8th Ed. How to use a Skink Chief on Foot

[Moniker]

Hello!

I love this model: http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat440066a&prodId=prod820850

So I want to use him in games and in a way other then as a champion for a Skrox unit...

What are your thoughts? How can I kit him up in such a way as to help a Skrox unit? His meager leadership won't help, as Kroxigor's are all ready 7 so it's got to be gear. I've kind of got the idea that the most efficient way for him to actually help generate positive combat resolution may actually be as a Quango delivery system. It happens before anything else, and has a very good chance of inflicting more damage then him. My theory is give him that thing and the dragonhelm, so he has a 3+ armour save and see how he goes.

That said, I haven't played with the new Skrox yet so I don't even know if they need the help.


Your thoughts and ideas would be appreciated! I really want to use this guy!

 

[n810]

Perhaps he has a place in a large unit of skink cohorts with poisioned close combat attacks and full command ?
Or perhaps as a BSB in a skrox unit ?

 

[Moniker]

A cheap BSB is a fine idea in a smaller game, yes. Any alternative gear schemes you can think of?

 

[Lizardmatt]

The best use of a chief is with his 4 twin-brothers and the skink priest school of beast magic.
42 points for a hero with 4 attacks at initiative 6 is pretty good paired with the beast buffs.

210 points of heroes, with the beast buff, pump out 35 S7 attacks. Without the buff, they still throw out 20 S4 attacks.
I guess we might as well spend 2 points each for the Strength = User BS5 javelin.

For the cost of my 2 fighting saurus heroes, I could get SIX skink heroes. I'm really not sure which is best.

-Matt

 

[Dreadgrass]

So in a somewhat related question, if you were to run a skink chief BSB (1500pts southlandsesque list) how would you kit him?

 

[GCPD]

I'm strongly considering a cheap skink bsb. It frees up points from Lords for a tricked out slann and an oldladdin without the expense of a Scar Vet. Not sure if he ahouldt run something protective or a razor standard orbanner of eternal flame.

 

[Lizardmatt]

Give him the egg.
You can do your best to avoid combat, and if something quick catches you, pop open the egg and hope for the 2D6 S5 hits at the start of combat to take out whatever was about to whack your BSB.

-Matt

 

[Caneghem]

I'm strongly considering a cheap skink bsb. It frees up points from Lords for a tricked out slann and an oldladdin without the expense of a Scar Vet. Not sure if he ahouldt run something protective or a razor standard orbanner of eternal flame.

I too have been thinking of ways to squeeze in an Oldladdin! I think it might just come down to a Scar-vet for me though, the skink chief BSB will always simply die in the first round of any combat, as even enemy chaff units can put a hurt on T3 characters. I think the best build on the chief BSB would be cloak of feathers + something else so you can at least dance him out of harm's way.

 

[GCPD]

Dragonhelm or opal amulet would fit in very nicely there.

I'd prefer to keep him cheap though andt maybe run just tge helm.i don't intend for him to get into any combats.

 

[Caneghem]

Dragonhelm or opal amulet would fit in very nicely there.

I'd prefer to keep him cheap though andt maybe run just tge helm.i don't intend for him to get into any combats.

So you're thinking maybe put him in a cohort or skirmisher unit behind the front lines? This could work, although that unit would become a major target for ranged bombardment. Magic missiles and even massed BS shooting would be auto-targeted at this unit. Keeping it out of range might not work, because you still need to be 12 inches from your battle line. Making his bunker unit too large ties up a lot more points, which you then need to add to the cost of your "cheap" skink chief BSB. So if you were planning on a skink chief in a cohort of 10, that automatically tacks on 50 points to the cost of the BSB.

It may just be that I'm too dense to see what you are planning though, I like the idea of a chief BSB because he's so cheap, but I'm thinking I'll have to bite the bullet and take the Scar-Vet. I'm thinking maybe my 4+ ward armor goes on the BSB, and then he just adds a great weapon.

 

[GCPD]

Yeah, Sat in a cohort of 10 right behind a zaurus or temple guard block. Even solo he'd get a penalty to hit for shooting through other units, plus a LoS. More likely he'd be difficult to draw line of sight to.

I'm brining cohorts anyway so might as well use them as a bunker till they need chaff duty.

 

[Moniker]

I used my Quango Chief today in a unit of Skrox, and it worked fairly well.

My next thought is Chief, Ripper, LA, Gold Sigil, Enchanted Shield and Quango. Very dynamic and multi use thing. Chaf clearing, or even just rocking into the side of a combat for added punch. That'd put him at 2+ armour save too which is not too shabby. He can pop the egg, then his attacks are at I10 so his attacks won't ever be wasted.

