8th Ed. Strange idea, not sure if it would be awesome or terrible!

Been thinking about themed armies and one based around Saurus (but with a Slann thrown in, still want to actually be able to compete!). I like the idea of being so overwhelming in one area that your opponent doesn't have a chance. Usually you see this with a tonne of shooting or fast movers but I wanted to try it with simply loads of Saurus! 2400pts, tell me what you think:

Slann, (Life or Light), Mystery, Rumination, Becalming, BSB, Dispel Scroll, Standard of Discipline.

25 Saurus, Full Command

25 Saurus, Full Command

25 Saurus, Full Command

25 Saurus, Full Command

25 Saurus, Full Command

25 Temple Guard, Full Command

Seriously thinking about taking this to a tournament in a few weeks, just because I want to have fun more than be competitive. What do you think it would be strong/weak against? Do you think it is actually viable or just a stupid idea?

Re: Strange idea, not sure if it would be awesome or terribl

I have no idea how this will work but...


I LIKE IT!

Re: Strange idea, not sure if it would be awesome or terribl

I believe I'd go with Light since you could potentially boost every unit at once.
also the light spells are more beneficial to Saurus,

Re: Strange idea, not sure if it would be awesome or terribl

You're going to have issues with war machines. That's a huge battle line even a scattered stone thrower is going to land on one of your units a good chunk of the time and with M4 you're going to take several turns getting there. Also, good luck getting around a Comet of Cassandora placed infront of you. Your option is stand still and take more war machine fire or walk forwards and prey it doesn't go off in the middle of a unit.

I doubt you'd get even close to a tie against empire or skaven gunlines, most high elf armies (teclis especially). WoC will also prove a challenge as despite your massive amounts of blocks you're going to have issues fitting into combat due to WoC's usually small frontage and will end up either going in 2 blocks at a time or wading through possibly dangerous terrain.

On the flip side however OaG armies as well as VC/TK will have some serious issues. OK's might be able to just bull their way through you though.

Either way looks like it will be a fun list, I'd consider for symmetry's sake dropping 4 TG and seeing if you can fit extra points into the slaan just so every block is the same size.

Re: Strange idea, not sure if it would be awesome or terribl

I've tried the all sauri list, I find the solo ethereal slann and 2 hordes of Saurus work best, at least for me, and I'd take light. Cheers

Re: Strange idea, not sure if it would be awesome or terribl

Ok, how about, to make it slightly more competitive:

Slann, Light, Mystery, Rumination, Becalming, BSB, Dispel Scroll, Standard of Discipline.

25 Saurus, Full Command

25 Saurus, Full Command

25 Saurus, Full Command

25 Saurus, Full Command

10 Skink Skirmishers

10 Skink Skrimishers

25 Temple Guard, Full Command

7 Chamo Skinks

Salamander with Extra Handler

Have removed one of the blocks and added 2 units of chaf, a war machine hunter unit and the obligatory Salamander. I know this hurts the theme a little but when thinking about playing with it I thought it might be a little boring to just march in a straight line and then try and grind the enemy down. I still liek the idea of just Saurus but I think they would be boring to play with. The skinks give me a little more ability to redirect and take advantage of some poison while still having a scary amount of Saurus. Thoughts on this variant?

Re: Strange idea, not sure if it would be awesome or terribl

Much better just make sure to get a multi combat with about 3 of your units vs chosen stars and the like

Re: Strange idea, not sure if it would be awesome or terribl

I love the idea. I definitely think the second list, with some Skinks, is far more competitive - Saurus alone are just too easy to shoot to pieces. How about throwing in some Saurus Cav?

Re: Strange idea, not sure if it would be awesome or terribl

IMO its best to take a very offensive slann such as fire or death, them just sit back and outshoot him wit your slann and skinks so that he has to come to you, then just try and grind him down.

Re: Strange idea, not sure if it would be awesome or terribl

I like the concept but I think an all Saurus list could use some minor tweaks on your first less. I think adding Skinks breaks the unique theme.

I'd say if you want to run with an all Saurus list like your first post, I would run four or five blocks instead of six and make all the remaining blocks a little bigger. If you have too many blocks, terrain features could easily force you to leave a block or two behind and this will come back to bite you. It hurt me in my last tournament, I had to leave a trio of Kroxigors behind my main lines more than once. I'd imagine it'd get even harder to keep all your forces together with ix blocks.

Also with several identical Saurus blocks, the Temple Guard are going to draw the most enemy fire. Equipping the Slann and/or Temple Guard with the Iron Curse Icon and/or magic resistance bestowing amulets to give them a modicum of protection.

Spears might be worth taking. Whatever lore you decide to give to your Slann you are probably going to rely on buff spells or hexes, so more attacks would probably be better than fewer. Spears versus hand weapons is a matter of personal proference really.

I'd consider adding a Scar Veteran or two, maybe even an Oldblood if you have Lord points to spare. In a touranment you will likely want someone inflicting S6 or S7 attacks in case you face a Steam Tank, Hydra, Giant, or something similarly big (or take Shadow to soften these targets up). You also might want some magical attacks to throw around in case of ethereals or units like K'daai or Dryads that get bonuses against nonmagical attacks. Alternatively a crowd control style Saurus hero (one with extra attacks instead of high strength attacks) can help you boost your CR. Just stick the crowd control character in whichever one of your Saurus blocks happens to find itself in front your opponents' elite soldiers.