GW WotR Unit Cost Controversy

It seems like there are a lot of conversations about GW's War of the Ring's stat lines for characters. One of the biggest conversations has been about how the profiles are unbalanced and this causes playability issues for the game, since there are companies that are severely underpriced and others that are dramatically overpriced given the provided stat lines and point values.

As for overpriced formations/models, it seems like the set that causes major discussions usually include:

• Shelob
• Spider Queen
• Glorfindel, Lord of the West
• Castellans of Dol Guldur
• Mordor Troll Drummer
• Riders of the Dead
• Warriors of the Dead
• Court of the Dead
• Warden of the Keys
• Guards of the Galadhrim Court
• Guardians of Caras Galadhon
• Morgul Stalker Warband
• High Elf Archer Regiment

As such, these formations are rarely played in games and don't get to see their special rules come into full fruition for impacting the game strategy.

Conversely, as for underpriced formation/models, it seems like the set includes:

• The Council of Wizardry
• The White Council
• The Three Hunters
• Ents
• Eagles
• Winged Nazgul
• The Fellowship
• The Grey Company
• Gildor's Household
• Moria Prowler Warband.

As such, these formation are often employed in games and get more than their fair share of time on the field.

Taking the list of 26 formations that are solely available to Gondor & Arnor it looks like the most underpriced to most overpriced formations go in the following order:

** SOMEWHAT UNDERPRICED (about 27%) **

• The Grey Company
• Minas Tirith Warriors
• Warriors of Arnor
• Axemen of Lossarnach
• Numenorean Warriors
• Osgiliath Veterans
• Blackroot Vale Archers

** ADEQUETELY PRICED (about 15%)**

• Clansmen of Lamedon
• Rangers of Ithilien
• Royal Guard of Arnor
• Minas Tirith Knights

** SOMEWHAT OVERPRICED (about 43%) **

• Rangers of Gondor
• Minas Tirith Archers
• Rangers of Arnor
• Citadel Guard
• Men-at-Arms of Dol Amroth
• Foot Knights of Dol Amroth
• Guards of the Fountain Court
• Denethor's Guard
• Dunedain of Arnor
• Numenorean Archers
• Knights of Dol Amroth

** DRASTICALLY OVERPRICED (about 15%) **

• Warriors of the Dead
• Court of the Dead
• Warden of the Keys
• Riders of the Dead

This would imply that building an army for Gondor & Arnor, a simple strategy for number of boots on the ground would be to build from the set of formations that are mostly underpriced and avoid those that are overpriced or not feasible for the cost. Following this strategy, the player will only ever play with about a quarter to half of all the units available to the Gondor & Arnor faction. Likewise, I would almost never expect to see an army comprised solely of the Undead or and army comprised solely of Dol Amroth. By doing so, the player would be putting themselves in a losing situation - ultimately leading to frustration (since they wouldn't ever win) and eventually quitting the game - not to mention that those models are already the more expensive money-wise as well.

For example:

1000 Point Gondor & Arnor Army #1 - Using Underpriced Models:

Formation #1: Minas Tirith Warriors with 6 Companies
Formation #2: Minas Tirith Warriors with 6 Companies
Formation #3: Minas Tirith Warriors with 6 Companies
Formation #4: Minas Tirith Warriors with 5 Companies
Formation #5: Axemen of Lossarnach with 6 Companies
Formation #6: The Grey Company with 6 Companies

Total Cost: 1000 Points
Number of Heroes: 1
Total Might: 3
Total Model Count: 280
Average Defense: 6.3
Special Rules:

• Shields (+2 bonus to defense from front for Formations #1, 2, 3, & 4)
• Set to Receive! (+1 bonus to hit or +1 bonus to fight/cancel opponent charge bonus for Formation #5)
• Pathfinders - Master (Ignore all difficult terrain penalties for Formation #6)
• Stalwart (Not driven back by shooting attacks for Formation #6)
• Indomitable (Fight until ALL models are removed for Formation #6)
• Valour of Forgotten Arnor (Strike at the same time as cavalry for Formation #6)

PROs:

• Very defensive with offensive capabilities
• Large blocks and large model count that requires the opponent to chop through
• Ballistic capabilities with Longbows
• Calvary-like capabilities

CONs:

• Not much variety in the play style
• Slow moving formations
• Not many heroes

1000 Point Gondor & Arnor Army #2 - Using Overpriced Models:

Formation #1: Warriors of the Dead with 6 Companies
Formation #2: Riders of the Dead with 5 Companies
Formation #3: Court of the Dead with 6 Companies

Total Cost: 955 Points
Number of Heroes: 1
Total Might: 2
Total Model Count: 136
Average Defense: 5
Special Rules:

• Spirit Grasp (Attack against courage vs defense for all Formations)
• Spirit Walk (Ignore all terrain penalties for all Formations)
• Terror (Opponent requires courage test for all Formations)
• We Stand Alone (No Epic Heroes can join for all Formations)
• Shadowstride (50% chance of a free Heroic Move for Formation #3)

PROs:

• Good against low courage armies (terror & spirit grasp)
• No required terrain navigation
• One formation could move relatively quickly
• Calvary-like capabilities

CONs:

• Very few models - so going to get destroyed quickly
• Low defense
• Mostly slow moving formations
• No ballistic capabilities
• Not many heroes and others can't join

The variation between the two armies above is almost funny ... Like I said, who would ever field an army comprised entirely of Undead? I guess at least it would look cool ...








LINKS TO OTHER RANDOM POSTS

1. GW WotR Unit Cost Controversy
2. What About Banners and Hornblowers in Profiles?
3. Legendary Formations and Their Point Costs
4. The "About Face!" Errata - More Game Changing than Expected
5. What Would a WotR Blog be without a Discussion of Epic Strike?!?
6. Blog Introduction
7. WotR Army Roster Sheet - Available for Download 
8. WotR Army Roster Example 1000 Point Gondor Army
9. Ideas for iPad Simulator of WotR