[Funka Genocide]

well they didn't change point values so the size will remain rougly consistant, its just unit size that might see a change. More of your points will go to less units pretty much, the net effect being the same number of models organized into a different number of units.

Although in smaller games around 2000 points or so I don't really think an army will have more than one larger horde unit. I believe they're changing it to be more objective based so you'll probably want one large unit to sit on top of an objective and smaller, more maneuverable units to run around causing mayhem.

Again its really a matter of army and playstyle. If we take an example of polar opposites, skaven against high elves, you could easily have 50 clan rats with spears, maybe even 2 such units.

However, even with such numbers, a unit of 20 swordmasters will more than likely decimate the rats.

basically, Your first rank can attack with its full compliment of attacks, then your second rank can attack with one supporting attack per model. Spears add another rank of attacks and being 10 wide (horde formation) adds another. So a standard unit with spears and 10 models wide can attack in 4 ranks, high elves can attack in 5 ranks.

But take those 20 swordmasters into 4 ranks of 5 against those 50 clan rats. We start to see some interesting interactions.

First, the swordmasters get 15 attacks at initiative 6 and strength 5. 10 from the front rank (2 attacks each) and 1 supporting attack from each model in the second rank.

Now lets look at the clan rats. They will be attacking in 4 ranks, but since they're fighting a frontage of 5, they will only get 20 attacks. Then its just a matter of comparing the quality of those attacks. 15 ws6, str 5 attacks before 20 ws3 s3 attacks.

You can count on the swordmasters cleaving through between 8 and 9 clan rats before the counter attacks, which should only garner about 3 to 4 casualties. They'll both have the same rank bonus and whoever charged will have +1. I think the larger unit might get a further +1 but still, its a resounding victory for the swordmasters anyways you slice it.

It looks like smaller, more elite units can really tear the heart of of larger blocks of troops, though being a horde makes them stubborn so its likely that even after being thrashed those larger blocks will stick around.