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Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 3:11 pm
by Chracian
Where are characters with magic bows best deployed? I have thought of some options and would appreciate comments as to which you consider to be most optimal. So, we have:

On their own
On foot - US1 so -1 when being shot. But on his own so easily targetted
On a horse - faster moving, but can't shoot and march. Better armour, but again easily targetted.
On a chariot - faster moving, but can't march if needed, but can always shoot (assuming viable targets). US5. More protection, but not a particularly tough chariot.
On an eagle - even faster moving. Obvious target.
On a griffon - as eagle, but causes terror and more wounds. US5. Lots of points.
On a dragon - as griffon, but with breath weapon. US5 even if rider dies. Loads of points and a hero slot.

In a unit
Static unit - such as a block of spears. Not easy to be targetted. Limited to arc of sight unless they move, which you may not want.
Shadow warriors - 360 los. -1 when being shot. SW can't scout unless you have shadow armour, which restricts you to having a prince with the bow, which is costly.

That's what I've thought of. I'm inclined to go for the noble with reaver bow on an eagle or on a chariot, and a lord with bots on a griffon. What set up have you found succesful?

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 3:26 pm
by Bolt Thrower
When I run the Reaver noble it's usually on an eagle or just in a group of archers. Archers because I'm going to be having them in position to fire anyway and if I have the reaver bow I usually don't have him equipped to be in combat.

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 4:57 pm
by Larkspire
I have had alot of success w/ him on foot with reaver and the mask of the merlord.
I treat him more like a mobile all terrain rbt.I use a unit of spearmen as a base,this is where he starts out.The main reason I do this is b/c nobody gives a damn about a spearmans LOS during deployment.I deploy the majority of my ranged wpns on one side -telegraphing-
If he's got any tasty targets he'll plop'em on the other side,probably taking advantage of interposing terrain.
I put the spears w/ LOS to the "blind spot".
I have him pop out into nearby terrain features and take pot shots at opportune targets.
Try and keep him within 10" of the spears so he can run home if things get hairy.

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 5:16 pm
by dabber
Chracian wrote:Static unit - such as a block of spears. Not easy to be targetted. Limited to arc of sight unless they move, which you may not want.
Why would you be unwilling to move? With Bs6, the -1 to hit for moving is not a huge deal.

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 8:58 pm
by Gildor777
In my defensive/magic list at 2250 I put him in a unit of PG w/ Reaver bow and Ench. Sh. Gives the unit a bit more pop, with the option if needed of him having a 3+ save.

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 10:27 pm
by Griffon Prince
Depending on who I'm facing, either in a unit of LSG or with RBT crew. I've never regretted either decision, eventhough sticking him with the warmachine might be thought of as a bad choice.
10-20 LSG with Reaver Bow backed by 3 RBTs can cause problems for alot of targets.

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 11:54 pm
by SpellArcher
I reckon a BSB on foot with Reaver fits an Archmage build very well. I'd be looking to pair it with Loec. Of course he has field of fire issues but as mentioned clever deployment can deal with these.

I find the chariot good for the maneouvrability to set up good shots. An eagle is even better but lacks the combat punch.

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 12:43 pm
by Stormie
The main thing to remember is if you put him in a unit that also shoots (Archers, RBT etc.) then all members of the unit must shoot at the same target... which you might not want to do :)

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 1:15 pm
by SpellArcher
Hmm...isn't there a specific exception to this for characters with war machines?

Could be wrong, just a vague recollection.

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 1:38 pm
by Angel
SpellArcher wrote:Hmm...isn't there a specific exception to this for characters with war machines?

Could be wrong, just a vague recollection.
Your right, characters that have joined a war machine crew can fire at a different target than the machine, see page 85 of the rule book.

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 2:11 pm
by Pash
I like putting my magic bow characters with warmachines. The machines will have pretty good coverage, the character is hard to pick out with shooting, he can target different units to the crew and even with a great sword he'll give the warmachine crew quite a boost in combat!

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 2:35 pm
by SpellArcher
I'm guessing this would be a Noble with Reaver Bow? This looks like quite a good pick in and of himself but can a HE army afford this guy if he's not carrying a Battle Standard?

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 2:54 pm
by Stormie
Angel wrote:Your right, characters that have joined a war machine crew can fire at a different target than the machine, see page 85 of the rule book.
That's good to know, two separate shooters, one guy with ASF S6 attacks to protect, pretty good combo!

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 4:21 pm
by Larkspire
[quote="SpellArcher"] can a HE army afford this guy if he's not carrying a Battle Standard?
I look at him less as a character and more like mobile artillery.
I feel the same way about the mounted HOF BSB,he's so tough, he's a one man unit.
Looking at'em like that helps me rationalise the cost.

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 4:30 pm
by Act of God
I've been running a guy on a chariot with the reaver bow lately, though I'm thinking I might upgrade him to a bsb. He works pretty good, though I forgot in the first two games, every time the shooting phase rolled around, to fire my reaver bow. I like the versatility of this guy though, he moves up alongside the infantry and cav (I like to hold the cav back a bit so they hit home with the chariot), and he's still doing damage in the shooting phase too, which is really helpful at 1500 and less that I play. I'll probably end up trying to fit the BOTS into the army somehow too when I hit 2k+ (probably on an archmage, bs4 is still decent even if not spectacular, and lv 4 makes him a great support character, I may run him on an eagle, if that's wise...wiser elves than I can tell you if that is effective or crazy).

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 7:03 pm
by SpellArcher
Larkspire wrote:I look at him less as a character and more like mobile artillery.
Compare to the Reaver BSB though, whose shooting may be slightly restricted but who can hold an entire centre together with his re-rolls, Ld9 and fighting power.

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 4:37 am
by Alathenar
I had a lot of fun using a Prince with BotS on an Eagle and a Noble with Reaver also on an Eagle in a 2250 comp. The mobility they give backed up by good firepower is priceless. Just have to use terrain wisely to block LOS from shooting and magic because the opponent will go out of their way to take these guys out, which sometimes could be a good thing. And they can lend a hand in combat every now and then.

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 8:20 am
by Elaithnir
I've had joy with him in a no-lord 2250 list. Placing him with warmachines is a good idea, although I tend to move him into LSG just before combat (his great weapon helps a lot!). Try not to put him in archers or LSG from the start though, since the targets he'll want to shoot at (high value) is generally not what the unit wants to be shooting at (light cav, support, chaff).

Re: Deployment of characters w/magic bows

Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 12:03 am
by Eltherion
Remember if he is on horseback with a 2+ AS he can still join an infantry unit like PG or Spears, making him tougher if he does end up fighting hand to hand.

I prefer the Magic Bow characters so they can hide in units if needed, they are targets if on Eagles & Chariots.