I really love Oathmark (otherwise I would not made a blog dedicated to it...), but its not flawless. One of that little flaws for me, is the (yet) limited selection of units. There are a lot of general units, but I miss some more specialized ones, that make a little more difference between the races, and I also miss some traditional fantasy races. I didn't want to invent anything new, I basically just transferred something from the good old WHFB feeling... But when something doesn't exist officially, you can help yourself by home-brewing them!
So did I. But not just started somewhere, somehow, I set some basic rules for me:
- Im using the special abilities and equipment from the basic rulebook, and don't invent new ones (at least not in the first step).
- I try to make the point values be balanced (I tried to catch it with an excel algorithm and with converging to existing units)
- The miniatures, that inspired me, should also fit in the game without my new unit rules (for example fauns can be used according to goblin rules)
- They should somehow fit to the fluff of the other races.
This post was born in the pre-Oathbreakers world, so sorry, but there are no new undead units.
Without more unnecessarily long explanation, my home-brew Oathmark units (sorry, I dont know how to insert a table here). At first, the dwarves:
- Dwarf Crossbowman A4 / M5 / F0 / S2 / D10 / CD1 / H1 / Pts15
- Special: Aimed Fire
- Equipment: hand weapon, (cross)bow, light armor
- Terrain: Dwarf City + Lumber yard
- Replacement for the miniatures: Dwarf Archer
- Justification: Real dwarves dont use bows.
- Dwarf Heavy Crossbowman A4 / M4 / F0 / S2 / D11 / CD1 / H1 / Pts17
- Special: Aimed Fire, Shielding (1)
- Equipment: hand weapon, (cross)bow, shield, heavy armor
- Terrain: Forges + Lumber yard
- Replacement for the miniatures: Dwarf Archer
- Justification: I like the idea of a heavily armored, shielded dwarf crossbowman.
- Dwarf Berserker A5 / M5 / F3 / S0 / D9 / CD1 / H1 / Pts19
- Special: Courage (2), Charge (1), Wild Charge
- Equipment: two-handed weapon
- Terrain: Brewhouse
- Replacement for the miniatures: Dwarf Militia / Dwarf Linebreaker
- Justification: They dont slay trolls, but they are still a must for dwarves.
- Dwarf Shieldbeares A4 / M4 / F3 / S0 / D11 / CD1 / H1 / Pts22
- Special: Courage (1), Shielding (1)
- Equipment: hand weapon, shield, heavy armor
- Terrain: Hall of Kings
- Replacement for the miniatures: Dwarf Warrior
- Justification: Because a really tough, heavily armored dwarven elite unit is a must.
- Dwarf Warhog (or Ram) Rider A5 / M7 / F3 / S0 / D13 / CD2 / H1 / Pts50
- Special: Charge (2), Shielding (1), Courage (1)
- Equipment: hand weapon, shield, heavy armor
- Terrain: Hog (Ram) Stall
- Replacement for the miniatures: Human Heavy Cavalry
- Justification: Dwarves must have some mounted units too.
- Human Halberdier A5 / M6 / F3 / S0 / D9 / CD1 / H1 / Pts14
- Special: Brace (1)
- Equipment: two-handed weapon / spear, light armor
- Terrain: Human City + Iron Mines
- Replacement for the miniatures: Human Linebreakers / Human Spearman
- Justification: Halberd is a weapon, that shouldn't be missed of a fantasy game.
- Human Siege Crossbowman A5 / M5 / F0 / S2 / D9 / CD1 / H1 / Pts13
- Special: Aimed Fire, Shielding (1)
- Equipment: hand weapon, (cross)bow, shield, light armor
- Terrain: Human City + Timber Mills
- Replacement for the miniatures: Human Archer
- Justification: There are so many pavaiser with crossbow miniatures.
- Human Barbarian A6 / M6 / F3 / S0 / D9 / CD1 / H1 / Pts14
- Special: Charge (1), Courage (1)
- Equipment: two-handed weapon, light armor
- Terrain: Roughlands
- Replacement for the miniatures: Human Linebreakers / Human Militia
- Justification: Conan the Barbarian is one of the best fantasy movies of all times.
