New to Seraphon and went wild building Saurus models before realizing that it is all about Skinks. Oh well... I want to build a 2K list around my Saurus using the many cool battalions available but am confused about how some of them work. I have the models necessary to build both Sunclaw Starhost & Firelance Starhost -- now I could fold this into a Dracothian's Tail or Fangs of Sotek, is that correct? But I'd have to pay the points for all three battalions? And which of the latter is better? Any advice would be appreciated.
Yep, you have to pay the cost for every battalion you include, even the ones that are part of a grand battalion. In my signature there is a link to a few list I have created. There is a Fangs of Sotek list as well a Dracothion's Tail list. I hope this is helpful!
I take the Dracothion's Tail/Shadowstrike to tournaments monthly. So far out of 12 matches I have 12 major Victories. The FoS list is easier to wield though.
Dracothion is more competitive but hard to use properly (and gets more competitive ad even ahrder to play with shadowstrike); the knights are a very basic cavalry battleline. Fangs of Sotek might not be 100% competitive but is still very good at 2k. Those warriors really hit hard, you just have to shield them for a turn or two. Very fun to play, but extremely painful in moving if you don't have trays. I would go the Dracothion+Shadowstrike route. Buying Skinks and Ripperdactyl adds more variety, and you get access to the smashing 1k Shadoowstrike lists. Full-saurus Fangs of Sotek can be less expensive because saurus warriors are always on ebay at good prices. Just remember to buy some skinks to be summoned.
This is what I have the models to build right now: Slann Starmaster (260) - General - Trait: Great Rememberer - Artefact: Incandescent Rectrices Saurus Astrolith Bearer (160) - Artefact: Light of Dracothion Saurus Sunblood (120) - Artefact: Prism of Amyntok Saurus Scar-Veteran on Cold One (100) - Artefact: Blade of Realities 30 x Saurus Warriors (300) - Spears 10 x Saurus Warriors (100) - Spears 10 x Saurus Warriors (100) - Spears 5 x Saurus Knights (90) - Lances 5 x Saurus Knights (90) - Lances 5 x Saurus Knights (90) - Lances Troglodon (160) Firelance Starhost (150) Sunclaw Starhost (130) Dracothion's Tail (80) Balewind Vortex (40) Prismatic Palisade (30) Total: 2000 / 2000 Extra Command Points: 3 Allies: 0 / 400 Wounds: 119 OR Slann Starmaster (260) - General - Trait: Great Rememberer - Artefact: Incandescent Rectrices Saurus Oldblood on Carnosaur (260) - Artefact: Blade of Realities Saurus Sunblood (120) - Artefact: Light of Dracothion Saurus Scar-Veteran on Cold One (100) - Artefact: Prism of Amyntok Skink Starpriest (80) 30 x Saurus Warriors (300) - Spears 10 x Saurus Warriors (100) - Spears 10 x Saurus Warriors (100) - Spears 5 x Saurus Knights (90) - Lances 5 x Saurus Knights (90) - Lances 5 x Saurus Knights (90) - Lances Sunclaw Starhost (130) Fangs of Sotek (70) Firelance Starhost (150) Prismatic Palisade (30) Soulsnare Shackles (20) Total: 1990 / 2000 Extra Command Points: 3 Allies: 0 / 400 Wounds: 117 I see +/- to both lists but am leaning towards the former as it allows for more potential summoning and I do have a unit of Skinks and two Razordons I could quickly paint up.
The main advantage of taking DT over FoS would be that you can place your unit of 30 Warriors in the Heavens. This means you can keep them safe until you are ready to attempt a charge with them. On the other hand, FoS will allow you more starting command points to pump out of your OldbloodCarno and ScVcoldone. The additional movement turn one is also huge on units that have drums. Personally, I would be more likely to DT, drop the Balewind and Palisade, and add in Cogs. For either list, consider taking artifacts from the Malign Sorcery Book. There are a number of Realms with especially powerful options. Ulgu, Shyish, and Ghyran are the ones I tend favor.
Thanks for the helpful feedback! I don't have Cogs but will get them eventually. All my units that can have drums do. Will investigate realm artifacts.