I was reading with pleasure this BR Knoffles kindly posted.
backtothehammerblog.wordpress.com/2018/10/07/WFB-beastmen-vs-wood-elves-inaugural-eefl-ashes-game/The BR is really detailed and a great job was done with all descriptions and pictures attached ...
Thanks to Knoffles and also to Grandmasterwang for this great Battle.
I was reading knoffles and GMW statements regarding Minotaurs
"The minotaurs were enough of a threat that they were picked on early. With only toughness 4 and no save to speak of, you just can’t take them in small units. They are definitely a unit that you have to go big or go home."
and
"Doombull’s/gorebulls aside I think that elves of all races are a terrible matchup for minotaurs. As mentioned minotaurs are very susceptible to shooting and really need to ‘fatty up’ to prove their worth. With elves striking first (usually with rerolls) they can often take out the slower, low armor minotaurs before they can unleash their devastating attacks. I think minotaurs match up well with tomb kings, dwarfs, orcs, ogres and the like where they can often win some combats to ‘fatty up’ and be a real threat."
I do agree with both of you.
But I should add something ..
IMHO
1) Knoffles list is cool but much more less competitive than GMW 's list.
Two ghorghons are amazing but against WE I think they were an easy target to kill with poisoned arrows.
Instead, two minotaurs units + 1 ghorgon or simply 2 fatty minotaurs units could have changed the match.
2) No wizard for Beastmen was a huge risk..
3) 1 unit of only 20 gors can be just a bunker for wizard and /or a unit to ambush ( if you like its mechanic) ....
I don 't suggest to field such a small unit ...
In the battle as soon as they had some casualties they tested panic and they flee..unfortunately :-(
3) maybe 1 ghorghon should have been deployed not on the flank but more in the middle in order to give pressure to the centre of the battle , leaving the flank to a chariot.
Told this I want to say that
- I know it was a friendly match !
- you both played very good !!
- GMW list in may area can be considered a competitive list. Knoffles 's list , instead, a fluffy one!!!
On conclusion Minotaurs Weaknesses are T4 ... no good AS ....but in a list like this their Weaknesses are highlighted.
Chalice of dark rain....could have helped also a lot.
What I mean is that Beast-men are not a point and click army.
The list should be thought in depth when we play Minotaurs because if we play fluffy we can lose against other fluffy armies most of the time.
Other crucial things are
- deployment
- supporting minotaurs engaged in fight with flank charges (we need to destroy enemy's ranks and bring them to flee...)
- and if that troop flees we have to chase and destroy it !!!)
- dispel crucial spell !
- protect minotaurs and ghorghon as much as we can before they are in melee.
How?
A) again chalice of dark rain....
B) field chariots and razorgors to clean the way to our troops or harassing bowmen ...WM...
c) Lore of shadow can help to debuff BS ..in the first turn or 2 . WE need to try it. ( if we use 2 shaman we need to try it with both )
I suggest to try at first to cast a spell such as Pit of Shades or whithering forcing the opponent to dispel and finally keep a couple of dices ( even 1 can be fine sometimes) for casting miasma and reduce BS.
D) target saturation ( I was always disappointed when I played one Mino unit. They are a juicy target and they will be decimated before they can fight.
2 medium Units ( 6 Mino + Hero ) are more difficult to deal with .
- hero is providing fury and also immune to psychology .It means we don 't have to worry about panic test during we march towards the enemy.
- hero has a ton of attacks and is buffing the unit with an additional attack
- hero , eventually, can be unleashed alone in the late game
1 ghorgon is magnetizing cannon balls....and WM in general buying us precious time.
Let me thank again Knoffles for posting such an amazing BR and for giving me the opportunity to remind us some ways to play our beloved Minotaurs even better :-)