I am not used to playing the scenarios straight from the rulebook, but I have a couple 1500 point games using a random rulebook scenario coming up. (Not playing Watchtower). Anything I should take into account in designing my army list? Any advice on handling the random deployment scenarios, or reserves? I'm naturally inclined to keep things together, but should I try using the strange deployment to gain an advantage on my opponent? I have included an extra size 10 skink cohort with banner, just for extra protection against Blood and Glory. If that scenario comes up, they will hide in a corner or behind the Saurus. In another scenario, they can be a meat shield against shooting, or diverter, or whatever.
IMO, any list you can think of will be just fine in any of the scenarios. The deployment rules are really just meant to change up the games here and there. Dawn Attack and Meeting Engagement have deployment phases that you can't really plan for. Sometimes you get unlucky and your core fighty unit is left in reserves, or perhaps you have two fighty blocks that are sent to opposite corners! Just gotta roll with the punches when that happens. I suppose you could take Tetto'eko as a contingency plan if you are really worried about it. Not a bad idea with the spare Skink unit. Just remember that as long as the General and BSB are alive you wont reach the Breaking Point in a 1500 point game.
Indeed, epecially if you have a Slann BSB in a Temple Guard, you can't lose a breaking point as long a said unit stays alive. You probably automatically lose if it does die. Though if you put that much into one unit, you pretty much depend on keeping said unit alive in a Battleline, Dawn Attack, Meeting Engagement or anything else.
First game I got Dawn Attack, and was hurt slightly because my opponent was all in the middle while I got half my stuff on the left. But it didn't matter much; we each ended the game with only 10 models on the table, and it was literally decided on the last roll of the game, a 50-50. Salamander shot failed to take the last wound off his solo HE Archmage, so I lost. Second game got Battle for the Pass, which also didn't matter. I wiped out a Skaven army except for the WLC while giving up no VPs. Life Slann healing monsters is mean. I did end up dropping the little skink unit and banner, because it really should not matter. I'll bring it back when we go over 2k.
I have had good luck incorporating 20 Skinks in my last tournament, (okay I did poorly in the tournament as a whole but the Skinks did well). If there is a building in the center area of the board, the Skinks have a very good firing position and are hard to dislodge with their Stubborn (from the building). Now I am prone to include 20 Skinks with FC anytime the plan is to use the terrain generator in the BRB. They are also handy in Watchtower scenarios as a placeholder until your Saurus gets there. A ten Skink unit is probably better as a sacrificial unit, screen, or redirector (all useful things).