gnoblars in 8th

Hey guys I was wondering how many gnoblars you really use in 8th edition? At the moment I have 60 with my ogre army (they aren't in any of my lists though) and was wondering if in your experiences you ever really use more then 20? I'm considering taking out 40 of the gnoblars to add to my skaven army (they already use 80 gnoblars as slaves but could use more). Anyone think i'd miss them? I usually see them here in small units (i'm guessing to just hold buildings?)

I've never once used a gnoblar an never will. I doubt you will miss them.

I've used gnoblars in three cases:

1) units of 10 gnoblar trappers in shooty leadbelcher heavy armies. They act as roadblocks/redirectors..,
2) Fluff army where I will have a big block of 100 gnoblar trappers, 10x10. It's only 275 points and fun to deploy and see if opponent actually tries to go after it...
3) When I play my gnoblar kingdoms army (gnoblar flappers rock!) And Poppin is awesome of course.

I have 2 lots of 10.  They help me meet minimum core in some games and give me cheap deployment drops/ redirectors in addition to Sabretusks.

I might also make a block of 30/35 at some time but that's more for the fun of a cool diorama than being good in game....

I've only ever used them as re-directors in units of 10, or in units of 20 with trappers to fill up my core. If I know someone will be playing O&G I'll take two units of 10 to absorb all the Fanatics.

I love them.
2-4 units of 10 to start drops you don't care about.
Sometimes they even win combat and that makes them great.
Have two units opposing a big unit of fighty stuff and they can out manouvre them.

Trappers are waste of points, that's another unit of gnoblars

Thanks for the answers guys. My plan was to leave 20 in with the ogres just in case I ever needed 2 cheap units of 10. I just hate turning up at my club only to realise I've left part of my army in one of my other carry cases

I very rarely have a list *without* gnoblars.  And they seldom fail to get their miniscule points back.

Unless I do something stupid, like charge them at an Arachnarok.  So I generally go 10-20 + trappers, though I would also like to try a 10x10 block.

I've also actually managed to take out a unit of Empire Outriders using the Gnoblars' thrown weapons

Holy crap. I didn't even realize they had throwing weapons.

You'll rarely kill anything with them, but it's an added nuisance.

I take them from time to time, they are throw away units that sometimes punch above their weight. Trappers are a must, managed to kill 12 Dwarf Hammerers once. With people using Hordes, trappers really help make their points back.

Remember our spells affect them, so they can get boosted

I've not used a proper "unit" of Gnoblars since the new book came out. Now I take 10 man trapper units just like everyone else.

I've been taking a unit of 40 with trappers lately and love them.  When you play a list that makes them come to you, you just park it in front of his scariest unit, toss a troll guts on them for fun and smile as you dismantle the rest of his army.  Even without trollguts, they will tie stuff up for a turn or two.

If you read various lists and bat reps you'll see there are 3 main functions that Gnoblars can play in competitive environments.  You will see them more often in heavy shooting Ogre lists since in aggressive lists, they tend to get in the way. 

1) Small units of 10.  Good cheap drops and road blocks to slow down a flank and/or to protect LBs or IBs since their movement rate works well here.  Also, if an army is low on banners for Blood and Glory, you could stick a banner in a unit and tuck it away so you don't auto lose.

2) Large units of 40+ as a tar pit like Skaven Slaves.  Their Ld is terrible though and you must keep them within Ld bubble.  This limits their use and is why they aren't too common. 

3) A medium unit of 20 to hold the Watchtower for a turn until the Ogres show up and move in.  If you know Watchtower will be played, this isn't a terrible idea. 

90% of the time, they have the trappers upgrade.  I can't see any use in competitive play other than those described.  Option 1 is the most common and generally the most useful and least risky.

I regularly run a couple 5x5 units.  They are great for tar pitting certain things and disposable.  There is really no wrong way to field Gnoblars if you are good in the movement phase.  Even without trappers, the 25 man unit with FC is a bargain for the static it confers (87.5 points with FC?) and can be used to protect the flanks of your main unit from certain annoyances.  Trapper upgrade is handy, but hardly nessecary to make them useful.

In 7th I always took 2 units of 20. Mainly as distractions (I used to run them straight at enemy warmachines some games) and also for their sharp stuff against large targets. I've never done it but always considered using my gnoblar slaves from my skaven to run a unit of 150 and see how that goes. Maybe one day.

for those who use them units of 10 as early drops in a non shooty list....how do you use them?
Do you deploy them out of the way and maybe have some use for them, or do you keep them close to the main army, maybe slowing it down to 8" movement in order to use them as redirectors, or do they operator beside the main army to redirect unit away from the flanks?

I useually take one or two units of 10 with trappers as I find it fun, still cheap and makes some opponents reconsider charging.

These are usually deployed next to main unit with bsb n gen 6" away or near buildings and jump in turn one.

Also for those who say you never take one who you thinks clogging up your ironblasters with bodies.

for those who use them units of 10 as early drops in a non shooty list....how do you use them?
Do you deploy them out of the way and maybe have some use for them, or do you keep them close to the main army, maybe slowing it down to 8" movement in order to use them as redirectors, or do they operator beside the main army to redirect unit away from the flanks?

Sometimes on the flanks of my army and I have even used them far away in the corner, but that was for a scenario

I had an interesting thought of filling out core with gnoblar trappers and setting them up in multiple rows so they would have to keep charging them in order to get through to your units would work wonders in a shoots orientated list... Tell me I'm no the first one to think of having people make all those dangerous terrain tests?

Yes, the problem is just, that they need about 1,5 inches per unit (including space to the next unit)
The shooting units also need their space.
So maybe battle of the pass or the diagonal deployment thingy

If you dig in the forums, you will find the ten man speedbumps discussed at length by myself and others in the context of a gunline list.  It is indeed effective, but its not very fun to play with or against.

You know, the most beautiful thing about Gnoblars is the fact that you really never need to buy any boxes of Gnoblars at all. Nearly every set in the Ogre Kingdoms army there will always be 1-4 of the little guys jsut hanging about for the Ogre's bases. Why waste them by putting them on Ogre bases when you could just salvage them into Gnoblar fighters! Not to mention the fact that a lot of us sometimes pick up other armies sets for ME conversions, we'll also never really need to buy small bases separately! Its Brilliant! XD