11 Jul 2015
Background
The Ogres of Mantica are a tough breed, hailing from the harsh climate of the Mammoth Steppe in the north. This realm of tough grassland and icy plateaus is far from hospitable, and a hard life awaits any humans foolhardy enough to settle there. The Ogres are proud to call this land home, for it has forged their destiny; it is surely no coincidence that the warriors of the Steppe are among the most highly-regarded fighters in Mantica.
Despite their rough-and-ready appearance, Ogres are not mere monsters. They are canny fighters and shrewd negotiators, plying their trade as mercenaries the world over. They do not sell their services cheap, but any gold paid in exchange for their protection is well-spent: Ogres take their work very seriously, and would rather die than go back on an agreement once payment has been received. This has added to their reputation as mercenaries beyond compare, and Ogres can now be found guarding trade caravans, escorting ambassadors, or standing watch at the gates of any number of cities. It is not just men-folk that desire their services, either. Dwarfs see past their usual xenophobia and find much common ground with the Ogres, seeing a desire for wealth and sense of honour than rival their own. It is considered poor form for an Ogre to let morals get in the way of business, and as such they even find work from Orcs, Necromancers and the minions of the Abyss.
It takes a considerable fee to hire the services of an entire army of Ogres, but despite this they are an increasingly common sight on the battlefield. Such a force is a sight to behold. Burly warriors stand half as tall again as a man or elf, wielding axes and swords that could gut a troll with a single swing. Even their shields are weapons, sharpened to an edge and reinforced with steel. Some carry great blades almost as tall as they are, terrifying weapons more than capable of stopping even a giant in its tracks.
When an Ogre army takes to the field, the ground shakes and enemies tremble. The massed might of the Steppe's sons is a tidal wave, dashing aside any who are foolish to stand before it. If you meet them on the field of battle, your only hope can be that it was your general that paid their fee.
Many Goblins and other lesser creatures are attracted to the wealth and power of the Ogre armies. They become camp followers and attend to all of the most menial of tasks in an Ogre encampment, but are occasionally used as support archers by the Ogres, who have noticed the little ones ability with the bow. Traditionally the Ogres request their Goblins wear red rags in order to distinguish them from the enemy in the mayhem of battle, thus avoiding any unpleasant incidents. This has led to the nickname of Red Goblins, that these creature now bear with great pride.
As a mark of this uncharacteristic disregard for their own safety, Red Goblins often march to war with at least one Blaster. Its a simple concept - a wagon filled with explosives, pushed towards the enemy and set off by whichever Goblin was unlucky enough to draw the short straw. The fuses can be a bit temperamental, leaving the operator either in pieces or facing some rather unimpressed enemy warriors all by himself.
How do they play?
The army has a low model count and often has fewer units on the table than their opponent. To compensate however, Red Goblin units are available for bulking out the army with smaller rabble but also giving the army excellent speed and a dastardly weapon in the less-than-subtle Blaster. While some Ogres carry heavy ranged weapons, as a species they excel at combat, even more so than the Orcs. A charge from an Ogre Regiment (or Legion!) is likely to result in a bloody mess for their opponents. Chariots are an option for both Ogre Warriors and heroes, adding to their punch. The Ogre army is difficult to master for new players but once you have learnt to manage its strengths and weaknesses, it can be a formidable proposition to face.
Whats in the army?
Ogre Warriors will be the mainstay of the army, supported by units with either Heavy Crossbows or Blunderbusses. Siege Breakers can make a solid defensive block with a lethal punch. Chariot units provide some speed and an extra crunch but the most manoeuvrable units are the Red Goblin Scouts on Fleabags. Some additional, weak ranged attacks are available from Red Goblins armed with bows and Ogre Warlocks are often accompanied by their followers, the Berserker Braves. The Red Goblin Blaster is about as blunt an instrument of destruction as you can find and the army is commanded by fierce Ogre Captains and Warlords.
You can download free rules for playing Ogres in Kings of War over here.
