Tips and Suggestions (part 3)


Orc Raiders

Before the Amazon Draconum was introduced, there was one controversial figure that ruled the tournaments. I’m talking about the broken Orc Stonethrower. It was so cheesy that people would buy the Titan Conquest pack just to get the Stonethrower and throw away the rest. Though for this event, all siege titans cannot make any close combat actions (as it should have been in the first place), the Stonethrower is still a powerhouse capable of 5 ranged damage with indirect fire. Throw in a couple of Shamans for Magic Enhancement and you’re ready to rock and roll.

Of course this being an Orc army, it’s proper to have a big Orc bruiser for a leader. Before he was sliced in half, Kzar Nabar was the Orc Khan’s undisputed leader. If you opt for his higher levels, you will get a +12 attack value with Weapon Master and Invulnerability. If you choose to make his as a support piece, I strongly recommend he start out at level 2 (45 points) cuz when you surge him, he will have an 11 attack value with 4 damage. The great thing about Kzar Nabar is that his speed value doesn’t drop below 8 until the very last click and his attack value doesn’t go below 10 throughout the dial (comes in handy when his two clicks of Berserk come near the end).

Seeing Kzar is dead, the Orc Captain (108 points) just got promoted. With a starting click of 10 Charge, 13 attack Sweep, 17 defense Toughness, and 5 damage Command, the Orc Captain fits the role of leader very nicely. His lieutenant, the Half-Troll Behemoth, is equally nice with 10 Charge, 12 attack, 17 defense Toughness, and 5 damage and ranged damage value (yes, it has an 8 inch range). Like the Orc Captain, it has a couple of Berserk clicks down the road. But unlike the Orc Captain, this Behemoth has Regeneration.

Bored dungeon crawling, the Trollkiller is ready to kick some 2.0 butt. Ideal starting level is 5 (86 points) since it has 10 speed Ram, 12 attack Sweep, 16 defense Toughness, and 4 damage (more or less the same stats after surging).

Ok, now the search for your grunts. At the very top of the list is the Ironclad*** (35 points). Why? 10 attack, 4 damage, AND 18 defense Toughness reasons enough for you. No? Sheesh. Ok how about its speed gets faster as it takes damage (the fastest is 12 speed with Quickness) or how about 2 clicks of Berserk with 3-4 damage value. For 31 points, the Tribal Brute*** is a nice substitution for the Ironclad*** with 2 clicks of Berserk at the end. Exceptional secondary attacker could be the Orc Slaver with loads of Ram and Sweep.

The Half-Troll Gorgers are also… (“Wait, wait, who?”) Half-Troll Gorgers. (“Huh, never heard of them”) The Half-Troll Gorgers from the disaster that is called Uprising! (“Oh, now I remember… sort of”) Anyway, this neglected Orcs greatly benefit from the special rules with their 4-inch Charge doubled to an 8-inch Charge. Standard Orc traits are also there – high attack (11) and damage values, Toughness, and Berserk.

Since we’re in Uprising, might as well round up the other Orc stand-outs. Leading the way of the Ironclads and Tribal Brutes should be none other than the Goblin Runners (preferably the 18 points tough version). On their 3rd click, the tough Runner gains 12-inch speed with Forced March and 13-inch speed Forced March on its 4th click. The civilized Orc, Patchwork, isn’t bad if you start him out at middle levels – 10 attack Venom, 3 damage, and Berserk with 12 attack and 4 damage at the end. I have a soft spot for the weak Orc Sentry, though not a powerhouse, solid attack values with 4 clicks of Pole Arm and surprisingly has a 10 attack with 4 damage when it gets Berserk. Disappointingly, the standard and tough versions have a 7 attack value when they go Berserk. (“Booo to WK Orc Sentry figure designer”)

If you feel the need for Magic Blasting, the Chaos Mage and Summoner can do that and more. Both have a 10 attack value with Magic Blast and a 12-inch range. They also have a starting damage and ranged damage value of 4. But the Summoner has the better and more stable stats of the two.

For healing, the cheap Clurch Pipers and Shamans will do. Want a healer with higher attack values, try the Shaman Og at level 1 or 2.

And last but undeniably the biggest, how about fielding the Doom Blade Orc Cyclops primarily for sheer coolness factor. (“You field that expensive Titan and you’re gonna lose, man”) I assume you don’t know that I fixed the Titan problem? (“Um, no.”) Ok, the new point cost of the Cyclops is 151 at young, 228 at mature, and 316 at ancient. I recommend they use the young version with some good support pieces. (“Uh-huh, not bad. But still Titans are slow with an average 5 speed value. They can’t get the first strike.”) Three words: Titan Charge proficiency.



Next: 1.0 Draconum

I think you meant the Barber Surgeons because i recall that the Pipers have neither Healing nor Magic Healing (they have Forced March)

How about my 1.0 entry???

i hope my humble army makes it. elemental league 4 life!

2.0 looks to be complete. And we will rock. It's just sad that team 1.0 can't find enough lambs to send to the slaughter. But it's understandable. I mean who wants to be on the team that is clearly inferior? You might as well declare team 2.0 the winners now, Dragon, and save team 1.0 the humiliation. :D