The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game/Tactics/The Easterlings
Why Play The Easterlings?
Because you like samurai and Persia being combined, because you like the greek phalanx being thrown in there and because you really wished that the warriors of minas tirith would turn evil.
Pros:
- Most disciplined force on the side of Mordor with the best pikemen in the game
- You get the only Ringwraith to still have his own name, and other esoteric heroes capable of surprising feats
- Very good heavy cavalry (just not very hard hitting but very survivable with a potential D7)
Cons:
- High points cost (for evil forces) means that every casualty is more painful than with orcs, life isn’t cheap here
- Limited warrior options, you aren’t exactly spoiled for choice for your foot soldiers.
BY THE WAY FUCK GW WEAPON DISTRIBUTION FOR THE INFANTRY IN THE BOXES. THIS ARMY NEEDS AND RELIES ON PIKES SO, NATURALLY, YOU GET 4 IN A BOX OF 20 TROOPS (8 SWORDSMAN AND 8 ARCHERS NEVER USE THESE GUYS WTF?) SHOULD HAVE BEEN 8 PIKES AT LEAST AND 4 ARCHERS OR NO ARCHERS. OR A BOX OF 24 AS MINAS TIRITH DUDES HAVE.
- Troops with lame killing power, sorry, all heavy lifting goes to the heroes in the list.
Army Bonus
No Quarter Was Asked...: When the army is broken easterlings models all get +1 to their courage. In games where a dice roll decides when a game ends you may choose for the result to be re-rolled if the game ends before you want it to. This can only be done once and only if you have at least one Easterling hero alive on the field.
Unit Analysis
Heroes
- Khamul the Easterling: Second of the Nine, Khamul is a combat oriented Ringwraith. Causes terror and has to spend 1 will per combat turn as per the others, but recovers one will for every unsaved wound he causes. Can also spend 1 will to increase his fight, strength or attacks for a fight. His spellcasting is actually pretty poor compared to the other wraiths, but he has a comparatively low point cost of 120 points for his abilities. Needs to be used aggressively, but can be very effective in the centre of a battle with the correct support.
- Amdur, Lord of Blades: 130 points for an elven blade wielding captain with fight 6 (one of only 5 Humans in the game with Fight 6) that can avoid being knockeded down on a 4+, regains might with every good hero he kills and is treated as a banner? His banner also increases range if he kills the enemy Leader.He also has access to the "gleaming horde" which allows for him to have shield wall on Cav and makes him that much harder to snipe his horse. VERY expensive but well worth the points, Amdur would make a good choice to be at the centre of any Easterling phalanx or in a flaking force
- Easterling Captain: The guy you go to when you can’t afford Amdur. For 50 points hes okay, and has more options than anyone else in the army. Use as a support to, or a budget replacement for the Lord of Blades himself. Also gains the Gleaming hoard special rule when mounted giving him a defence of 8 when in base contact with 2 other mounted models from easterling.
- Easterling Dragon Knight: An unusual choice, has three attacks to the Captain’s 2, but trades in his will and fate point. Also possesses the ability to regenerate might and avoid being knocked down, also has the option of shielding with his blades. Okay for 65 points, but does not synergise with the rest of the army terribly well, even including his status as an Minor hero, only allowing 6 in his warband and have to be upgraded to black Dragon .
- Easterling War Priest: The Easterling equivalent of an Orc Shaman, the War priest is well worth the 60 points charged for him. His spear means he can hide out in the centre of a phalanx of pikes and still reach everyone in 14cm with ‘Fury’. Can also cast ‘bladewrath’ to increase his own attacks to strength 6, but you really shouldn’t be getting him in combat, his best role is as a support to others.
- The war priest's 'Bladewrath' does have great synergy with the Dragon Knight. While a bit of a hail Mary, a channeled bladewrath used on a charging Dragon Knight gives it four S10 attacks on a cavalry or a monster, and a whopping eight S10 attacks on a knocked down infantry hero. The only problem is with the Dragon Knights F5, but apparently most people just tend to use Fury on their war priests and as such an unsuspecting opponent will rarely expect the charge of doom. Combine with a heroic strike from the Dragon Knight for extra extra killing power.
Troops
- Easterling Warriors: Highly effective foot troops with options for bows, shields and pikes. Can wield both a pike and a shield without losing the +1 defence and their heavy armour lends them a survivability unparalleled amongst the servants of Sauron for their points cost. Line them up in a phalanx and march them towards the enemy while even elven bows will struggle to make an impression on your heavily armoured troops. Upgrading to Black Dragons is okay, but raised the points to 9 per model before upgrades, meaning you get even fewer. In a Phalanx bring a back row of Black dragon's with pikes as the F4 will effect the whole combat it will save your ass against elites from other factions . The 1 +courage with the army bonuses mixed in with Black Dragon courage 4 will make them courage 5 which can be really helpful in the end game and should be looked at for just this reason and is really a hidden gem.
Cavalry
- Easterling Kataphracts: The hammer of the Easterling army, can be used to hunt down characters, bowmen or can pin your opponents infantry against the infantry phalanx. Not as good as Morgul knights (the best cavalry available to evil) but actually quite close, and far cheaper. Funnily enough, they get Shieldwall despite being mounted, whilst your infantry phalanxes don’t - it is an odd rule, but use it to your advantage; these guys play best as a tightly packed, hard-hitting wedge to drive through the heart of the enemy lines. Incidentally, Shieldwall also makes them among the toughest cavalry in the game - defence 7 for the riders and 6 for their horses. Don’t bother with the Easterling war drum, as if you’re using the kataphracts correctly not much of your infantry will be in range to benefit from it.NO NO NO they have no idea how to play. GET A WAR DRUM having cheap spammable war drum is great. This will allow you to get your cav in postion much faster with MV:15 and if your playing infantry heavy, have it in the back lines making your basic infantry be MV:9 which allows you to close in faster against your enemies.
Allies
Historical Allies
Variags of Khand Get them for the strength 4 axe's they are sorely needed. Having access to chariots are also a great boon in your army. Get at least 1 chieftain on chariot in any Easterling list they will smash through anything lower then D7
Mordor They pretty much do everything Easterlings Can't. Get Khamul as he is a leader of valour get some Morranon orcs and a troll and watch as people cry as your enemy breaks on your pike wall and dies on the swords. Getting another ringwraith and having a him lead 5 Black guard and 5 morransans will allow you break through even the toughest dwarf shield wall.
Convenient Allies
The Serpent Horde
Far Harad
Corsairs of Umbar
Isengard
Moria
Impossible Allies
Angmar
Sharkey's Rogues
The Nazgul of Dol Guldur
Azog's Hunters
Azog's Legion
Goblin Town
The Trolls
Smaug