Squig Herds, hmm...

I'll agree that 15 squigs and 10 herders is useful for supporting bigger blocks. I've seen it used to great effect.

Theo

Itchy Nuisance is a great benefit to the unit, also try not to face them up against anything that'll put much of a dent them luvly squigglies

They have M4 and Animosity - chances are what they'll be facing won't be entirely up to you. I'd say a supporting Herd of 15/10 (or 18/12 if going 6-wide), or a big ol' Horde of 30+/10+ is the way to go for the Squigs, and I personally lean toward the former.

Animosity? ah crap I been playin em wrong

This post has been edited by Malleus on Aug 22 2012, 04:37 PM

Yep, that's the real killer, in my opinion. I've had a Squig unit launch itself headfirst into a Guthorde a couple of times. They usually take massive casualties from the characters, pop one Irongut on the return attacks, then pop again (through either getting completely wiped or Squigs Go Wild!). Rather amusing, if only because the SOBU's don't actually need help to take on the Guthorde so it's not a crippling loss.

Yup, the squigherd is a great thing to toss at a guthorde. It does massive damage and then if it isn't enough it explodes and makes way for the next horde to take it on

The last thing you want with a layered attack is for the first wave to flee and block the second wave from charging.


I've never gone for a small flanking force or throw away unit of squigs, mainly because the fewer the handlers the better the chance it will explode among my own lines. If on the flanks this can cause panic checks (units destroyed) on other units outside of the general's range.

You'll note the units I suggested actually have quite a few Handlers (the units are 40% Night Gobbos), and it's exactly for that reason.

I’ve been thinking about how to base a list around 2 large squig hordes. The conclusion I came to was that the only way to make it work was to try to put other things in the list that draw fire and stop them getting shot to pieces before they get into combat. To that end I’ve put a list on the army list section of the website that has got 60 squigs and 3 monsters and would value your opinions on whether this list would work or more generally whether a list based around squigs could be competitive.

A list based around squigs is competitive, but from your comment I'm wondering how much shooting you are facing.

Personally I find 40 is a good number fo squigs for a single horde unit, but the real issue here is that their weakness is shooting (much like other units like bloodletters).

You can reduce it by having warmachine hunters or running a screen, but why pay 3 points per model for a screen of night goblins when you could just take more handlers?

In the end I don't think monsters is the right answer. Light shooting will be aimed at the squigs and heavy fire will be aimed at the monsters. The two working together will help each other out (unless you face wood elves and simply get tabled) but overall I would look to put stress on the enemy ranged units through fast units rather than monsters.

Bear with me on this, it's a silly tactic I'm tempted to use one day. I'll first draw the diagram of the unit then I shall explain what the idea is. S = Squig, H+ herder. The front facing of the unit is at the top:

H H H H H H H H H H

H S S S S S S S S H

H S S S S S S S S H

H S S S S S S S S H

H S S S S S S S S H

H S S S S S S S S H

H S S S S S S S S H

H S S S S S S S S H

H H H H H H H H H H

H H H H H H H H H H

So 44 herders and 56 squigs. Horde formation. So when the unit hits the opponent they can only kill herders as they won't be in b2b with squigs. However the squigs will always get a minimum of 2 ranks of attacks (possibly 3 if the opponent kills enough herders). The herders to the flank are to protect squigs from flank charges and as such could be changed to squigs instead. Expensive, filthy and wrong but should be a giggle

I have seen this is use, and there is nothing in the rules that prohibits it. Some see it as clever and others as "beardy" or "non-fluffy".

(I guess you could explain it with Herders being chased by Squigs, being herded by Herders)

Personally, I prefer Squigs in front. I think it look cooler with all the teeth in front, and thats that.

I would rather take losses and have 40 squig attacks than play it safe and only get 16.

Agreed. Plus, it only matters depending on who you are fighting. If the enemy you are fighting has a lower Init, you don't want to do that. If you think you might get Itchy Nuisance off than you don't want to do it.

I could see a kind of big unit of Squigs and a smaller support unit of Squigs, too. I could see a smaller support unit of Squigs also be good. I've used it a few times, but there have been times when it doesn't play much part in the battle due to crowding. If you have numerous infantry units and a defensive opponent, it can be hard to get all your combat units into combat.

What he said. 40 WS4 S5 attacks will win you a LOT more fights than 16.