New to ogres and need some guidance!

Hey everyone!  Got a bunch of ogres today and need some help with what to build and some list ideas.
I picked up:
2 battalions
Box of bulls
Butcher
Tyrant
Gorger

Anyway looking forward to getting to know you all and learning ogres this is also my first fantasy army

Well you should have more than enough to make just about everything you could need. Though I'd recommend a scraplauncher as they are very good. With what you have though you can make

About 9 Ironguts (one is standard bearer, so you won't need a great wep for him)
12-15 bulls (Using some leadbelcher bodies for standard bulls)
2-4 Leadbelchers
A Slaughtermaster / Bruiser / Battle-Standard Bearer (I recommend using a leadbelcher body w/ greenstuff+Bits)
About 40 Gnoblar Fighters
About 8 Gnoblar Trappers (Some of the Gnoblars on the command/leadbelcher sprues work for this)

As for lists, there is a whole forum section for them, but I don't have the time to make a whole list or anything right now. With those models (depending on magic items) you can probably make a solid 2000-2500pt army list. (Including a Scraplauncher of course.)

I'd say under the new rules your key units will be Bulls, Ironguts, and Scaplaunchers. Bulls and ironguts should make up the mass of your army. You'll need few points invested in gnoblars (and perhaps lead belchers) for support. The Slaughtermaster is probably your first commander choice, the BSB your first hero choice, If your playing at or over 2000 points you'll want to add a tyrant, and then probably a butcher as hero number 3 at say over 2400 points.

For a Tyrant build look here:
http://www.ogrestronghold.com/forum/index.php?topic=17504.0

For a BSB build look here:
http://www.ogrestronghold.com/forum/index.php?topic=17161.0

For a Slaughter master build look here:
http://www.ogrestronghold.com/forum/index.php?topic=17625.0

I personally always give my Slaughter master the fencer's blades and some sort of ward save.
Strangely enough there are no debates about how to equip the slaughtermaster. I also give mine the

except you need a Tyrant to get a SM.

I believed the new rule book lifted this limitation. Am I wrong?

I believed the new rule book lifted this limitation. Am I wrong?

Unfortunatly yes, you're wrong

A tyrant/bruiser model will be needed to be the general.

I believed the new rule book lifted this limitation. Am I wrong?

This is an item of much debate. While simple logic and common sense could very easily justify the rule still existing, if you play RAW then the limitation for many unit restrictions are gone (0-1 and 1+ for example). So it depends on you and who you play against. Certain people and probably some/most tournaments are leaving them in effect regardless of how RAW you attempt to make it. I personally don't use any of the old restrictions on any ogre units, my playing buddies haven't had any issues.

whereas I still see them as intact and inplace. Thus gnoblars need bulls, 1 Tyrant, limited trappers etc.

depends on who you play with, as Midfish says. Have a chat with them, preferably BEFORE you buy your army!!!

even if the restriction is gone there is no reason not to take a tyrant before a SM.

Tyrants are very much worth it if you can get one.



the FAQ didn't go into the ogre army list and specifically say the restrictions were gone. The Bretts had some similer restrictions that were removed in their FAQ leading me to belive that Ogres were intentionally left like they were.

if you really want a caster as your general run scragg.

the FAQ didn't go into the ogre army list and specifically say the restrictions were gone. The Bretts had some similer restrictions that were removed in their FAQ leading me to belive that Ogres were intentionally left like they were.

Well the FAQ didn't go into further detail because Ogre's only have it in one place (which was omitted). Brets only did because they had "reminder" paragraphs on the actual troop pages. While our "restrictions" are also on these pages, it's a matter of where to find the rule for them. The Brets had these side paragraphs pointing to the page explaining them (that was also omitted). Basically we have lines saying "do this" but no rule stating we have to (though that description is poor). Even the actual lines are italic and not under any category, they just free-float below the unit stat-bars but above the gear and special rules.

Though I digress, this is all under debate, and since it isn't solid when read RAW it's up to each person and their opponent to determine how best to approach.

