McClure's EVIL DWARFS Blog

[Tom McClure]

It is time! Time to start my next army. I am really psyched, as I have been planning this one for some time. I've got conversion plans and creative use of OOP figs and new components for the signature units. I have locked on to a paint scheme, and I hope to spend the next eight months laboring on conversions and appearance to help me garner appearance soft score points at tournaments. I am aimed at unveiling the army at Waaagh!Paca in January 2012 - hands down, my favorite tourney of the year. Unfortunately, the tourney is only 2000 pts. However, that means I have less figs to get done for the unveiling, and I can add later to build up for the 2200-3000 pt tournies.

And the army will be - DWARFS! What, yes I do already have a dwarf army. However, I have plans for 7 separate dwarf armies. The first one I painted is an above ground ranger expedition with no gunpowder. This one is something I have never seen anyone do, and I have never heard anyone else talk about doing it. I'll be fielding EVIL DWARFS using the regular dwarf army book. I call them "evil" instead of "chaos" for this reason. I will not be using the chaos dwarf rules - at least to start out with. Also, you won't see the typical chaos dwarf hats or beards.

At this time, my 2000 pt list is as follows:

Dwarf Lord, 266 pts (Great Weapon; Shieldbearers)
Runic Weapon +1 to hit GW
- Master Rune of Kragg the Grim
- Rune of Snorri Spangelhelm
Runic Armor re-rollable 1+, no KB
- Rune of Resistance
- Rune of Stone
- Rune of Preservation

Runesmith, 122 pts (Shield)
Runic Talisman
- Master Rune of Challenge
- Rune of Spellbreaking x1

Thane Battle Standard Bearer, 155 pts
Runic Armor re-rollable 1+, no KB
- Master Rune of Gromril
- Rune of Preservation
- Rune of Resistance

15 Thunderers, 250 pts (Musician; Standard Bearer; Veteran with Brace of Pistols, Shields)

20 Longbeards, 275 pts (Musician; Standard Bearer; Shield)
1 Runic Standard (Rune of Determination)

18 Slayers, 216 pts (Musician; Standard Bearer)

19 Hammerers, 291 pts (Musician; Standard Bearer)
1 Runic Standard (Rune of Battle; Rune of Determination)

Cannon, 125 pts (Rune of Burning; Rune of Reloading)
1 Engineer (Brace of Pistols)

Grudge Thrower, 160 pts (Rune of Accuracy; Rune of Penetrating x1; Rune of Reloading)
1 Engineer (Brace of Pistols)

Gyrocopter, 140 pts (Flyer)

Composition Report:

Points of Lords: 266 (0 - 500)
Points of Heroes: 277 (0 - 500)
Points of Core: 525 (500 - Unlimited)
Points of Special: 792 (0 - 1000)
Points of Rare: 140 (0 - 500)

The hammerers, stone thrower, and cannon are for effectiveness. I have to have the slayers, thunderers, and gyrocopter because I have conversion plans for them, and I'm a fan of the gyro. I don't *have* to have the longbeards, but need to keep 500 core. I considered two unit of thunderers, but better to have one of each unit in a "painter's army". Could trade in the hammerers to make the other units larger...we'll see. Reloading and engineers with BoP on the artillery to keep them alive and firing.

[tbro]

Hi Bro McClure,

I started my own army with similar build. I liked the balance and the painting versatility

Now few months later I changed the LB for 24 rangers with GW. Give you so more flexibility for deployement. Most often end up in your zone but you can react to an unforeseen opponent trick.

In my experience thunderers never done much in my games. I would drop either the slayers or the hammerers and choose 30-40 warriors great weapons.

Gyrocopter is great is your opponent allow you to disregard the fact that the army book says partials on 4+. Gyro loves HE and Gobs. Now an organ gun is more efficient and cheaper. It also protect your other machines. I would swap the reloading for Fire or Penetration for the grudge thrower. Engineers are always good +1W and re-roll misfire = win-win, for the canon it is compulsory especially if you wanna have a grape shot that is a bit effective... so so sad you cannot stand and shoot with the canon

Runelord is better than runesmith and a resilient general so if you consider changing keep your slayers (very fluffy, and so good to paint) if not get your general in the hammerers (7*3) and they shall reclaim some grudges Save teh point of R battle for more attack, same results interm of resolution but more body and anyway if you lose they are stubborn. You may consider magic resistance or the 5+ ws against shooting and magic missiles (pity not for direct damage too).

