It seems to me that for hammers and units to protect our flanks we really don't have many choices. We have stegs, skrox, kroxigors, CoC. Now I'm talking that can take make a flanking charge to. So my question is what do people do. Mind you I really only play against a goblin opponent so I'm usually out numbered and don't like the idea of getting charged in the flanks. I run sallies of course but still once the saur are in combat sallies got to find something else to shoot at. So what do people use to protect there flanks?
Either Skrox or a second unit of Saurus. My standard formation is 2 blocks of 24-255 saurus 3 inches to either side of a block of TG w/Slann. Works best when using light to boost those movement speeds. If I play with Skrox I will deploy them far to the flank (using life Slann and unless my opponent uses some funky positioning) as I never want them in face-to-face combat against a block of pretty much any other unit without Flesh to Stone on them.
I tend to use normal saurus warriors as a flanker. I run 2 20man squads and a 20 strong TG unit. Regardless of setup one of them will get into combat leaving the other two ready to flank. Having the TG slightly forward helps to take the charges to open flanks with
I like to run at least 3 units of Saurus, four if you count TG when I take a Slann. A unit of 24 w/ spears flanked by two units of 18 w/ hw/s. For my outside flanks I actually like to use either 2x2 or 1x3 of Razordons. Salamanders are very popular on this site by many people and for good reason. But I find that while they work excellent on your flank they aren't as good at protecting it. As I like my Saurus to do a brunt of the close in work and my skinks (along with Chameleons) doing a majority of the picking off of small and HV targets I don't use Salamanders as often. CoC are also excellent on the flank but I use them quite agressively and not so much as a flank protector as I play agressive with them.
Maybe I should be asking about set up then. In a 3k army I have 1 TG with slann and then 2 x Saurus blocks. I usually place them in the center of the board and right now with my current list I have a skrox on one side and a ancient stegadon on the other. I usually space my squads out by quite a bit because I mean we have a 6 ft board that we have to cover or protect. I'm use to playing against hoard armies so I'm usually out numbered and have a quite a few hordes threatening my flanks. I guess I just need to learn more about basic strategies. Does anyone know any good sources about basic battlefield strategies.
I suggest doing a search for horde or something else similar to what your looking for. There are lots of good tactics in this forum, you just have to find them. If you face hordes armies a lot I suggest Salamanders in two units of two with extra handler. Salamanders are excellent on the flank to keep his units off your sides and back. You may also consider putting a minimum unit of skink skirmishers in front of your blocks to wittle down your enemy before your blocks impact in. And don't ever negate the power of an Ancient Stegadon's giant blow pipes. 4D6 poisoned shots are simply devistating to any large block of light infantry (as is the general make up of most horde armies).
Now with skrox units it sounds like most people use 24 skinks and 3 kroxigors but that makes up a large unit instead of a few small ones. It depends on how you play them although I don't see small ones being much help other than deny ranks and getting a few hits in.
With so many Movement 6 units I usually never have a problem finding flank opportunities in the mid and late game. Smaller Skrox units, Krox, Stegs and even Sallies can cause damage if there are no juicy targets left to melt... If you field mostly Saurus, of course your choices (and points left to spend) are much more limited.