While I want to run Free Dwarfs… 4E has smushed the Free and Imperial factions together for now, so I’m taking the opportunity to finally dabble with some Def6 units for myself. Up now are two reinforcing regiments of Ironguard for the Free Dwarfs!
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| The regiments! Ready to take some hits for me! |
The models are GW Ironbreakers, largely picked up second-hand around this last Christmas, once things were fully spoiled, and as I started really making painted progress for this new army. I could not pass up the chance to finally try out some Def6 stuff for myself! The majority of these models came assembled and painted already, and I just had to repair and cobble together a few newcomers, and then match the existing overall scheme, which I quite liked with the mix of metallics. The shields got green paint to aesthetically tie things together, and that’s about it. The heavy armor and round shields made these perfect for some Free Dwarf Ironguard (in the fluff the Free Dwarfs apparently like rounder shields and things, while Imperial Dwarfs are more angular), so despite not being Mantic, these seemed too perfect to pass up.
Right now I am pretty happy with where they are at for hobbying. In addition to the flowers, I think the only things I want to touch up are the books, maybe with more runes or something, and maybe try some silver highlights on the very highest metal bits, just to attempt them. But these are ready for the table and I really dig their look.
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| One regiment. |
Over the years, the Ironguard have been at the forefront of balance complaints for the Dwarfs. Running an “oops all Def6” list is strong, and is completely bonkers in an Ambush setting. I liked that 4E put them in a specialist slot, but don’t like that they are unlimited (as opposed to Berserkers, Brocks, and Rangers), nor do I like that multiple Warlords can make them Core choices. If anything, I think these should probably have a limit too, and that the weaker Lord on foot should be the only way to get these into Core, and actually give the Dwarf player some tough list-building decisions. Still, the slot change should prevent them from ubiquitous appearances in smaller settings were Warlords are verboten, so we’ll take the baby step here, and hope things get a little more attention in their eventual book.
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| And the second. The book definitely needs some fixin'. |
On the table, these regiments have been very strong historically, with Def6 able to endure quite the beating from all sorts of things, and buckets of dice needed to break through the high defense. In 4E they got a nice buff too, upping their attacks to 15, which I actually really like for elite units like them and Basilean Paladins and Kingdoms of Men Foot Guard. I am excited to try my hand with these elite, armored Dwarfs, and we’ll see what I can do with a few regiments!
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