Using your Warhammer models in Kings of War

While the Ogre list in KoW is very similar to the Ogre army in Warhammer, both are not exactly the same, and a beginner might not always realise that KoW present some sneaky ways to represent some units.

To help the transition, I will post here suggestions and examples of how to use your existing models.

Before I start, let's note that in KoW almost any unit can get one (and only one) magic artefact, allowing you to modify units to get something more adapted for your needs. This is often a great way to create virtual new units

- Ogres with hand weapon and ironfist
   => Ogres Warriors

- Ogres with two hand weapons
   => Berserker Braves

- Yhetees
   => Berserker Braves with brew of speed (+1 movement) or some other magic artefact if needed
   
   In fact I found this option even better that the normal Ogre to represent the berserkers

- Mournfang Cavalry => Perfect for Warriors chariots and/or heroes on chariot

   The Mournfang banner bearer make a very good Army standard on chariot, and note that the Ogre list also have a chariot option for the fighting heroes, so you can convert a Tyrant on Mournfang (Rhynox ?) if you want.

- Ironguts

   => Ogre warrior with great weapon (same cost, but lower the defence)
   or
   => Ogre warrior with potion of strength (so you keep the normal defence while getting the increased strength)
   or
   => Siege Breakers, by mixing converted ogres with tower shield to the front and Ironguts to the read, or converting Ironguts to give them big shields

- Leadbelchers

   => Boomers
   
   Note that there is also an option for a leadbelcher Hero that might be a perfect use for a leadbelcher champion (the one with the bigger canon)

- Ogre Gorger

   => another option for a berserkers unit, this one I would equip with something like the chant of hate (give the vicious rule to the unit, allowing you to reroll 1s when rolling to wound)
   
   or
   
   => As an allied unit of Trolls (if you already ally goblins for your gnoblars)

- Thundertusk and Stonehorn

   => clearly the Mammoth for both, with the option for Ballista if you use a rider with the heavy crossbow

- Warhammer Giant

   => Giant, this one was easy.

- Maneaters

   This is a special case as each man eater model is an unique model with different weapons, most of them can make very good characters, but here are a few exemples :
   
   => The Paymaster is perfect as a Army standard (I already used this model as my BSB in WHFB)
   
   => The pirate with brace of ogre pistols can be a Boomer sergent, or a captain with Heavy Crossbow
   
   => if you already converted an unit of maneaters all equipped with brace of pistols (or a similar ranged weapon, I know you did), they will be useable as Shooters, an Ogre unit with a long ranged heavy crossbow. If you don't find them elite enough for your precious maneater models, give them the blessing of the gods artefact (give elite, same as vicious but for to-hit rolls, including ranged attacks) or something similar
   
   => The female maneater might be another option for an army standard (remember that in KoW you may, and will probably, use severals as they are your cheaper source of inspiring), her presence motivating nearby troops

- Ogre Firebelly

   => As a Warlock with the optionnal fireball spell (fireball is the spell version of a breath attack, short ranged but with lots of attacks)
   
   or
   
   => Put it in any other Ogre infantry unit to represent the Diadem of Firekin artefact that give the unit a breath attack

- Ogre Hunter + Sabertusks (the old metal model that came with 2 sabertusks)

   => I plan to rebase mine with his pets on a 120x40mm tray (or 120x50 if it doesn't fit) to represent a regiment of Ogre Hunters. If will probably give him the 5-points flying hammer artefact to give him a powerful but short ranged attack to represent his javelins.
   
   If you have several hunters models and/or more sabertusk you might use them all together on a 120x80mm tray to represent a Hunter horde

- Converted ogre hunter on foot with heavy crossbow (by using the heavy crossbow arms on a normal bull body)

   => joined with man-eaters with brace of pistols to make a unit of shooters
   or
   => as a captain with heavy crossbow option

- Ogre Slaughtermaster / Butcher

   => Warlock is the obvious choice, but if you use other models for your warlock needs, they might also serve as Army standard (if you theme them as butcher/cooks to motivace the troops, without the spellcasting angle) or even fighting heroes (note that most of them also have the inspiring rule).
   
