Topic: Halberdier buses - 5 or 6 wide?

[Mathi Alfblut]

Hello gentlemen! I am contemplating leaving the hordes behind as I enter the Hochland army, since frankly, hordes are kinda unfluffy in dense wooden terrain, and go for something more MMU.

I am considering forming two units of 35 halberdiers each, since that is the numbers I have, and with a characher each I could then go 6 wide and get nice symmetrics. But I could also choose to run them 5 wide and get more depth and deprive a horde of more of its attacks. What is really best? Then I am also considering building my war alltar and have it travel between these two blocks to boost them.

What do you all say?

[TexasYankee]

But I could also choose to run them 5 wide and get more depth and deprive a horde of more of its attacks.

That's what I say. With a General/Captain and Arch-Lector/Warrior Priest, both kitted out strictly for defense. Hold the line and grind them down, then flank with Knights/Gryphs/Steam Tank/Ray Dickerson.

[Athiuen]

In my experience if you want to play efficiently then you have very specific roles for your units.  In most circumstances it is more efficient to go 5 wide only for a bus, as its role is only to hold.  If you want the best of both worlds then you have to dish out for a 10x7 deathstar unit, which probably doesn't work that well outside of 4k and up games.

[Porkix]

Aside from the classic 40 men horde 10*4 and the 35 man bus 5*7 I also field small block of 21 halberds in 3 rank of 7 MSU style with war altar.
The benefits:
- I can charge against bus or enemy flank (usually 4-5 deep) and maximize the attacks with reforming before which is good to maneuver
- If I face a though opponent, you can always reform deep and brace for the impact. Since you are not rushing to engage them, I have the time to reform them

Based on this, I assume 35 halberds deployed 5 ranks of 7 should be quite good and the aesthetic of it is also quite nice.



Porkix

[Talben21]

So much of the book is based on buffs with magic. Therefore I go 58 Halberdiers with an Arch-Lector and my BSB.

Horde attacks with buffs from my hufficanum, Arch-Lector and my Lvl 4 light spells can turn mortal men into killing machines.

[The Peacemaker]

If your going with min frontage and putting the BSB in the unit. You might want to put him on a Pegasus. The base size is the same so it will fit in the unit, many of the enemy attacks will be on the BSB who will have a 2+ save with a 4+ ward, and Pegasus makes him 3 wounds.


Also I find going 6 wide isn't worth it if your going against an enemy horde.  For detachments however I'll go 6 wide or even 7 if needed.

[Mathi Alfblut]

Great input sofar. Keep it coming!