Ogre Advice Needed. New-ish player

Army lists and Tactics
1

I’m overall new to wargaming and I’ve been playing KOW for the past year in a local group in Southern California and I’m looking for some Ogre advice. I’ve done a bit of reading and fine tuning and still struggle to stay competitive. Was looking for some insight / tips of playing ogres. My fellow generals have been welcoming and great at offering advice/tips but when I try to ask more in depth questions, it is recommended to find someone who plays/played ogres. Initially chose ogres because I heard it’s a great beginner class.

To give you an idea of my thoughts/mindset of where I’m at right now:

  1. I realize I’m new to war gaming and I can’t be expected to win against players that have been battling for decades, however I’d at least like to be competitive toward the end and not getting wiped 5-6th rounds repeatedly. There has been improvement over past 6 months. I’ve had moments that keep me going (like seeing a good golf shot on a bad round) such as the goblin blaster taking out a dragon; but the continual beat downs can be demoralizing.
  2. I have the most difficulty with initial placement. I have difficulty pulling the trigger to have hordes/heroes/monsters place behind another unit. I try to keep them as 1 unit as a meatball and stick to 2/3rds of the table with the core setup of 2 siege breakers with mammoth in between.
  3. We play 2300 point lists. The -/28 website has been a great resource. I’ve experimented with multiple different variations but I’ve ultimately stuck with a core hoards of siege breakers x2, warriors x2, boomers x2. I’ve tried having the regiments of warriors but they just seem to get in the way of the breakers. Nom and 2 additional warlocks (lightning/drain life), mammoth + big deal, 2 crocodogs, and red goblin blaster.
  4. I’m not an ignorant person by any means, but I lack in effective commanding. I typically start the game looking to take some units off the table (preferably the opponents), and then look more toward objective play by the 4th round. I’ve tried being aggressive by marching as fast as I can across the table. I’ve tried playing the cat and mouse game. Both have backfired. I realize your opponent’s army, faction, and dice luck are a factor in strategy which I’m still digesting. It seems something doesn’t go my way early-mid game and my opponent is easily in my flank either with some horde of nimble creatures or flyers.
  5. I wish there was a computer game of KOW to practice with. One was recommended to me, but it just wasn’t noob-user friendly. Going a month between games is tough.

At this point I just keep looking at my list wondering what to try next. Thoughts of kicking the mammoth back to the zoo and running a boomer chariot with stealth aura extended. Maybe transitioning the 2 warrior hordes to a legion. Transition the boomers back to shooters?

Any advice/resources would be appreciated. Thanks for reading regardless. Cheers!

PS. I hate flyers
PSS. If I hear “Elite with Vicious, hitting on 2’s” one more time then I’m flipping the table over

Here’s my current Ogre Army List

Ogres Original [2300 / 2300]
~ List Valid ~

Ogres [2300]

Boomers (Large Infantry) Horde [230]

Boomers (Large Infantry) Horde [230]

Warriors (Large Infantry) Horde [205] (Crocodog [5])

Warriors (Large Infantry) Horde [205] (Crocodog [5])

Siege Breakers (Large Infantry) Horde [245]

Siege Breakers (Large Infantry) Horde [245]

Mammoth (Monster (Chariot)) 1 [250] (The Big Deal [30])

Red Goblin Blaster (Monster (Chariot)) 1 [65]

Crocodog Wrangler (Monster (Cavalry)) 1 [110]

Crocodog Wrangler (Monster (Cavalry)) 1 [110]

Ogre Warlock (Hero (Large Infantry)) 1 [120]
(Lightning Bolt (3) [25] )
(Drain Life (5) [20] )

Ogre Warlock (Hero (Large Infantry)) 1 [120]
(Lightning Bolt (3) [25]
(Drain Life (5) [20]

Nomagarok [1] (Hero (Large Infantry)) 1 [165]
(Bane Chant (3) [0]
(Heal (4) [0]
(Lightning Bolt (4) [0]

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2

Have you listened to the various Ogre army reviews and list building podcast episodes out there?

