I only like temple gaurd if im running a slann, Halbeards are not my style and we CANT use our hand wepon in the new rules so I usally just take about 18-22 with my slann depends on my points.
yer, ive only got 1 box set but want another and a slann, they have some decent hitting power though.
Yeah only good with a Slann, and use as a bunker to protect him and as a really hard to break unit in combat. With life you can keep the unit alive easily too. Most people go at least 16, for a unit 5x4 with the Slann. I'm honestly very tempted by 14, for a unit 6x3. Or maybe 16 but still 6x3 with a couple extra behind to absorb losses. Yeah the Slann's arse pokes out the back, but if your TG unit is getting rear charged you are doing something wrong. It makes the unit dish out more damage, its a bit cheaper, and for those of use with a touch of OCD it looks better since the Slann is properly in the middle of the unit.
I always roll a unit of 6 TG wide with my slan, I I usaly run with 2-4 extra tgs somtime a full rank on the 4th row just so if some die i still get me +3 combat res
I've actually found the unit is pretty good without a Slann, as it means I'm more willing to get it into combat. 20 in ranks of 5 have been a useful threat (old school, I know), especially backed up with a magic banner. That strength 5 can be really valuable, even if they don't have the survivability of Saurus Warriors.
They have the same armour save as a spear saurus so they are not really easier to kill then saurus warriors of either variety, and if you do have a slann in your Temple Guard unit they should be in combat anyways. The slann can cast all his spells from in the second rank even when in combat and the whole unit is stubborn with leadership nine. If I was going to run a unit without a slann I could be convinced to run a unit of 15 to run along side my warriors and try and get flank charges, as it is though I run a unit of 20 with my lore of light slann.
I like the TG but I do have an issue of them being a major pin cushion when it comes to war machines... When I use them I often go large (25-30) to I can regenerate losses.
I'm limited by what i own so i only use 16 TG. and since thats not tons (with lore of light) i rank them 4 wide, 6 deep. keeps my frontage down so they last more rounds.
I don't see how running 4 wide really helps you. The unit is still 100mm wide, so up to 7 human-sized (20mm) models could fight you (5 straight across and 2 at the corners). And larger models (25mm bases) could still get 6 into combat which is a wide as most people run anyway. Running 4x6 may help against hordes, but against everything else it seems that you are giving up your rank bonus and extra attacks for little to no benefit. Please let me know if I'm missing something.
I am pretty certain that you are wrong there. In the description on magic missiles it says that they cant be cast if the wizard or his unit is in CC. For hexes, augment spells or DD spells you are right though.
Yeah MI_Tiger is right on this one. If you go 4 wide, you get no rank bonus, you needed onyl 4 in 6th edition but in 7th and 8th you need 5 across for ranks. Not worth going 4 at all.
Does the rank bonus really matter in a slann + temple guard unit? They will be steadfast regardless and the smaller frontage can mean fewer attacks coming in you will definitely lose but then you are on a stubborn, cold blooded Ld9 that is re-rollable. That is exactly what I thought until I reread the Guardians rule under the slanns entry in the army book, page 43
Re: temple guard Good point guys, thats something that could really bite me in the ass during a tournament. 5 Wide looks pretty lame, I want my slann centered. But if thats the rules so be it. In a friendly game I gues I'd just run it 6 wide for looks
Well as I said earlier in the thread, I prefer 6 wide anyway, and not only for the Slann to be central. Good point there. Although in lots of cases, it will tip the combat against you and make you loe when you sohuld have won since you are immediately 3 points down on your opponent. Now with cold blood ld9, there is a very small chance you will flee, but its still a chance and we have all seen it happen, its a LOT of points to lose. However, even assuming you will pass the leadership test, you are denying yourself the chance to beat your opponent thus forcing his unit to take a leadership and possibly fail. Accepting that you will lose combat from the most expensive unit and arguably one of the best in combat is a very back footed approach to the game and ultimately, in my opinion anyway, not lead to a good result. Also, 4 across is still 100mm. That is 5 wide for a 20mm based unit, so going corner to corner even a 7 wide unit could get all attacks against you. Generally when you start to face bigger than 7 wide, they are a horde of rubbish like Skaven or goblins, and you are better off with more of your guys in contact.
I run 20 usually 6 wide. It's a bit more expensive than the typical 16 but my opponents sometimes like to try and widdle them down so I find the extra models to be helpful.
With 16 temple guard, and the slaan's fat arse counting as 4, I field them as follows TTTTT TSSTT TSSTT TTTTT You get your ranks & protect the slaan. Can't see any reason to do it any other way.