Empire "Core" Infantry

[MallSecurity]

I've been looking over the new Empire book and the 7th edition rules and have been wondering how to setup my Empire Infantry for the "Base" of my army. I used to take units of 16 near the parent unit to create a detachment that could hold its own against opposing weak/damaged 'normal' units.

However, Detachments no longer get the standard bonus for being near their parent unit, and getting a unit of twenty (for Max rank bonus) requires and unwieldly unit of 40 for the parent. I have been thinking of a few new ideas for a basic setup.

Against Boldo today I tried 2 units of 30 for the parent units and 1-2 detachments of 15 Halbs on them. At no point did the detachments ever threaten a real unit by themselves though.

I was think about taking 3 units of 20 spearmen/swordsman for the parent units with detachments of 10 Halbs or Crossbows. The points work out the be slightly more for the three units (about 20 points more).

This would allow me to have more 'blocks' on the table, but would they be too weak against shooting/magic to viable?

Any comments/ideas?

Sorry I'm just kind of running ideas through my head at work =P

[johnboo]

Parent units of 20 are just too small. One random dead guy and you are already behind in CR. I'm thinking go big, just like you tried. 30+ and 15 halberds. You still have to play other stuff to keep the opponent honest - 2 large-ish units of knights maybe?

Can detachments be smaller than 10 still? Im thinking 36 + 2 units of 8. One on each side. You really only want to remove the rank bonus of the opponent, and having to deal with 2 detachments is much worse than dealing with one. Maybe something to try?

[johnboo]

Apparently, a few empire players have adapted to using 2 detachments of 9 models in a 3x3 formation. Obviously not a great idea for the shooting detachments, but sounds good for swordsmen, halberdiers, or free co. Sounds like a good plan - unit of 25+ and 2 detachments of 9.

25 spears, FC, shields
9 halberd
9 free co
---
260 pts

[Catachan Colonel]

i always thought of detachments helping a core unit never threatening anything on their own anyway. use them for the counter charge...

if you want to threaten something buy another real unit

my $0.02

[Wolf Lord Snorville]

40 handgunners
nuff sed