Case Study: Grimbold!

 Last Case Study we dived in to see the Uruk-hai captain, now we're exploring what I personally think is a big mistake by Games Workshop - Grimbold!😖

this is the GW helmet...

 

OK, so I recently converted a mounted Grimbold to go in my all-mounted Rohan, and I chose the sculpt that looks closest to what he looks like (you can also use a Royal Guard, but they don't have axes).

That's more like it!

In my custom rules, Grimbold can take a horse and throwing spears (like he does in the movies) and is included in the Riders Of Theoden (because HE WAS THERE!...  how did Games Workshop not see that?)

Where are the Riders from Grimslade?

He's pretty good with nothing on, but to take him in The Riders Of Theoden, he has to come mounted (and since he appears to be a member of the Royal Guard, he can take throwing spears for range.

And that is where the spear went!

Okay, I've covered  my conversion, let's move on to the Case Study, shall we?

While Grimbold doesn't need a horse, that 4+ hit on the mount instead of yourself is pretty good, and with HORSE LORD like all Heroes of Rohan there's a 50% chance that  the horse lives!

DEEAAATTTHHH!!!!

Also, unlike Erkenbrand, you can upgrade ANY NUMBER of Warriors of Rohan to Helmingas, it doesn't apply only to his warband, which means that your whole Rohan contingent could be Strength 4 Helmingas!

Grimbold can also take throwing spears, which are very valuable, since Rohan is one of the few armies that can take an everybody can shoot force.

Grimbold fully kitted out.

so there you have it, Grimbold really should take all of his options, so have fun gaming!

The Rohan General😏

Case Study: Uruk-hai Captain!

 Last post, I displayed my Theoden conversion and started a new series on hero upgrades called Case Studies.

Ah, the subject of my first conversion...

Yeeeaaahh, so we're doing an Uruk-hai Captain today (should be fun, just remember he's 60 points, and you can take more than one of him, WITH a very solid combat profile)

Do you run him like this?...

Uruk-hai Captains can take crossbows, but are probably only needed unless you want heavy-armored archers.

Uruk-hai Captain can take two-handed weapons, and if you're okay with D6, this is a great option to take (1+ to wound at strength 5 HURTS, A LOT).

or this?...

Uruk-hai Captains can also take shields, as I said in my last post, ALWAYS, ALWAYS TAKE IT.

Or maybe this?

It's always worth it.

Try running him in The Assault on Helm's Deep Legendary Legion (which is the only way you can get him)

The Uruk-hai Leader is a perfect leader for Isengard, with 3 Attacks, 3 Wounds, and can lead 18 troops into battle.

anyway, that sums up Case Studies for today, so have fun gaming, The Rohan General😀

Case Study : Theoden!

 In this post we interrupt the battle reports and start a new series on heroes. 

So I had nothing to do this afternoon and decided to take a shield from a Rider of Rohan (he didn't really need it, I might convert it into a mounted Grimbold) and give it to Theoden, the shield is fixed in place with normal plasticine clay (in fact, from the Dollar Tree) so that if I ever run low on points, I can take it off.

the shield (see the plasticine?)

That got me thinking, and thus the Case Study series, all about finding out which upgrades a hero/warrior should always take, and which upgrades you could take, but are probably just eating your points, was born! 

So Theoden can take heavy armor. I think you should always take this as well as the shield (plus, there's no model for Theoden without any additional upgrades (unless you proxy him, Ranger Faramir with bow sawn off and head swap is a good choice)). It takes you from being wounded on 6s and 5s* to 6/4s and 6s*! Much more reliable.

ALWAYS. TAKE. THE. SHIELD. (and armor)

*Against strength 3 and 4 models and archery (which is most of them).

Theoden can also take a horse and armored horse. With only 1 Fate to try and save the horse, always, always take the armored horse. You won't see the change with strength 3 models and archery, but it always gets better roll to wound with models that have a Strength value that is an even number (always, trust me, I fight Uruk-hai a lot).

I don't have the mounted Theoden, so imagine he's mounted, okay?

So that just about wraps this Case Study for today, so as always, have fun gaming!

 - the Rohan General