War of the Ring v2 Project: The Misty Mountains (Moria) Unit Cost Analysis

The Misty Mountains ... (aka Moria) ... swarms and swarms of goblins and gargantuan monsters. It is an army that requires a lot of real world money - because who wants to field a formation of 3 companies? No one, of course - we want to go for the full 9 companies per formation!

Also, Moria is the only army that has access to the "Extremely Hard to Kill!" monsters. That alone makes it an even more appealing army; and as we see from the previous post, with 11-12 rounds to kill an NEH2K monster makes it a very fun model to field!

MORIA WARRIORS

Keys:

[I] = Infantry, [H] = Cavalry, [A] = Artillery, [M] = Monster, [MH] = Monster Hero

(R) [I] Gundabad Blackshields - Underpriced by 50%
(C) [I] Moria Prowler Warband - Underpriced by 33%
(C) [I] Moria Goblin Warband - Underpriced by 25%
(R) [M] Spider Queen - Accurately Priced (0% deviation)
(R) [M] Cave Troll - Overpriced by 7%
(C) [H] Giant Spider Brood - Overpriced by 17%
(C) [H] Cloud of Bats - Overpriced by 17%
(R) [M] Cave Drake - Overpriced by 23%
(C) [H] Warg Pack - Overpriced by 33%
(R) [MH] Spellcaster Dragon of Ancient Times - Overpriced by 51%
(R) [MH] The Balrog of Morgoth - Overpriced by 59%
(R) [MH] Dragon of Ancient Times - Overpriced by 63%
(R) [M] Stone Giant - Overpriced by 67%
(R) [H] Spider Broodling Swarm - Overpriced by 167%

Applying the template from cheapest (weakest stat-wise) to most expensive (most powerful) gives the following. Of course, the Monster Heroes are at the bottom where they should be.

15 Points per Company:

(C) [H] Warg Pack
(R) [H] Spider Broodling Swarm

20 Points per Company:

30 Points per Company:

(C) [H] Cloud of Bats
(C) [I] Moria Prowler Warband
(R) [I] Gundabad Blackshields

70 Points:

(R) [M] Cave Troll

130 Points:

(R) [M] Cave Drake

145 Points:

(R) [M] Spider Queen

150 Points:

(R) [M] Stone Giant

245 Points:

(R) [MH] Dragon of Ancient Times

315 Points:

(R) [MH] Spellcaster Dragon of Ancient Times
(R) [MH] The Balrog of Morgoth

GOBLIN DRUM UPGRADE

The Goblin Drum is a command upgrade that is available to the Moria Goblin Warband, the Moria Prowler Warband, and the Gundabad Blackshields. This is actually a pretty interesting upgrade since it combines the effects of a Banner, Drummer, and Taskmaster - and gives a little extra bonus, too, for "At the Double!" failed rolls.

If we consider the individual costs of each of the upgrades that are included in the Goblin Drum Upgrade we can get a pretty good idea of what it should cost:

For a Banner Bearer, we have been using a base of 25 points for that upgrade and it basically allows re-rolls for charging and panic tests. So basically, it is 5 points for being an "re-roll" upgrade, 10 points for the first re-roll that it allows for charging and 10 point for the second re-roll that it allows for panic tests.
For the Drummer, it works effectively the same as a Hornblower - and we understand fairly well from the post on Hornblowers that it provides an additional inch to the Move Value (which is already 8" ... 2" more than a standard rank-and-file unit - then adding the additional 1" gives 9" for the goblins, meaning that the get effectively 1.5x the amount of move of other units ... not too bad!) Hornblowers and Drummers cost 5 points for each 2 companies in the formation.
For the Taskmaster, it is the same thing as a Hornblower - but instead of Move Value bonus it gives an additional point to the Courage Value. Similarly, that means that that would cost 5 points for each 2 companies in the formation, as well.
For the "At the Double!" re-roll, this would effectively be the same as the Banner Bearer upgrade ... in other words, if it were considered simply by itself it would cost 5 points for being a "re-roll" upgrade and then 10 points for the re-roll it allows for failed "At the Double!" rolls. However, since the Banner Bearer upgrade that is part of the Goblin Drum has effectively already "paid" for the re-roll upgrade 5 point cost - that is done ... so adding it into the combined total would only cost an additional 10 points for the re-roll that it provides.

Goblin Drum Cost = Banner Bearer Cost + Drummer Cost + Taskmaster Cost + "At the Double!" Re-roll Cost

Goblin Drum = [(Re-roll Upgrade Cost) + (Charging Re-roll Cost) + (Panic Re-roll Cost)] + [(+1 Move Cost)] + [(+1 Courage Cost)] + [~~(Re-roll Upgrade Cost)~~ + ("At the Double" Re-roll Cost)]

{NOTE: Again, notice that since the Re-roll Upgrade Cost is already paid by the Banner, it doesn't need to be re-paid by the "At the Double!" one ...}

Goblin Drum = [(5 points) + (10 points) + (10 points)] + [2.5 points / company] + [2.5 points / company] + [(~~5 points~~) + (10 points)] = 35 points + 5 points / company

So this means that if there is only 1 Company in the Formation of Moria Goblin Warband, the Goblin Drum Upgrade would cost 35 points + 5 points for the 1 company = 40 Points for the Upgrade! (When I updated the rule for the profiles I wrote it such that it costs 40 Points for the command company - meaning the 1st company in the formation.)

