units with a charisteristic of their own

[Nirnman]

I was wondering if anyone else has found that certain units develop characteristics of their own. I'll give am example of what I mean: back in the days when I wargamed the American civil war using Airfix plastics there was one unit, a confederate one, that was unlucky and by that I don't mean that whoever had it had bad luck it was the unit itself, no matter where it was positioned  it seemed to attract any stray artillery rounds to it. it could be back behind hard cover and sure as eggs are eggs it would get hit by a shell intended for another target. before you ask how that could be back then  in our rules fall of shell was done on a grid table based on that in the old Bayonet set of rules where two dice were thrown and depending on the result the target point could be over/under/left or right of the original point of aim. On the balance of probability these misses should have been spread randomly among any units field but it was noticeable that this particular unit always seemed to be hit. so what I'm asking is does anyone else have similar units not just unfortunate like this but one who consistently perform badly or beyond expectation out of their troop class/quality. etc. As I say it was first noticed with this particular unit but there were others militia fighting heroically to the death or guards units routing before getting into action. Has anyone else ever experienced anything similar?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Guards always rout on their first break test, whether they can or cannot, it gives the rest of the army something to jeer at as they win.

Militia always make the heroic stand that breaks your opponent.

My second platoon US infantry has become an assault platoon. 15cm German infantry guns have kill stripes for dealing with Churchills and IS2s. My elite gerpantz aufklarangers in their seven half tracks bogged the whole platoon first time out on their first attempt, then they did it again. Their objective is now a ditched kfz250, with the crew sitting disconsulately on a bank while the driver tries to clear them and the gunner chats up the local totty.
A halfling archer unit is known as the Wolf hunters and is modelled with wolf pelts, as its all they ever seem to kil.  So, yes they do! And I'm glad they do, it's nice for units to have history.


But don't use anthropomorphic personification about inanimate objects, they don't like it!

[Wulf]

Sometimes I play Battleground: fantasy Warfare (if you don't know it, it's a miniatures game where the 'minis' are printed on cards, but movement & game mechanics are like standard minis games). Lizardmen cannot pass a Morale check. Doesn't matter the modifiers, doesn't matter what type of Lizardman unit, if it needs to make a morale check, it will fail.

Depressing, but reliable. 

However, they do get Triceratops Heavy cavalry, Raptor attack units, and a T-rex... 

[fsn]

I had a unit of 15mm Theban hoplites that broke in its first outing after being pelted by horse archers for most of the game.  Never seemed to recover its morale and first sign of an incoming arrow would turn and run.

Also had a Churchill tank that seemed impregnable. 88mm AT just bounced off it, unfortunately, the gunner was wall eyed and could never hit anything.

[ronan]

I have a 28mm elf (for SBH) who get killed everytime.
I was thinking to repaint him, to throw away the curse. 

[Steve J]

I had a Dwarf warband for Mordheim that would always fail morale checks, despite having the best stats for morale. Newly painted units always seem to be the first to get killed on the table. Your favourite heroic character would always get killed by a Gobbo with a dagger (Mordheim again).

[GordonY]

I find its always my most freshly painted unit that will rout/die/fail to move etc, moral of this is simple, dont paint the little feckers.

[Matt J]

My Dark Elves Bloodbowl team had a star blitzer and best painted model who died pretty much every game (everyone knew he was my star player so he was always on the end of a brutal kicking)

[Orcs]

When we played a lot of 28mm  Dark Age skirmish stuff at Tring, one of the guys had a "small boy with stick" figure.  Who often appeared in games as the boy looking after the sheep, residing in hut etc

He may have only had a stick but he was to be feared.  Viking warriors, Saxon Houscarls , Norman Lord it mattered not, all died at his hands, often more than one adversary in a game.

[ronan]

(...)one of the guys had a "small boy with stick" figure.  Who often appeared in games as the boy looking after the sheep
He may have only had a stick but he was to be feared.  Viking warriors, Saxon Houscarls , Norman Lord it mattered not, all died at his hands, often more than one adversary in a game.

Does he sell it ?

[mollinary]

I recall my first visit to the Wargames Holiday Centre in Scarborough in the 1990s. I had a section of the "French" line, consisting of Bavarian and Wurttemberg troops.  I manage to experience the two extremes of this syndrome in a single weekend.   I had a small unit of Bavarian Chevaulegers.   They took the opportunity to attack a unit of Russian Cuirassiers which had rallied back exhausted to their own lines . The Bavarians routed them, and rallied on the spot. They the turned smartly to their right, and charged through the flank of a Russian grand battery.  You have guessed it. They then rallied on the spot.  They charged a Russian column, which formed square. They needed a double Six to charge home. They threw a double six. They then retired to live off this story for the rest of their lives.

My forces also included the Wurttemberg Guards. As I recall, resplendent in bearskins and beautifully tailored uniforms.   They advanced inexorably, irresistibly, magnificently, until fired on by the Russian artillery. Fortunately no casualties were inflicted, but their beautiful uniforms were besmirched with mud. They retired in confusion to change.   On reaching the edge of the table they collected their thoughts. They about turned,  and marched bravely towards the enemy - only to arrive back in the vicinity of the front line just as the fighting ceased, and in time to claim their part in the victory.   But all who were present would recall their just deserts!

Mollinary.

[Genom]

I remember back to my Uni days and 2 characters in particular. An epic scale commissar who held an objective against the entire Eldar army, and a flagellant called Max the mad who in our Mordheim campaign was nigh on indestructible.  But at the same time I have had some units (My trollslayers spring to mind) who have caused the rout of my entire army in one game, and have never accomplished anything.

The other thing noticed in several warhammer games over the years is how hard war horses are, never mind those +4 shock elite Bretonians/Grail guard etc, I'd rather have a large unit of warhorses, much more effective.

[nikharwood]

The other thing noticed in several warhammer games over the years is how hard war horses are, never mind those +4 shock elite Bretonians/Grail guard etc, I'd rather have a large unit of warhorses, much more effective.

Yep. This. 

[ronan]

(...) who have caused the rout of my entire army in one game,

I had once a full southern division who fled after taking ONE casualty ( Johnny reb rules ) : I was advancing towards a smal union brigade, "a thin blue line" on a hill. It should have been easy... Then I start throwing very bad dice.. 
but my elf I was talking about ALWAYS ket killed. Reading what everybody wrote here, I' wondering if 'flashy' or well painted units are supposed to behave like this... 

[get2grips]

Wing Head.

Back in the day of early Warhammer and Forces of Fantasy at our local games club in Mansfield (Kerry Hill: anyone remember it?) the group organiser had a "Men of the West" hero.  Resplendent in full plate (with winged helm) and barded warhorse.  He charged a unit of skellies (seriously weak by those rules) bounced and was killed the next turn  

Chris promptly sold him in disgust.

Happy days