Topic: Beginners Question

[3Fingers]

Hi All,

Sorry if this is a basic question, I'm new to both WHFB and Empire. The one thing I seem to be having trouble grasping an understanding of is detachments. I've read several accounts of people saying detachments should be taken as 9 in 3x3 form, and others saying detachments should be taken as 10.

What is the general rule of thumb about how many to put in your attachments and how deep? Is it unit specific?

[Gneisenau]

Welcome to the forum!

People use 3x3 detachments because those have a small frontage, don't leave a big gap in your line, and are difficult for the enemy to charge.

Since units don't need a minimum frontage to negate rank boni in 7th edition, 3x3 is arguably the best formation for close combat detachments.

Somebody will disagree with me in about 5 minutes though, so don't start doing your armylist just yet...

[Syn Ace]

Somebody will disagree with me in about 5 minutes though, so don't start doing your armylist just yet...

Gneisenau is absolutely, completely wrong wrong wrong!  I can't think why, but he just is.

Yeah, 3x3 has its uses if you're short on space during deployment, plus if you want to minimize the chances of your detachment being charged or you want to limit the number of baddies taking a whack at them in combat.

[Dihenydd]

3 x 3 is useful if your CC detachment is spears or halbs.  You don't really want them to fight (and die) you just want to get a flank attach to push CR in your favour.  Also, 3x3 allows your main units to be closer together (closer to general etc) and makes it harder for enemy to charge the detachment and leave your unit alone (a sneaky enemy tactic).

If you run FC or Swords you may decide to go with 5x2 as you are anticipating these guys actually killing something on top of the base CR advantage.  Those people are wankers like the poster above however and cannot be trusted 

Seriously, 3x3 is the safest choice

[3Fingers]

Ha! Thanks, I think for now I'll stick with the 9s until I get a bit more confidence, I'm not assuming too much when I assume this rule doesn't apply to archers and such, am I?

[StealthKnightSteg]

Ha! Thanks, I think for now I'll stick with the 9s until I get a bit more confidence, I'm not assuming too much when I assume this rule doesn't apply to archers and such, am I?

No you can assume that as you want your shooters to lay aim as much as they can.. so you want those as broad as you can.

[Finlay]

But arches are different because they skirmish...

[StealthKnightSteg]

But arches are different because they skirmish...

Yeah I was meaning the xbows and handgunners