8th Ed. 2400 ETC list, suggestions welcome

[Anubris]

Lately I've been playing exclusively at 2400 points, using either the rules for a local tournament (no special chars, some restrictions on duplicate choices, max 5 dice per spell) or we use the current ETC 2013 draft #2, which is pretty heavy on lizardmen restrictions (http://warhammer.org.uk/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=111991).

I've played 2400 points with local tournament rules using a Light slann, TG bunker, EOTG, scar-vet cowboy (also posted on this forum) against WoC and I really enjoyed playing Slann. However, ETC rules really hits a Light slann hard (imo) since cupped hands counts as +2 PD meaning you can't even get 2 power dice out of focused rumination.
I've also played 2400 points with ETC rules using a carnosaur oldblood list against DE. I like the concept of carnosaur oldblood list but I think I am too inexperienced to use this type of list properly.

So now I want to construct a 2400 ETC list and try it out with a slann. I'd like to include as many models as I currently own, to prevent excessive purchuases. Currently I have (not much is painted yet but you get the point):
-36 saurus
-36 skinks
-20 temple guard
-3 kroxigor
-8 CoC
-2 scar-vet cowboyz
-2 skink priests
-1 slann
-2 salamanders with 8 handlers
-12 chameleon skinks
- carnosaur model
- 2 scar-vet/oldblood models on foot (1 from GW, 1 from AoW)
- 1 terradon

Stuff I might buy eventually: skink box, stegadon, terradons

I made a template list with a Life slann (he doesn't need cupped hands, and TG unit of 20 is considered pretty OK for life) but I am not sure whether this list would work. It also needs a few more points squeezed in. I am not exactly sure what specific units/heroes people like to take with lore of life, so suggestions are welcome (only played @ 1500 points with life).

Lords (440)

-Slann mage-priest, BSB, General, Focus of mystery (Life), Focused rumination, becalming cogitation, huanchi’s blessed totem, scroll of shielding (440)

Heroes (326)

-Saurus scar-veteran, light armour, cold one, charmed shield, burning blade of chotec, dawnstone (160)
-Saurus scar-veteran, light armour, cold one, halberd/great weapon, dragonhelm, amulet of itzl, venom of the firefly frog (164/166)

Core (636)

-30 saurus warriors, full command (360)
-10 skink skirmishers (70)
-10 skink skirmishers (70)
-10 skink skirmishers, javelins (80)
-10 skinks, musician (56)

Special (544)

-6 chameleon skinks (72)
-6 chameleon skinks (72)
-20 Temple guard, full command, Razor standard (400)


Rare (425)
- Ancient stegadon (275)
- 2 salamanders (150)

2371

What do you think?

 

[lifestar]

Looks basically good. Those are my two favorite setups for Scar Vets as well!

A couple suggestions-

In my experience an Ancient Steg almost never is worth the points; it dies quickly to cannonfire and 275 points can just get you so much more killing power.

In a game this big I'd prefer 2x2 salamanders, but your call.

10 skinks w/ a musician is just not that much of a return on your investment in most cases, unless you're anticipating using them for scenario special rules like holding terrain features. Screening and redirecting are fine but you can do better for the points.

I'd bring another core block of Saurus.

Hope this helps!

 

[Anubris]

Looks basically good. Those are my two favorite setups for Scar Vets as well!

I know, because I suggested these to you

A couple suggestions-

In my experience an Ancient Steg almost never is worth the points; it dies quickly to cannonfire and 275 points can just get you so much more killing power.

In a game this big I'd prefer 2x2 salamanders, but your call.

10 skinks w/ a musician is just not that much of a return on your investment in most cases, unless you're anticipating using them for scenario special rules like holding terrain features. Screening and redirecting are fine but you can do better for the points.

I'd bring another core block of Saurus.

Hope this helps!

Well I thought 1 steg might be nice since a lore of life slann probably has the means to keep it alive unless you get unlucky. Also for your other tips, I am trying to make an ETC army list. This means (for instance, there are many other restrictions) that 2x2 salamander is not allowed and you cannot take more than 3 units of skink skirmishers. 10 skinks with a musician is the cheapest redirector you can get so I would have to disagree with you

I only have 36 saurus models and I dont believe fielding less than 20 is gonna cut it.

 

[lifestar]

I know, because I suggested these to you

Don't I feel stupid

Since you suggested those I played a friendly game against a Dwarf army (who I've historically HATED) and those two little cowboys just tore through everything I threw them at. So I should thank you!

Also for your other tips, I am trying to make an ETC army list

Missed that, sorry.

re: the steg, I hear you; it may just be that I've had horrible luck in the past. I've just routinely tried either an ancient steg or an EOTG and every time it rapidly dies to withering fire.

Probably doesn't help that so many people where I play take dwarf and empire (incidentally, if you've never played against a 2 steam tank list you haven't experienced hell).

 

[Anubris]

I'm glad the scar-vet builds worked out for you I've only played against darkelves and WoC so haven't seen much canonfire yet. However dark elf shooting is deceptively strong against lizardmen (including stegadons, who can take quite some beating from reaper bolt throwers).

Anyway I hope 1 stegadon is compatible in an all-round list, especially when the slann can use his passive to heal it up.

Another thing I notice on your comments is how good you are liking salamanders. In the games I've played recently, they never earned their points back: my opponents don't tend to field infantry blocks at all. WoC army includes massive amounts of chariots, darkelves use a lot of chaff, x-bows in the back of the field and stuff like a hydra. In any case, for an all-round list I do think salamanders should be included ^.^

 

[Irish_Lizard]

If you're looking for inspiration for an etc lizard list I'd recommend looking at the actual lists people took to the etc. Admittedly some of last years lists wont work under this years comp but others will. Life is generally considered to be subpar compared to other lores. Similarly temple guard bunkers that lose you the game when they die are almost never seen.

Not being able to field a second slann hurts as the versatility of 2 slanns far outweighs the cost. I'd consider using a skrox unit(24/3) just so you have a second combat block which can do things the saurus cant( fight MC and Monsters ). Other than that a single steg tends to get focused and splatted due to cannons playing pinball in the howdah, they also have a nasty tendency to fall down holes during the opponents magic phase.