Poly Returns- the hammer unit tactica

[Polymphus]

Hokay, here we go.

I'd like to first say that I play MSU ogres, and my attempts at using a fully functioning Death Star have all failed horribly. That said, I think that every ogre army needs its hammer units, although the critical distinction between us and say the Empire is that we don't use anvil units.

Hold on there. When was the last time you held with a unit of ogres (gorgers don't count  ) and then countercharged with a second? Mostly ogre units use the bait-and-switch instead: the enemy charge one unit, which flees, and a second then charges the flank. But some canny generals do not charge the obviously decoy naked bull unit and in those circumstances we need a hammer to take the fight to them. After all, one of the primary strengths of the ogre army is speed, and you should utilise that to the best of your ability. Hammer units can also be used to crack open tougher units like ironbreakers without needing to resort to a flank charge but also without falling victim to being "eggs in one basket". So what is a hammer unit?

-Ironguts

Well, that's pretty much it. But there's more to it than that. They unit needs a combat character in it, preferably the tyrant to be able to take on enemies head on. Thought for the Day: I would equip the tyrant with the tenderiser and issue a challenge when the unit charges: the enemy either accepts and gets slammed by overkill or they lose the attacks back that the champion could provide. Unless there's something like a Vampire Lord in the front rank, issuing a challenge is always a good idea.

So you've got the basic idea, the hammer unit is a unit of ironguts with a tyrant or bruiser. Here's mine

Tyrant
Tenderiser
Wyrdstone Necklace
Fistful of Laurels

In...

3 Ironguts
Full Command

Now in any other circumstances I'd say drop the standard and champion on the ironguts, but any extra CR at all this unit can cause is useful. You'll notice the fistful of laurels on the tyrant and wonder why I did that. It's simple, but also the crux of this post, so listen carefully: the hammer unit should be placed near lots of smaller units. It's not as conspicuous as 6-7 ironguts and tends to not attract as much firepower, and it's centrally placed to get best advantage out of the tyrant's leadership and the laurels. Also, in the event the the unit fails to break the enemy on the charge, you've now locked the enemy in place, and the smaller units can attempt to swarm around and flank.

So in summary, hammer units are for taking the fight to the enemy when flanking is not a possibility. You should attempt to charge important enemy blocks such as the general's unit: if the removal of one unit would cripple the opponent's battle line, then target that unit (but you knew that). Hammer units offer something that a lot of ogre armies lack, and that's the ability to succeed at a frontal charge. Use it wisely.

Poly
Out

[IamJames]

As always a very good read!

[Scroth Scullrippa]

Good to see you back Poly, didn't mean to steal your thunder with my bulls tactics

A good read as always, well done

Scroth 

[Reg06]

Nicely written, but brief article. No mention of maneaters?

[Polymphus]

It's not really a terrible long/complex article. What I tend to do it come home after a game and look back on what unit made the game for me. Yesterday, if it weren't for a very lucky break tests of my opponent's part (grumblegrumbleInsaneCouragegrumble), a single hammer unit would have grabbed between 800-1000VPs in a 2000pt game. As it was, they got flanked but somehow survived until the end of the game, wiping out a unit of longbeards (the original target) and reducing their flankers to five models. Thus, I decided to write about hammer units

I've actually never used maneaters before, which is why they rarely come up in my tacticas. I'd love to use some, but the models I ordered three friggin months ago are yet to arrive. It takes two weeks for Forgeworld to get me models from Nottingham but three months to get them over a 50km stretch of water. Thanks GW Australia! [/tangent]

I think maneaters would make a nice hammer unit, but the fact that they cost about twice as much as an irongut makes them a bit of a liability I think. Still, they'd hit a hell of a lot harder with S5 and A4. I'll have to try it once my minis arrive. *grumble*

Expect more tacticas in future as I plan to write a detailed Ogre Synergy tactica.

Poly
Out

[GreenDragon]

Not a bad post, just a question though, by Deathstar are you referring to a Destroy all comers, massive points, nasty unit that will either be targeted by long range fire or avoided like the plague???

On a side note, going from your comment, you based in NZ?

[Polymphus]

In a nutshell really. A deathstar usually has at least 6 ogres, usually more in the realms of 12-16 and becomes the target of every single shooter on the board. If it hits, absolutely nothing in the game can withstand it, but any half decent enemy makes sure it never reaches combat. I've tried it and don't recommend it.

And yes. Nelson in fact, although I'm going to be heading away to the Netherlands in about a month's time.

[GreenDragon]

Nice, I spent about a year in Nelson, now living in Wellington.