- Human Mounted Archer A5 / M8 / F2 / S2 / D12 / CD2 / H1 / Pts48
- Special: Charge (1), Aimed Fire
- Equipment: hand weapon, bow, light armor
- Terrain: Human City + Plains
- Replacement for the miniatures: Human Mounted Ranger / Human Cavalry
- Justification: A bit tougher mounted missile unit is needed in the human armies.
- Human Marauder A6 / M8 / F2 / S0 / D11 / CD2 / H1 / Pts21
- Special: Charge (2), Shielding (1)
- Equipment: hand weapon, shield
- Terrain: Roughlands
- Replacement for the miniatures: Human Cavalry / Goblin Wolf Riders
- Justification: There shouldn't be only a heavy cavalry.
- Elf Blademaster A3 / M6 / F4 / S0 / D9 / CD1 / H1 / Pts32
- Special: Brace (1)
- Equipment: two-handed weapon / spear, light armor
- Terrain: House of Blades
- Replacement for the miniatures: Elf Spearman / Elf Linebreaker
- Justification: Inspired by the battle against Sauron in the LOTR movie.
- Elf Mounted Archer A3 / M8 / F3 / S3 / D12 / CD2 / H1 / Pts70
- Special: Charge (1), Aimed Fire
- Equipment: hand weapon, bow, light armor
- Terrain: Elf City + Grasslands
- Replacement for the miniatures: Elf Mounted Ranger / Elf Cavalry
- Justification: Elves must have a more resilient mounted archer unit.
- Goblin Hunter A6 / M6 / F0 / S2 / D8 / CD1 / H1 / Pts12
- Special: Nimble, Aimed Fire
- Equipment: hand weapon, bow
- Terrain: Goblin City + Dark Hills
- Replacement for the miniatures: Goblin Archers / Goblin Slave Slinger
- Justification: Goblins need a nimble unit too.
- Goblin Savage A6 / M6 / F2 / S0 / D9 / CD1 / H1 / Pts12
- Special: Wild charge, Charge (1)
- Equipment: two-handed weapon, light armor
- Terrain: Savage Lands
- Replacement for the miniatures: Goblin Soldier / Goblin Slave
- Justification: If humans do, goblins must too.
- Orc Savage A6 / M6 / F4 / S0 / D9 / CD1 / H1 / Pts19
- Special: Wild charge, Charge (1), Courage (1)
- Equipment: two-handed weapon, light armor
- Terrain: Savage Lands
- Replacement for the miniatures: Orc Soldier / Orc Linebreaker
- Justification: If goblins do, orcs must much more!
- Orc Boar Rider A6 / M7 / F3 / S0 / D12 / CD2 / H1 / Pts45
- Special: Charge (2), Shielding (1), Wild Charge
- Equipment: hand weapon, shield, light armor
- Terrain: Boar Stall
- Replacement for the miniatures: Human Cavalry
- Justification: Cant be, that everybody else is able to mount something, but orcs dont.
- Halfling Spearman A5 / M5 / F1 / S0 / D10 / CD1 / H1 / Pts11
- Special: Brace (1)
- Equipment: spear, sling, light armor
- Terrain: Shirelands
- Replacement for the miniatures: Goblin Spearman / Goblin Slave
- Justification: No halflings? Cant be!
- Halfling Militia A6 / M5 / F0 / S0 / D9 / CD1 / H1 / Pts7
- Special: Courage (1)
- Equipment: hand weapon, sling
- Terrain: Shirelands
- Replacement for the miniatures: Goblin Warrior / Goblin Slave
- Justification: If there are halflings, a pan-throwing militia is also a must.
- Halfling Scout A5 / M5 / F0 / S1 / D9 / CD1 / H1 / Pts13
- Special: Aimed Fire, Nimble, Courage (1)
- Equipment: hand weapon, bow
- Terrain: Shirelands
- Replacement for the miniatures: Goblin Spearman / Goblin Slave
- Justification: The halfling troops, that every army want.
- Faun Soldier A5 / M6 / F2 / S0 / D9 / CD1 / H1 / Pts14
- Special: Charge (1), Nimble, Shielding (1)
- Equipment: hand weapon, shield, light armor
- Terrain: Enchanted Forest
- Replacement for the miniatures: Goblin Soldier / Human Soldier
- Justification: Fauns are a classical fantasy race, they cant be missed.
