Balrog v Magic Dragon

NotLegolasJustTipsy · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 10:46 pm

Just looking for a bit of fun and debate over which piece to play in a WOTR battle. Which would you play and Why? What's the pros & cons to either? And how would you use them on the battle board?

Just trying to see what people think to these pieces, as they look cool, but never in my opinion see enough of them, let's debate......... :-D

GothmogtheWerewolf · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 10:48 pm

I (and probably speak for most people here) believe that the Dragon with magic is much better than a Balrog, it costs less, can move faster, has a shooting attack, is unaffected by the spirit killing spell.

NotLegolasJustTipsy · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 10:50 pm

Well that debate ended quick hay?? Lol

GothmogtheWerewolf · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 10:53 pm

lol, not if anyone else wants to chip in.

mordin34 · **Joined:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:36 pm **Posts:** 14

It really depends what you want the unit to do. The Dragon has many benefits but is mostly a company killer. The Balrog on the other hand is a Hero killer. In my last 2k list I fielded 2 Balrogs side by side to kill just about anything in their path including Gandalf.

So the question for you is do you want a company killer or a hero killer?

NotLegolasJustTipsy · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:49 pm

Wow 2 Balrogs, how did that game go? What army were you fighting?

mordin34 · **Joined:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:36 pm **Posts:** 14

Small tournament of 6 players i think. played against easterlings, mordor with 7+ trolls, and don't remember the other two. out of four games only one balrog fell though.

GothmogtheWerewolf · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:55 pm

@mordin34, having 2 dragons or 4 stone giants would also do well.

NotLegolasJustTipsy · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:56 pm

What did you use to fill out the rest of your army after having a1000 points on just 2 pieces?

NotLegolasJustTipsy · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:58 pm

GothmogtheWerewolf wrote:

@mordin34, having 2 dragons or 4 stone giants would also do well.

Now that's overkill lol

mordin34 · **Joined:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:36 pm **Posts:** 14

I took the balrogs to kill Good heroes which they are better at then dragons.
The rest of my army is
8 companies prowlers with drum
8 companies blackshields with drum
both gob heroes
kamul
dwimmerlich
two gob bows for the balrogs
palantir

Cheese but not something I play outside of tournaments.

NotLegolasJustTipsy · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 12:08 am

I have never seen an army with only 16 companies, if I played that, I feel as though I'd get overrun

mordin34 · **Joined:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:36 pm **Posts:** 14

works well for me because i can over run smaller units and my four main groups move 20+ inches a turn. also the palantir allowed me to control just about every turn.

NotLegolasJustTipsy · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 12:15 am

I would like to see a game with this sort of deployment, must be fun

ForgottenLore · **Joined:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:47 pm **Posts:** 491

mordin34 wrote:

I took the balrogs to kill Good heroes which they are better at then dragons.

How do you figure? I don't see ANY advantages to taking a Balrog over a Dragon.

Actually, that is not quite true. If your play group absolutely insists on all GW figs than the fact that the Balrog is plastic while the Dragon is Metal (or finecast) is a pretty big factor.

mordin34 · **Joined:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:36 pm **Posts:** 14

The Balrog is fight 10 and the Dragon is fight 8. The extra two fight (max fight value) for heroic duels is the reason the balrog is better against heroes. Only three other models that i remember have fight 10 without using might for epic strike.

ForgottenLore · **Joined:** Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:47 pm **Posts:** 491

Hmmm, OK, fair point. Really hadn't ever considered using one of those guys as a dueler. Generally want to spend my might on Heroic Fights instead but I can see the utility.

Draugluin · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:07 pm

I was kinda surprised that the Balrog was so expensive without having a throwing weapon or some such thing. If it did, it would be about worth it in my book. Maybe add in 3 resiliance or something.

Beowulf03809 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:34 pm

Though it is not nearly enough to tip the scales (no pun intended) the smaller base of the Balrog shouldn't be discounted out of hand from a tactical perspective. In reality the Dragon with magic is more versatile, but I have seen the Balrog on the table used very effectively. On my own, I'd still take the Dragon except for theme reasons (or just the fact that I think GW's Balrog model looks wicked cool). I do like the concept of an army with two Balrogs.

mordin34 · **Joined:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:36 pm **Posts:** 14

Draugluin wrote:

I was kinda surprised that the Balrog was so expensive without having a throwing weapon or some such thing. If it did, it would be about worth it in my book. Maybe add in 3 resiliance or something.

As much as i would love Balrogs with resilience 3 they would be nearly impossible to kill if it keep the EHTK chart.
One thing I would like is Darkness magic. It is supposed to be wrapped in SHADOW and flame by it's own power.
But it should also be a Legendary formation.

Balrog v Magic Dragon

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