Back on subject though, I have to admit I've found the use of a ...shall we say mini Deathstar, to be very efficient. The combo I normally go with is 4 IG with standard, upgraded to warbanner, a Tyrant/Bruiser (depending on the size of the game) and a Butcher. Here is the catch, obviously a Butcher is not really in league with the IG when it comes to killing, so I give him the siege breaker. This is normally totally unexpected by most opponents and means the whole front line really packs a punch. The three in the back soak up damage obviously.

This also means the butcher is in the front line of battle, toughening up the unit, and softening up the enemy before you hit it.

I've never regretted this unit combo, although my opponents often have... lol.

Just for reference I use this in conjunction with MSU, so MSU with a single Hammer.

Just me two pennies

Cheers

GD

[Polymphus]

What frontage do you use? A single five-wide rank? I think it'd hit hard, but do you ever have a hard time maneuvering it or getting all models into base contact? I find more than 4 wide to be terribly unwieldy. However I do agree with your approach of a single hammer unit amongst a collection of smaller units. Sometimes circumstances allow two, but one is more usual and I find more economical.

Regarding butchers, if the enemy's shooting isn't too overpowering, I tend to run one about on his own, following closely behind the hammer unit and keeping them buffed. Putting him in the unit increases the frontage too much for me(see above) and I prefer to spend his magic point allocation on more passive items like a skullmantle. I've never taken a combat butcher before, although I always like to try new things. 

I'd like to put forth the idea of using two hammers though, as it significantly cuts down the chance that your hammer won't reach enemy lines. Thus, use the following characters, equipped to your pleasure...

Tyrant
Bruiser
Butcher
Butcher

It'd be an interesting tactic to try. One might also consider combining our two tactics, and putting the butchers in with the hammer units. This has given me a lot to ponder. *ponders*

Poly
Out

[GreenDragon]

Actually, I run them 3 wide, purely for the reason you mentioned, they are for more maneuverable. And you know, once I get a second unit og IG together I just might try that second hammer unit... hmmm....

[techno_crap]

Thanks Poly... that's a good read and food for thought for me since i've been using 3 hammer units with no success at all. I've been using small units as bait (4 units of 3 naked bulls, or even 2 units of 3 Yhetees) but, like you mentioned, they are usually the ones that get charged and, sadly, they become the MVP of some of my game (some stood still versus Manticore and Giant).

Nonetheless, am i doing something wrong by putting a Tyrant in a 4-Ironguts unit ?

[GreenDragon]

I wouldn't say wrong, but I'd really suggest fleshing the unit out to a total of 6 models, in 3 wide formation... either with an extra IG, or else as suggested above, a butcher... be careful using a butcher though, he needs to be kitted out right, and this tactic doesn't work for everyone.

[Polymphus]

A tyrant in a unit of four ironguts isn't bad, but I'd advise you rank them up in a single rank of three with one behind. It'll allow you to get into combat in one piece and help tip outnumber in your favour. Nonetheless I still strongly advise three, as the cost of an extra irongut tends to outweight the benefits.

Poly
Out

[machina]

I don't think a character is needed. There's really not that much difference between a unit of four Ironguts and three Ironguts plus a Tyrant in most situations. It's also easy to field three units of four Ironguts at 2000 points. The advantage there is that while a single hammer unit can be shot into the ground or avoided, three are much harder to deal with. And ideally the Tyrant with Tenderiser can run around alone attacking multiwound models.

[Reg06]

I don't think a character is needed. There's really not that much difference between a unit of four Ironguts and three Ironguts plus a Tyrant in most situations.

Which situations are these? Because the tyrant adds +2 attacks, +1 strength, +3 WS (which means you'll actually be hitting things on 3's, in most situations), and the ability to completely destroy in challenges (and how many units don't take champs?), as well as blow right through multiwound models (how many armies have multiwound units? most). Then there's the extra survivability due to his huge toughness, wounds and save, and the increase in leadership.

[machina]

Most situations being up against most units. I think Ironguts are good enough that they can smash through the majority of units on the charge. A agree Tyrant will help in some situations though, praticularly if there are characters in the unit.

[Bob the Butcher]

Just one comment re bait and Flee tactics.

I tend to line up a couple of bull units for a charge and as you say Flee if Charged or hold and lose.

However I have on occasion charged my Bulls when my opponent miscalculated his charge distances or was being cagey and didn't take the Bait.

On one occasion this resulted in the Bulls Defeating a unit of undead knights in a Frontal Charge which was nice.

Even better a unit of bulls charged A Skink unit which fled as did a 2nd unit of skinks. The bulls followed into the Kroxigores defeating them and chasing the 2 Skink units off the board. Not bad for a 115pt unit of naked bulls.

Just 1 Question if you use the Tyrant in front of a Man Eater tactic, do  missiles hit both models? equally distributed hits?

A Bolth thrower would only hit the front rank however.