I've been away from the game for a bit, haven't actually played Empire since 7th edition, and never with the latest book. I figured I should try to at least get a few games in before we move to a new army book. So I'd like some advice on how to restart my army. We've got a league that plays usually 2400 point games.
I currently have two units of knights (1 with lances, 1 with great weapons), 30 or so Halberdiers, handgunners, and swordsmen, 2 cannons and 3 mortars. I've also got some (unpainted) spearmen that I can use for now for filler if I need bigger infantry blobs.
Here's my initial thoughts:
Lord:
Templar Grand Master (to ride with one unit of knights)
L4 Wizard w/ VHS (to ride with the other unit) (Light)
Hero:
Captain BSB on foot (with Halberdiers or Swordsmen)
2x Warrior Priests (one with each infantry unit)
L2 Wizard (Light)
Core:
30 Swordsmen (FC)
30 Halberdiers (FC)
10 Knights (FC)
10 Knights (FC)
Special:
3 Mortars
2 Cannons
This is about 2000 points, allowing for 400 points of upgrades.
The goal here is to use the halberdiers and swordsmen as anvils and the knights as hammers with the cannons and mortars to soften up the enemy before reaching them. The warrior priests help to shut down enemy magic and make the infantry blobs a little more dangerous.
Some apparent weaknesses (and responses):
My general will be riding off into the sunset away from my infantry blobs, taking his Ld 9 with him.
- Priests are Ld 8, not great, but at least it's something.
No engineer for the mortar and cannons.
- Hey, there's lots of firepower. More is a resonable substitute for accurate.
Smallish infantry blobs, not sure how long they'll hold.
- I will have to rely on knights moving through the enemy quickly to get back and help
Nobody defending the warmachines.
- It will take a while to run through 5 warmachines.
Am I on the right track? Any suggestions other than "buy a War Altar, Stank, and Capasus?" I know that these are missing pieces, but I'm not yet convinced they'll fit with my sorta-theme of "ordinary men." Plus I don't want to buy them with a new army book about to drop.
(I don't know if this should be in the army list section since it's not a proper army list)