Web of steel or Defensive stand ?

[Leinadnesredna]

So im playing a newish merc warband Captain 2x Champion 1xOgre 5x Marksman so i need my tanks to do their best so what is best ? someone mush have done the math on this =) ?

noob needs help
PS.Im so far only playing vs AI and that could be importent (AI skillchoice and such)

[Leinadnesredna]

Thinking of using Onslaught stance while they guard Flanks, thoughts on that ?
P.s. sorry to be using you guys as my calculatoir and learning indtrument but so far the imput have been awesome.

[Paranoia]

Usually when choosing Web od Steel one also wants Defensive Stance.
This is so that Armbanded enemies, who ignore Parry, won't just kill you.

Defensive Stance in general is not often worth it unless one has put many points into Agility too.

[Paranoia]

Originally posted by Leinadnesredna:

Thinking of using Onslaught stance while they guard Flanks, thoughts on that ?

Works well on Henchmen, yes.

[Leinadnesredna]

Originally posted by Paranoia:

Usually when choosing Web od Steel one also wants Defensive Stance.
This is so that Armbanded enemies, who ignore Parry, won't just kill you.

Defensive Stance in general is not often worth it unless one has put many points into Agility too.

Ahh i see the point so web of steel > Defensive stance unless they pass parry ? but what about the champions their passive sort of boost Defensive stance ?

[Paranoia]

Originally posted by Leinadnesredna:

champions their passive sort of boost Defensive stance ?

Any Champion used as a Tank basically wants to become Melee Resist Tank. He gets Defensive by default.
Also, Champion should invest into Agility for further Melee Resistance.

[Leinadnesredna]

Ok so bouth for Captain and ogre and just defensive stance for Champions that could free up the chanpions to carry two handed while tanking perhaps ?

pretyy much spec into Agi with all the tanks atm, as i said noob

[Glean]

On my merc band I've been using def stance on the champ and web on the capt. My thinking being that the passive skill on the cap is too good to miss out on by using def stance. I didn't worry about giving him def stance as a backup. Just when fighting mutants or demons I try and make sure he has a rout to disengage if he gets into trouble. But with his hvy armor and the mage's blind + combat savy he is prity sturdy even if he can't parry.

With the champs I went with the one hander still just for the extra 10% resist from sheild spec + the resists that the shield and enchant are prity big. But I'm thinking you could probably get away with doing two hander if you wanted. The only time my champs have been introuble is against a crit happy chick with claws. :D I think dropping some resist for the damage from a two hander could work just fine.

[lucas.castro]

Originally posted by Leinadnesredna:

Ok so bouth for Captain and ogre and just defensive stance for Champions that could free up the chanpions to carry two handed while tanking perhaps ?

pretyy much spec into Agi with all the tanks atm, as i said noob

Melee Resist works best when maximized. I mean, if you're settled on a warrior being a glass cannon, then improving its MR doesn't hurt, but don't depend on it.

With that in mind, here are a few important points:

1) Max out your WS (use runes to get to 20).

2) Defensive Stance should only be taken once your WS is pretty decent, and you have a blue or purple shield. And should always be mastered on heroes.

3) Use the rune that bumps up your MR on your shield (forget the name).

4) You need more tanks than what you have.


With regards to that last point, I wouldn't recommend having more than 40% of your warriors being ranged (Warlock included).

Also, Warriors are better henchmen than Marksmen, but hero Marksmen (using Lad's Got Talent skill) are the BEST shooters in the game (and it's not close). I recommend you have at most two henchmen Marksmen, and at least one hero Marksman (I like to run two).

I also strongly prefer 5 heroes rather than 3 + impressive (though I never play PvP). The AI only ever matches what you have, and 2 heroes are more versatile than 1 impressive. That would let you take 2 Marksmen as heroes, and still have 2 Champions. Then I would have mostly Warriors as henchmen.

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Originally posted by Paranoia:

Defensive Stance in general is not often worth it unless one has put many points into Agility too.

Or is using a two handed weapon (and therefore incapable of parrying). Then again, it's also a very useful backup skill for parry tanks too.

[Leinadnesredna]

Originally posted by lucas.castro:

Originally posted by Leinadnesredna:

Ok so bouth for Captain and ogre and just defensive stance for Champions that could free up the chanpions to carry two handed while tanking perhaps ?

pretyy much spec into Agi with all the tanks atm, as i said noob

Melee Resist works best when maximized. I mean, if you're settled on a warrior being a glass cannon, then improving its MR doesn't hurt, but don't depend on it.

With that in mind, here are a few important points:

1) Max out your WS (use runes to get to 20).

2) Defensive Stance should only be taken once your WS is pretty decent, and you have a blue or purple shield. And should always be mastered on heroes.

3) Use the rune that bumps up your MR on your shield (forget the name).

4) You need more tanks than what you have.


With regards to that last point, I wouldn't recommend having more than 40% of your warriors being ranged (Warlock included).

Also, Warriors are better henchmen than Marksmen, but hero Marksmen (using Lad's Got Talent skill) are the BEST shooters in the game (and it's not close). I recommend you have at most two henchmen Marksmen, and at least one hero Marksman (I like to run two).

I also strongly prefer 5 heroes rather than 3 + impressive (though I never play PvP). The AI only ever matches what you have, and 2 heroes are more versatile than 1 impressive. That would let you take 2 Marksmen as heroes, and still have 2 Champions. Then I would have mostly Warriors as henchmen.

thanks for all this =)

I feel the need for more tanks ^^ mostly its just me gunning down the enemy team without problems BUT if the tank-line Breach ( happed only with sisters so far) i quickly turn into a Ginormus ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ leaving my Warband looking like a girlscout slumberparty.

breaking the tank-line to bring down a sister impressive seems to be my biggest hurdle atm but it might make me rethink my entire strategy -.-

[Leinadnesredna]

Originally posted by lucas.castro:

Originally posted by Leinadnesredna:

4) You need more tanks than what you have.

I had this silly idea to get two Sister Superior to fill the Ogre slot :P .

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Originally posted by Leinadnesredna:

Originally posted by lucas.castro:

I had this silly idea to get two Sister Superior to fill the Ogre slot :P .

If you can get the reputation it's not such a bad idea as they can become quite powerful parry tanks.

[lucas.castro]

Originally posted by Leinadnesredna:

breaking the tank-line to bring down a sister impressive seems to be my biggest hurdle atm but it might make me rethink my entire strategy -.-

The Maiden of Sigmar is immune to shooting, so does present challenges for a shooting-heavy warband. Your options tend to be:

1) Shred her with Warlocks, if you have them and her Magic Resist isn't very high.

2) If she shows up early, put your deadliest fighters all on her to take her down asap.

3) Tie her up with your tankiest warrior (an expendable henchman or an absolutely SHUTDOWN tank), and focus on their other heroes.


The problem is, you don't have the Warlocks for #1; have so few melee guys that #2 would leave you exposed (and requires her coming to you early too); and #3 is a problem for almost any warband, because Sisters have high morale, meaning you need to tie her up for a LONG time.

#3 would work well (against AI only) later on, when you have a guy who can completely shutdown someone (e.g., parry tank with mastered Web of Steel, and very high MR too). But even then, you'd need more tanks to avoid having this warrior tag-teamed (which could easily lead to this warrior getting demolished in a hurry).

A parry-centric Captain is ideal for #3, to help reduce risk if double-teamed (high LD makes it more likely he'd pass All Alone tests).


Bottom line: you need more tanks :)

[Rodfather]

My Merc Warband had Web of Steel on the Leader and two Henchie tanks...and Defensive Stance on the Ogre and Champion