My first Army of 500 (Isengard)

warg rider · **Joined:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:05 am **Posts:** 34

Hello All,

I'm looking for a bit of Advice with the build of my first Army.

This weekend i will be taking part in a local tournament like gaming event. i am very excited, but on the other hand im quiet nervous/unsure about my army build. We have decided to make a game point of 500. here is my build so far. If anyone can improve please feel free to add info or ask questions

Saruman. 170 points

warband 1 - lurts 60Pt with 8 urakhi pike 80Pt in 4 rows of two + 4 Beserker 60 each at the front of Pikes
Pt
warband 2 vrasku 60Pt with 6 urakhi xbow 66Pt

Hope this makes sense

SouthernDunedain · **Posted:** Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:08 am

I wouldn't use saruman at 500pts, he too much of a points sink. You'll find more troops will serve you better. Just copy your current warbands until you get to 500pts.

MoriaMadness · **Posted:** Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:25 am

either way, you are gonna lose! :lol:

haha, it was me who encouraged him to get used to playing with saruman just so he picked up the magic rules quickly. I'm not sure you have the uruk xbows point cost right so I will be double checking your army list before we roll any dice tomorrow :wink:

In general the army list looks good for a first attempt, I wish you luck using it (plus plenty of snake eyes) and if you decide you want to change anything..... well, hopefully I helped you learn the hard way

warg rider · **Joined:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:05 am **Posts:** 34

See part of me was thinking to sack Saruman off but like MoriaMadness pointed out i would like experience wit magic

warg rider · **Joined:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:05 am **Posts:** 34

Can i confirm, when building an Army you dont need a lead like Saruman?

Big Dog · **Posted:** Fri Dec 06, 2013 12:29 pm

I wouldn't use Saruman in 500 points especially if you are new to the game. He's very expensive and it take a bit of experience to get used to the more advanced magic that a wizard brings to the table.

Here's a 500 point list that is a bit bigger and with more shooting and combat. Obviously it depends if you have all the models or not

1. Uruk Captain with heavy armour and shield - General (makes a good general as he's D7 so not as easy to wound compared to the named characters)
2 Uruk Warriors - shield
2 Berserkers
7 Uruk Warriors - pike

2. Lurtz
2 Berserkers
6 Uruk Warriors - pike

3. Vrasku
10 Uruk Warriors - crossbows

32 models
8 might

Alternatively if you do want to try out magic do you have a Shaman ? He gives you nice support magic in Fury so your troops get a save (6+ or 5+ if channeled) and don't run away as easy. You would lose out on might but you could trade Lurtz for him and another warrior. Or if you want to go pure combat switch Vrasku and the crossbows for a Shaman and another combat warband.

Something like

1. Uruk Captain with heavy armour and shield - General
3 Uruk Warriors - shield
1 Berserker
6 Uruk Warriors - pike

2. Lurtz
3 Uruk Warriors - shield
1 Berserker
6 Uruk Warriors - pike

3. Shaman
3 Uruk Warriors - shield
2 Berserkers
6 Uruk Warriors - pike

34 models
6 might

warg rider · **Joined:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:05 am **Posts:** 34

Big Dog wrote:

I wouldn't use Saruman in 500 points especially if you are new to the game. He's very expensive and it take a bit of experience to get used to the more advanced magic that a wizard brings to the table.

Here's a 500 point list that is a bit bigger and with more shooting and combat. Obviously it depends if you have all the models or not

1. Uruk Captain with heavy armour and shield - General (makes a good general as he's D7 so not as easy to wound compared to the named characters)
2 Uruk Warriors - shield
2 Berserkers
7 Uruk Warriors - pike

2. Lurtz
2 Berserkers
6 Uruk Warriors - pike

3. Vrasku
10 Uruk Warriors - crossbows

Alternatively if you do want to try out magic do you have a Shaman ? He gives you nice support magic in Fury so your troops get a save (6+ or 5+ if channeled) and don't run away as easy. You would lose out on might but you could trade Lurtz for him and another warrior. Or if you want to go pure combat switch Vrasku and the crossbows for a Shaman and another combat warband.

Something like

1. Uruk Captain with heavy armour and shield - General (makes a good general as he's D7 so not as easy to wound compared to the named characters)
3 Uruk Warriors - shield
2 Berserkers
6 Uruk Warriors - pike

2. Lurtz
3 Uruk Warriors - shield
1 Berserker
6 Uruk Warriors - pike

3. Vrasku
3 Uruk Warriors - shield
1 Berserker
6 Uruk Warriors - pike

BigDog thats epic! one problem i dont have a Uruk Captain

Big Dog · **Posted:** Fri Dec 06, 2013 12:36 pm

warg rider wrote:

BigDog thats epic! one problem i dont have a Uruk Captain

I edited the second list I had copy paste errored and left Vrasku in it.

In that case I would say stick with Lurtz but make sure you take the Shaman and keep him close by for a Fury save so he doesn't get wounded easily. Losing your general costs you Victory Points so it's important to keep him alive.

warg rider · **Joined:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:05 am **Posts:** 34

warg rider wrote:

[edited by moderator: please trim your quotes]
BigDog thats epic! one problem i dont have a Uruk Captain

I tell a lie bigdog i can actually build this army! thanks a lot i will review once i get home

Gwaryan · **Posted:** Fri Dec 06, 2013 12:50 pm

I'd agree with SD about not using Saruman at 500pts. If he gets taken out early then that's a big chunk of points gone, and even if he stays around there's no gurantee that he'll make his points back.

