For a long time now, I've been searching for simple explanations of basic tactics in Warhammer. There are many comments that indicate that someone used something, but there is no real central depository for tactics. I would love to make this here. It also got me thinking: Are there any real world tactics that could be used in Warhammer? Have YOU used any of them? Do you have any tactics which you have tried? Please share and discuss! Let's pool our collective general knowledge (pardon the pun) LoR
I seem to remember reading a relatively thorough guide to basic tactics, terminology and tricks when I first got in to the hobby but I think it was on the chamber of the everchosen and possibly was written for 7th. There were some good diagrams and a lot of the tactics held up to 8th edition with minor tweaks and changes in accordance with the new rules. I.e. prolonged combats and charges not being so powerful. It was very well written, and it might have been saved by the eefl forum. I can try to find it. That being said I think an updated 8th version would be an awesome thing to put together but may be a large amount of time and effort. Can you elaborate on what you mean by this?
I'd love to see that tactica! By real world tactics, I guess I'm referring to things like hammer and anvil... to be honest I can't think of any others off the top of my head. I guess I'm just trying to broaden my own horizons in terms of tactics. Right now, I mostly concentrate on A) what are my army's strengths and how can I capitalize on that, B) what are my enemy's weaknesses and how can I capitalize on that, C) what I think my opponent will bring and what counters I need, D) how I think my opponent will play and how I can use that and E) based on all the above, what strategy am I going to use. It's a bit hard to strategize ambushes (unless you roll that scenario) as a straight up Battleline scenario makes this impossible. Or hit and run attacks to wear down a larger army before you engage (as WHFB are obviously based on equal points). Or luring an army into terrain that will suit you and not them. I'd love to know anyone else's ideas of how these (or similar ideas) COULD be used in a WHFB setting. - One tactic which I have used and think is a good one is to get a fast but cheap unit close to the enemy battle line, draw them out of line either by sacrificing it or fleeing and then counter charging with enough units to try to break it in combat that turn, thereby opening up a whole in the enemy battle. I actually used this successfully in my last battle (almost one year ago, thanks to the f********g pandemic) against O&Gs. Managed to draw out a Black Orc unit with his general using some Skinks, counter-charged with both temple guard+Kroak and an ancient Steg and wiped out the unit. It basically won me the game.
I think a good tactica would focus on a few things. #1 Deployment Strategies: Things like; Refused flank Strong center Pincers Castles And then how to accomplish the deployment you want. I.e. reacting to your opponent, having more chaff drops than your opponent, waiting to deploy your good units until after your opponent, Making sure your top tier is lined up against a valued target that is worth the points. #2 Battle Strategies: This is where things like hammer and anvil Rolling up a flank Bait and flee Horde strategy MSU strategy Etc Would be explained. #3 basic tips and tricks This would be where we could explain things like how to whittle down an army, how to know who is the aggressor, how to use chaff effectively, how to know what units should fight what, and how to counteract your opponent. #4 warhammer specific tips and tricks This last section would be about things that work particularly in a warhammer battle; for example everyone talks about using a double flee move but what is that specifically. We could focus that type of thing here. Thats just my 2 cents on what could be encompassed in a tactica. Also I found that tactica I was referencing and it is a good read, very well written and informative. I'll link it here and maybe that will solve the need for a tactica post on lustria unless we were interested in updating it for 8th edition. https://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Warhammer_Fantasy_Tactica_1:_Army_Strategies
One classic I can think of is the use of a bottleneck (battle of Stirling, battle of Thermopylae). This works especially well against an opposing horde army when you are fielding a much smaller elite army. Good terrain placement and deployment are keys to successfully implementing this.
The problem with trying to implement some Real world tactics in Warhammer is that WFB specifically disallows them. 1st Example Massed Archery
Um... Yes? Such a shame there wasn't a proper Norsca army for 8th... Conan would have HAD to be one of the special characters.
Interesting! A) What is this tactic exactly? B) Usually archers are Core choices for an army that has them, how could you not do this?
Exactly my thought. If you really wanted to, you could do this with any army (obviously without that buff on BS and Poisoned attacks). Bit scary thought for something like Dark Elves with the repeater crossbows and repeater bolt throwers.
Not sure if you would count this as a "tactic", but in real life, routing forces were often rundown with fast/light cavalry. A force that broke formation and was fleeing from the battle was often very easily cut down by quick moving mounted cavalrymen. The same is represented in Warhammer where you can use quick units to successfully charge fleeing units and instantly wiping them out. A classic example is a single eagle charging down and destroying an entire fleeing unit.
Another is using a planned flee to pull units out of the battle line, which can be done in Warhammer and used very effectively by the French in the battle of 1066.
Did you ever see the movie Braveheart? Clouds of arrows raining down. Ranks of archers behind firing up and over ranks in front with no difficulty. It is a thing real archers can do.
It's a giant horde of Skeleton Archers joined by the Tomb Kings special character Khalida. When she joins the unit, their shooting attacks gain the Poisoned Attacks special rule and they get to use her Ballistic Skill.