Consider 5 miners to throw at your opponent (manglers, fanatics, light cav, etc..) or deal with machine.

Please let us know how the play-testing go.

Tbro

PS: sorry if you were not looking for opinion on your list

[Tom McClure]

Thanks for the input, Tbro! I certainly do welcome input, especially when its purpose is well explained as yours.

My favorite points for consideration are:

- rangers with GW
- swap the reloading for Fire or Penetration for the grudge thrower
- Runelord is better than runesmith
- Save the points of Rune of battle
- 5 miners

[jormiboced]

Looking forward to seeing these guys.

[emrico]

Get your Rampage task list done first or I'm slappin you around, T-Bag!

[Lord BROaerion]

Evil dwarves - sounds intriguing. I look forward to seeing it!

The wardancer wood elves were pretty sweet!

[Chris M.]

Go with 6 miners. You can get 6 into combat with a warmachine and when you come on your gonna be on the back lines anyway. It makes more sense to me to have the 6.

[jormiboced]

When will we start seeing pics?

[Tom McClure]

I have been trying out my armour paint scheme on ironbreaker models. Domus has been tutoring me on glazing. So far, so good. Working on MW Rampage terrain this week. I expect dwarf pics to start the following week.

I have dropped the hammerers to bulk up other units and afford a runelord and probably miners.

[retroalias]

Miners are a very good idea. Plus I imagine you could do some really cool evil miners!.

Look forward to seeing your super sweet terrain on Friday!

[Tom McClure]

Ack! A month of no physical army progress. I bought more paints and figs, played a 3000 pt game and decimated a weak skaven list, and re-wrote the list a number of times. I'm thinking that everything in the 2000 pt list should have a purpose in every game. I figure I'll consider adding the potentially helpful stuff like gyro, miners, cannon with rune of burning, rangers/longbeards/warriors, and upgrade to runelord in the 2400 pt list.

(I posted the below content on Bugman's Brewery as well to garner more input)

Trying to build the most solid tourney list I can. Starting with 2000pt tourney to be upgraded to 2400pt and 3000pt. Let's face it, grudge throwers can deal the damage. I would love to have a gyro for redirecting and charging fleeing enemy, but I hesitate to spend the points in a 2000pt list. I understand the warrior/GW-heavy builds, but I am painting this army to the best of my ability. So, to start, each troop unit is either OOP figs for uniqueness or converted. I'll start adding the longbeard/warrior units for the larger pt tournies.

Runesmith General, 147 pts (Shield; Ro Spellbreaking; Spelleater Rune)
Thane BSB, 165 pts (MRo Gromril; Ro Resistance; MRo Challenge)
Master Engineer, 89 pts (Great Weapon; Brace of Pistols; Ro Stone)

16 Thunderers, 255 pts (Mus; Std; Shield)
16 Thunderers, 255 pts (Mus; Std; Shield)

25 Slayers, 293 pts (Mus; Std)
22 Hammerers, 336 pts (Full Command, Ro Determination)
Grudge Thrower, 170 pts (Rune of Accuracy; Rune of Penetrating x2; Engineer)
Grudge Thrower, 170 pts (Rune of Penetrating x3; Engineer)

Organ Gun, 120 pts

Plan: focus fire on biggest threats to hammerers and slayers or VP's, minimize unit losses, engage in combats I can win or survive till the end of the game without losing the unit. Usually deploy thunderer units together and strive for maximum close range shots. Position hammerers and slayers to receive enemy charges or make them if possible.

So, the master engineer makes one of the grudge throwers ridiculously hitty. Plus, the grudge throwers will punish anyone who decides not to charge across the board. The hammerers and slayers pretty much have to be killed to the last, and they can take charges from any direction. I personally find the thunderers deal so much more damage than quarrelers. I move them up if the enemy is out of range, and they help whittle down anything that would otherwise grind the hammerers/slayers if left at full strength. Just can't afford a lord or gyrocopter in 2000 pts.

Pretty much gotta have the slayers and at least a unit of thunderers to include planned conversion, but would otherwise like to have an optimized tourney list. Input appreciated! With regards to suggesting list changes, I have plenty of every model imaginable so feel free.