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I wanted to try the new factions, so I set up a 2 v 2 battle last night, with a total of 4 5 point factions on the table, using pretty much all my Dark Age figures.
So we had Jomsvikings and Anglo-Saxons v Bretons & Scots.

An interesting game, and a chance to see how the new faction work.

Jomsvikings: 2x6 HG with axes, 2x8 Bondi
Jomsvikings are interesting - nothing like Vikings, who want to get stuck in. More like playing Anglo-Danes; you have to wait and wear down the opponent until he cracks and lets you get your Wrath up a bit. Devastating combos are possible if you get lucky with activation pool (or your opponent lets your Wrath get above 3, but I can't imagine anyone making that mistake twice). In our game, Wrath got up to 2, and no further.

Anglo-Saxons: 1x4 HG, 2x12 Warriors, 1x12 Levy with bows
Anglo-Saxons are better than I expected. The big unit rules really help them, and the Stout Hearts ability lets you keep it up even when things get tough. A nice faction, fairly easy to use.

Bretons: 2 x 4HG, 1x 8 mounted warriors, 2 x 8 foot warriors
Shooty, shooty shooty, run away. No combat abilities apart from disengagement, but boy can they shoot. Even more extreme than the Welsh, but don't benefit from broken ground. Tricky to use well, I think

Scots: 2 x 4HG, 2 x 8 warriors, 1 x 12 levy bows
Well, this is the one we couldn't quite figure out. We could see how it is supposed to work: rack up defence abilities, and use that special orders/reaction to get extra Saga dice in the opposing turn, use Counter Attack at the crucial moment. But it seems very hard to actually do it in practice; there aren't enough dice!
Has anyone had success with Scots, and if so, how?

The results of the battle:
Mutual destruction of Bretons and Anglo-Saxons - advantage Bretons
Scots put up stiff fight but eventually overwhelmed by Jomsviking charge (powered by all 8 Saga dice after some lucky activation pool rolls)

In the last two weeks I tried the game and fell in for it. I chose immediately the Scots because... well I have a flag of Scotland above my bed: this could be enough?

I have to managed with the rules in the first days and sometimes I made error, but with the help of some nice people of this forum and upgrading my experience with this faction, I can say now that they're outstanding. They get a lot of ability which help them to receive any charge and hold it, then they will strike back really hard!

They are defensive, but when they have weakened the enemy, this is the point when their counterattack ability enter in play.

In my (few) experience I held against almost everything using wisely ability such: Give ground, Of wood and Steel, Tireless,and especially Hold your ground. Then for the critical moment I used Counterattack which can add to your troop and insane number of attack dice. I always fight defensively adding extra defensive dice to my pool: this combined with Combat pool and hold the ground more often than not saved my spearmen.

When I managed to did this, and put "Of wood and Steel" on the balance I got 4/5 extra defensive dice and something like 8/9 attack dice.

I try to explain:

Usually, when I expect a charge on my spearmen I try to save dice in the board (or if I was lucky I put them there with Without Mercy)

Suppose to have a nine warrior unit who is charged by enemy heartguard and to have two snakes, one on Hold the Ground, and one on Combat Pool. Suppose to have set a Snake and a Goose on your of wood and steel too.

You start the melee with this situation:

9 attack which you reduce fighting defensively 4,5 in attack and 2,5 in defense so:

5 attack dice and 3 defense dice (Rounding Up)
+
3 extra defense dice from Hold the Ground and Combat Pool
+
2 Attack dice from Of wood and Steel activation
+
6 extra dice from Of wood and Steel ability (3 + 3)

You will fight against a 8 heartguard with 13 attack dice and 6 defense dice, he attack you with 16 attack dice...

Can you see??

Try to imagine to swap this ability in attack using counter-attack too (a lot of dice I know, but it could be the slam for victory in game such Clash of the warlords)

You have to be wise in placing your dice, remember that Scots are defensive so deploy them well and use the ground if you can, to protect one or both your flank.

Cheers

5 attack dice and 3 defense dice (Rounding Up)

Sorry, they're only 4 attack dice.

Math is not my best subject!