Contingecy Plans Squigger's way to fairly recruit allies Allies can be a touchy subject in Warhammer - eventually someone will disagree with your choice, and claim it to be out of character or cheesy, or just plain wrong. On the other hand, they can bring great variety to the game, and allow you to expand your collection and use new models without a major commitment. So, how do you go about doing this without screams of cheating or abusing the spirit of the game? The first thing to do make sure that it is acceptable with your army. Bretonnians will NOT ally themselves with a Dwarf army consisting solely of several gun batteries - it's just not right. The main complaint about allies is that they are used to fill in an army's weak spot, and in doing so they often violate the nature of that army. Second, and perhaps even more importantly, you need to pick a force which is in character with the allies themselves, and which accurately represents the sort of small force you could find anywhere you get that army. The trouble with this is that, even thought the character of each army is well set out in the army books, people still have different ideas on what the typical form of X might be (and it becomes even more difficult when you realise that they are ALL correct...). Third, your allied force should never be too large. Even though it is limited to 1/4 of your allowance, this can be unbalancing in larger armies (3000+). So I'll save you the trouble. Below is a list of 500 point allied contingents from each army (except Daemons and Dogs of War - the latter are too diverse to pin down, and as for the former, I couldn't be bothered working out separate groups for each god), which I think encapsulates the character of each army. They stick to basic troops, excluding the elites, and hopefully are not unbalanced. I expect vigourous condemnation over my choices, on two grounds - they don't fit your idea of a typical X army, which is fair enough, but after all it IS my article; and the fact that many will see the troops I have chosen as being useless because they are not the elites. If you think that, then you have entirely missed the point of this exercise, if not the game itself. Avaunt, foul powergamer! I have tried to be true to the background of each army as I understand it, and to the nature of the type of army which it is - Orcs and Goblins are horde armies, Dwarfs are defensive infantry, Bretonnians are lunatic cavalry, and so on. I have included a Lizardmen contingent. Everyone who has bought the 5th edition of Warhammer has some, unless they have got rid of them (tch, tch), and I'm sure that you can come up with some reason for them to be fighting beside your army (mutual survival, perhaps?). It is also quite likely that I have got some of the points costs wrong, as I have only half the army books. I am reasonably confident about most of the prices, really only being worried by the Skaven. Please let me know if I have made any mistakes. I have omitted equipment from my list. Generally, if it can have light armour or heavy armour, and a shield, then it's got it, as long as that fits its battlefield role - archers aren't likely to have it, spearmen will have it no matter what (unless I had to drop it to fit it into 500 points :). But remember that this is just a guideline - I know how they are kitted out, and that's how I will use them - but I would be disappointed with you if you didn't adjust them slightly to fit your ideas (or your collection). Bretonnia: 497 points Lots of knights, heroes all over the place 5 Knights of the Realm, + champion, standard and musician 4 Knights Errant + champion, standard and musician Hero Empire: 495 points OR 483 points Infantry based, with support from more infantry and war machines or knights 19 Halberdiers + champion, standard and musician 10 Crossbows 10 Handgunners OR 4 Knights + champion, standard and musician Great Cannon Dwarfs: 494 points Solid defensive infantry 11 Crossbows + champion, standard and musician 14 Clansmen + champion, standard and musician Wood Elves: 500 points Guerillas in the mist 10 Archers * 3 4 Glade Riders + champion High Elves: 494 points Defensive but lighter infantry 15 Spears + champion, standard and musician 10 Archers * 2 Orcs and Goblins: 493 points Hordes of 'em 19 Orcs + champion, standard and musician 29 Goblins + champion, standard and musician 5 Goblin Wolfriders * 2 Lizardmen: 499.5 points Stinging edges with a smashing core 14 Saurus + champion, standard and musician 12 Skinks + 1 Kroxigor 7 Skinks * 3 Undead: 499 points Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones 19 Skeletons + wight, standard and musician 20 Zombies * 2 Necromancer Dark Elves: 498 points Mixed infantry nuts 11 Warriors + champion, standard and musician 11 City guard + champion, standard and musician 10 Crossbows Chaos Warriors: 486 points OR 480 points Incredibly tough troops whichever they are Chaos Champion 13 Chaos Warriors + standard and musician Or 5 Chaos Knights Beastmen: 498 points Ugly but strong infantry Chieftan 11 Gor + standard and musician 20 Ungor + standard and musician 15 Ungor Skirmishers Skaven: 500 points Heaps and heaps and heaps of chittering masses 19 Clanrats + champion, standard and musician 32 Skavenslaves * 2 2 Rat Swarms 12 Plague Monks Chaos Dwarfs: 500 points Slave drivers 11 Chaos Dwarfs + champion, standard and musician 8 Blunderbussiers 5 Hobgoblin Wolfriders 7 Hobgoblin Archers * 2