8th Ed. How to build a list

I've been playing around with a lot of different builds to get a good starting point for my collection of scaly monsters. I'd like to know how you guys go about building a list... do you simply take what you like and try to make it work together on the battlefield? Or do you perhaps start with a monster unit and design the entire list around it? Do you design each unit to excel in a particular role, or do you like your guys to be jacks of all trades but masters of none? Do you see certain design philosophies as being particularly strong, and by extension others to be inferior? Or do you just go by instinct and never think about all of the above?

Discuss!

 

I base my army around a group of 3 moderate sized Saurus. With my anchor of 24 Saurus w/ spears I flank them with 2x18 Saurus with hw/s. I use this for the foundation of my army and everything after that I build it around.

From there I decide if I want magic (Slann) or combat. If I choose Slann I naturally build a block of 20 TG for my Slann and now have two anchor units. If I want combat I'll go with either an OB on Cold One or a OB on Carnosaur. After chosing my Lord I select the heros which will futher assist my Lord and my army. With a Slann I use him as my BSB so I don't worry about that but if I run an OB I buy a Scar Vet and make him my BSB. For my Slann I buy a Lvl 2 Skink priest and give him Plaque of Tepok for some magic assistance. I will usually also field a Scar Vet for some combat prowess to go in my 24 Saurus anchor unit. For my OB lord I'll select a Lvl 2 Skink Priest with Diviniation Orb and call it good.

Now I take my compulsery units. This includes at least one unit of six Chameleons and three minimum units of Skink Skirmishers.

I now figure out if I feel like taking CoC and in what amount but usually if I do it's a single unit of five. If I'm taking an OB on Cold One I'll up the unit to either nine or eleven. I also look at weather I want to take Kroxigor (3), more Chameleons or Terradons if I'm facing a lot artillary, and if I wanna go with Razordons or an Ancient stegadon. Much of this is heavily dependent upon how many points I have left over.

I usually only take Musician and Standard Bearer in all my units except if a Character is going in it, then I'll add a Champion. For magic standards I'll give BoEF to my CoC because they're better for taking on units which have those regen saves and give my OB that much more killy. My Slann naturally will take the Standard of Dicipline and my TG will take the War Banner.

 

I usually have a TG+slaan and 2 saurus blocks, if the slaan is not used its 3 saurus blocks. Add support units as you feel fit.

 

Some good advice here if you want some general army list construction guidance give this a listen it's full of sound advice.

http://www.heelanhammer.com/?p=236