Hey everyone. Slowly building my Cold One Cav. from the Battalion Box and I was wondering if you build yours with the Champion, Standard Bearer and Musician, or do you just run them without the command? I know how a lot of people feel about thier actual value in an army, but being new to this, I'll give this unit a go and see what happens. Just not sure whether to use the command or not, or just build them all with the lances. Thanks!
I always take full command on most of my units (not skirmishers as I always forget the extra ballistic skill). Anyway, if I take CoC, there will be a scar-vet (or old blood) in there with them. I take full command because my unit champion will take the challenge in order to allow the hero/lord to dish the real pain out against my opponent. Plus, the magic banner is a nice way to ensure a run down.
This is one unit where full command is almost allways worth it. you are probally going to end up with more models than you will use in a unit anyway so you might as well model the command unit.
I also run mine with a Lord or Hero normally. I field the command group in most of my units too, though I find the magic standard can be helpful. Huanchi's Blessed Totem has been useful for protecting me from misile fire especially with a stand and shoot reaction.
If a character isn't in the unit then I tend to buy another CoR over the champion. If character is built for challenges then no champ, if I don't want character challenged then, and only then champ appears. Will always have muso, generally will have standard and generally a magic standard, varies on battle plan which standard.
There are two ways to play heavy cavalry like these guys. Firstly, take a unit of 5, no command, they are only used as flankers since they are faster than infantry, they will hit flanks very hard, negate ranks, and will work great as support for your main units, but won't do much on their own. Secondly, a large unit to take others from the front. Then you will have command, 7-8 models (6 across with extras to absorb wounds) and possibly even a scar-vet. So it depends on what you want to try to do with them. Since you get 8 in the kit, its pretty much worth adding command either way. Don't forget with I1, you will almost always strike last which will lead to a good amount dieing before attacking since 2 ranks can attack you now.
This. Six is still pretty cheap unit in Lm standards. Musician and standard are always usefull but I cant justify the point cost for champion. It is way too much in my opinion. If field five strong I would drop the standard also.