My Empire for an Empire army

Well as ya'll know, I've been pining for an Empire army for some time now -- at least a few weeks. What's stopped me from making one? The price tag.

Empire is great. It's flexible -- you can go magic, shooting, artillery, cavalry, infantry -- or a healthy mix of 'em all. It can be all plastic -- no white metal monstrous mounts to pin and glue and file and fight. But like most Horde armies, it's spendy spendy spendy.

Witness my dream list. I won't take credit for thinking it up. I borrowed it whole and full from the Reman Legions website. He, in turn, borrowed the concepts for it from the "TVI" build -- an Imperial list created by a guy using the "The Village Idiot" as his moniker on warhammer-empire.com.

Basically, it's a list that takes advantage of my favorite thing about Empire armies -- the detachment system. The list focuses on great gobs of Empire swordsmen. When I design Orc & Goblin lists, I try to design them with these things in mind (which of course, they can't do because of Animosity).

It's a magic-free list. It's got just a tad of shooting (mostly warmachines) and it's done well at tournaments (albeit with a heavily-converted, competently-painted army).

However, the looming price tag on this list: $600+ after tax.

Now call me crazy, but I'm of the opinion that $300-350 is the sweet spot for Warhammer armies -- at least at 2250. And as badly as I want to play this list, I just can't imagine sinking this kind of green into it. I mean what if it just sucks? What if it isn't my style. I spend $400-450 on my initial Orcs & Goblins build -- and have been frustrated ever since. And I've bought Ogres since then (which I love but don't expect to win with). And lets not even talk about how long it would take to glue this army together -- let alone paint it.

Anyway, here's the list for your perusal. Maybe I'll do it. Maybe I won't. Maybe I'll just do 1000 points at a time to make it a less-bitter drug of choice to swallow.

2250 Pts - Empire Roster - 2250 Reman Legions Empire

1 General of the Empire @ 145 Pts
General; Hand Weapon; Full Plate Armor; Shield
1 Rod of Command @ [50] Pts

1 Captain of the Empire (Battle Standard Bearer) @ 183 Pts
Hand Weapon; Full Plate Armor; Battle Standard Bearer
1 Imperial Banner @ [100] Pts

1 Captain of the Empire @ 60 Pts
Hand Weapon; Full Plate Armor; Shield

1 Captain of the Empire @ 60 Pts
Hand Weapon; Full Plate Armor; Shield

28 Swordsmen @ 318 Pts
Musician Mus; Standard Bearer Std; Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Shield
1 Duellist @ [16] Pts
Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Shield
1 War Banner @ [25] Pts
5 [Det] Archers @ [40] Pts
Hand Weapon; Bow; Skirmishers
9 [Det] Swordsmen @ [54] Pts
Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Shield

29 Swordsmen @ 283 Pts
Musician Mus; Standard Bearer Std; Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Shield
5 [Det] Archers @ [40] Pts
Hand Weapon; Bow; Skirmishers
9 [Det] Swordsmen @ [54] Pts
Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Shield

28 Swordsmen @ 293 Pts
Musician Mus; Standard Bearer Std; Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Shield
1 Duellist @ [16] Pts
Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Shield
5 [Det] Archers @ [40] Pts
Hand Weapon; Bow; Skirmishers
9 [Det] Swordsmen @ [54] Pts
Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Shield

29 Swordsmen @ 283 Pts
Musician Mus; Standard Bearer Std; Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Shield
5 [Det] Archers @ [40] Pts
Hand Weapon; Bow; Skirmishers
9 [Det] Swordsmen @ [54] Pts
Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Shield

5 Pistoliers @ 97 Pts
Musician Mus; Hand Weapon; Brace of Pistols; Light Armour; Fast Cavalry
5 Warhorse @ [0] Pts

5 Pistoliers @ 97 Pts
Musician Mus; Hand Weapon; Brace of Pistols; Light Armour; Fast Cavalry
5 Warhorse @ [0] Pts

1 Great Cannon @ 100 Pts
Cannon
3 Crew @ [0] Pts
Hand Weapon

1 Great Cannon @ 100 Pts
Cannon
3 Crew @ [0] Pts
Hand Weapon

1 Helstorm Rocket Battery @ 115 Pts
3 Crew @ [0] Pts
Hand Weapon

1 Helstorm Rocket Battery @ 115 Pts
3 Crew @ [0] Pts
Hand Weapon

Total Roster Cost: 2249
202 Models!
2 Casting Dice
2 Dispel Dice

Your thoughts?

Also: I'm trying to keep in mind that "tournament-winning" armies may have also won due to high composition and paint scores. So would this be a competitive "friendly" list for around the Battle Bunker? I know it's not cheesy. That's not my concern. It's just a lot of little infantry that I will probably never get around to painting and it would be a shame if I realized that I should have put together a more balanced force!

Thanks guys!