Hi All, This week was the first of 4 weeks of an escalating gaming league at my local store, 1st week 500 pts, week 2 750, wk3 1000 and wk 4 1500. I was decimated by Dwarves last night in my 1st ever game, so wanted to get some feedback on possibly mistakes I made in choosing my 500 pt army, and hopefuly improve for the weeks ahead. Your help, comments are very muchly appreciated. As far as I know, I'll be playing against the abovementioned Dwarves and Greenskins. 500pt Skink Chief w/Blowpipe & Shield 12 Saurus Warriors w/ Full command 14 Skink Skirmishers 5 Cold One Cavalry Total 500 points. 750pt Skink Chief w/Blowpipe & Shield 20 Saurus Warriors w/ Full Command 20 Skink Skirmishers w/ Brave 5 Cold One Cavalry w/ Full Command Salamander Hunting Party Total 1000 points. Thanks everyone!
For me there is one reason you got bashed, Cold One Cavalry. at 500 points total, spending nearly 40% of it on 5 cavalry is a big points sink IMO. I only use Cold Ones in bigger points battles, they are just too expensive to use in small battles. When you consider for their cost you could of taken another 12 saurus so the unit is 24 strong and added a couple extra skinks as well. Anyway, we all live and learn. Now, your 750 list: Heroes- Nothing wrong with the chief but i would consider taking a lvl 1 priest with either a dispel scroll or plaque of tepok as well, seeing as you have like 185 points for heroes, plus magic is what its all about in 8th edition. IMO lore of heavens is underated by many, the ability to drop S6 hits on the enemy via a couple of the lores spells could turn the tide for you. Core- 20 saurus is good, can't argue with that. for the skinks drop the brave, he isn't worth the extra points. also split the 20 down into 2x10 units, much more effective accross much more of the board. Special- Seriously, if you have more saurus or skinks you can use as chameleons, drop the cold ones like you would a bad habit. Chameleons are the choice here i think. Rare- Salamanders are probably one of the best units we have, they seem to be a must these days. Obviously its your army and you should build and play how YOU want to, but to give you an idea heres what you could take for 750 if you drop the cold ones, i think you'll see its a better balanced list: Heros: Skink Priest- Lvl 1 Plaque Of Tepok Skink Chief- Blowpipe Core: 20 Saurus- Hand Weapons Full Command 10 Skink Skirmishers- Blowpipes 10 Skink Skirmishers- Blowpipes Special: 8 Chameleon Skinks Rare: Salamander Hunting Pack- 3 Handlers Salamander Hunting Pack- 3 Handlers By my calculations its just under 750, but really is a far more balanced list and certainly going to give those smelly dwarfs a far harder time of it. But as i said its depends on what models you have at you disposal but i hope this helps. yours aye mixer
Mixer is correct. If you get a priest in at 750, you can use the signature spell from heavens (-1 to hit on shooting and CC). That spell alone is worth the Lore. But really, the most powerful things that you need are the chameleons and salamanders (with extra handler/snacks).
cool thanks guys i'll try out Mixer's list. Of course i'll have to grab some Chameleons first, but a small price to pay for victory. I'll let you know how the new boys do!
I know plenty of people who laugh if you say I play Lizardmen and I field CoC at about a million points per model. Well at least until i charge them that is.
Don't get me wrong, i love using cold one cavalry, but because of their high points cost i only use them i bigger points games, surely you agree that at 500-750 points, cold one cavalry are a MASSIVE points sink, Yes they are good but i maintain at this level the best part of 12-15 saurus is a much better option.
Unfortunately my new and improved army choices are no match for bad rolls, esp a failed leadership test on 20 Saurus Warriors, who were caught fleeing. That one really hurt. I am going to get a win eventually though! This is the last week (1500 points) and this is what I'm thinking of fielding: L&H 1 Saurus Oldblood w/ Enchanted Shield & Glyph Necklace 1 Skink Priest w/ Plaque of Tepok & Ruby Ring of Ruin (I always seem to do great on the winds of magic roll, and am batting about 0.33 on the extra channeling die) 285 points, 19% Core 22 Saurus Warriors w/ Standard & Muse (can i put the Oldblood in with this lot as its Champion?) 2x10 Skink Skirmishers w/Javelin & Shield 420 points, 28% Special 10 Cold One Cavalry w/ Command 1 Stegadon 635 points, 42% Rare 2 Salamander Hunting Parties 150points, 10% Total 1490 points As always, your input is greatly appreciated! 49.
I'd be tempted with your oldblood to give him a halberd, seeing as his initiative is quite good you don't want to waste that by giving him a great weapon plus hitting at +1 str is nice, unless you know what your fighting will still go first anyway (high elves etc.) then great weapon all the way i think. Yes you can put the oldblood in the saurus, but without a champion in there the enemy are going to challenge him just to stop him attacking the unit, and he has to accept to fight at all that turn because you have no champion, with a champ in there you can accept the challenge with him instead which allows your OB to go to town on the unit. Plus if the enemy has a really hard character killer in the unit, surely you'd rather the champ bites the dust than your OB? Try and get a champ in there for this reason if nohing else. With the CoC, maybe ditch the champ and musician and give the standard bearer the Jaguar Banner, that extra D6 to pursue can really help. Just a couple of thoughts Yours Aye
The cold Ones get 3D to pursue anyway since they're cavalry right? would that extra 25 points for the Jag banner really be worth it?
Welli alsways give my CoC the jag banner. As i interpret the rules, CoC being cavalry roll 3D6 to pursue, the jaguar banner adds D6 to pursue so effectively theyget your get 4D6, if you can do that and wipe out an enemy unit at the expense of taking the banner, i say YES, WORTH IT! Yours Aye Mixer
cool - i'll give it a shot. I've also realised i won't be able to take my Steg along, packing the army up last night i realised i haven't even put him together yet! So my re-jigged army is: Oldblood w/ Halberd, Enchanted Shield & Glyph Necklace (+1 Strength, +2 Armour and 5+ ward save respectively.) Skink Priest (level 2) w/ Plaque of Tepok & Ruby Ring of Ruin 30 Saurus Warrior w/ Full Command & Razor Standard (-1 armour save for my victims mwahaha) 2x12 Skink Skirmisher 10 Cold One Cavalry w/ Full Command & Jaguar Standard 2xSalamander Hunting Party total 1500.
Hate to break it to you but you cannot give saurus a magical standard, temple guard can but not saurus. Yours Aye Mixer
i think so, i also believe if you were to take a scar vet with BSB, he couldtake the razor standard. only way to get it on them i think. Yours Aye Mixer
i dont know if this is relevent at all but in the white dwarf febuary 2009 when the lizardmen get there revamp the army in there has a saurus scar veteran with a blessed totem and hes joined with a saurus squad.
for a 500 pts game 1 slamander for 80 pts and one 7x Cham skinks for about 78 pts i think it is is really game breaking. Plus I would take the sarus command and the skirmishers as you did, also isntead of your chief I would of took a priest.