Viable neutral army lists

[Elkerlyc]

Constantly tinkering with lists lately. (as you do...)

But cannot find something that I like for a Neutral list.
I know it is hard with no medium inf not medium cav available at the moment but still...

Best I can come up with is:

Combat Units:
• The Flayed Men (10)
• House Bolton Blackguard (7)
• House Bolton Blackguard (7)
• Bolton Cutthroats (5)
• Bolton Cutthroats (5)

Non-Combat Units:
• Roose Bolton – Lord of the Dreadfort (0)
• Littlefinger or Varys 4)

Points: 38 (2x dread captains I suppose)


I see a few serious options in a Lannister or Stark list with Roose as a commander but strictly neutral?
What did you come up with?

 

[Fronx]

It is indeed problematic: I dislike Cutthroats, just too poor armor. I think it is not possible to make interesting Neutral build up with current available units (even the Blackquards in your list need to be proxied for few months still until they are released).

I Would like to fit one Bastard's Girls there, but they cost too much (would need to replace 2 and add cheap NCU or Attachment, making too poor army in amount of units).

 

[Werewolf90]

It is indeed problematic: I dislike Cutthroats, just too poor armor. I think it is not possible to make interesting Neutral build up with current available units (even the Blackquards in your list need to be proxied for few months still until they are released).

I Would like to fit one Bastard's Girls there, but they cost too much (would need to replace 2 and add cheap NCU or Attachment, making too poor army in amount of units).

I think Cutthroats are the best option. Keep them cheap-they hit as hard as most elite units. I would run 3-4 units. And Bastard's Girls are probably one of the best units available right now, they just need careful setup to work best. 6 always passes for armor saves, so charge anything with sundering. Also they are the only shooting in the faction and I wouldn't imagine running a list without them. Throw in Bron and you are throwing out more dice than anything else in the game.

 

[Zzzman74]

I decided to try to play a pure neutral army for my battle with my buddies tomorrow. It wasn't easy because I've only got the Cutthroats, BastGirls and Falyed Men to work with (plus the attachments). I ended up taking simply 2 Cutthroats, 2 bastGirls, and 1 Flayed men. We will see how it goes.

I think neutral will be a fun faction to play but they need more units. Until then, we may house rule that when playing neutral, you can add one non-neutral to your army but you need to add a neutral attachment to them.
I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow

 

[PinkFoam]

I think the Bolton's will be greatly strengthened by the addition of Blackguards. A more "medium" infantry would be welcome, but right now without any tough unit bracing against the enemy, Neutral seems to end up eating too many casualties or sinking too many points into Flayed Men.

 

[Elkerlyc]

The price drop (mentioned by Michael Shinall) to 6 will help a bit too I think.
Ideally (for me) the Blackguards would be a 3+ save/7+ morale or 4+ save/6+ morale.
This means a fairly solid unit to park your commander in.
Cutthroats are nice and all but they are not very survivable...

 

[PinkFoam]

In the defense of cutthroats, they can be weirdly survivable if you are using Roose as an attachment and attack an enemy with Cutthroats. They are nearly guaranteed to fail their panic roll if Roose charged them and you kill one enemy model in combat, as their panic test will be at a -2 and rerolled due to Roose. When they fail that panic test, the cutthroats also replenish wounds.

The SAD part of using this loadout is that Ramsay HAS to lead an army that Roose is not in charge of. And I hates that.

 

[Oakwolf]

I've played the Boltons often, and i must say i like their "frightening" theme. The main problem with the Boltons right now is that none of their combat unit options can really hold a position. That's what i am hoping that the Blackguards will do.

Cutthroats have to be activated early to benefit from their really good offence. If they get attacked, then they'll loose dice quickly and won't inflict the vulnerable condition when they strike back. They really aren't well suited to hold back on an objective, but so far it's our main line.
The Bastard's Girls are okay to flank with, if there's no cavalry ahead of them. Give them Bronn and hog the wealth zone and they will scare alot of units, but again, unable to hold a point. At their cost...they also run into issues vs melee specialists (Greataxes, Berserkers, Night's watch veterans...etc.).
The Flayed Men are impressive, but too costly to stick on an objective, so like most of our troops they must surge forward.

