KoW Infantry or Beasties?

[BAE]

I'm currently buying stuff to make a Salamanders army. Does anyone who has played with the army a few times have any suggestions as to whether it's better to max out on the beasty quota or go heavy on the troops but with fewer beasties? The Salamanders monsters seem really rather expensive (points wise) so I was wondering whether they turn out to be worth it on the field.

 

[Crowsfoot]

have a read of the battle reports posted by @Itepixcauh and @Lord Grok Of Xillaqua

They will give you a good idea of what works well.

 

[Itepixcauh]

Well in my experience, we have some really good monsters. And most of them are really worth the points, of course you have to use them correctly. In my opinion these are our best Monsters:

- Fire Drake: Awesome beast, 16 breath attack is just too good, not the best monster in combat but really good for support.

- Ankylodon: although these monster is a bit overcosted he is still a really good anvil, paired with a Mage-Priest with heal it's almost immortal. Also CS4 grants you to wound everything on a +2, if you manage to engage him against the high defence units of the enemy he will shine.

- Greater Fire Elemental: love this guy, he is making himself a permanent space in my lists, he hits really hard in combat, you can Surge him, not really expensive and on top of that he has a breath attack too. I have a small Surge force that I like to take; a Horde of Fire Elementals, a Greater Fire Elemental and a Mage-Priest with Surge. This works like a charm against flying lists that like to hop behind your line.

- Lekelidon: I love him, his range attack is really good, they are brittle though. Problem is that when I fill my monster slots lately they always end discarded for better combat option. But they are amazing still, just not my first options in low points games.

On the other side of the scale is the poor Komodon, I just can't justify taking one, he is in my opinion not worth the points most of the time, but most importantly not worth the monster slot, and those are very valuable.

 

[Itepixcauh]

Does anyone who has played with the army a few times have any suggestions as to whether it's better to max out on the beasty quota or go heavy on the troops but with fewer beasties?

Well that is a very good question, and it really depends on what play-style you have. I tend to maximise my heros/monsters specially in high points games but that being said I don't use Salamanders in my army, just Ghekkotah, Tyrants, Fire Elementals and monsters.

I can't give you a correct answer here as being honest there isn't one. My suggestion here is that you make two lists one heavy with blocks and another one with more Monsters and heros and give them a try. If you do please share your experience with us.

 

[BAE]

Thank you for both of those responses - they really help! I wasn't expecting a correct answer, mainly because there won't be one; I was just looking for more experienced players' suggestions on what has worked for them and your posts do that brilliantly.

I'm going to have to be a little monster heavy to start with as I'm hoping to keep the troops all Mantic-made for consistency. I've bought the 'Clan of Fire' box with three units of Salamanders and a hero, as well as a number of GW beasties (2 carnosaurs (2 fire drakes), 2 stegs and 1 bastiladon (3 ankylodons)). I'm going to do up the beasties and wait for more Mantic models to be released before adding any riders / crew. This also means I don't have any ghekkotah or fire elementals, although to test them out I may just use empty trays in battles with friends. I'm just getting back into gaming after a 14 year hiatus so I'm starting from scratch and I don't want to instantly bankrupt myself by overbuying, particularly models that I would replace when Mantic release their own!

 

[Crowsfoot]

Thank you for both of those responses - they really help! I wasn't expecting a correct answer, mainly because there won't be one; I was just looking for more experienced players' suggestions on what has worked for them and your posts do that brilliantly.

I'm going to have to be a little monster heavy to start with as I'm hoping to keep the troops all Mantic-made for consistency. I've bought the 'Clan of Fire' box with three units of Salamanders and a hero, as well as a number of GW beasties (2 carnosaurs (2 fire drakes), 2 stegs and 1 bastiladon (3 ankylodons)). I'm going to do up the beasties and wait for more Mantic models to be released before adding any riders / crew. This also means I don't have any ghekkotah or fire elementals, although to test them out I may just use empty trays in battles with friends. I'm just getting back into gaming after a 14 year hiatus so I'm starting from scratch and I don't want to instantly bankrupt myself by overbuying, particularly models that I would replace when Mantic release their own!

You could be waiting a long time before Mantic release more Salamander models but I understand your concern and I am following a similar path with my KOW Dwarf army, only Mantic and AOW models being used.

 

[BAE]

I know it might be some time, but at least I've got some models to keep me going. If my army was entirely empty trays I might reconsider, but as I'll at least have about 3/4 of the units I'm fielding as actual models I'm happy to wait. If there is still nothing on the horizon in 6 months time or so I may park Salamanders until they come out and look at getting either a second KoW army that already has models released, or have a look at other games like Dreadball.

 

[Itepixcauh]

That is actually a very sensible thing to do, and I respect it.

On the other subject, you should try at least for your army the following:

- Ghekkotah Skylord
- Tyrants
- Ancients on Rhinosaurs
- Fire Elementals / Greater Fire Elemental

 

[Padre]

Thank you for both of those responses - they really help! I wasn't expecting a correct answer, mainly because there won't be one; I was just looking for more experienced players' suggestions on what has worked for them and your posts do that brilliantly.

I'm going to have to be a little monster heavy to start with as I'm hoping to keep the troops all Mantic-made for consistency. I've bought the 'Clan of Fire' box with three units of Salamanders and a hero, as well as a number of GW beasties (2 carnosaurs (2 fire drakes), 2 stegs and 1 bastiladon (3 ankylodons)). I'm going to do up the beasties and wait for more Mantic models to be released before adding any riders / crew. This also means I don't have any ghekkotah or fire elementals, although to test them out I may just use empty trays in battles with friends. I'm just getting back into gaming after a 14 year hiatus so I'm starting from scratch and I don't want to instantly bankrupt myself by overbuying, particularly models that I would replace when Mantic release their own!

I have been looking at the Reaper Bones Fire Elementals for mine. They seem fairly high quality for the price.

 

[BAE]

I have been looking at the Reaper Bones Fire Elementals for mine. They seem fairly high quality for the price.

I had seen that model but didn't know where it came from! I would definitely be happy to get a few of them, thank you! I may leave the painting of them until I have a lot more experience under my belt though. They look like an absolutely nightmare to get right.

 

[Crowsfoot]

I have been looking at the Reaper Bones Fire Elementals for mine. They seem fairly high quality for the price.

I've just primed the Earth elemental for my dwarf army and I'm looking at getting some fire elementals

 

[Itepixcauh]

I'm using my Salamanders (the spitty things not the Mantic Salamanders) as my fire Elementals, 3 each Horde with some handlers on the back, works like a charm.