New to Ogres, 1500pts starting force

Hey everyone,

I'm new to Ogres and this forum. Played Empire and DoW for many years and my Ogres are finally looking like an army.

I've decided on a core force of around 1500pts. Would appreciate any advice / critique

Slaughter Master, lvl 4, lore of death, talis. of protec., biting blade

BSB, armour of dest. great weapon, lookout

Butcher, lvl 1, lore of Maw, disp. scroll

10x I G full com. (SM and BSB go here)

4x LB, bellower (Butcher goes here)

Giant

This comes to 1498

Hi Mawler

I'm new to 8th ogres so not overly qualified to give tips. I have found some excellent and useful threads in my time trawling through the site:

Interesting BSB builds

http://www.ogrestronghold.com/forum/index.php?topic=26393.0
The Wardless wonder (BSB without a ward?)

8th tactics discussions

http://www.ogrestronghold.com/forum/index.php?topic=26514.msg0048.msg#0048
8th Edition Tactics Discussion Index

A couple of sample lists

http://www.ogrestronghold.com/forum/index.php?topic=28637.0
First time 750, 1250, 1750 escalation

I'm sure you've done lots of reading already but hopefully something useful there.

I've used giants before but never with a great deal of success, work well as a pin cushion at times. One less cannon fired at a more valuable unit.

I'd be tempted to switch out the L4 lord for a firebelly and spend points elsewhere. Discipline banner for the irongut unit would boost to LD 9 so less chance you'll be running. See what others think

Matt

Hi Mawler,

I'm not a fan of the Lore of Death as Ogres don't have great leadership. I have, however, tried to use your army and tweak it to protect your SM more. I gave him the AoD instead of the BSB as it gives him access to armour and the Dragonbane gem - 5+ armour save, 4+ ward save, 2+ ward save against fire.

I've trimmed the core down to the minimum and made the IGs only 7 in number. This should mean that not all missile fire target the unit and that the BSB can be hidden in the 2nd rank (3 x 3 formation).

You have some Gnoblars and sabretusks to redirect and act as chaff.

Increased the LBs size and replaced the Giant with an IB.

Feel free to critique:

Lords (375pts)
Level 4 (Death) Slaughtermaster
Great Weapon, Armour of Destiny, - Dispel Scroll, Dragonbane Gem

Heroes (314pts)
BSB Bruiser (195pts)
Great Weapon, Heavy Armour, Ironcurse Icon, Talisman of Protection

Level 1 (LoTGM) Butcher (119pts)
Great Weapon, Dragonhelm

Core (376pts)
7 x Ironguts (427pts)
Full Command, Standard of Discipline, Look-out Gnoblar

12 x Gnoblars (30pts)

Special (257pts)
5 x Leadbelchers (215pts)

1 x Sabretusk Pack (21pts)

1 x Sabretusk Pack (21pts)

Rare (170pts)
Ironblaster (170pts)

Total 1497

Thanks for all the info Ogre_Matt!

Badmarsh, you're a ledgend. Thanks for the amazing tips! Sadly I don't have sabretusks or an iron blaster yet
What I can say is that I have played 4 games so far with my initial list and won all 4. Played against lizardmen (twice), high elves and empire and I have had amazing success with the giant. Maybe its because the games are small and I only face one artilrty piece in every game.

Thanks again for the input guys

@badmarsh could you expand on why you don't like death? Maw seems so tame...

Thanks for all the info Ogre_Matt!

Badmarsh, you're a ledgend. Thanks for the amazing tips! Sadly I don't have sabretusks or an iron blaster yet

Just glad something was useful If you don't have the models yet and your opponent doesn't mind you could always try proxying them. Or chaos hounds or fenrisian wolves might make good sabretusks. Some people don't like the models or the price tag.

4-0 is impressive Would be cool to read some battle reports.

Matt

Badmarsh, you're a ledgend. Thanks for the amazing tips! Sadly I don't have sabretusks or an iron blaster yet
What I can say is that I have played 4 games so far with my initial list and won all 4. Played against lizardmen (twice), high elves and empire and I have had amazing success with the giant. Maybe its because the games are small and I only face one artilrty piece in every game.

Thanks again for the input guys

@badmarsh could you expand on why you don't like death? Maw seems so tame...

Hi Mawler thanks for the bigup! Not sure what I have done but I have a huge cheesy grin on my face at the moment :-D

I don't dislike Death Magic per se, I've done a "pros" and "cons" of the lore below:

Pros
(1) Lore Attribute - great to get more powerdice.
(2) Spirit Leech - great against low leadership enemy characters.
(3) Doom and Darkness - can be great to break unstubborn units.
(4) Fate of Bjuna - great against low toughness models.

Cons
(1) Death magic uses a character's unmodified leadership. SM's have leadership of 8, which is not that good compared to most other Lords out there. 
(2) Aspect of the Dreadknight - all Ogre Kingdoms units bar Gnoblars cause fear already!
(3) Soulblight, casting the Beast's signature spell is easier for a similar effect.

Purple Sun is great if you can pull it off against the enemy, bad if it hits your own low initiative units!
Death-fisting is sadly no longer possible, which was great to remove enemy wizard levels, even if they did not get injured!

Ogre Matt has made a good suggestion about proxying, can be a cheaper way to get the model!

As you have a perfect record so far, I would be tempted to recommend going with the saying:
"If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it!"

I've never used a Giant before but sounds that they are pretty effective in low level games. Which enemy units did you crush (literally!)?

Some players are against tailoring lists against specific opponents but it great generals know the strengths and weaknesses of each opponent, so it is an individual's call in the end!

I think 3 characters at 1500 points is a big ask.  I think at 1500 points you need a few basics:

- Shooting/Magic missiles to combat chaff
- BSB (lots of benefits)
- Rock solid unit (Ironguts work well)
- Sabretusks (read the tactica)
- Seasoning to taste

With those things applied to your army you really can't go wrong.