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OlradYou wrote:
Basically it's a deathstar.]
And there is your answer to why your Greatswords are doing so well. You've made a deathstar unit, and your opponents have been foolish enough to actually engage it head on.
The biggest weakness to infantry deathstars, is your opponent can just avoid it for pretty much the game. If, instead, your opponents are charging the front of your deathstar at it sounds like they are, then they're pretty much playing right into your hands.
Something to think about in terms of your Synergy comments. For the same price as your 40 Greatswords, not only can I get 40 Halberds, but I also have just about enough points left over to get both of the Magic-Chariots to support them. So... for about the same price as 40 Greatswords, I'd have 40 Halberds that are +1 to hit in melee, have a 6+ ward save, and are better supported by magic (with both the extra Power and Dispel die, plus both have a pretty decent spell). To me, that's a big reason why to bring Halberds over Greatswords, the points you save, let you get more stuff.
Now, as to Demigryphs, here are a couple of counter points.
1) Again, for your 40 Greatsword Horde, I can get two, 3-Pax units of Demigryphs... with points left over. So, while the Greatsword horde has 40 wounds, with a 4+ Armor Save. The two units of Demigryphs give you 18 wounds, at Toughness 4, with a 1+ Armor Save. To me, advantage goes to T4 / 1+ Armor Save. I don't need to worry about my Armor Save, if they can't get past my Toughness.
1-A) Not only that, with the Demigryphs having T4, I can be convinced to take Halberds over lance-and-shield, and rely upon a T4 / 2+ armor save, while having a boat-ton of Strength 5 attacks, all at Initiative.
2) Now, if your Greatswords are on 20mm bases, 10-across (a requirement for horde formation) is 200mm... 7.8" across. If they're on 25mm bases, now your frontage is 250 mm... just about 10" across. That's a broad frontage. 3 Demigryphs offer the same number of attacks at a frontage of 6.75"... which means your attacks are denser. And, since the unit is narrower, it is considerably easier to maneuver.
3) The demigryphs are M8... which means a threat radius a 8" + 3k2" (average 16" threat radius.) Greatswords have a threat radius of 4"+ 2k2" (average 11" threat radius). In other words, it'll take the Greatswords one more turn to get into position to charge, when compared with the Demigryphs.
4) The Greatswords do better with the Warrior Priests "Hate" ability (as Hate doesn't affect mounts)... but the Demigryphs do better with the Warrior Priest prayers. Hate pewters out after 1-turn of melee. You can cast prayers every turn. Hammer of Sigmar works on your Stomp attacks... now getting to re-roll to-wound rolls on auto-hits is sweet!
5) Now you can pay to get the Greatswords the Razor Banner, to mimic the built-in Armor Pen of the Demigryphs. But, now you've upped the cost of your 40-sized unit of Greatswords by another 10%. I'd rather use the built-in Armor Pen of the Demigryphs, and have additional points to play with.
6) Next, I'm not thrilled with Stubborn at all. It helps, when you
Lose combat. It has no other effect. Fear and Armor Pen, which the Demigryphs have built-in, effect combat each turn, and help you to
Win... in which case, you won't need to make an LD check on Stubborn. I'd rather have my unit have abilities that help me win... and not abilities that keep me around if I lose. Staying around if I lose is why I have a BSB... not Stubborn.
7) Only the Greatswords benefit from the MR of the Witch Hunter... but that also adds another 12% to the cost of the unit (going with the 40-strong sized unit of Geatswords). However, with the Demigryphs able to take a magic banner, I can mimic the effect of the Witch Hunter with the el cheapo Lichbone Pennant, while only adding 3% to the cost of the unit. (I'm going to assume both units have paid for the Standard Bearer upgrade, so those 10 points are moot.)
I'm not saying Greatswords aren't a bad choice. I'm also not saying that a Greatsword deathstar doesn't have potential to cause serious damage. I just don't find them to be an optimal choice, and that's why I don't use or recommend them. And maybe that's why other players don't recommend them as well.
Anyway, just some thoughts. ))