Yeah, I didn't realize they couldn't use most of the core ones, so it very well may be that they're just giving them a couple so that they can have close to the same number of battalions as everyone else. But still, I wouldn't be surprised to see more faction-specific battalions come out, but with generic bonuses in line with the core ones. Also, every GHB will probably have new realm-themed battalions if they keep up with the new realm for every book thing.
Also, thanks
@Putzfrau for your response! I agree that our warscrolls aren't trash (except for Ripperdactyls...), but none of them are that good either. I think it just comes down to a difference of opinion on whether you're a fan of the synergy and buff-focused playstyle or not. I love the army, and I still have fun playing them. But I always feel irked that we have nothing, and I do mean nothing, that's truly an "elite" warscroll. *Everything* we have requires buffs to function, even Kroxigors which are our least buff-dependent unit still need to at least a +1 to hit to really do well. That's what I mean when I say our units are cannon fodder. They're all just really average or somewhat below average troops that are there to take a buff, do some work, and die the next turn. And the problem I have with that playstyle is pretty much what
@Canas said:
Due to how buffs work in AoS, and the rule of one, we can only really fully buff 1 target (or maybe 2 at a time). Which means we are perpetually stuck with several units that will never be operating anywhere near full potential. Which feels odd, usually synergy-based playstyles revolve around buff-bubbles to buff the entire army, as opposed to buffing just 1 target with the rest of the army being sacrificial fodder that's there to buy time for that 1 buffed unit.
If I were to redesign the army I would make the point costs for Starborne and Coalesced different. I would make Scaly Skin apply to mortal wounds or change it to a ward save, and replace the terrain rule for Coalesced with something better, personally I would pick an army-wide +1 rend because they're more savage and physically powerful than the Starborne. Then, I would make our monsters tougher and able to function without buffs, bringing them in line with other faction's monsters. I would give Saurus 2 wounds and Guard a 3+ save. I would change most of the targeted or command ability buffs to auras, expect in specific cases like the Starpriest's staff. I would also make it so that more of those synergies were for all units, and not Saurus or Skink only.
And specifically about the VLzD question: Yes. Other than not flying and not being a spellcaster, I absolutely think that our Carnosaurs should be at least close to the level of the other monster-heavy factions' big boys. I get that units like the Zombie Dragon, Stonehorns, and Terrorgheists all look, for lack of a better word, "angrier" and more "nasty" than a Carnosaur, but that's mostly because a Carnosaur is based on a real creature while the others are undead monstrosities and over-the-top fantasy mammoth-things. But that doesn't mean that stats-wise a thousands of years old reptile riding a probably equally ancient dinosaur should be weaker than they are. Just because nothing in our army looks like a savage, evil destruction beast doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to hold their own against savage, evil destruction beasts. If it's just base size you're talking about, the VLzD isn't that much bigger, and the Stonehorns are the same base size. The Arachnarok Spiders are on the same base size as a Maw-Krusha, but that doesn't mean they should do as much damage.
On another note: Looks like the Stormcast are getting a different coherency rule as part of their new allegiance abilities:
