Well the last few times I posted to this forum I completely emberassed myself, so let's give it another go. I am trying to make a army for friendly play at my local game store. However, I am having an extremely large amount of trouble doing this. That's why I come here, a repository of the greatest Mageknight battle strategies.

So far, I've come up with this army, it's not really good or anything but I try.

formation 1
Launcher *** 31
Launcher ** 25
Launcher * 21
Shaman * 21
Shaman * 21

Formation 2
Slasher ** 16
Slasher *x2 28

Loner
Berserker *** 36

I know this can be way better but I just can't figure out what to do so I am going to list my remaining Orc Raiders figs below

Crusher *x3
Crusher **x2
Digger **x3
Digger *
Fodder ***x2
Fodder **x2
Fodder *x6
Barber Surgeon **
Barber Surgeon *
Shaman ***
Shaman *
Bone Grinder ***
Bone Grinder **
Slasher ***
Berserker ***
Tribal Brute *
Half-Troll Hacker **
Half Troll Hacker *x2
Ankhar Archer ***
Ankhar Butcher *
Orc Captain

I think I'm gonna be able to get another standard Launcher this weekend and possibly a OST.

Anyone with any good advice, I appreciate it very much.

I would suggest getting a Clurch Piper and pairing it up with the half troll hackers or tribal brutes, ditching the slashers in the process.
Another idea is the OST with shamens enhanceing it with some melee figs to protect them
Also, try and get a Summoner if you can, Best orc unique in my opinion, FM, MB is great behind a wall of fodders or brutes and berzerkers

You might be able to drop the slasher formation and the lone beserker to fit a light Stonethrower in. It would be an intersting army to play but would be vulnerable to a bunch of stuff.

asteroidjaw's suggestion to get a clurch piper is agood one. Otherwise your orcs will get cut to ribbons if you ever need to advance on something (think solonavi or other 14" range figs).

I'm not sure on the poitns, but you couls also try to take it in a totally different direction and try the Orc Captain with a formation of ranged figures to lay cover fire. I would try the stonethrower first as it would probably work better and you wouldn't be putting all you eggs in one basket with the captain.

Thanks a bunch for the advice so far, hopefully someone at my local store has pulled a piper or two this week =). btw mstorch, I happen to live only 45 mins from you. Do you know where Bentleyville is?

Dont drop the Berserker, get him in with a Clurch Piper if you can and turn off charge whilst in the group.
If you can get a Summoner, drop one of the Launchers and put him in with that group (Launchers moving 10), great stuff.
The Orc Captain is awesome as a protector of your other figures, the Sweep and Charge make him ideal for warding off melee formations.

Just noticed you're working on a low total army size.
Sorry.

Using the figures you have:
Looks to me like whatever you swap in and out your army is going to remain very similar.

Launchers and Shamen are a must. (If you can get Snurga Longstrike he has an atack val of 10 and does 4 dam. for same cost as ***Launcher)

Slashers -v- Hackers, personally prefer Slashers as the have that short range combat, although Regen. is good.

Possibly Cave Butcher instead of Berserker (Longer Charge but lower Attack value).

Best way is just play it, as you say, it's only for fun.

Definatly drop the weak launcher because he has less range.

Slashers are a pretty good orc, but HTH are better. If you use HTH use a veritey of all three types (mostly stardar) because the weak berserk after a hit for three, stardart after 4, and though after 5 damage, so you know what figures to base with the HTH.

use a light thrower enhance it with 2 shaman or a clurch piper formed in a bunch of tribal brutes or half-troll hacker......i think you gonna really need range ability on this army...

I don't want to repeat everything said so far...so I'll try a different direction. With the pieces you have, you might consider a weak fodder or some similar cheap expendible unit to act as a harasser/ meat shield. He could lead the melee advance to protect your more valuable shock troops...and if he actually makes it to combat he can add a +1 to someone else's attack.

In a similar way, he could aid your range formation by "tying up" an opponent's piece giving the launchers time to work over a different part of the army....or you can shoot with the launchers, then stick fodder in the way to block line of sight so the opponent cannot return fire.

Enjoy your army!

Rob

My idea would be to take out the Ananub and replace it with six *Imps.
Since you're not using the Ananub anymore you may as well send it to me.

Today I got a conquest pack so i have changed my army a bit. What do you guys think of this:
HOST
Ankhar Butcher *
Slasher *x2
Shaman *

I'd keep the butcher on one side to protect the stonethrower from attacker there, and I'd put the slashers and the shaman on the other side of the stonethrower as a kind of meatsheild in a last ditch effort to protect it. This way the shaman can enhance both the stonethrower and one of the guarding slashers, and provide a short range formation.

It might just be my style, but I don't like the * Ankhar that much. Two clicks and he is worthless to you and his defense isn't spectacular enough to rule out getting hit.

The two slashers also seem like a waste. An attack of 7 is not going to hit much. Is there anything else you could do with the 28 points? Maybe a formation of expendible units like fodder?

well there really isn't anything else i could think of, the HOST and shaman are 135 points, i can't really put too many things together with that, I really want that leftover 65 points supporting and defending the Stonethrower. I just couldn't come up with anything else =) I'me very open to suggestions though.

Ok, after thinking about it for quite awhile I decided to go in a different direction with this, instead of only Orcs I'm gonna use a mixed force of 50% Orc 50% Tree-Huggin Hippees(EL).

HOST
Shaman *
Centaur LT ***x2

not the most complex design but I'm having some good feelings about this army.