AoS Balancing small point games

[Canas]

How do you guys balance small point games?

The issue I keep running into with small point games is that it's far too easy to get a one-sided game as a few models can easily end up dominating as the opponent doen't have any reliable counters for them available with so few models.

Do you have any tricks to Ensure that such small games stay interesting?

 

[pendrake]

200Pt, 450Pt, 700Pt, 800Pt...?

Values below 1000? Some sample lists might assist contemplations...

Look up “Lunchhammer” for concepts.

 

[Crowsfoot]

You could try this for games under 1000pts no Behemoths and only 2 Heros per side.

 

[pendrake]

Small Point Value Games :: Contemplations

[Draft]
No Named or Unique Characters are allowed.

The Rules of Two
There can never be two Monsters or two Warmachines of the same type.

Two is the maximum number of Heroes.***

The Rule of Thirds
Units: no unit is allowed to be more than one third of the force total points value.

The Rule of Fourths
Characters: no character (hero) is allowed to be more than one fourth of the force total points value.


***(Or character, Credit: @Crowsfoot )

 

[Canas]

200Pt, 450Pt, 700Pt, 800Pt...?

Values below 1000? Some sample lists might assist contemplations...

Look up “Lunchhammer” for concepts.

500-1000, basicly the armies that come in boxes with 2 armies, like the starter box or blightwar or the spire of dawn. The armies included in that are all in that range.

You could try this for games under 1000pts no Behemoths and only 2 Heros per side.

Behemoths does rather screw with our damage though seeing as those tend to be our hard-Hitters. If the opponent brings something with a good save we'l barely manage to scratch anything with most of our options which is what I'm trying to avoid. For example when I used a bloodclaw starhost against the stormforged in the AoS starter box I barely managed to kill anything cuz I just couldn't get passed their saves and my saurus fell like damn flies (not to mention the fact that their army is immune to battleshock...).

The limit on heroes I could get behind though.

Small Point Value Games :: Contemplations

[Draft]
No Named or Unique Characters are allowed.

The Rules of Two
There can never be two Monsters or two Warmachines of the same type.

Two is the maximum number of Heroes.***

The Rule of Thirds
Units: no unit is allowed to be more than one third of the force total points value.

The Rule of Fourths
Characters: no character is allowed to be more than one fourth of the force total points value.


***Credit: @Crowsfoot

What are characters in this case given that you're using unique characters, heroes and characters at seperate points I'm unclear which is which.

Seems reasonable.

 

[pendrake]

What are characters in this case given that you're using unique characters, heroes and characters at seperate points I'm unclear which is which.

Lord Kroak or the Great Unclean One or King Louey ...those are right out.

Generic characters = nameless heroes. Interchangeable terms. (Unless @Crowsfoot meant something different by heroes.)

 

[Crowsfoot]

Lord Kroak or the Great Unclean One or King Louey ...those are right out.

Generic characters = nameless heroes. Interchangeable terms. (Unless @Crowsfoot meant something different by heroes.)

Any warscroll with the "Hero" keyword, yes it's limiting but that's sort of what you want?

 

[Canas]

Any warscroll with the "Hero" keyword, yes it's limiting but that's sort of what you want?

I think for named characters I wouldn't put the limit like that. There's several relativly weak named characters, like that stormforged leader in the blightwar box that should be fine in these kind of games. I think the rule of thirds should already cover the stupidly powerfull amongst them.

And yes, I want it to be limited. But I also want it to be possible to still field a somewhat coherent army. Limiting it too much will end up with stuff like an eternal starhost being nigh unstoppable cuz your enemy can't ever field enough rend or mortal wounds to deal with it.

 

[pendrake]

Perhaps some rule about battalions, starhosts, and what not is needed? Ideas to ponder:

• No battalions can be taken
• Or some battalions can be taken
• Or battalions allow their component units to be half-size/half-points

I sense there is a: Rule Of Halves in that last idea. (Pint size cost battalions...)

 

[pendrake]

I think the rule of thirds should already cover the stupidly powerfull amongst them.

The Rule Of Fourths is the one aimed at characters. Thirds was for units.

Are you thinking Fourths was too restrictive on characters or leaders? I could be convinced... ...any examples?

 

[Canas]

The Rule Of Fourths is the one aimed at characters. Thirds was for units.

Are you thinking Fourths was too restrictive on characters or leaders? I could be convinced... ...any examples?

No I thought the rule:

"No Named or Unique Characters are allowed."
Is too restrictive. Nagash or Alarielle are probably too powerfull in a small game, but for exampe Neave Blacktalon, Gutrot spume or Festus the Leechlord probably shouldn't be too overpowered for this. Though as a general rule it's probably right.

The maximum of 2 heroes might also be a tad restrictive depending on the faction we're looking at. For example you could probably bring as many unmounted seraphon heroes as you'd want without it becoming overwhelming to deal with whereas bringing a handfull of Lord celestants on foot would already result in a problematic mortal wound spam. Though I suppose it's good enough as a rule of thumb.