8th Ed. Recently turned Lizard - HW or Spears

[jrp]

Hi guys.

After a long pause (about 5/6 years) of Warhammer I just returned to the game with the will of making a mean green evil Lizard machine of an army.
I also got a dwarf army that I used to play in the past, but I fill like changing a bit and you gotta love them dinos...

The thing is, the rules changed dramatically and the close combat is a whole new thing.
With this in mind I'm super undecided on whether to take hand weapons or spears on my Saurus.

Could you old slann fellas share some opinions with this fresh new spwanling?

All the best

 

[Soteks Prophet]

Spears give you an extra row supporting attacks if you've not moved, but the HW+sheld gives you a 6+ ward save in melee...

 

[Scalenex]

Shields is useful every time you aren't flanked. Spears are good when you aren't flanked, charging, or have a an extra rank to spare.

The smaller your Saurus blocks are the more likely you are to want to take Hand Weapons. A small unit is less likely to keep the third rank for very long. A large block with deep ranks is likely to stay in combat longer and let you

The more aggressive your plan is the more likely you want to take hand weapons since you don't get the extra spear rank when you don't charge. If your opponent is more likely to charge you, then you are more likely to get the extra ranks from the spears.

The more likely you are to buff your Saurus with magic, the better spears become (since spears would get extra ranks and thus more buffed attacks)

 

[jrp]

Oh my...decisions...decisions...