So two games, friendly ones but still and some reflections.
Dwarfs are nasty, not least the expeditionary force with all that nasty shooting. At 500 point the Expeditionary force was just murderous.
Facing a Royal clan list was hard too but that one could have gone differently. But with 5+ ward save on the kings unit and 6+ on those around they are a tough cookie.
I did miss my RBT. High strength and good AP is really what you want.
Having Bow of the Seafarer on my High sister was of less use as a bolt thrower but at least she usually got a kill. And I could have shoot at that baggage train.
Str3 shooting is not great but having at least AP1 with a potential two more from armour bane means that if you actually wound there is less chance of it getting saved.
The Woodsmen are a really useful unit. No armour piercing on their bows but wounding on 4 instead of 5 is a big deal.
And the Chracian great blades are really valuable. Sure, they strike last but against dwarfs there are more chances of getting to swing first. And knowing there is a good chance of actually wounding and just cleaving through all that armour is worth it.
Having characters with the big axe units raise their cast and may not be cutthroat meta, but it makes a difference. If that means the opponent gets a pairvof attacks less it means you get a few more swings of great blades more. And if that means you win you might be able to repeat the process and kill again, well, that might mean you win the game.
Anyway, chracian great blades are sweet.
But even I, who love my spears to death must admit they are pretty bad off against decently armoured T4 enemies. Static combat resolution and a good character and they can hold well enough for a turn or two while desperately waiting for someone to flank the enemy. But without AP the few wounds they make are less likely to bite.
Wood elves spears have AP1 and just that would make a difference.
Anyway, it is what it is.
So I do think Chrace has potential against dwarves, more than our main army list.
We can get move through cover while messing up their move with the free difficult terrain piece. Good stuff.
And Lion pelts are really handy against normal shooting.
However, there is a unit in the main army list that I missed today and that was my Phoenix guard (Wardens of Mathlann). That full plate rmour and 6+ ward was missed. And their ceremonial halberds.
