A definitive mechanical weakness of the Dogs of War faction is their restricted logistical access to magical artifacts: specifically, their limitation to Common Magic Items. This vulnerability, which they share with Kislev allied contingents, mathematically disadvantages them against standard Ravening Hordes lists, and certainly against fully developed Army Books.
However, historical documentation reveals a localized official ruleset: during the May 2005 Campaign Weekend, GW Italy published a campaign-exclusive list of Dogs of War magic items. These artifacts were subsequently re-validated in the July 2005 and 2006 Campaign Pack iterations.
Norn Consensus Ruling: GW-Italy Dogs of War Magic Items
After rigorous mechanical analysis of the GW-Italy Campaign-Weekend magic items for Dogs of War (Mercenaries), the Norn Consensus establishes the following standard for WHFB 6th Edition:
Casual and Competitive Play: Approved. The mechanics and point costs are mathematically balanced and legitimate.
Tournament Play: Excluded.
Mechanical Reasoning: The recommendation to restrict these items in tournament formats is not due to mechanical imbalance. The restriction is strictly logistical. The obscure historical origin of these artifacts means the wider player base lacks familiarity with them. Deploying these unknown variables in a timed, competitive event generates inevitable rules friction, verification delays, and cognitive fatigue. To maintain optimal operational flow during tournaments, these items must be excluded.
Here it is the analysis and the conclusions.
Category 1: Baseline Efficiency (Perfectly Balanced)
- Estalian Cloak (20 pts): Magic Resistance (1) is perfectly priced at 20 points. For comparison, the Empire's Cloak of Anraheir costs 25 points and grants Magic Resistance (1) alongside causing Fear to Beastmen.
- Book of the Mage (20 pts): Paying 15 to 20 points for an extra spell is the standard rate across 6th Edition. For instance, the Dark Elves' Tome of Furion grants one additional spell for 15 points.
- Banner of Steel (10 pts): A one-use +1 Armour Save is a minor but tactically useful buff. By comparison, permanent combat resolution banners like the War Banner cost 25 points.
Category 2: High Tactical Yield (Strong but Fairly Priced)
- Brace of Pistols of Sartosa (25 pts): A standard brace of pistols already provides multiple attacks and armor-piercing capabilities in close combat. Paying 25 points to make these attacks magical and to re-roll failed wounds is very reasonable and perfectly balanced for a fighting character.
- Bright Helm of Myrmidia (20 pts): Imposing a -2 Weapon Skill penalty on enemies in base contact significantly reduces their chance to hit your character. This is comparable to the Armour of Skoll (40 pts), which imposes a -1 Strength penalty on attackers. For 20 points, this is a great defensive item, and the situational Hatred against Tomb Kings adds excellent narrative flavor.
Category 3: Asymmetric Risk/Reward (Powerful with Heavy Drawbacks)
- Great Armour of Miragliano (25 pts): Gaining a 4+ armour save and 5+ ward save for only 25 points is remarkably cheap. Usually, a 5+ Ward save item on its own (like the Talisman of Protection) costs 15 points, and combined Ward/Armour items cost 40-55 points, like the Bretonnian Gilded Cuirass (55 pts). However, the severe penalties of -1 Movement and -3 Initiative completely justify the discount, turning your character into a slow "anvil" that will almost always strike last.
- Crown of Luccini (25 pts): Increasing a General's Leadership is incredibly powerful because all friendly units within 12" can use that Leadership value for their tests. Pushing a Mercenary General to Ld 10 makes your battleline extremely resilient. However, granting the enemy an extra 100 Victory Points if the General dies is a steep gamble that balances the item perfectly.
- Staff of Lightnings (25 pts): A Bound Spell Power Level 5 that inflicts D3+1 Strength 6 hits is highly destructive. For comparison, the Chaos Banner of Wrath (Bound Spell Level 4) inflicts D6 Strength 4 hits and costs 50 points. At 25 points, this is incredibly cheap for Strength 6 hits, but it is heavily balanced by the fact that the bearer takes a Strength 4 hit every time it is used, which is a massive risk for a fragile Toughness 3 Mage.
Category 4: The Mechanical Anomaly (The "Wildcard")
- Pike of Remas (25 pts): Absolute charge denial is incredibly rare in 6th Edition (most deterrents rely on Terror or Leadership tests). The closest equivalent in terms of altering charge rules is the Bane of the Craven (30 pts), which prevents a unit from voluntarily fleeing as a charge reaction. Paying 25 points for +1 Strength and frontal charge immunity against mounted units and monsters is arguably slightly undercosted. However, because it only protects against base-to-base contact with the bearer, smart opponents can simply flank the unit, challenge the character, or shoot them from afar.
