Small or Large Warband?

[Gexa]

Looking for advice from people who have playtested their warbands! I am split between having a large (in size of models) warband using multiple thugs/thieves or a smaller warband that has more expensive models that are specialized. For the time being I am probably going to play pick-up games for a while so I am trying to stay away from the Captain.

My current warband is:
Necromancer and Apprentice
2 Archers
Templar/Marksman
Knight

If I were to increase the size I would most likely change it to:
Necromancer and Apprentice 200g
Knight 100g
2 Javeliner 50g
1 Archer 50g
4 Thugs 80g
2 War Dogs 20g

I've only played test games against myself so I havent had the chance to playtest my warband against a real opponent

[Timeshadow]

I prefer thieves over thugs as they are faster. I always go with more boots on the ground vs stronger because of diminishing returns and the fact that somone needs to leave with treasure. When I can afford better guys I get them (replace thieves with treasure hunters first).

[Gexa]

So its better to start with more models then upgrade them throughout a campaign as I get more funds

[Modhail]

That's been our local experience as well; go large initially, to maximise boots on the ground and compensate for the models leaving with treasure during a game. When funds allow, upgrade the bruisers first, as they'll be on the table the longest. Always keep a cadre of runners to take off with treasure.

[Philhelm]

A larger warband is definitely better than a smaller, more elite warband.  Given the wide range of statistical results a D20 roll will produce (as opposed to, say, 2D10 or 3D6, etc.), an extra point or two of Fight doesn't produce combat results which are all that reliable.  A Knight will certainly have a slight advantage over a Thug, but the Thug still has a reasonable chance of defeating the Knight.  Even the rulebook cautions that a Knight isn't necessarily worth five Thugs, which is true.

Also, since the goal is to get treasure and carry it off of the table, you will be severely handicapped if you come to the table with fewer models.

[Timeshadow]

Boots on the ground is the way to go ...that beeing said there is a way to have a more elite warband and still fill your ranks.

Construct (esp small ones) and animal companion are fairly easy to cast and net more boots for free.

EG:

Enchanter(Spells:Animate construct,TK,Strength,Animal companion,Wall,Write scroll,leap,heal)
App
Templar
Archer
Archer
Treasure hunter
Thief


This leaves three spots open for 2 small constructs and an animal companion DC for small construct is 8/10 which is not bad odds of getting both and once you have you 2 smalls you can keep trying for large in later games if you haven't gotten enough cash to replace with better soldiers.
Animal companion is an easy to cast witch spell DC 8 base allied for dc 10 to make a Barbarian equiv Bear that takes a spot. The greatest thing about all three of these guys is they are 100% expendable as they cost you nothing and are easily replaced.

With leap in your bag of tricks the fact that large constructs are slow is mostly a non issue and you can hunt the golem to get the cool upgrades too :-)


As an example.

[Darkson71]

Second (third? Fourth?) the boots on the ground approach. If you take a band of 5 or 6 my larger band will either run of with the treasures you can't or swamp you in combat. A knight might be better than a thug, but the f I get 3, 4 or more in combat with you he probably won't last long.

Quantity over quality, at least to start with.

[Azzabat]

I got boots over quality too.
My starting war band is always:

Wizard
Apprentice
Tracker
Tracker
Archer
Thief
Thief
Thief
Warhound
Warhound

The Bowmen go off with the Wizard, the thieves with the Apprentice, and the 2 hounds go off hunting magic users or Treasure carriers.