   Also note that there a a few hero-only magic artefact that give access to spells, the boomstick give lighting bold and the charm or healing give the heal spells, both might used make a fighting/inspiring/spellcasting butcher, but it won't be cheap in points

- Tyrants and the like

   => Captain
   or
   => Warlord (more powerful than the captain, but expensive)
   or
   => Siege master (if you can convert something to represent the big shield)
   or
   => Grokagamok (unique powerful ogre hero, if you have a model that is clearly above the rest

- Skrag the Slaughterer

   => See above for the butcher/slaughtermaster entry, probably with some additionnal artefact
   or
   => with a few gorgers on a 120x80mm tray to make a berserker horde

- Golgfag Maneater

   => captain
   or
   => Warlord
   or
   => Grokagamok (probably a good choice, if you managed to have a decent cast the model is gorgeous)

Greasus Goldtooth

   => another option for Grokagamok
   or
   => Warlord
   or
   => Mammoth (if not already used for a Thundertusk or Stonehorn)

Bragg the Gutsman
   
   => Good model for a captain or army standard (especially if you have already converted him with a banner)

- Ironblaster

   => A captain with heavy crossbow would seem the closest option, powerful in melee representing the rhynox and shooter, and the captain version of the heavy crossbow is powerful enough to represent a massive canon grapeshot. Note that the captain also has an option to be on chariot/mournfang that would be perfect combined with the heavy crossbow. The beta list however doesn't seems to allow a captain to take both options at the same time, but the final verion might, or you might ask if you group allows it, I don't thing that it would be a problem as long as you pay the points for both upgrades

   
The gnoblars ...

KoW Ogre list does include Red goblins that would seem perfect to represent gnoblars, however the red goblins units available, while very useful by themselves, are archers and light cavalries, so don't match the normal gnoblar models that we all have.
   
There is however an easy solution : just ally units from the goblin list, you can take up to 25% units from another compatible list.

- Gnoblar Fighters

   => Gobelin Rabble => your basic gnoblar unit

   
- Gnoblar Trappers

   => Gobelin Rabble with Crystal Pendant of Retribution, an expensive artefact that make the unit "explode" when it is routed damaging the ennemy that routed you in melee, this would be perfect to represent traps lefts by the trappers.

- Scraplauncher

   => Big Rocks Thrower, it will be a simple catapult-like war engine with no melee ability, but as the chariot part seems to be the kind that would fall in piece at the first breeze, it might be appropriate (and the rhynox will just flee/run somewhere once not attached to the chariot)

I just wanted to add that the WHFB Goblin Wolf Riders are a relatively economical option for KoW's Red Goblin Riders.

That's a really comprehensive list dude! Have a gnoblar!

This is a cracking list, lots of options using special items I hadn't thought of.

This is a cracking list, lots of options using special items I hadn't thought of.

That was the point of this post, when I first discovered KoW, it seemed to lack customization, but then I had an epiphany when I realised that magic artefacts applied to normal units too.

Combined with the fact that it's the unit footprint that is important, provided that what the unit is is clear, and that artefacts are not hidden, this has added for me the additionnal option of customizing not only the rules but also the look of my units.

Things like using a character in a unit to represent some artefacts, or of making an unit into a similar but different one, are just what I wanted.

Good job, thank you for the write up.

I found another idea : if you have some remaining sabertusk, a group of them can make a very good unit of Red gnoblar scouts. After all the scouts are not yellow bellied (cowards) compared to their normal cousins, and it's the mount that does all the work anyway. So those that don't like gnoblars in their Ogre army and/or that prefer a more tribal/savage look, you have the option for a beast pack.

My two metal sabertusk are goind with my metal hunter in a hunter unit (see above), but I had a unit of 5 fenrisian wolves (from the 40k space wolves army) that I will use a red goblins scouts in my game this afternoon.