Hi guys. new to lizardmen, and I wanted to try out a saurus heavy list (I don't want to paint 400 models, my skaven army killed my desire to paint another horde) I want to know what you think of this list: Slann Mage-Priest - Becalming Cognition, BSB, Standard of Discipline, Ironcurse Icon X Scar Veteran - Carnosaur, Armour of Destiny, Shield, Spear X Saurus Warriors x 16 - Spears, Full command X Saurus Warriors x 16 - Spears, Full command X Temple Guard x 20 X Salamander Hunting Pack X Total: 1498 I'm willing to compromise on most things, but not the carnosaur, I love that model.
This army will be a slow moving army and will need combat buffs to stay in the fight. Think about Light or High Magic to buff the troops and keep a tight core. Then some of the bubble spells can affect more than one unit. Try and use two units per battle to get flank charges and that should help the Saurus survive longer. The Carnosaur will be a war machine/cannon magnet. It is a cool model, but be prepared to have it be lost early in the game to war machines if they are part of the battle.
You migth try runing the carnie and the salamanders together since they move about the same speed, and the salamanders will be nice for softening up targets for the carnasaur, and some limited protestion from war machines if you run them as a screen.
I really like saurus oriented lists, but I think running 16 Saurus units might be a mistake; you're probably better off running one large unit of 32. Your carnosaur being your only real heavy hitter; I think you definitely either need to be able to buff your saurus or debuff your enemies or deal massive damage with magic. I like to run shadow in my saurus heavy lists; the spells are easily castable for a level 4 and does all three. Okkam's is a beast especially when you combine it with miasma making it easier to hit enemies. Also the ability to get your slann out of dodge with steed of shadowssaves a hell of a lot of points or flying your scar-vet behind enemy lines to wreak havoc.
Thanks for the advice guys. I was informed that we'd be playing 2000 points, not 1500. Taking into account what you guys have said about the carnosaur being a cannonball magnet, I decided to opt for some target saturation. What do you think? Slann Mage-Priest - Becalming Cognition, Wandering deliberations, Harmonic Convergence, Channeling staff BSB, Standard of Discipline, Ironcurse Icon Scar Veteran - Carnosaur, Armour of Destiny, Shield, Spear Saurus Warriors x 36 - Spears, Full command Skink Skirmishers x 12 Temple Guard x 20 - Standard Bearer Bastiladon - Solar engine and 3 crew Ancient Stegadon - Sharpened Horns
This list will definitely give your opponents multiple targets for cannons that should make the dinos be around longer. Keeping the Steg and Basti near your Saurus and Temple Guard will give them the automatic buffs and combined with the magic buffs, you could have a tough army in CC.
I like it. Keep the basti in between your saurus unit to get them the initiative boost. It'll keep more of them alive if you do get hit with a pit or purple sun. Best of luck.