First 1000 Points of Orcs & Goblins – and the Warmachine Dilemma
First 1000 Points of Orcs & Goblins – and the Warmachine Dilemma
We had one of those very relatable army-building moments this week: a fresh 1000-point Orc & Goblin Tribes list hit the chat, and almost immediately the discussion turned into two classic hobby questions:
- What’s the easiest format to read?
- How do we squeeze in a Doom Diver and/or a Bolt Thrower without breaking the list?
And honestly, both are important.
The list as it stands
Stas dropped a 1000-point build for Warhammer: The Old World, built around a solid mix of punchy infantry, mobile threats, and a bit of magic support:
- Black Orc Bigboss on War Boar
- Orc Weirdnob level 3 with Battle Magic and a Dispel Scroll
- 16 Black Orcs with Stubborn
- 25 Goblins with spears and shields
- 15 Goblin Wolf Riders with shortbows, light armour, and Reserve Move
- 9 Orc Boar Boyz with Big Un’s
That gives the army a really fun shape already. There’s a proper chunky center, some fast pressure from the cavalry, and enough bodies that it feels like Orcs & Goblins rather than just a handful of expensive toys.
Pretty format vs short format
A surprisingly important part of list-building is just how we look at lists.
Stas asked whether we preferred the full, detailed version or the shorter summary format. Michał immediately went for the answer many of us would probably give too: the “pretty” version, ideally as a PDF, is just much easier to read at a glance.
And yes — that tracks. When we’re discussing cuts, upgrades, and unit roles, readability matters more than we’d like to admit. A clean export from New Recruit is often the difference between:
- actually thinking about the list,
- and just squinting at points values while pretending we understand what’s going on.
So this may be the least tactical takeaway from the conversation, but it’s still real: good formatting helps army-building.
What we like in this build
Even before getting into possible changes, there’s a lot here that we like.
Black Orc core feels proper
The Black Orc mob gives the list a real anchor. At 1000 points, a dependable infantry block matters a lot, and Black Orcs bring exactly the kind of presence we want from the center of an Orcs & Goblins army.
The mounted elements give it speed
The combination of Wolf Riders and Boar Boyz makes the list feel active rather than static. One unit can harass, screen, and pressure flanks, while the other threatens an actual hit.
Magic support without going overboard
A level 3 Weirdnob with a Dispel Scroll is a meaningful investment at this level, but it also gives the army some flexibility and protection. It’s not a magic-heavy gimmick list — just enough to matter.
The real question: where do the warmachines fit?
The moment Stas said he’d like to include a Doom Diver and/or a Bolt Thrower, the list became much more interesting.
Because yes, those pieces are very Orc & Goblin. They add range, threat projection, and that lovely sense that the army might solve a problem through engineering, luck, or catastrophic comedy.
The problem is simple: at 1000 points, every change hurts.
To add artillery, something meaningful has to go.
The likely pressure points
Without inventing a final answer that wasn’t actually decided in chat, we can still point to the obvious places where cuts might happen.
1. Trimming the Wolf Riders
Fifteen Goblin Wolf Riders is a lot at this points level. It’s a very noticeable investment, and it’s probably the first place we’d look if the goal is to free up points for a warmachine.
Dropping the unit size could keep the role intact while making room elsewhere.
2. Shaving the Boar Boyz
The Boar Boy mob is another expensive element, especially with Big Un’s. They absolutely bring hitting power, but they also eat a big chunk of the list.
If the plan is to fit in artillery, this is another obvious candidate for a reduction rather than a full removal.
3. Looking at the Goblin block
The 25 Goblins are comparatively cheap, which makes them less tempting as a source of points, but in small games every little bit counts. If the rest of the list stays untouched, even a modest trim here could contribute.
Doom Diver or Bolt Thrower?
This is where the fun starts.
If we’re choosing emotionally, the answer is very easy: Doom Diver. It’s one of those units that just screams Orcs & Goblins.
If we’re choosing based on trying to fit something into a tight 1000-point shell, the Bolt Thrower might be the easier inclusion depending on how many points need to be found.
So the real decision may not be which one is cooler — because let’s be honest, we all know the answer — but which one the list can support without losing its identity.
Where we’ve landed for now
At the moment, this feels like a list in that very enjoyable in-between stage:
- the core idea is already there,
- the army has a clear shape,
- and now it’s time for the painful but satisfying part of tweaking it.
We don’t have a final cut yet, but the direction is clear: find space for at least one warmachine without flattening the parts that already make the list fun.
That’s exactly the kind of army-building problem we like — not rebuilding from scratch, just nudging a good list toward something even more characterful.
If Stas ends up making room for the Doom Diver, we’ll absolutely want to see how it performs. And if the answer turns out to be “keep the current list and add the warmachines later at higher points,” that’s also a very Orc & Goblin solution: more stuff, more chaos, more fun.