MSU?

Wasn't well to post this here, but here goes...

when people talk about tactics for ogres some people mention MSU but what does it stand for and how do you use it?  

that's a good question! I dont know too!

MSU stands for Multiple Small Units. The strategi can be easily summarized as "flank 'n' flee". You have, as MSU means, many small units instead of some big and you use their high movment to flee with some units and countercharge with others. Essensially you are picking your fights much more than with "regular playing". That's because small and cheap units allow you to flee without taking a too big risk, and the size of the units makes it easy to manouver.

It's a playing- style that demand some skills and training as I see it. You have to be very careful not be charged by big infantery blocks or heavy cav for example.
I think the MSU is the way to go with ogres because it takes use of our high movement, and that I think that having Ogres in big regiment (thinking of IG and Bulls mostly since all other units are generally being used at the min. size) is not cost- efficient. They don't get their points back IMO! And when it comes to take charges with, my experience is that they often loose because they haven't any static CR. It's no great plus to have Ogres in big regiment sinve you get no rank bonus and your manouvering is being halted because of the size. The enemy will also have a more juicy target to hit on.
In MSU there are no juicy targets for the most, and the small 3- ogre unit take advantage of the high movement and manouvering to get in the right positions. Ok, they have no static CR of course, but to the big units have that? No, mostly not (except for banner) thay have no ranks and even their outnumbering is hard to hold on. 6 Ogres give 18 in US and most infanerty blocks are 20 or more. Though will the ogres the ogres take some wounds, but then you haven't taken in to count the wounds the Ogres will suffer from magic and shooting. No more outnumerbing probably. And with big units you certainly wont get in any flank charges.
I have problems seing the point of having Ogres in rear rank not doing anything. Ok, they give one of their comrades +1 S on the BC, but I would have prefered those 3 extra attacks.

Hehe, I suppose I got a little "over" the topic here, but I hope it's worth something

Tor- Eivind.

Yeah its all about maximizing frontage while minimizing cost. Why take a unit of 6 ogres where 3 of them do nothing (standing in the rear rank) when you can take two units of 3. With two units you get improved flexibility. Iif you flank charge with one of the units while front charging with the other you get twice the amount of attacks, you decrease your opponents static CR (removing ranks) and you even get a bit of static CR yourself (flank bonus) and end result is you utililize your points much better..
The flee thing comes into play because you will ony fight the enemy on your terms, fleeing allows you to set up charges and deny your opponent the advantage of charging (hence always buy bellowers for your units).

Never think that your units can take on other units on their own so always plan to set up flank charges and counter charges, having two units of three joining in on a charge also increases the chance of your autobreaking the enemy (with fear) with a combined unit strength of 18 (with 2x3 ogres).

Dark Elves are better at this since they have more units that can marchblock where we have but one; trappers (and they are not that good at it).. The point of marchblocking is to allow their high movement to play a larger factor and it helps alot with setting up charges, counter charges and traps..
Dark Elves also use a bait tactic where they actually allow the enemy to charge a certain unit which choses to hold instead of fleeing - but in the end its pretty much the same thing as it allows for setting up charges..

MSU is in general a very movement oriented strategy and its all about dominating the movement phase (which is hard'ish due to no marchblockers in the army).
MSU needs to be backed up by the army list. A pun on the meaning of MSU is minimal size units and it really holds true for ogres. Never ever buy more than 4 ogres for any given unit and as a standard keep to 3 ogres - maximize unit count and stay away from expensive army choices (giants, 3+ maneaters 4+ yhetees etc), also try to take choices that will help using maximize the advantages of MSU (so stuff like a scraplauncher might not be the best)..

If you visit druchii.net you'll notice they have alot of MSU related articles / threads in their hall of fame section in the tactics forum - it makes for a good study..

Very well written, Metheon. And, yes, druchii.net is worth a visit. Check ecspecially out the tacticas written by Chesney, and take a look at his army lists. He took 12th at one of the GT heats. It will be very exciting to see which place he's going to take in the final.