There's definitely a spot left for the Blackguards, but i wonder where they went...given that almost everything previewed at the KS has been released or hinted at.

 

[sacrilege83]

The 40 points list I'm working with is:
-Roose Bolton (Commander, NCU)
-Little Finger (4pts NCU)
-Ramsey + Reek (3pts)
-Dreadfort Captain (1pt)
-High Senechal (0pts NCU)

-Flayed Men x2 (20pts)
-Bastard's Girls (7pts)
-Cutthroats (5pts)

The army failed the first go around because I'm still learning the ropes. Cutthroats are a glass cannon, and the Girls also get slaughter in close combat by elites. Played only one game with this list in a Free-for-all 1v1v1. Next time I play this, I'm going to force the enemy which has no shooting to come to me by peppering them with the Girls and have the Cutthroats act as a side detachment to the unit to counter charge into a flank if possible. One Flayed will harrass one board edge while the other protects the other side of the Girls or sallies forth when the opportunity arises.

 

[Oakwolf]

The 40 points list I'm working with is:
-Roose Bolton (Commander, NCU)
-Little Finger (4pts NCU)
-Ramsey + Reek (3pts)
-Dreadfort Captain (1pt)
-High Senechal (0pts NCU)

-Flayed Men x2 (20pts)
-Bastard's Girls (7pts)
-Cutthroats (5pts)

The army failed the first go around because I'm still learning the ropes. Cutthroats are a glass cannon, and the Girls also get slaughter in close combat by elites. Played only one game with this list in a Free-for-all 1v1v1. Next time I play this, I'm going to force the enemy which has no shooting to come to me by peppering them with the Girls and have the Cutthroats act as a side detachment to the unit to counter charge into a flank if possible. One Flayed will harrass one board edge while the other protects the other side of the Girls or sallies forth when the opportunity arises.

1v1v1 are tricky to build/balance a force for, imho. Now for 1v1 i have a decent grasp of neutrals (Boltons) so i can discuss more.

The big deal with your list is the 2x Flayed Men. That alone calls for particular tactical insight, due to their cost and the fact you'll likely be out-activated. I could go for a weight watchers treatment of your list...if you want my advice.

Roose and Littlefingers are really fun for the neutrals, and they can produce horrible and odd tactic zone combos. 2 NCUs is pretty much necessary at 40pts anyway.

2x Flayed Men, that's your battering ram AND your lifeline. They'll likely have the duty to kill whatever the enemy uses to take and hold objectives, so they can "steal" the VP with the free manoeuvre on that turn, in addition to combat vp. That's the only way they can hold objectives without wasting turns. If Flayed Men are not actively helping you win the game at all times, they are helping your enemy just by standing there.
3x Cutthroats. While a total glass cannon unit, having 3 melee infantry will allow you to threaten more areas of the battlefield. They do pack an extreme punch for their cost and if the opponent leaves one of them unchecked, they can (and have done for me often) wipe a unit that costs more. That's especially true if you can get on the flanks of a unit that is too busy bracing for the impact of your Flayed Men.
1 Dreadfort Captain (in a Cutthroat unit). The vicious ability makes it pretty good at spreading panic, and even if you loose the unit, it's just 1pt.

So yeah i removed Ramsay and a unit of Bastard Girls. They're both interesting entries, but they cost 10pts (meaning you technically have 3 units for 30pts), which i replaced with 2 units of Cutthroats. If you want them in, i would perhaps think of switching a Flayed Men unit instead.

 

[Elkerlyc]

Having proxied Bolton Blackguards once Ican vouch for them.

Roose (commander), Littlefinger&Varys
1x Flayed men
2x Blackguards
2x Cutthroats

Worked like a charm.
(that one game it did anyhow So YMMV)

 

[Oakwolf]

Having proxied Bolton Blackguards once Ican vouch for them.