If we took the entire 9 companies worth of goblins, this would cost:

Goblin Drum = 35 points + [5 points/company*(9 companies)] = 35 points + 45 points = 80 points

Let's just spell it out, so there is no confusion:

THE SPIDER QUEEN & SPIDER CHARGE SPECIAL RULE

Similar to what we mentioned in the Forgotten Kingdoms Unit Cost Analysis for Gwaihir, It seems like whenever there is a Monster Hero that is worthy of being a "leader of monsters" (e.g., Treebeard or Mordor Troll Chieftain) they come along with a "<Race> Charge" special rule that applies to the race of which they are a member. It would make sense for the Spider Queen to have the "Spider Charge" special rule as well [in fact we have already included that in her cost above].

CAVE DRAKE'S GAPING MAW SPECIAL RULE

OK, so this is only useful if it the formation that the Cave Drake is fighting has an enemy Hero? Furthermore, the Cave Drake is not a Monster Hero and has no might - yet we are going to give him a free Heroic Duel ... really?

I think this is one of the more "broken" and "unused" rules in the game. The rule is very conditional (the target formation must have a Hero in it) and doesn't really make sense for what it is trying to accomplish. I'm not usually for an entire re-write of a rule, I try to keep to the original intent - but this one is just plain "broken". So, here is my suggested update to the rule:

This change makes the rule a lot more versatile and able to be used regardless of there being a Hero in the target formation or not, but still allows the Drake to be a Hero-killer if the situation presents itself. In fact, now that the Drake has Striking Order (Monster), Terror, Hard to Kill!, and Gaping Maw, he is a lot more of a scary beast to go up against. In fact, any formation that goes up against it will have multiple D3 casualties unless they include a Hero ... but then losing a fight with a Hero in the formation runs the risk of that Hero getting eaten! Now that is an interesting twist of tactics! Since this is an uncommonly powerful special rule - I suggest that it cost 3-times the normal special rule cost for a non-heroic Warrior-Monster ... 15 Points. This cost is included in the Cave Drake's Point Cost listed above.

DRAGON OF ANCIENT TIMES' BREATHE FIRE SPECIAL RULE

Within the WotR rulebook (pg 186), they give the Range and the Strength of the Breath Fire special rule, but what about the Movement Penalty Associated (none, half or full) with the attack and what about Long Range rule on pg 39? Also, does it does not mention if it covers a swath or if is it single target ...

As per pg 37 of the rule manual, dragons have full 360-degree Line of Sight for the shooting attack.

I think the "right answer" for this special rule is that it has no movement penalty (i.e., the dragon can move its full flying move distance and still use the Breathe Fire special rule during the shoot phase and then can subsequently charge during the charge phase). This makes the rule a lot more "epic", which I think Moria needs that to compensate for its weaker profiles for the rank-and-file troops.

I suggest that the special rule read as follows:

FLYING MONSTERS IN MORIA

Just looking at the models of the various monsters that are included in the Moria Army List, there are several formations where the monster has wings. In fact, I distinctly recall playing against a Balrog and the player insisted that since the Balrog has wings on the model, he has the Flying Monster Movement and Charge - even though his profile only says "Monster". Let's clarify it once and for all.

Cloud of Bats = Counts as a Flying Monster for moving and charging (due to its Flock of Doom Special Rule) … It counts as Cavalry for base size (for rotation, translation and reconfiguration Move costs), charging and associated bonuses to charge (+6 dice against Infantry, Artillery & Monsters; +2 dice against Cavalry & Flying Monsters), and Earth-shaking charge.
Cave Drake = Not a Flying Monster or Monster Hero ... just a regular Monster. The argument for this one being a Flying Monster always confused me - GW's model doesn't have wings on it, either.
Dragon of Ancient Times = Flying Monster Hero. Scary beyond all reason (especially if it has its magic upgrade and uses Breathe Fire! per the change above).
The Balrog of Morgoth = Not a Flying Monster, but a Monster Hero. Has magic that can be cast in 360-degree Line of Sight, but CANNOT fly over a formation of Gondor Warriors of Minas Tirith to get a rear attack every turn! (/Exasperated huff!)

SWOOP ATTACK Special Rule for Flying Monsters

Just as we talked about the Eagle in the Forgotten Kingdoms army list - it makes sense for any Flying Monster to have the Swoop Attack Special Rule. I have included this in the profile costs that are already provided above. Specifically, the rules for the two Flying Monsters in Moria's Army List should be:

Dragon gets D3 Stg 6 Hits

Bats get D3 Stg 1 Hits per company in the Cloud of Bats' formation

MORIA HEROES

Key: (C) = Command Hero, (L) = Legendary Hero, (E) = Epic Hero

(E) Druzhag the Beastcaller - Underpriced by 55%
(E) Durburz, Goblin King of Moria - Underpriced by 42%
(C) Blackshield Captain GB - Underpriced by 38%
(C) Goblin Captain MPW - Underpriced by 29%
(C) Goblin Captain MGW - Underpriced by 9%
(C) Goblin Shaman GB - Underpriced by 5%

Sorting by the cost calculated by the template from cheapest (weakest stat-wise) to most expensive (most powerful):

Heroes that should cost 35 Points:

Heroes that should cost 55 Points:

Heroes that should cost 70 Points:

Heroes that should cost 80 Points:

Heroes that should cost 85 Points:

Heroes that should cost 100 Points:

Heroes that should cost 105 Points:

Heroes that should cost 120 Points:

(E) Durburz, Goblin King of Moria

Heroes that should cost 220 Points:

(E) Durzhag the Beastcaller

DRUZHAG'S SUMMON BEASTS SPECIAL RULE

LINKS TO OTHER UNIT COST ANALYSIS POSTS

War of the Ring v2 Project

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Monday, December 22, 2014

The Misty Mountains (Moria) Unit Cost Analysis

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