Dogs of War

Osis’ Oasis Guard
Osis and his Oasis Guard are elite riders drawn from the nomadic tribes of the Land of the Dead. Although the Oasis Guard are drawn from all of the tribes, the majority of them are drawn from the Zamesi people.
The Oasis Guard were veteran soldiers before they even arrived in Tilea, having fought in endless nomad wars, and even serving for a time in the Scythan armies of Prince Tutankhanut.
Osis is a devout follower and servant of the Asp Goddess, and whilst under his command the Oasis Guard are expected to pay homage to her in addition to any gods they usually venerate. This custom seems advantageous to the Oasis Guard, as their prayer-inscribed arrowheads often seem uncannily accurate, finding the hearts of their victims with a worrying ease…
M WS BS S T W I A Ld
Osis 4 4 5 4 4 2 4 3 8
Zamesi Raider 4 3 4 3 3 1 3 1 7
Warhorse 8 3 - 3 3 1 3 1 5
Points: 140 Points
Unit Size: Osis and four Zamesi Raiders, including a Standard Bearer and Musician. The unit may include additional Zamesi Raiders for +15 Points Each.
Equipment: Osis carries two vicious scimitars (counts as a single hand weapon) a bow with poisoned arrows (making his shooting attacks Poisoned Attacks). He rides a Warhorse. Each Zamesi Raider carries a scimitar (hand weapon) and a bow, and rides a Warhorse.
Special Rules: Fast Cavalry, Just Like Back Home!
For Hire!: The Oasis Guard may be taken as a Special Choice in a Dogs of War army, or as a Rare Choice in a Tomb Kings, Vampire Counts or Empire army.

Just Like Back Home!
Hailing from the blasted desert realm of the Tomb Kings, the Oasis Guard have little fear left for the endless Skeletons and Zombies in the Old World..
Undead units do not cause Fear or Terror against the Oasis Guard.

MAGIC ITEMS
Serpent Charm (Magic Standard)
Alongside the fluttering banner of the Oasis Guard, and fixed to the sturdy banner pole, is a serpent charm dedicated to the Asp Goddess. As the banner flies and the Oasis Guard ride, the charm seems to writhe and hiss like a live snake.
When the unit fires its bows, they are treated as having the 2x Multiple Shot special rule.

So, what do people think?

I'd say they are really expensive for what they do. If you compare them to Desert Riders or dogs of war light cavalry, you'll see that they cost a lot more, and are actually worse. With only shortbows, a zamesi rider should cost about 12 pts, not 18. Also you cannot use two hand weapons while mounted. I would also make the banner always allow them to get multiple shots, they are not gonna hit much as they are.

Perhaps the Raiders should have ballistic skill 4. Just feels like in the fluff Asp, the Serpent Goddess grants them similar skill to what the Khemri currently have. But there's nothing to represent that in the rules other than a small Multiple Shots for one turn.

So agreed they are a bit expensive at the moment. But I do love the rule name "Just like back home!". These guys definately have character.

Thanks for the advice guys! Made some small changes, tell me what you think!

Ahhh... don't take everything said in a Vacuum.
With an increase in ballistic skill, bows, and the ability to fire multiple shots, they may have been correctly pointed around 18 points.

Base Light Cavalry is 11 points. That's your starting point. Bows are an extra 4 points. Most people don't take Bows though, so maybe that is too costly. Overall, it bumps them up to 15 points per model. (M4c's 1 point for shortbow, was because Shortbows lose a lot of range over bows).
I'm not sure how stat increases go in terms of points, M4c could give you more help there. But I'd assume ballistic skill is a point or two.

M4c's good with the points, see what he say's.

I did try. Their base points went up by 3 points and the 'unit cost' went up by about 10 points. I'm terrible with points though, so you know, live and learn (personal note: remember to think before editing posts)

As they are now, I'd point them at 15-16 pts, seems pretty fair. I do like the fluff for them, even if they remind me an awful lot about a certain other RoR from araby...

Cool! Thanks for the help guys!
Coming up next, Mercenary Halberdiers!

Actually, I love it! Two scimitars, poisoned arrows and fearless against the Undead! What's not to like?!

Thank you, glad to see people approve!





I'd almost forgotten about Osis and his ragtag temmates...