Hey there everyone this is my first time playing fantasy after collecting a tau army for a few years now and I chose to collect LM I'm starting off with the Battalion and just wanted some general tips as to what to add on to get a functional army up and running. Also curious as to how many points I have to begin with, which weapons configurations for saurus and skinks etc. * 20x Saurus Warriors * 12x Skinks * 10x Temple Guard * 8x Saurus Cavalry Thanks in advance Vek
Hey the battalion is a great way to start, it's how I started too. The first thing you'll want is a hero model to lead your army with. I would advise a scar vet on cold one, as priests are less effective (certainly skinks priests with the rather variable lore of heavens). Having the scar vet on a cold one is the most common set up and is very flexible and effective, he can also then run with your cold ones for a very hard hitting unit. To bring you up to 1k you'll need a few more troops, and I'd advise skinks so you can try having 3 units mixed between cohorts and skirmishers. You could also buy a kroxigor to go with some ranked skinks (best probably 11 or 16 skinks+a krox). Skinks are vital for controlling movement. It's best not to use the temple guard until/unless you have a slann at 2k, as they are only a tiny bit better than saurus warriors for almost 50% more cost per model. If you chose to get a slann they are then transformed into an incredibly powerful unit, one of the most resiliant tar-pits available to any army. I would 100% say use spears on your saurus warriors, and judging from the forums I'd say 90% would agree with me. Terradons are a cheap (points) but expensive (£££) unit that can play a very effective role in any army, so if money isn't that great an issue you could go for some of them. A slamander or two also falls into this catagory. Basically the battalion is a good start, and your best bet is to expand it with troops that should always be useful (ie the small support units of skinks, terradons, or salamander/razordons - the saurus warriors and cold ones as well as a scar vet provide enough hitting power for 1k). After a few games at 500, 750, or 1000 points you'll be able to judge what direction you want to move your army in. My preferred way of bringing up my army from 1k to 1.5k was to add a stegadon in Engine of the Gods form, also adding a strong magic base to my army. Before you get ANY of that, get the armybook. You can read up on here, indeed I would advise reading some of the tacticas on here for generally enlightened tactical discussions, but none of that will truly make sense or be properly helpful until you get the armybook.
Hey thanks for the quick reply Dumbledore When I go in for the battalion ill be picking up a copy of the army book as well now. I was thinking about getting another box of saurus next so I can make two regiments of 18 or would it be better to pick up another box of skinks? If I grab the skinks is it better to build them as javalins or blowpipes? At this stage would it be better to get the mounted scar vet or non-mounted one to put in with the temple guard or just scrap the temple guard altogether until I can afford a slann? Vek
I had quite similar dilemmas. The main force behind what I choose to buy is a combination of model beauty and monetary cost with a sprinkle of tactical value added. I love the TG models, but they are such a waste of points that I've opted to keep them sitting there, taunting me, on the shelf until I have my slann. To replace them in my 1k army I bought a pack of skinks. I'd go for a mix of blowpipes and javelins. From all accounts each has their use and both options are worthwhile. I personally run 11 skinks with javelins to go with a kroxigor (ranks at 5x3), with the rest being blowpipes, allowing for two skirmishing units. You could go for one unit of 11 with krox, one unit of 10 ranked javelins, and one unit of skirmishers so that you get to try everything, as 10 plain skink cohorts serve a different role to 11 with a krox. The krox unit can take out enemy light support units, the cohort is best used for redirecting (as they are half the price and less of the krox unit) and marchblocking, while the skirmishers are the best option for harassing, shooting unarmoured or large targets, marchblocking and can redirect well too. I'd take the skinks over the saurus as 20 (I'd prefer using only 18 for 6x3 with spears) is plenty for 1k, more and you end up with a huge chunk of your army being low movement. I actually got one scar vet CO as general and one scar vet on foot (chakax model) to act as BSB in the spears unit. If you want to go for only one, I'd choose the CO over the one on foot. To be honest just getting a hero, the battalion and whatever paints you need should tide you over for a long while if you want to play only once things are painted but however you choose to do it I'd get the battalion and maybe some skinks, play a few games, (then get the extra skinks if you hadn't already), then decide what to expand with having played a bit and read through the book thoroughly. The things to then consider with your new-found experience for 1k would be terradons, a krox (or three if you want a unit of them), salamanders/razordons, or another hero (probably BSB, skinks priests cant do much alone). After that, like I said before, the best path to 1.5k would be another option from that selection plus one of the stegadon choices (almost certainly EotG, especially if you're planning on a slann). After that if you're planning on a slann another battalion actually makes a lot of sense. The battalion roughly costs the same as a box of TG and a box of saurus, plus you get another unit of skinks and enough COR to mean that you actually have the option of switching every once in a while, running your scar vet as an oldblood and using 3 units (of 5, 5 and 6) of cold ones! That's how I have it planned anyway.
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my nooby Q's. You've given me a lot to think about, and i'll proberly go with the skinks after I paint the battalion up. Only 2 days till it arrives Vek