- Faun Archer A5 / M6 / F0 / S2 / D9 / CD1 / H1 / Pts14
- Special: Charge (1), Nimble, Aimed Fire
- Equipment: hand weapon, bow
- Terrain: Enchanted Forest
- Replacement for the miniatures: Goblin Archer / Human Archer
- Justification: Fauns need bows too.
- Dryad A4 / M5 / F2 / S0 / D11 / CD1 / H1 / Pts18
- Special: Nimble
- Equipment: hand weapon or none
- Terrain: Enchanted Forest
- Replacement for the miniatures: Elf Linebreaker
- Justification: Tree faeries for protecting the forest.
- Centaur Soldier A5 / M8 / F2 / S0 / D11 / CD1 / H1 / Pts22
- Special: Charge (2), Shielding (1)
- Equipment: hand weapon, shield, light armor
- Terrain: Enchanted Meadows
- Replacement for the miniatures: Goblin Wolf Rider
- Justification: Like Faun Soldiers.
- Centaur Archer A5 / M8 / F0 / S2 / D10 / CD1 / H1 / Pts26
- Special: Charge (1), Aimed Fire
- Equipment: hand weapon, bow
- Terrain: Enchanted Meadows
- Replacement for the miniatures: Goblin Wolf Rider Scout
- Justification: Like Faun Archers.
(Pictures are mostly from Pinterest, and obviously one from the LOTR movie)
Great work BZ.
ReplyDeleteThank You, I really appreciate it!
DeleteNice, the absense of halflings was downright depressing ;D
ReplyDeleteDid you play around with mixed units?
I'm loving the shipcompanies the wh 1st ed elves had, and want to try something like it. Gotta make more use of those manouvers, right?
I was thinking about mixed units, but at the moment it wouldnt fit in the basic rules easily. In the next supplement (Bane of kings) will be a part about different formations. Maybe there will be something, that could make houserules for mixed units easier.
DeleteGreat post, thanks! 100% needed these dwarven xbows and human pavaisers. Surprised youre still ok with dwarves using magic ;)
ReplyDeleteThe designer recently posted Halflings unofficially: https://therenaissancetroll.blogspot.com/2021/03/oathmark-halflings.html. He went A6 and Courage(2) but otherwise you hit em on the head!
Thanks, Im glad that You can use some of it!
DeleteI may be not the greatest fan of dwarven magic, but Im still ok with it (the lore here is much looser here). The lack of fast units (which hopefully will be helped out with chariots in "Bane of kings", in any case, I already built some for them...) is enough handicap for them, there is no need for another. And they magic fits my imagination of dwarven magic pretty well.
I know, that there are rules from the game designer himself now for halflings, so my home-made ones became obsolete. And I hope that all others will become obsolete in the same way too :)!
Fair enough! Pinning some big pressure on Bane of Kings there! IIRC all 4 books were written essentially at the same time so I wouldn't be surprised if common community feedback/requests had to wait till at least book #5...
DeleteI think so too, but Joe mentioned somewhere, that there will be chariots for all races.
DeleteThe 5th book is a big question mark at the moment... First of all, I really hope, that the series will go on! And what could be in it? Im hoping for siege rules (to make my siege rules obsolete), but a new race, or new units for the existing ones would be also very welcome.
Thanks very much for posting these profiles! A treasure trove for sure. I've been keen to fit in dwarven cavalry into Oathmark.
ReplyDeleteIm glad that You like it! Dwarven ram riders are coming from Fireforge!
DeleteThat's why I've been looking for a fitting profile, haha. I've been checking the Fireforge Games Twitter feed daily to see if the KS has gone live yet. Was meant to kick off mid-April, but it sounds like they've had some delays due to a prior KS fulfillment taking longer than planned. Very excited nonetheless, the dwarven models they've previewed look fantastic!
DeleteIm very curious about the Kickstarter! But I hope they will be plastic, and not resin...
DeleteI've got just about their entire fantasy range at this point. Just missing the undead cavalry and some of the characters. All of the rank-and-file models are hard plastic. The single clam shell characters are resin. I imagine the new dwarves will be the same.
DeleteActually, I can see from their prior posts confirmation that, yep, rank-and-file is plastic, single characters are resin.
DeleteThat would be good!
DeleteYou're probably already across it, but just in case — the Kickstarter's live. :)
DeleteI have seen it, but got unsure... The smallest pledge has 3 boxes, and with shipping, the a costs are not that friendly. I think I will wait for the regular release.
Delete