Crown of Command - correct use?

[Dranask1]

Hi there

We have been playing Warmaster for a short while and not really been using many magic items but have recently begun to do so.

We are in dispute over the correct use of the Crown of Command

"If the General has this potent magic item he can choose to issue his first order of each turn against an unmodified Command value of 10. No command penalties apply when the Crown of Command is used. This only applies to the General's first order each turn, subsequent orders must be given normally. Should the General fail to issue his first order, by rolling an 11 or 12, then the Crown of Command ceases to work."

Put simply if you use the Crown of Command is your next order to that same unit/s, its 2nd and therefore subject to a -1, or is the Crown of Command a free command?

I must admit I'm of the opinion it is the second command and therefore subject to a -1 but others disagree, stating its value of 100 points as their rational.

[Lex]

Only on his first order OF THE TURN


but every turn unless it fizzles (11 or 12 on a Crowned command)  <-- reason of cost

[Geep]

I would say that subsequent orders to the same unit count as 2nd orders.

As an example:
A unit reduced from 3 stands down to 1, and close to the enemy (-3 command penalty) is issued an order by a Ld9 general with the crown of command.
This is the general's first order of the turn, so giving orders to that unit tests against a Ld of 10.
Assuming that passes, the general can attempt to issue orders to that unit again, but this time (assuming that unit is still for some reason close to the enemy) would test against Ld 5 (Ld9, -2 for the 2 lost stands, -1 for the enemy proximity, -1 for the second order to the unit).

100pts is expensive, but all magic items are overcosted in Warmaster, and things with ongoing effects (eg. 1 order per turn) are very rare. Also, in Warmaster movement is vital, and the unmodified Ld10 thing almost guarantees one order per turn goes through regardless of the situation. That's pretty big.

[Stormwind]

Thanks, Geep, that's what me and Dranask were thinking!

[jchaos79]

I agree with Geep

[honestmistake]

me too I also suspect that it negates specific unit command penalties too. I am thinking trolls innate -1 here.

[Dranask1]

I admit I assumed ALL modifiers, so unit specific and distance as well. Would that be correct?

[honestmistake]

thats how my group read it. 1st order by the general every round CAN (but doesn't have to be) made with a flat command rating of 10. All subsequent orders attract normal penalties including those for multiple commands in a turn

[Geep]

I agree that the crown would ignore things like the troll Ld penalty.

[Dranask1]

Thank you all for your input. I decided to use the Crown the other night for my first time. At 100 points it had discounted it, as in my mind it equalled a wyvern or another unit of boar boys.

The game only lasted three turns, a combination of my luck and my opponents misfortune, undead and failed every command throw in his second and as it happened his last turn.

However even in such a short game I was able in my second turn to swing a brigade of wolf boys out of normal command reach into a position of distracting threat and in my third turn activate a brigade of mixed goblins and trolls that had previously declined to move.

I'd already planned its use in my fourth turn and was contemplating its use in the fifth subject OFC to the situation, when one group of wolf chariots and in another area my wolf chariots with flanking boar boys  and thirdly black orcs with their Orc support destroyed the three remaining major blocks of undead in just three different groups of melee.

Is the crown over priced? Not in my opinion anymore.
I will initially be using it to move cavalry units to threatening flanking positions where initiative can take over and then to move reluctant units or key units into melee.

Would I use it again? Most definitely. In my opinion for our 1500 point games it has become a must have.

[jchaos79]

Great feedback.

Do you have pics of the game ( ) ? always love to see battlefields

[Dranask1]

I do, have pics will create a new thread and put them there

[Dranask1]

Link to battle report here http://www.forum.specialist-arms.com/index.php?topic=6228.0