Hey all,
I figured I'd use this thread to collect my ideas on Empire lists, so I'll be showing you my lists for my escalation league (going up to 2500 points in 500-point increments). Without further ado...
Faith, Steel, and Gunpowder - 500 points
Core - 134 points
19 Halberdiers, Musician, Standard-Bearer [Warrior Priest goes here]
Special - 174 points
3 Demigryph Knights
Rare - 120 points
Helblaster Volley Gun
Heroes - 72 points
Warrior Priest, Enchanted Shield, Heavy Armor
Grand Total: 500 points
Record: W 8/D 1/L 4
So this list is pretty basic, as most 500 pointers are - a semblance of casting in the Priest, a Gun to help me soften things up, a decent block of Halberds, and some Demigryphs. However, the main takeaway I have from this list is that 500 is really random (even by Warhammer standards), and that so much of the game hinges on low-sample-size dice rolls that what you take matters a bit less than it normally does. I have to say I'm a bit disappointed by the Volley Gun's range, though - without other artillery pieces, it doesn't see as much action as I would like it to.
Faith, Steel, and Gunpowder - 1000 points
Core - 258 points
38 Halberdiers, Full Command [Arch Lector and BSB go here]
Special - 194 points
3 Demigryph Knights, Musician, Standard-Bearer
Rare - 250 points
Steam Tank
Heroes - 141 points
Captain, BSB, Dawnstone, Dragonhelm, Full Plate Armor, Shield, Sword of Striking
Lords - 155 points
Arch Lector, Armor of Meteoric Iron, Great Weapon
Grand Total: 1000 points
Record: W 3/D 0/L 0
This list is all about the Steam Tank - this bad boy has won me games with minimal support from the other elements. Command on the Demigryphs helps a little, though, and the Halberdiers are markedly more useful with the extra point of Ld, Hold the Line!, and sheer numbers to take more casualties. This list has run through its opposition with next to no resistance so far, though the Halberds have struggled at times during the games.
Faith, Steel, and Gunpowder - 1500 points
Core - 388 points
10 Archers [Wizard goes here]
48 Halberdiers, Full Command [Arch Lector and BSB go here]
Special - 504 points
2 x 4 Demigryph Knights, Musician, Standard-Bearer
Rare - 250 points
Steam Tank
Heroes - 203 points
Battle Wizard, Dispel Scroll [Lore of Life]
Captain, BSB, Biting Blade, Dragonhelm, Full Plate Armor, Shield
Lords - 155 points
Arch Lector, Armor of Meteoric Iron, Great Weapon
Grand Total: 1500 points
Record: W 0/D 0/L 0
Now this list actually starts looking like what I expect the army to be like overall - it has a lot more Demigryphs, and the Wizard makes his first appearance in the list. He'll provide buffs, healing, and a Dispel Scroll.
Faith, Steel, and Gunpowder - 2000 points
Core - 508 points
10 Archers [Wizard goes here]
48 Halberdiers, Full Command [Arch Lector and BSB go here]
5 Knights, Lances+Shields, Musician
Special - 504 points
2 x 4 Demigryph Knights, Musician, Standard-Bearer
Rare - 500 points
2 x Steam Tank
Heroes - 108 points
Captain, BSB, Dragonhelm, Full Plate Armor, Shield, Warrior Bane
Lords - 380 points
Arch Lector, Armor of Meteoric Iron, Great Weapon
Battle Wizard Lord, Dispel Scroll, L4 Wizard [Lore of Life]
Grand Total: 2000 points
Record: W 0/D 0/L 0
This list is a big firepower upgrade over the lower points version in that we can finally afford our second Steam Tank, and the Wizard goes from a puny L1 scroll caddy to a L4 powerhouse. We also get our first truly dedicated chaff unit in the small Knight squad.
Faith, Steel, and Gunpowder - 2500 points
Core - 628 points
10 Archers [Wizard goes here]
2 x 5 Empire Knights, Lances + Shields, Musician
48 Halberdiers, Full Command [Arch Lector and BSB go here]
Special - 744 points
2 x 4 Demigryph Knights, Musician, Standard-Bearer
2 x Great Cannon
Rare - 500 points
2 x Steam Tank
Heroes - 249 points
Captain, BSB, Biting Blade, Dragonhelm, Full Plate Armor, Shield
Captain, Charmed Shield, Full Plate Armor, Imperial Pegasus, Sword of Might
Lords - 379 points
Arch Lector, Enchanted Shield, Heavy Armor, Talisman of Preservation
Battle Wizard Lord, Dispel Scroll, L4 Wizard [Lore of Life]
Grand Total: 2500 points
Record: W 1/D 0/L 1
So this list is pretty much what most people are running for competitive Empire (double STank + Cannon + DGK goodness), with a couple of "flavor to taste" edits - I've decided to put my faith in the Halberdier Horde backed up by Battle Prayers and Hatred for my Core fighting block instead of the Inner Circle Knights, the Wizard has Life because healing Steam Tanks is boss, and I've decided to field my BSB on foot with a 2+ save and trust Battle Prayers to get him a Ward save if he needs it. I run 2 small units of Knights and a Captasus to hunt down chaff, as well as an Archer bunker to keep the Wizard safe.
Faith, Steel, and Gunpowder - 2500 points
Core - 768 points
10 Archers [Wizards go here]
10 Archers
- Detachments: 2 x 5 Archers
2 x 5 Empire Knights, Lances + Shields, Musician
48 Halberdiers, Full Command [Arch Lector and BSB go here]
Special - 744 points
2 x 4 Demigryph Knights, Musician, Standard-Bearer
2 x Great Cannon
Rare - 740 points
2 x Helblaster Volley Gun
2 x Steam Tank
Heroes - 369 points
Captain, BSB, Dragonhelm, Full Plate Armor, Shield
Captain, Charmed Shield, Full Plate Armor, Imperial Pegasus, Sword of Might
2 x Master Engineer
Lords - 379 points
Arch Lector, Enchanted Shield, Heavy Armor, Talisman of Preservation
Battle Wizard Lord, Dispel Scroll, L4 Wizard [Lore of Life]
Grand Total: 3000 points
Record: W 0/D 0/L 0
This list is for some larger games which I am shooting to play sometime in the future - I grab some Volley Guns to round out my shooting arsenal, and I bring some dedicated chaff/redirectors in the Archers.