Devoted of Sigmar

[Black_Fortress_Immortal]

Hello.  I have a friend who's really interested in this line of play/models and was wondering what everyone's thoughts were on the state of their play.  It looks like a massive horde army with layered saves and a battalion to allow mortal wounds caused in your hero phase.  The War Altar looks like a fairly solid piece of shooting power (vs Chaos, especially) with a decent 4+ save, 10" movement, utility prayers, but crappy melee. 

What really stood out to me was the ability "Sigmar's Shield," since the wording states "within range of this model," meaning that the ability is stackable between other War altars.  A 2000pt list would be built like this:

Allegiance: Order
War Altar Of Sigmar (250)
- General
- Trait: Master of Defense
- Artefact: Phoenix Stone
War Altar Of Sigmar (250)
- Artefact: Phoenix Stone
War Altar Of Sigmar (250)
Warrior Priest (80)
- Sigmarite Warhammer & Shield
Warrior Priest (80)
- Sigmarite Warhammer & Shield
Witch Hunter (60)
- Pistol & Silver Greatsword
40 x Flagellants (260)
40 x Flagellants (260)
40 x Flagellants (260)
10 x Flagellants (80)
Pilgrimage of Wrath (160)

Total: 1990 / 2000
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 178

There are a few gems in here.  Each War Altar starts with the 15" aura for the 6+ save vs. slaying wound, which would be 3 total, and the Warrior Priests can cast another 6+ save versus wounds, for a grand total of FIVE 6+ saves for the Flagellants.  Against a huge strike of 30 wounds this would statistically reduce like:

30 -> 25 -> 21 -> 18 -> 15 -> 13

However, the reroll failed hits/wounds prayers from the Altar and Priest would add great offensive capability, since it may not be worth it to stack saves past the passive 3 from the altars.  A unit of 40 Flagellants who lost 5 models would gain 2 extra attacks, and with the prayers maximized from the altars (2 x +1 to hit/run/charge, reroll failed hits) and priest (reroll failed wounds) would result in:

1"/140a/3+/4+/-/1

And statistically 91 attacks going through successfully from the surviving unit of 35.

The altars also have the D3 ranged attacks that are -2 rend and 6dmg each vs. chaos (well, doubles damage suffered - essentially 6 for ease of discussion).

Not to mention, immunity to battleshock.

Slay the Unbelievers! Has the potential to deal 16 mortal wounds in your hero phase, but on avg 6 (2 x 3, if priests are positioned correctly within 6" of two Flagellant units). 

The downside is that it becomes tough to maximally buff every unit, but it's nice to be able to buff up a charge roll, run roll, or hit rolls depending on the situation, and blast into enemy units with some fairly powerful shooting.  Also, it is very warshrine-dependent - if the enemy snipes your shrines (which may prove difficult, as they are 11 wounds each, 4+ save), you're left without your best buffing source.

Thoughts?

[Warboss Gorbolg]

From a hobby perspective I would think that you would want to max out on allies.  Stormcast, Free Guild, etc.

[Black_Fortress_Immortal]

23 minutes ago, Warboss Gorbolg said:

From a hobby perspective I would think that you would want to max out on allies.  Stormcast, Free Guild, etc.

This is regardless of personal hobby interest, and more in terms of performance in standard matched play games, hence the "state of their play."