WHFB: Dark Elf Beastmasters

Under the previous army rules Beastmasters were a hero type, but pretty useles to be honest their only use being to ride Manticores. The other use they had was with War Hydras. Now I’ve painted the War Hydras previously, so thought I’d better get rund to painting the Beastmasters to go with them:

These are the previous versions of the Beastmasters – I’m not to keen on the current ones but these are in the pipeline as well.

My mate Rich pinned the arms as yes, they are separate and joined at the shoulder and so look at them and they fall apart.

Again, like the Bolt Thrower crew I have colour coded them painting the tabbards different colours.

After many mistakes playing them in WHFB v8, under the new rules the received wisdom is:

• The beastmasters more or less function as chariot crew under WHFB 8th ed rules.
• War Hydra Beastmasters may not be targeted either by magic, missile of close combat attacks EVER
• Beastmasters are not subject to the randomised hits (1-4 5-6) rules, EVER
• All wounds are targeted at the Hydra, so it must be against T5, Scaly skin 4+ save, and regeneration….
• However, there is not an additional 2 x 1 wounds….once the Hydra takes 5 wounds everything is removed….
• Therefore, until the War Hydra is dead, you always get 2 x 3 = 6 attacks from the two Beastmasters ( I thought they only had two….but their statline is A:2, and their scourges have a Special Rule giving them an Extra Attack that is Armour Piercing)
• So an unharmed War Hydra gets the following attacks:
  – I5, A(2+1) x 2 = 6 (two Beastmasters)
  – I2, A7 = 7 (one Hydra)
  – Thunderstomp d6 attacks

Words of wisdom to the contrary please…

Again, due to the poor light levels, the pictures show a much more pink version of the skin tone I use for Dark Elves which is usually Foundry Expert Flesh C, highlighted with D