This is my Aerial Egg Delivery System. Sounds fun.

 

[Caneghem]

I used my Quango Chief today in a unit of Skrox, and it worked fairly well.

My next thought is Chief, Ripper, LA, Gold Sigil, Enchanted Shield and Quango. Very dynamic and multi use thing. Chaf clearing, or even just rocking into the side of a combat for added punch. That'd put him at 2+ armour save too which is not too shabby. He can pop the egg, then his attacks are at I10 so his attacks won't ever be wasted.

This is my Aerial Egg Delivery System. Sounds fun.

Sounds like fun.. although you might get more utility out of the biting blade. Skink Chief should usually strike first anyway with his natural initiative.

 

[Dreadgrass]

Or if your not too worried about ethereals, just give him a spear and maybe tack on the Other Tricksters Shard for character-hunting.

 

[Smexygor]

Skink has great initiative but mediocre strength and low attacks. Sword that buffs attacks combined with a potion of strength should surprise and kill a few guys. Alternatively a fencers blades and some protection item may allow him to handle a few challenges for you.

Egg of quango is going to be my go to option if I need one to shepherd my predatory fighters. Some combat res and magical attacks and the rest of his kit based on hurting things before he dies.

 

[GCPD]

I've reworked my list to move the BSB back to my Slann, and initially I was going to drop the Skink Chief too but found myself with about 90 points to spare. So, as I'm trying to move away from Salamanders and I already have two Skink Priests in the list, I thought "why not?"

The build that I'm looking at is Egg of Quango, Dragonhelm and Biting Blade. The idea is that he runs into something that's looking hairy and cracks the egg. With his I6, he might even get a few wounds through on his own, too.

Its a shame that the Egg counts as an Enchanted Item, because I would really love to combine it with the Potion of Strength. Park him in front of something with lots of armour, then on the turn they charge drink the potion to get a S7 stand and shoot with your javelin (hitting on 2s!). Crack the egg in the first round of combat, then follow up with with your S7 attacks.

As it is, I'm still really tempted for a Potion of Strength Skink. You could either keep him cheap at just the potion and a Javelin for 62 points, add the Beserker Sword for another 20 to give him 4 attacks in that all important round, or Sword of Striking and some armour. Its not going to ruin hobbies, and I wouldn't say that Lizardmen really suffer from a lack of anti-armour, but it might be surprisingly effective, especially for its cost. Start adding in some Beasts buffs and it may really pay off (like Savage Beast of Horrors - 6 S10 attacks, anyone?).

 

[Lizardmatt]

I'm becoming a bigger fan of skink chiefs.
They are super cheap and do something nothing else in the army does; they don't strike last.

A chief with light armor, shield, javelin and egg.
Stick him in the poison cohort unit.
20 shots with poison, 20 shots on stand and fire, then 30 S3 poison attacks, 3 S4 attacks, and the egg.
The Egg often pushes the unit into the WIN section, possibly by a lot.

Combined, the hero plus unit is 309 points, which is flexible and pretty decent for it's damage output.

-Matt

 

[A Steaming Kroak]

I'm becoming a bigger fan of skink chiefs.
They are super cheap and do something nothing else in the army does; they don't strike last.

A chief with light armor, shield, javelin and egg.
Stick him in the poison cohort unit.
20 shots with poison, 20 shots on stand and fire, then 30 S3 poison attacks, 3 S4 attacks, and the egg.
The Egg often pushes the unit into the WIN section, possibly by a lot.

Combined, the hero plus unit is 309 points, which is flexible and pretty decent for it's damage output.

-Matt

I like the utility of this unit, and think that it would surprise a few people. Question, does the chief gain poison attacks by joining the unit? The unit upgrade says skinks gain poison... I think it might be a stretch that the model gains the special rule, but I think a case could be made for it. If they did gain poison, it could be an attractive option to stud a unit with characters in the same way goblins do.

 

[Khaluk]

I like the utility of this unit, and think that it would surprise a few people. Question, does the chief gain poison attacks by joining the unit? The unit upgrade says skinks gain poison... I think it might be a stretch that the model gains the special rule, but I think a case could be made for it. If they did gain poison, it could be an attractive option to stud a unit with characters in the same way goblins do.

I dont think the Chiefs would gain poison attacks, since the book states that you pay 1ss per model for the abillity, not the unit (Which would usually transfer it's abillity)

 

[A Steaming Kroak]

I agree, the wording seems to indicate that the skinks in the unit are upgraded. Too bad there was no way give chiefs poison attacks.