As I tend to fill my lists with as many Dinos as possible and TG don't fill my core, I have recently been toying with the idea of a 'substitute Temple Guard' unit to bunker my Slann: 25 Saurus and Gor'Rok. Running them 5 wide means the Slann goes in the second row with a 5x6 footprint. How viable does this sound?
You are not allowed to place the Slann in the second rank of any unit but the temple guard. Guardians rule on p.35 allows this, which only temple guard have. In a unit of saurus, he'd have to sit in the front rank.
Incorrect, the use of a hero and the full command in the 5x6 unit pshes him to the second rank - it has been argued before that you cannot knowingly push him to the second rank, however it is stated in the BRB just when and where unit's are pushed to second, and even states examples of heroes moved to second. It's perfectly viable Xuil, just remember you have a smaller save versus both shooting and sun, as well as a worse melee capability, so whilst cheaper, you're looking at a unit that needs magic to deal damage in CC. otherwise it's perfectly solid, and has been done before ^^
Well... Technically he can add an Oldblood or Scar-vet and since the unit is FC with 3 characters then the Slann must go to the second rank. Might work... Not a fan of Saurus myself but with the right buffs and 2 combat characters they will kick butt. Let us know how it goes for you. EDIT: I see I am a bit slow with my answer...
I was relying on the full command and Gor'Rok pushing the Slann to the second rank, but a scar veteran in there as well may not be an awful plan, to a) add hitting power and b) keep him in the second rank if Gor'Rok goes down. Maybe even with the Egg of Quango to add some combat res... I will only be taking this 'alternative' with a Light Slann. Hopefully the protection, and the WS 10 I 10 buff will boost the Saurus up to a reasonable level. I'll definitely report on how it goes for me!
I think you'd need a second saurus character in order to drop the slann into the second rank. just have command and 2 characters otherwise the slann would be in the front and you'd have to go 6 wide, or 5 wide and gor rok goes into the second rank.
You can also just let the slann be in the front row. He is already a tough cookie to kill, and that is 3 fewer saurus that will die on a miscast. Or give him the egg and use his being in the front as a lure. "Bwaahaha! I have your slann dead in my sights!" "Yeah, I bet you do *egg*" "Oh no, I am defeated!"
You can give the egg to the slann in a temple guard bunker also, or if he's in the second rank. The egg can be used regardless. THe problem is that it's 5 fewer attacks if he's in the front. RE: OP The other option i've seen is that you can put the slann in a sizable unit of skirmishers. Cheap miscast deaths (and less of them), it also makes the slann skirmish. so -1 to hit.
Would Kroak be able to join skirmishers? Imagine Kroak in a chameleon unit... -3 to hit. Though he doesn't give them unbreakable so I'm not sure if an unbreakable character can join a breakable unit...