Question: Gnobs

[Ianuchu]

I'm not sure if this question should be here, so if a mod feels it should be changed, that's fine.

Now, the question is simple enough:
Is there really a point to Gnoblars? Would it be worth to spend 250pts on 100 of them? Should we pick the trapers every time?

What do the rest of Tyrants think of these most lowly portions of our armies?

[Anton]

There is definitely a point to them. Small units with trapper upgrade are great. The average damage they'll do is small, but opponents will still be wary of sending expensive units through them. They can also divert charges reasonably well -- not as well as Sabretusks but you can only have 3 of those.

Big units can be used to hold up hard units for a while. Is there a point to 100 of them? Probably not, but it looks cool!

[Wildcard]

The only real limit on the effectiveness of gnoblars is the owner's tolerance for painting so many of them.

Gnoblars are great.  They are a very effective tarpit when used in blocks, and great chaff when given the trapper rule and used in min-sized units.  Controlling the deployment and board space is very important in 8th and in this respect they are the only co unit we have that can do this job.

Frankly, I rate them over bulls in my lists.  My core is normally ironguts and gnoblars nowerdays.

[Draaka]

I take a similar stance to wildcard, I use big units of ironguts and small units of gnoblar trappers. There is no other 50 point unit in the game that can really make a player change his mind or game plan like seeing a field of three or four lots of dangerous terrain tests in front of his big shiny horde of stormvermin/swordmasters/blackguard/whatever else is expensive and fielded in a horde.

[Ghunter]

The only real limit on the effectiveness of gnoblars is the owner's tolerance for painting so many of them.

Sigged !

On topic: I don't think I'll ever leave home without at least one unit of 10 Trappers. A tarpit can prove useful but you have to raise its Ld to make a good use of Steadfast.

[Scarr, Eating Cookies]

The only real limit on the effectiveness of gnoblars is the owner's tolerance for painting so many of them.

Say that to Skaven or Porc and Robin players 

I think they are very good, but I only use them when I have some points to spend or I use Leadbelchers.

[Darkminion]

Gnoblars are great in all unit sizes, with or without trapper upgrade.

A 100 gnob unit can be pretty good. Place it next to your main block to guard its flank and nothing will come through it.....Especially with Trollguts on them! Regenerating Gnoblars are WIN!

[Wildcard]

I've had units of 10 with trappers get buffed with trollguts and then get charged by killy hordes (like savage orcs).  Not only do I done trapper casualties, the unit usually has members left to hold them another turn!

[Sigmar13]

I like to take a small unit of 10 trappers then run them directly toward the largest, most expensive unit on the board. 

You run the gnoblars right up to the unit and stop them from moving or they have to face the traps. 

[sitaavanu]

If I know i'm going to be playing in scenario games I take 1 unit of 20 trappers so that I can hold the tower.

Otherwise I take one unit of 10 with trappers (I always include either LBs or MEs) and use these guys to screen that unit.

[Wildcard]

Conversely I would very rarely want t put gnoblars in the watchtower, allowing my opponent a first turn charge. I'd prefer to leave the tower empty, they can't get in on the first turn then

[sitaavanu]

20 gnobs in a tower is more powerful than you might expect.

unit charges and takes dangerous terrain checks

then only 10 of their guys gets too attack, assuming they have 2 attacks a piece they have to hit and wound with every single attack to completely whipe out the gnoblars.  As they are in the tower they are stubborn.  Your generals leadership should reach them, giving them a stubborn 9.

next turn you can either:
1)keep the gnobs in the tower if that is working for you
2)have them exit and garrison it with one of your own beefy units
3)charge the unit that bounced off tower with your mournfangs

I've never had a problem with them holding the tower for me.  Alternatively I've had a fast unit of my opponents garrison the tower early on and struggle all game to dissolve them from the tower. 

[Snarkhunter]

Don't forget that the gnoblars also get to stand and shoot.  And if they do not break from combat, the opponent is pushed back 1 inch and must charge again to initiate combat on the following turn (earning another round of stand and shoot and dangerous terrain tests).

I strongly agree with placing gnoblars with traps into the watchtower.  I would advise you to have another unit nearby to take their place as needed.

- Snark

[Bob the Butcher]

I'm not sure if this question should be here, so if a mod feels it should be changed, that's fine.

Now, the question is simple enough:
Is there really a point to Gnoblars? Would it be worth to spend 250pts on 100 of them? Should we pick the trapers every time?

What do the rest of Tyrants think of these most lowly portions of our armies?

Firstly Gnoblars are cheap.

I have been running 2 units of 10 with Trapper upgrade and use them alongside my Leadbelcher units.

For me the Gnoblars in this instance are throw away units used to keep my Leadbelchers shooting for longer.

The Trapper upgrade deters big blocks (30-40+) of troops from charging the Gnoblars (as 1/6 will die due to the difficult terrain test).

Even if you run an army without leadbelchers I would still field the Gnobbies as throw away units.

[Ianuchu]

Well, I can see they people like them, but most of these tactics are defensive, whereas I'm collecting a completely offensive army, packed with Mournfangs and Sabretusks (Rhinoxen if I can get my hands on them), so in an offensive role, would they still function as effectively?

[Wildcard]

In an offensive army you still need to pick you targets.  Having small gnoblar units as dummy drops in your deployment, in addition to the sabretusks, helps you get the right matchups for your offensive units.


Remember: deployment is a phase of the game too!

[T Bone]

I take at least 10 Gnoblars with a groinbiter into nearly every battle. One day he'll win a challenge... 6 dicing savage beast of horrors at him hasn't yet helped though 

[Darkminion]

Well, I can see they people like them, but most of these tactics are defensive, whereas I'm collecting a completely offensive army, packed with Mournfangs and Sabretusks (Rhinoxen if I can get my hands on them), so in an offensive role, would they still function as effectively?

In a full offensive army I would probably not take the trapper upgrade, but still take 3 units of 10 Gnobs.  Together with 3 tusks this gives me 6 deployment drops before anything of importance has to be fielded, giving me a good view of the enemy army as a whole. 75 points well spent allready. and who knows, I might even find a good use for the Gnobbers during the game!

D...

[Draaka]

If a unit charges through my 1st unit of trappers, then overuns into a 2nd unit of trappers, do the enemy get hit with traps again? I read it as a yes because (paraphrasing) the BRB says a overun into an enemy unit is effectively a charge.

[Wildcard]

Yes they do.  Layering gnoblars can discourage many things

[Phazael]

Gnoblars are awesome and I am actually trying to work out a way to get some into my army.  There is almost no way to field them where they are not useful.  The ten man trapper deflector shield and the 25 full command for 87.5 points are both favorites of mine.

[Wildcard]

I am beginning to re-favour the 40 man tarpit with musician, standard and trappers.  This thing can actually hold the flank of an army for long enough if in the bubble. 

[Hedstone]

I am beginning to re-favour the 40 man tarpit with musician, standard and trappers.  This thing can actually hold the flank of an army for long enough if in the bubble. 

Is the standard really necessary you think? They come as VP's in my game all the time, i hate to give them an easy one...

[Phazael]

Depends on how much of your local metagame includes Blood and Glory or scenarios like it.  Plus, sometimes people will do something stupid and give the gnobs a flank and the banner will actually let them win.

[danielking4812]

Look at this competitive and fun list:

http://www.ogrestronghold.com/forum/index.php?topic=23175.0