Topic: MSU infantry

[Footpatrol2]

Has anyone tried heavy MSU infantry?

What I mean is lots of units of 10 man with support detachments of 5 man. Something that empire can do very well is bring a lot of small units. We can do it so well that we can go board edge to board edge several times.

[Edwin von Dufflecoat]

Yeah kinda, I do like to run twelves and 2 sixes. 24 halberds amd 24 crossbows ( I don't like to mix and match!) Is usually the core of the army with small units of archers, flagellents and greatswords. Handful of low level heroes, with minimal kit , and 3 guns for 1500pt games. It isn't amazing...at anything, but has come second in a local tournament.

[Edwin von Dufflecoat]

As an example list: with a bit of tweaking could've added a helblaster, all the heroes are mainly there for their inate buffs rather than their ability to carry cool kit.
Empire[1500 pts]
Captain of the Empire, Great weapon, General, Twice-Blessed Armour - 74
Witch Hunter, Brace of pistols, Slayer's Hourglass - 75
Priest of Sigmar, Great weapon, Heavy armour - 67
Master Mage- 60
Empire Engineer - 45
12 Veteran State Troops, Halberds, Shields, Standard bearer [War Banner], Full Command - 148
12 /2 halberdier detachments , Halberds, Shields, Detachment - 84
12 State Missile Troops, Sergeant (champion) [Crossbow/Handgun], Full Command - 111
12 /2 crossbowmen detachments , Detachment - 96
10 Empire Archers, Marksman (champion) - 75
10 Empire Archers, Marksman (champion) - 75
12 Empire Greatswords, Veteran, Count's Champion (champion) [Ring of Taal], Full Command - 184
Great Cannon - 125
Great Cannon - 125
12 Flagellants -156

[commandant]

I do feel that Empire troops are a little squishy to do MSU well though I did see quite an effective gunline thag was MSU and detachments do help.

[Footpatrol2]

Thanks for the list edwin

I think in order to get empire hitty Infantry troops to work I think you need to set up traps with archers which could be scouting or just vanguarded and March first turn to set the bait. You want your archers to lead ahead of your hitty infantry units by roughly the charge distance you want and ideally angled to possibly provide a flank. You want enough lead so that the enemy can't just overrun into you. If you angle the bait it will increase the distance required for the overrun to touch your hitty unit.

So lead your bait archers by like 7 or 8 inches in front of your hitty infantry angled.

The nice thing on archers is they can vanguard and March first turn. So can be up the field by 12 inches first turn. It does cost you an inch of deployment thou.

That's if your trying to create a advancing army.

[Dazgrim]

It's a good idea, but the one minor downside of skirmishers is they can't deflect a charge to provide a flank.

[Footpatrol2]

Archer can be open order. They don't have to be skirmishers.

[Dazgrim]

Fair enough. I only use them as skirmish screens so forget they have other options.