Gutstar, character builds

Hey everyone ,iv been reading alot about how ogres are great at hording up, also good at taking characters to fill out the front ranks. In my smaller games (1500 pts)I normally take 10 guts with general and bsb bruiser in there with 4 across 3 deep, full command , how does the mechanic for CR negation work who takes the challenge on the energy blender? What gear do you take on your characters? How would I go to incorporate this tactic in my 1500 pts list?

Gearwise, I normally go pretty standard on my Slaughtermaster (Fencer's Blades, Glittering Scales, <Insert WardSave item or Crown of Command here>), Bruiser builds tend to vary for me depending on thematics.  I used to go 4 wide for the extra attacks, but have started running 3 across with a champion to cut down on the number of wounds coming my way and force more attacks on the characters.  Plus that extra rank I tend to find handy for CR and for the extra strength Impact Hits

I always run a hoard at 3000 points.  My Slaughtermaster's gear is always (Fencers blades, glittering scales, greedy fist) and stick the Stubborn hat on my BSB tucked away in the second rank.  Hoards of Ironguts don't really negate combat resolution as much as just vaporize whatever you happen to charge into.  I have run into very few things that can pose a threat, but they are out there!  As with any unit that holds a majority of your army's points it will be the target of every shot, nuke spell, redirector, etc that your opponent has available.  I personally don't feel comfortable running a hoard at 3000 points without a dispel scroll, hell heart, 2x ironblasters, 8x sniping poison maneaters, and 2x firebellies in the unit (fireball is awesome at clearing out chaff!).  But at 1500 points most armies won't have access to anything too bad.

At 1500 points I would run something roughly like this:

Slaughtermaster
lvl 4 Maw
Dispel Scroll
Fencers Blades
Glittering Scales

Bruiser BSB
Crown of Command
Enchanted Shield
Heavy Armor

10x Ironguts
Standard of Discipline/Lookout Gnoblar
Musician

Sabertusk

Sabertusk

3x Mournfang Calvary
Heavy armor/ironfists
Dragonhide Banner

Ironblaster


Your Lord allowance is 375 points at 1500 so my usual build is over by 10.  Luckily with a dispel scroll hes sitting 5 under.  Your Bsb should be in the second rank unless your Lord dies if you are 3 wide.  Ironblaster is there to take out any war machines or monsters/monsterous calvary that come your way.  The mournfangs just mow through whatever and the sabertusks run around being a nuisance.  Pretty straightforward army to play.

If you do a horde, make sure to use the Runemaw.

I wouldn't ever risk so many eggs in one basket without it.