Chariot army (2000 points) - Hard hitting army (1/0/0)
Theory - Since I was fighting Vampire Counts, I knew I would need something to take out a T5 combat monster. There ain't much in the RH list, so I settled on chariots and a Dragon, this would mean a hero slot too, and as he had to have a mage, I decided that two basic mages would be needed to counter any incoming magic. I picked a big unit of spears, as this would help me not get auto-broken, and should deal to skeletons when deployed 6 wide. Not many points left, so a couple of RBT and some swordmasters and there were no more points... I started deploying both Silver Helms in the centre, and then shifted everything else to the right flank, thereby allowing concentration of my forces, hopefully I could smash one flank and work my way back.
Mat took a Vamp lord on a zombie dragon (4+ward, +1S magic sword), 3 giant bats, a unit of Wight cavalry (10?) + a wraith, zombies (40), skeletons (40) + a necro and another unit of skeletons (30).
Practice - I got first turn which always helps, but the RBT did squat (for most of the game), and I shuffled the rest of my forces forwards with the two SH units and one chariot looking to cover his Wight cavalry. The Prince leaped forwards to entice his bats, and a quick burst of flame saw one dead. The undead was using the test rules, so got to march letting the Wight's motor 14" forwards, his magic had everything going another 8" with that staff that does VHDM - so his Wights moved 22" first turn! Seeing that he failed to charge me, and I wouldn't be able to avoid him both the SH and the chariot charged in doing one whole wound, and his returns made a draw, so not broken, but not the result I wanted. I wheeled the spears to face his zombies, while moving the Swordmasters to the skeletons that the spearmen had originally been aiming at. His next turn he charged his general into the side of the silverhelms, who failed their terror test and fled, the rest got butchered and also fled in HtH, but didn't get caught in the pursuit. I managed to dispel his staff, and no other spells kicked off. Phew! This allowed the spears and one chariot to charge the zombies, killing enough to have only one or two fight back, and killing more with the combat difference. My Prince got to do something, and charged the skeletons with the SM and another chariot, wiping them out for an overrun for the swordmasters. The rest of the game saw his wights chase the fleeing troops off the table, me destroy the zombies, then later the last skeleton block, but my spearmen failed a panic test from the vampire charging them (an 11) got charged down and killed to an elf. Numerous failed shots with the RBT and much manoeuvring between the generals ended with a win to me by points.
Luck factor: Mostly quite average, just the one unfortunate Ld test and some poor hitting and wounding rolls for the RBT.Analysis: Everything worked quite well. The charge into the wights was a risk, and obviously one that won't work. Things to try next time is aiming for the necro first (too much magic otherwise), some way of taking out wights, and the zombie dragon/vampire count thing.
Chariot Army:
Elf Prince +Dragon, Blade of Sea Gold, Armour of Protection, Longbow, Shield
Mage +Dispel Staff
Mage +Dispel magic scrolls x2
Elven Spearmen x30 +standard
Silver Helms x5
Silver Helms x5
Chariots x4
Swordmasters x10
Repeater Bolt Throwers x2
