AoS Maxed Sunclaw?

[Canas]

Saurus Warriors work best in units of 40 or 10 though, because of the extra attack at 30+ models. Plus we get a discount for the final 10, meaning that if you were to take 30, there's really no reason not to pay the extra 60 points and take 10 more models. With regards to smaller sizes, taking 20 is pretty pointless since you're going to lose your +1 to hit as soon as you take a single casualty, and unbuffed Saurus Warriors aren't very scary. So you take a minimum size unit instead. These are by no means pointless however. Almost all missions in AoS require you to hold objectives to win. I can't think of the number of times in 40K that my minimum size squads of Gretchin won me the game, simply by sitting on an objective all game. Saurus Warriors are just as good at that, thanks to Leadership 10. Minimum size squads of Skinks do it better, since they're cheaper, but if you have to take those two extra units then it's not like they'll be pointless in most missions.

Obviously smaller maximum sizes would require the rules surrounding horde bonusses to be reworked.

As for them being useless. Of course they're going to something during the match, maybe they claim an objective, maybe they block a charge, maybe they score that 1 last wound on a big scary enemy. But you don't take em for that. The only reason you take em is for the shiny buffed up horde unit in the battalion. If you could get that buffed up horde unit without the two other squads you probably would swap em out immeadiatly.

I think whatever you give up in maneuverability you gain in board presence. You can just cover so much of the board at any given time, maneuverability almost becomes a non-issue. If you look at the top armies right now (LoN, Nighthaunt, DoK) they are horde based armies, so I think there's something to be said about board presence > maneuverability.

Mwha, covering the board in units rather negates the need for good maneuvers I guess. I'm mostly just talking about what I'd find fun though, not necesarly about if it works or not. Units of 40 feel so massive it makes the game feel clunky, units of 20 feel more appropriate. Maybe I just need a massivly bigger table

 

[Galen]

The only reason you take em is for the shiny buffed up horde unit in the battalion. If you could get that buffed up horde unit without the two other squads you probably would swap em out immeadiatly.

Sure, but somewhere in my list would almost certainly be one or two objective holding units that did nothing much other than sit around all game. If I can take them AND buff up a big unit in the process, that's a win.

 

[Canas]

Sure, but somewhere in my list would almost certainly be one or two objective holding units that did nothing much other than sit around all game. If I can take them AND buff up a big unit in the process, that's a win.

Viewing it as a win is falling victim to the sunk cost fallacy. You're simply giving the tax-units you were forced to take to bring your fancy buffed up unit something vaguely usefull to do, but given the choice you'd have skipped the tax units and swapped them out with better or cheaper stuff.

 

[Aginor]

Viewing it as a win is falling victim to the sunk cost fallacy. You're simply giving the tax-units you were forced to take to bring your fancy buffed up unit something vaguely usefull to do, but given the choice you'd have skipped the tax units and swapped them out with better or cheaper stuff.

One might argue that the buff on the one maxed out unit is worth the tax. You cannot just leave the tax units out.
Me personally... I think it can be worth it. Depends a bit on the mission (and the rest of the list).

 

[Canas]

One might argue that the buff on the one maxed out unit is worth the tax. You cannot just leave the tax units out.
Me personally... I think it can be worth it. Depends a bit on the mission (and the rest of the list).

Sure, dealing with the tax units can be worth it if the star of the battalion is amazing, but they remain merely tax units they don't suddenly become "good" cuz they happen to give you acces to their powerfull friend. And in this case it is especially noticeable as the battalion consists of simply 3 times the same unit as now you don't even get a tax unit that does something wildly different from the main unit.

To be honest, I would've loved if sunclaw host could be the following: 3 of any non-hero saurus units in whatever combination you want. In that case the tax units could be guard or Knights, both of which would actually add something beyond mere additional bodies to your army.