Mounted Archers

[CrankyDragon]

Me and my brother were discussing mounted archers and what benefits do they really bring to the field.
As we understand it the purpose to shooting is basically one of disruption, trying to confuse the enemy and break up formations.
So for example why should I put Reavers in my High Elf army instead of something more substantial like Silver Helms or Chariots.
We thought about frontage, you can get more shots in a smaller frontage but that seemed like a small thing to us.
We discussed the mobility factor, but if your cavalry ends up shooting instead of charging that probably means you failed a command order.

Any insight?

[Stormwind]

The threat of 3 shots hitting on 3s as you charge the unit can give pause of thought.  I guess it depends if you're facing an infantry heavy army or one that is equal at maneavouring.

[Aldhick]

Disrupting enemy formations is crucial in Warmaster.

[Stormwind]

Reavers are at 30cm range, but if you are using goblin wolf riders or Steppe Archers, they only shoot at 15cm range, which means you need to get off an extra order to put them at the side of an enemy unit to try and disrupt them.

It can be a big of a gamble!

[mlkr]

I have never played it but I think that Warmaster Ancients addition of skirmishers looks interesting and opens up for more variation in army composition and tactics.

What do you guys think?

[Stormwind]

Dang, that would be a big game changer!

I think that in the early Wood Elf fan lists that was the kind of thing that was suggested.

[CrankyDragon]

So besides the obvious points of mobility and smaller frontage is there any other reason to use a mounted shooter?
Especially the ones with shorter range or only a 6 armor.
Is there a tactic or strategy that we're missing?
With their inability to use terrain to their advantage they seem more limited than shooters on foot.

[mlkr]

I think that with High Elves great range & command you can easily run say 2 units of reavers up on somebodys flank or rear. Using shooting to disrupt and positioning to give -1 to command will cause problems. Utilized at the right moment this would be a serious problem for most opponents.

In the case of goblin wolfriders with both short range and low command this is not a as viable tactic. Sometimes though.

I have started to use them to counter those pesky fliers since OnG's doesnt have any of their own. Keeping them back defending the army's rear and rocklobbas early game. Mid game they can pretty fast be brought forward to charge something. Dont underestimate  a charge with the WAAAAGH-spell thrown in for extra Omph!

Edit: but as always when it comes to OnG's they might also just stand in the deployment zone doing nothing the whole game :/

[Aldhick]

Don't forget that units with 360° shooting arc can also use this "visual" arc to evade.

[Aquahog]

The rules in WMA were subject to errata due to a combination of skirmishers being too hard to catch and armies full of them if I recall correctly. Implementing them in Warmaster Fantasy would indeed be a game changer and require lots of playtesting I imagine.

[mlkr]

Wonder how the french does it. Don't they use some kind of variation on WMA for WMF?

[CrankyDragon]

Does 360 shooting mean 360 sight?
The army special rules only mention being able to shoot from any edge.
That would be a big deal if it also counted toward sight.

[Jo]

Wonder how the french does it. Don't they use some kind of variation on WMA for WMF?

In the french rules they don't use the skirmishers. It's one of the things they dropped from the WMA ruleset.

[Aldhick]

Does 360 shooting mean 360 sight?
The army special rules only mention being able to shoot from any edge.
That would be a big deal if it also counted toward sight.

No, it's just for purpose of shooting and evading. It's in errata.

Some unit’s can see all round – they have 360 degree
vision – and you will find this indicated in the unit’s
description (for example, Wolf Riders in the Orc
army). This simply means a line of sight can be
drawn from any free edge of any stand in the unit
to any stand of another unit. This can potentially
enable such a unit to use its initiative to evade from
an enemy positioned to its side or rear. However,
note that even a unit that can see all round cannot
use its initiative to charge an enemy unless a line of
sight can be drawn from a stand’s front edge.

[mdivancic]

In the french rules they don't use the skirmishers. It's one of the things they dropped from the WMA ruleset.

Well they are wrong.  The update in the second WMA book fixed any problems with skirmishes. WMA is the best of the Warmaster rule series IMHO. Your mileage may vary of course.

Mike