Some of them will contain things that are outdated, but for the most part, they’re valuable.

I think Direct Misfire and Counter Charge are the two I would search through first.

I have an ogre army, but don’t feel I’m “the guy” to be offering competitive advice to anyone.

FWIW though, I have run a legion a number of times, and although it’s fun (and I actually build a legion on a multi-base rather than just putting two hordes together) I can’t recommend it in terms of practicality. Just too unwieldly.

If you want to try something different, I’d suggest experimenting with regiments and combat individuals like the berserker bully. They’re easily manoeuvred, still punch hard because they’re ogres (especially if they get a flank), and give you more drops.

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3

Are you having trouble with units getting double / triple charged and taken off?
I notice you don’t have any obvious chaff units, so if something absolutely lethal is coming across the table you could sacrifice a screen unit so your main unit gets to punch back?

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4

I agree that more, faster, expendable units would be good for you. Here’s a pretty low impact shake up that trades the mediocre Warrior hordes with Brave regiments and a Bully:

Ogres [2300]

Boomers (Large Infantry) Horde [230]
Boomers (Large Infantry) Horde [230]
Siege Breakers (Large Infantry) Horde [245]
Siege Breakers (Large Infantry) Horde [245]
Berserker Braves (Large Infantry) Regiment [140]
Berserker Braves (Large Infantry) Regiment [140]
Mammoth (Monster (Chariot)) 1 [250]
– The Big Deal [30]
Red Goblin Blaster (Monster (Chariot)) 1 [65]
Crocodog Wrangler (Monster (Cavalry)) 1 [110]
Crocodog Wrangler (Monster (Cavalry)) 1 [110]
Berserker Bully (Hero (Large Infantry)) 1 [130]
Ogre Warlock (Hero (Large Infantry)) 1 [120]
– Lightning Bolt (3) [25]
– Drain Life (5) [20]
Ogre Warlock (Hero (Large Infantry)) 1 [120]
– Lightning Bolt (3) [25]
– Drain Life (5) [20]
Nomagarok [1] (Hero (Large Infantry)) 1 [165]
– Bane Chant (3) [0]
– Heal (4) [0]
– Lightning Bolt (4) [0]

The biggest loss are a few spell pips from the Warlock conclave, but you gain quite a bit of threat projection, all on units that can’t be wavered. Bullies are also just an all around amazing hero that ruin my plans every time I face them.

The next consideration is to change the Big Deal into a Giant. I’m not a Mammoth hater in the least, but just yesterday we were talking about Ogres and how the big elephant is outclassed by how much value a Giant brings to the table. Even just that 18/20 brick of Nv is worth it, on top of opening up De 6+ cans (and given the options, Slayer is still the best if you’re taking one Giant. If you take two, I’d consider doing one of each flavor). Or if not a Giant, the Boomer cart isn’t a bad shout. The troop does have really low nerve, and is so tall it’s often the thing that gets shot off first …

EDIT: I feel like I’m one of the last players who still likes Boomers :stuck_out_tongue: I think they’re especially valid with all your Warlocks since they can power them up too.

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Much thanks. I’ve listened to a few episodes of Counter Charge but didn’t think of searching through old episodes. Good call.

Thanks for the experience notes on the Legion. Definitely have looked at the Bully a few times. Maybe time to add him to the party.

Appreciate the input

6

Definitely double charged often. I’ve dabbled with red goblin sharpsticks. May have to look to add the red goblins back into the party … maybe as scouts this time around.

Thanks for the insight.

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Boomers unite. Thanks for reviewing the list. Appreciate the input about maybe looking at a giant instead. I’m gonna let that one simmer in the sauce for a bit. Will definitely take a look at that substitution.

I love the idea of Berserker brave regiments on the table over hoard warriors. That could be fun.

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8

I’m a fairly inexperienced player myself, but i have found that just chatting about your games afterwards with your opponents can be really useful. Dissecting a game you have just played and getting your opponent to identify the mistakes you made can be really useful, and most people are fairly happy to discuss things.

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