Though you may use an Allies Contingent list to field a full army of several thousand points, the list is by its nature limited in comparison to a full army list. The Allies Contingent list is designed to be used in concert with a main army.
To use an Allies Contingent, choose your main army as normal. In addition, you may spend some of your points on units from the Allies Contingent list. The number of allied characters and units you may include is dependant on the size of the whole army, as detailed on the following chart. Note that this is the size of the whole force, not simply the points spent on the main army. For example, if you spent 2,000 points on your main army and 1,000 points on an Allies Contingent, this is treated as a 3,000 points army.
As with a main army, there is a minimum number of Core units your Allies Contingent must contain. In addition, it must also include at least one character to be the Contingent Commander. This must be the character with the highest Leadership, just like the Army General. At least half of the total points of the whole force must be spent on main army characters and units. For instance, in a 3,000 points force, at least 1,500 points must be spent on the main army.
The types of armies that may include an Allies Contingent depends upon the Contingent itself. These are divided into two types: friendly and unfriendly. If taken with a friendly main army, then no special rules apply. If taken with an unfriendly army, the allies and the main army are uneasy with each other's presence. Though they may have a common cause, neither side is too happy about it! Overall, it's better for everyone concerned that they don't get too close to each other. This means that any main army units within 6" of an Allies unit suffers a -1 modifier to its Ld, after all other modifiers have been applied. The same is true for Allies units within 6" of main army units.
Army Size | Allied Characters** | Allied Core* | Allied Special | Allied Rare |
1,000 or less | - | - | - | - |
Up to 2,000 | 1-2 | 1-3 | 0-2 | - |
Up to 3,000 | 1-3 | 2-4 | 0-3 | 0-1 |
Up to 4,000 | 2-4 | 3-5 | 0-4 | 0-2 |
Up to 5,000 | 3-5 | 4-6 | 0-5 | 0-3 |
*Add +1 to the minimum and maximum numbers for each extra 1,000 points.
**If the army is 3,000 points or more, one allied character may be a Lord for each 1,000 points or part over 3,000 points. Eg, 3,000-3,999 points, one character may be a Lord, 4,000-4,999 points, you may have two Lords, etc.