BSB and Great Weapon

Wanted to get some opinions on adding a great weapon to my BSB.  My thought was that he is already at a low initiative where he will be hitting last anyways, so the S7 attacks could be useful. 

On the other hand, something like the charmed shield could come in quite handy with all the canons floating around.

Are you planning to hide out in the second rank? If yes -> great weapon
Are you planning to fight? If yes -> shield and magical defences.

I don't think cannons are a big threat though? You get a 2+ look out sir when you're in a unit after all.

I've been giving my BSB the Ogre Blade lately. You get the +2str of a GW without losing inititive, and its magical.

The Ogre Blade is great, but it is a steep investment.

My BSB is definitely going to see close combat.  I typically like to give him either a 4+ or 5+ ward.  So the shield/IF in place of a GW only helps the armour save slightly.

An armour save helps a lot. Against S5 a 5+ save is worthless. A 3+ save will mean 1/3 of wounds bounce off before they get to your ward. Plus it really helps against S3 or S4 attacks with high number or poison.

For 5 points you can have an enchanted shield or 10 points for a dragonhelm (plus ironfist) and you've got a 3+ save.

You only get LoS from 5+ regular models in a unit MINUS command models.  So unless he's in a unit of 8 other ogres there's no LOS.  Unless that rule was fixed for Ogres.  I think GW is fine from 2nd rank but if you plan on making way like I know you do then some protection would be nice.

You have got the rule about command wrong except for the champ and do not forget LOG.

You get a look out sir from 5 models not counting unit champ.  Standard and muso are fine.

You only get LoS from 5+ regular models in a unit MINUS command models.  So unless he's in a unit of 8 other ogres there's no LOS.  Unless that rule was fixed for Ogres.  I think GW is fine from 2nd rank but if you plan on making way like I know you do then some protection would be nice.

I thought only the champion did not count for the 5. 

In any event, I think I am going to drop the GW and grab the charmed or enchanted shield

If your BSB is expected to see combat, then I recommend:  HA, IF, Dragonhelm, Luckstone, Crown of Command.

Don't be afraid to charge him out at units with flaming attacks.

-Snark

And if you have a look-out gnoblar then you only need 3 rank and file.

Typically I load my BSB for defence, so he stays around for a while and will survive combat - HA, Tali of pres & enchanted shield for a 3+/4++. I tend to give the general the charmed shield. Last 3 months of last year I lost 5 generals to canon fire - failing the LOS, ward save and then my opponent rolling a 5 or 6 to kill him outright. Stupid dice 

EDIT: just realised Shadowlord mentioned lookout gnoblar (LOG). Duh!

Sword of Striking's best for a BSB. Cheap, and improving your hit rolls is useful against weak rank and file as well as the nastier stuff. Plus, spare points for defence is always good.

And if you have a look-out gnoblar then you only need 3 rank and file.

Typically I load my BSB for defence, so he stays around for a while and will survive combat - HA, Tali of pres & enchanted shield for a 3+/4++.

This is basically what I do matched in with a SM with fencers and scales at the front of a 3x<insert generic unit size> unit of guts

My BSB is normally in a unit with my General (slaughtermaster) with Berserker Blade (thematics.  He's a Battle Standard Bear), HA, Enchanted Shield, Dawnstone.  Generally does pretty well, though I was running him Gold Sigil Sword, Enchanted Shield, HA & Talisman of Preservation in a unit of 5-8 Guts with Full Command and LOG.  I do like sticking him with a great weapon when he's touting a magic banner though.

If you're that worried about cannons, your Charmed Shield will still protect you from them when you're not in combat, it's just once he unlimbers the Great Weapon that it gets put away.

I thought that magical items took precedence over all other weapons, meaning that you would be forced to carry the Charmed Shield, even if you had a great weapon?  I know that's the case for weapons, not sure if it carries over explicitly to armor as well.

Well, you can't have both a GW and a magic shield, because the GW automatically takes up the "two hands needed" status. You don't get to 'choose' what the characters wield; it's magic items, then nonmagic. The only exception for this is when a magic weapon 'breaks' or is destroyed somehow (ie Greedy fist or some other method). If you lose access to the magic items, then you simply use a "hand weapon", or basically the generic weapon that allows your character to still fight.

As far as I know, however, you can't buy both the GW and a magic item that takes a hand slot. But, I'd be glad to have someone disprove it, since I don't have my BRB handy atm

Well, you can't have both a GW and a magic shield, because the GW automatically takes up the "two hands needed" status. You don't get to 'choose' what the characters wield; it's magic items, then nonmagic. The only exception for this is when a magic weapon 'breaks' or is destroyed somehow (ie Greedy fist or some other method). If you lose access to the magic items, then you simply use a "hand weapon", or basically the generic weapon that allows your character to still fight.

As far as I know, however, you can't buy both the GW and a magic item that takes a hand slot. But, I'd be glad to have someone disprove it, since I don't have my BRB handy atm

I'd thought that was the blanket rule for anything with a Greatweapon and Shield (magical or no).  But the rule you're referring to (Where you don't get to choose) is "I'm using this one" on Page 173 or the Special Weapon rules on P89 (This is the little book, don't have the big book with me) but it only applies to weapons.

You just don't have the option to use the shield in close combat (Shield is covered in the Requires Two Hands rule "although a shield can still be used against wounds caused by shooting or magic")

Yes while there's a rule stating you have to use a magic weapon there is no corresponding rule for magic shields. You can have a charmed shield and use it against shooting but you'll sling it in combat if you have a GW.

Yes while there's a rule stating you have to use a magic weapon there is no corresponding rule for magic shields. You can have a charmed shield and use it against shooting but you'll sling it in combat if you have a GW.

Hm. Interesting. I will keep that in mind for future builds.

Wellp, I guess I'm done adding to this thread lol