Hey everyone, After a few recent battles with some friends who play empire I have decided to try out a new list. I'll add comments as to why I chose some units as the list progresses.. Lords: Slann -Lore of life, Focus Rumination+Mystery, BSB, Cupped hands of Old Ones (Lore of Life works amazingly. Though lack of hard offensive magic (*not including Dwellers-damn I love that spell) it does great for buffs and REGROWTH, very useful. Though I have yet to call upon the cupped hands..everyone agrees its a necessary burden. He joins unit of 16 temple guard, listed below) Heros: Scar vet- light armour+shield, sword of strength Scar vet- light armour+shield, sword of strength (both vets join units of 24 saurus, one with hand weapons, other with spears. listed below) Core: 24 Saurus-hand weapons, standard bearer 24 Saurus- spears, standard bearer *Each unit has 1 Scar vet in them as listed above Special: 16 Temple Guard-revered guardian, standard Stegadon with Giant Bow (I used to run EOTG, will explain below my decision to change) Rare: 4 Salamanders (debating whether to put extra handlers on them. 2 sallies on one side, 2 on other) Ok so, my reasoning for the choices I made (please criticize/ask about anything I say/have chosen, I am very much open to suggestions and criticism!) First off, the biggest change to my army was the switch from the Ancient Steg and Priest with EOTG to the normal steg with the giant bow. In my last game my 390 point EOTG steg was taken out by a cannon the first turn. 390 pts, down the drain, and I didn't even get a chance to move it >:0. Although this made me very aggravated (to say the least) I learned that putting that many points into such an easy and prime choice target for war machines was foolish. And so, I dropped it down to 235 points and took the giant bow steg. This unit I plan to use as a long distance shooter to take down any war machines if I can or harass enemy monsters. He will also be used as a support unit for flanking. Second change. I took out my unit of 10 skinks I ran. Now oddly enough, these little frogs did amazingly my last game. Holding up a unit of FIFTEEN empire knights for the ENTIRE GAME. don't ask me how it happened, I am still mystified to this day. However, I did not get one shot off from them and they didn't kill anything, but they did great in holding up my left flank, which truly turned the tide of the battle in my favor. My logic in taking out the skinks lead me to my third change, adding 2 more sallys. I ran 2 sallys on my right flank my last game and they DECIMATED 2 entire units of swordsman and halberdiers. They never even got near my sallys, my shooting just kept pummeling them back. Needless to say, it was a joy to watch. So I figured, why not replace my small unit of skinks on my left side with 2 MORE sallys? Since they are ungodly now due to the no partial in 8th, they have the potential to do massive damage, and can hold their own in close combat against reasonable odds. In dropping the engine I saved a LOT of points, and I used those points by taking more sallys instead of the 10 skinks (and another scar vet). This way, I can get all the bonus of tying up enemy flankers, PLUS the mayhem the sallys can cause in damage. I've had many people tell me to make such a switch. What do you guys think about that? My last change is the addition of another Scar Vet to my other block of saurus. In my last game the unit of spears with the vet in it really held their own. And though the other unit pulled it off too, they were much more worrisome at times. I figured another vet couldn't hurt to add to the other unit. I mean when the configuration I use with them only costs 113 points, why the heck not, right? All thoughts, comments, suggestions, criticism, and plain old chit chat is very welcome! Thanks!
Why not replace sallies with skinks you say? Well a strength 3 breath weapon is not gonna take out a giant or a warmachine any day of the week especially without any chamo skinks. I would like to ask how you intend to deal with bigger heavier monsters: Giants, hellcannons, hellpits etc (up to now the lizardman's best way is to pummel it with poison) no salamander will do the job. Salamanders are amazing but 4 is not balanced especially if you come up with a light armoured opponent.
Just a few thoughts here. 1. Which weapons are you giving the scar vets? You can only have ONE of each magic item in the list so, to keep things same cost switch one out for the Sword of Battle (+1 attack). 2. With a single stegadon, whether it is an engine or not it is going to be the obvious target for any cannon/bolt thrower. As a skink with BS 3 and the giant bow being move or shoot, you'll be hitting on 5's which, with only one of them is not reliable enough to take out anything. I would suggest dropping the steg all together, get a couple units of chameleon skinks and maybe some regular skinks as well.