Roose (commander), Littlefinger&Varys
1x Flayed men
2x Blackguards
2x Cutthroats

Worked like a charm.
(that one game it did anyhow So YMMV)

Oh yeah, i look forward to get hands on that unit. They're also our best bet to put Roose and especially Ramsay as attachments.

 

[sacrilege83]

1v1v1 are tricky to build/balance a force for, imho. Now for 1v1 i have a decent grasp of neutrals (Boltons) so i can discuss more.

The big deal with your list is the 2x Flayed Men. That alone calls for particular tactical insight, due to their cost and the fact you'll likely be out-activated. I could go for a weight watchers treatment of your list...if you want my advice.

Roose and Littlefingers are really fun for the neutrals, and they can produce horrible and odd tactic zone combos. 2 NCUs is pretty much necessary at 40pts anyway.

2x Flayed Men, that's your battering ram AND your lifeline. They'll likely have the duty to kill whatever the enemy uses to take and hold objectives, so they can "steal" the VP with the free manoeuvre on that turn, in addition to combat vp. That's the only way they can hold objectives without wasting turns. If Flayed Men are not actively helping you win the game at all times, they are helping your enemy just by standing there.
3x Cutthroats. While a total glass cannon unit, having 3 melee infantry will allow you to threaten more areas of the battlefield. They do pack an extreme punch for their cost and if the opponent leaves one of them unchecked, they can (and have done for me often) wipe a unit that costs more. That's especially true if you can get on the flanks of a unit that is too busy bracing for the impact of your Flayed Men.
1 Dreadfort Captain (in a Cutthroat unit). The vicious ability makes it pretty good at spreading panic, and even if you loose the unit, it's just 1pt.

So yeah i removed Ramsay and a unit of Bastard Girls. They're both interesting entries, but they cost 10pts (meaning you technically have 3 units for 30pts), which i replaced with 2 units of Cutthroats. If you want them in, i would perhaps think of switching a Flayed Men unit instead.

Problem is I'm stuck with the force that I have, it is a 2x KS pledge force plus the Cutthroats add on. I'm looking for two Blackguard units when they release and The Brave Companions and this will give my neutral army more options. As of now I know my infantry units are weak and that I have to make due with what I've got.

 

[-Ekko-]

Hey guys, I'm struggling to make my 40 pts list, here's my first try, what do you think :

Commander: Ramsay Snow – The Bastard of Bolton
Points: 39

Combat Units:
• House Bolton Blackguard (6) with Ramsay Snow – The Bastard of Bolton (0) and Theon Greyjoy – Reek (0)
• The Bastard's Girls (7) with Bronn – The Sellsword (2)
• The Flayed Men (10)
• Bolton Cutthroats (5) with Dreadfort Captain (1)

Non-Combat Units:
• Lord Varys – The Spider (4)
• Petyr Baelish – Littlefinger (4)

So,"Our blades are sharp" can make Blackguards hit very decently, "Cruel methods" on the Bastard's girls potentially make this unit attack 4 times in a round on the same unit (Cruel methods > 1 range attack > free charge > NCU on the swords for another free attack > Activation of the unit for another attack) or even 6 times If I destroy a unit everytime .

My concern is that I only got 6 activation, and only 4 units on the board...

What do you think?

 

[Warlax]

I've been running this 40 point list:
Bolton Cutthroats (5)
Bolton Cutthroats (5)
Bolton Cutthroats (5)
The Flayed Men (10)
The Bastard's Girls (7)

Roose Bolton, Lord of the Dreadfort (0) Commander
Lord Varys, The Spider (4)
Petyr Baelish, Littlefinger (4)

I really like having a third NCU in a neutral only army. Control of the tactics board is important for the neutral card deck to be good, and having Varys on top of three NCUs make it pretty easy to shut the opponent out of doing anything substantial with the tactics board the whole game. Neutral attachments might be better in the other armies, but I don't think any of them are worth what they cost in a neutral only army. Everything the attachments do, you can do better with the tactics board and cards.