That said, if you are set on using him, make sure to use him to his full advantage. Use spells like immobilise and command whenever possible with that free point of will a turn, even if it's just against a plain warrior.

Personally I'd run one of the lists that BigDog has written. 32 troops at 500pts is very good for Isengard, especially with all that strength 4.

What army is your opponent running?

warg rider · **Joined:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:05 am **Posts:** 34

Gwaryan wrote:

I'd agree with SD about not using Saruman at 500pts. If he gets taken out early then that's a big chunk of points gone, and even if he stays around there's no gurantee that he'll make his points back.

That said, if you are set on using him, make sure to use him to his full advantage. Use spells like immobilise and command whenever possible with that free point of will a turn, even if it's just against a plain warrior.

Personally I'd run one of the lists that BigDog has written. 32 troops at 500pts is very good for Isengard, especially with all that strength 4.

What army is your opponent running?

Well the Army i want to take out the most is @MoriaMadness who will be using Dwarfs i think? I do agree with you thought i think i will take BgiDogs Army list

warg rider · **Joined:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:05 am **Posts:** 34

Hello again,

with the miniatures i have so far does this work?

Lurts 60pt 4 beserker 60pt 4 sheild 40pt = 160

Vrasku 60PT 9 xbows 99Pt = 159

Ugluk 60Pt 8 pikes 90Pt 4 Sheils 40pt = 180

Gwaryan · **Posted:** Fri Dec 06, 2013 4:34 pm

Dwarves should be an interesting match up for you. Remember that whilst your forces get to move 6, his can only move 5. With that in mind you should be able to dictate a lot of fights and charge in where you want.

Those crossbows would normally be deadly against most armies, wounding on 5s or 6s, but with dwarves I think they'll mostly be wounding only on the roll of a 6. With that in mind I'd be tempted to use your bows to target his heroes.

Big Dog · **Posted:** Fri Dec 06, 2013 5:10 pm

warg rider wrote:

Hello again,

with the miniatures i have so far does this work?

Lurts 60pt 4 beserker 60pt 4 sheild 40pt = 160

Vrasku 60PT 9 xbows 99Pt = 159

Ugluk 60Pt 8 pikes 90Pt 4 Sheils 40pt = 180

Yeah that looks like a decent starter army. You can always buy new units later to experiment but you've got a good start there. I'd probably set it up

Lurtz - 2 berserker, 4 shield, 4 pike
Ugluk - 2 berserker, 4 shield, 4 pike
Vrasku - 9 crossbows

and I'd go with Lurtz as the general purely because if he gets into a tricky situation he can shield which makes him a tiny bit more survivable than ugluk. But 9 might and a decent sized force should be a good start.

Dwarves will be a tough match up if he has lots of D7 as it negates your S4 but you should have more models and can soften him up a bit with crossbows.

Also it's always important to try and make a force that's solid against all armies rather than tailoring to face just one faction. Especially in a tournament list.

Just a note, I'm quite new to the forum too but I don't think they like you posting exact points values so maybe best to take those out.

Manadar · **Joined:** Fri Apr 13, 2012 4:22 pm **Posts:** 180

You may very well use sharkey if you want to play with magic though.

warg rider · **Joined:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:05 am **Posts:** 34

Big Dog wrote:

warg rider wrote:

Hello again,

with the miniatures i have so far does this work?

Lurts 60pt 4 beserker 60pt 4 sheild 40pt = 160

Vrasku 60PT 9 xbows 99Pt = 159

Ugluk 60Pt 8 pikes 90Pt 4 Sheils 40pt = 180

Yeah that looks like a decent starter army. You can always buy new units later to experiment but you've got a good start there. I'd probably set it up

Lurtz - 2 berserker, 4 shield, 4 pike
Ugluk - 2 berserker, 4 shield, 4 pike
Vrasku - 9 crossbows

and I'd go with Lurtz as the general purely because if he gets into a tricky situation he can shield which makes him a tiny bit more survivable than ugluk. But 9 might and a decent sized force should be a good start.

Dwarves will be a tough match up if he has lots of D7 as it negates your S4 but you should have more models and can soften him up a bit with crossbows.

Also it's always important to try and make a force that's solid against all armies rather than tailoring to face just one faction. Especially in a tournament list.

Just a note, I'm quite new to the forum too but I don't think they like you posting exact points values so maybe best to take those out.

I think i might give this ago thanks BigDogg. as for the points it was a pure copy and paste job surely not an issue? but i will keep in mind

warg rider · **Joined:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:05 am **Posts:** 34

[quote="Big Dog"][quote="warg rider"]Hello again,

BigDogg can i ask one more thing. why do you add two berserker to each set of pikemen/shields? like how would you line them up

black1blade · **Joined:** Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:10 pm **Posts:** 225

Put two pikes behind the hero, then one behind the warriors, then use the remaining warriors and berserkers as flankers. You could maybe use 6 pikes 2 shields and 2 beserkers to be more effective.

warg rider · **Joined:** Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:05 am **Posts:** 34

[quote="black1blade"]

fantastic i will look at this

JamesR · **Posted:** Fri Dec 06, 2013 7:32 pm

Pike s behind the beserkers also works too as they recently changed the supporting rules

My first Army of 500 (Isengard)

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