saxons
4 units of 24 ceorls
22 huscarls
24 theagns
8 skirmishers
12 vikings

Cheers,
Will

[Scotty]

Hey Dave, I always have huge armies.

FOW the dark side!! that is a terrible thing to say dave, you'll put him off so he'd never get the fun of playing my Russians

Saxons are cheap, but for a reason- If you do an army without the elite stuff or lots of charcaters you'll be battered about.

And Dave he won't batter my elves about.. it'll be a draw

[Toby]

You need more skirmishers in that list Will. WAB is a different game to fantasy in the fact that you need skirmishers and the cheap stuff to fulfil roles your bigger boys cant do. Perhaps drop the vikings and pick some up, also how are you going to split your Huscarls and Thegns?

[William Benson]

I see, so maybe this?
3 units of 24 ceorls w/ full command
22 huscarls w/ full command
24 theagns w/ full command
12 vikings w/ full command
4 units of 8 skirmisher w/ javelins/slings
General
Army Battle Standard Bearer

By 'how are you going to split the huscarls and theagns' I guess you mean model likeness wise. Painting wise probably, and name them on the movemnt tray.

[Scotty]

No, he means the saxons special rule of mixing your better troops with your pooper ones to make your units better. It's what makes the army good.

Another point with the combined units you need to check your command pts as you don't need everyone to have command if your combining them -saves you pts which can be spent on other things.

Also I think you have too few skirmishers in your force and they should be unit sized 9 and you need to decide if they have javlins or slings.

22 Huscarls! that's alot of pts their but you've made up for it by not having many characters either

You can also in a saxon army get away without needing the heavy infantry vikings as your boys are just as good and cheaper.

Also what region are you going for?? this will have a dramatic affect on your army comp and style of play