I'm just getting back into AoS and will be starting back with a pretty standard Thunderquake Templehost, see the bottom of the post. When I came to the end of the list I had 10pts left over and was wondering about the benefits of the Engine over the Chief on Stegger. Was looking for the communities views on each option, my own thoughts below on what they bring. Engine benefits: Potential healing which is huge for the Bastiladon More ranged mortal wounds Extra saurus for potential objective capturing Works with the Thunderlizard command trait Skink Chief on Stegadon benefits: Good ranged attack (esp combined with the burning head or hand of glory) Slightly better in combat Good command ability for the Salamander unit Lord Kroak (320) - Spell: Stellar Tempest Skink Starpriest (120) - Spell: Hand of Glory Saurus Astrolith Bearer (140) - Artefact: Fusil of Conflaguration Engine of the Gods (260) - General - Command Trait: Prime Warbeast - Artefact: Sacred Stegadon Helm 10 x Skinks (60) - Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers 10 x Skinks (60) - Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers 10 x Skinks (60) - Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers 5 x Saurus Guard (100) 12 x Salamander Hunting Pack (240) Bastiladon (220) - Weapon: Solar Engine Bastiladon (220) - Weapon: Solar Engine Thunderquake Temple-host (150) Bound The Burning Head (40) Total: 1990 / 2000 Extra Command Points: 1 Allies: 0 / 400 Wounds: 107
I think, Skink Chief is really only worth for his command ability. He becomes good in combat only if you invest artefacts and command traits, which you often don't want to do. His command ability shines only on large stacks of skinks/terradons/ripperdactlyls and stegadons. The problem is that in TL bastiladon-centered builds you are very tight on CP. This means, that Master of Star Rituals on Skink Priest and Aetherquartz brooch are essential, because double-shooting is the best CP investment. This means, that investing traits, artefacts and command points in Chief is not always possible. EotG, however, is not much worse in close combat, a bit cheaper (which is way more important, than it may look at the start), has two more wounds. His utility, however, is what makes it shine. You have 3 possible good effects, 1 bad and one ultra-rare but which can win you a game. Healing is not very useful, but if you bastiladons are hurt, it can bring them back to 1+ save. And bastiladons really need to be in full health to deal damage. MW has very long range and helps to snipe heroes. But, most importantly, summoning. Coalesced doesn't have access to it, outside of EotG. And 10 saurus are way better than they used to be. IMO, EotG's utility beats combat prowess of Chief in situation, when you don't know what to take.
Reasons for getting our various Stegadon variants: Reasons to get the skink chief: - You desperatly want that command ability - You desperatly want to have double flamers on 1 model(Prime warbeast Skink chief) - You want to have a behemoth that'l demolish everything it comes across with easy acces to a 2+ re-rollable save, fully decked out with all the artefacts, command traits and other buffs you can throw at it. (the command trait, artifact and his command ability are vital for gaining the most out of it, hence why he's better than the other options in this regard) Reasons to get a regular stegadon: - You want flamers and the skink chief is too expensive. - You want the skystreak bow and the skink chief is too expensive - You're playing TL and need battleline - You've run out of hero slots Reasons to get an EoTG: - You don't yet have an EoTG in your army Imho the EoTG is the single best version of the stegadon in most cases. The only reason not to spam the EoTG is cuz of how weirdly cosmic engine is phrased (what is it with our battletome and weird phrasing).