Though if you ask me playing anything other than RAW is like making up your own rules and changing the game (nothing wrong with house-rules though). That's just me though.

even if the restriction is gone there is no reason not to take a tyrant before a SM.

I beg to differ. With +4 to cast and dispel and a 12 inch range, a slaughter master can dominate a magic phase. In addition he has stats that would make most generals of other races jealous and he's a mage. With the new rules he can use items to boost him up to a 4+ ward save and ws10 which makes him a pretty awsome fighter. Ok he's no tyrant, but he's filling up two roles at once. The one big drawback is the leadership, but I'd always take a slaughtermaster first and tyrant second.

Hi Gutface, welcome to the Ogre Kingdoms.

I'd say that 9 Iron Guts is probably spot on, though you might often field less. You can never have too many Bulls.

I'd play a couple of games with a few half made models for Leadbelchers too see how you feel about them. A lot of people don't rate them and I think that in this army book your points are better spent else where, make them into bulls imo.

 Scrap Launchers are brilliant. Shoot them for as long as possible and get the knack of using them in combat at the right time/way. You can't have more Scraplaunchers than Gnoblar units (both fighters and trappers count). One is enough for me as I need the points for a Slavegiant. BTW I love the Slave Giant; either as an arrow magnet to spare the rest of my force or as a killing machine. Mine ripped the head(s?) off a Hellpit Abomination the otherday. Lovely.

I would (and did) try some Maneaters, either one on its own or a small unit. Hand guns gives them 2x24" shots per turn and count as an extra hand weapon in CC giving you 5 S5 attacks each at a higher than normal WS4. The Cathayan Long Sword is also a good choice and you can mix and match within the unit. Maneaters can be modelled from either Bulls or IronGuts or whatever.

I have started to favor:
A Tyrant, a BSB Bruiser and two Butchers over one Slaughtermaster. The SM gets +4 to cast instead of +2, but having twice as many casters means I can get 2 of whatever spell I like each turn and some back up in case one fails to cast or (perhaps worse) dispel. The good news is that there is no need to model Butchers and SMasters differently, use bulls for this.

Have fun.

Thanks everyone for the kind words and advice.  I've been reading through the forum and it seems like we have a pretty awesome community here and I'm very happy to be a part of it.

Thanks for the advice on the Leadbelchers Face-Smasher, but even if they aren't the greatest they are just totally awesome to me fluff and model wise so I'll be using them...what's better than some huge brute stuffing a cannon full of scrap and carrying it around to blow someone's face off.

With what I got here's what I ended up deciding on building:
Tyrant
Butcher
1 Converted bruiser BSB
1 Converted bruiser
Gorger
10 Iron Guts (8 with weapons, 1 standard bearer, 1 bellower)
4 Leadbelchers (2 bellowers)
18 Bulls with ironfists (2 bellowers, 2 standard bearers)
Tons of gnoblars

Will probably try and pick up another gorger, butcher, and a scraplauncher in the future.

Yeah that's a pretty solid start, gives you plenty of options. You can use the butcher as a slaughtermaster or butcher as you don't need separate looking models if you only have one or the other in the list. Though I'd recommend having models to be able to run double butchers or a butcher+SM (which it looks like you will be in the future). Make sure to make at least one Bull champ though. There are some interesting tactics with full command in a 3 wide ogre unit that can be done. Overall looks like you have a pretty solid starting force, many possibilities. Congrats. 

Definately get yourself a scraplauncha they r amazing in 8th. i love my mnaeaters till death and r great 4 charging a unit in the flank just 2 get 5 or 6 extra attacks.  also get yourself a bull champion or 2. the underdog rule get you 50 free points.

I'd actually suggest against maneaters, I find them far to expensive and not that effective. I've used them in two games for fun, and I usually find myself stuck in a building just shooting to avoid being instantly destroyed. And the shooting isn't all that great. A unit of 2-3 is still only 4-6 shots which aren't going to make much of a difference. Huge amount of VP to throw away. Just my $0.02 though.

I agree with Midfish. The 8th edition has not been kind to maneaters, who were a good choice up until the new rules came out. Gorgers are a good choice.