7th Ed. Is this a smart unit build? Terradons w/chief

[gmurie]

I'm mostly a modeler and painter, but I don't like losing any more than the next guy. I thought this would make an impressive centerpiece unit to my army.

Skink Chief on Terradon w/ Light Armor, Shield, Spear, Javelins, and Sacred Stegadon Helm.

4+ Terradon Riders, maybe including a Brave. The extra point of BS always seems to make a difference when I play these games.

The notion is:

A) It would look cool. I'm going to scav a Temple Guard head for the Chief and do lots of other stuff.

B) see A.

C) I have terrible luck, and though they're cold blooded I just know having those little boogers at LD 8 and having the chief with a 2+ armor save (is that right?) is going to come in handy.

However, the chief's something like 150 points and the total cost of the unit's 275 or so for him and four 'dons.

 

[rickie_82]

You cant give a cheif spear and javelin. One weapon only. If I mounted a skink cheif on a terradon and used him in a unit. I would Give him LA, sheild, spear, Staff of the lost sun and put him in a unit of 3 regular terradons.

You get some additional punch when charging, some extra range threat and cold blooded leadership 7. Should go a long way. Just pray they dont get shoot outa the sky

 

[Barotok]

The thing about skink combat heros is that they seem to die quickly against anything decent in CC. Their toughness doesn't make them the most resiliant and so you have to be carefull about the things you get into combat with. I know that if I spend as much points on a hero as you do to make a skink semi-effective in combat that you want them to be able to hold their own against anything. I much prefer a scar vet over this guy, unless we're talking about a chief on a stegadon. Putting him on a terradon adds points value to a unit that you want to be able to flee with and potentially loose it without giving too much thought. If you have a hero in the unit, the loss makes it that much more difficult.

Not withstanding, you can't deny the looks of the models. It sounds like you're doing a pretty unique conversion which will make your army look pretty cool. I don't think that running this kind of setup is going to make or break your army. You'll have to set it up correctly so that your hero has the support he needs.

Best of luck!

 

[Itzi-Bitzi]

I'm a believer that when designing an army it is about three things (for me anyway). And generally in this order.
1. Theme/Character of the army
2. Suits my playing style/ Role on the battlefield
3. Looks good

In saying that there are alot of times (especially when playing vampire counts) that I have had to leave some of my favourite models at home to bring in something more effective....
But what I am tring to say is unique looking and well presented armies are what it's all about, fun to play with and against. I think that Barotok had some great points and providing the chief is well supported and fits the role on the battlefield I think it would be a great looking centrepiece to your army. He would definately whack a punch against enemy war machines and light cavalry etc. But be aware that your opponent will be aware of that also and they will probably present a greater threat than a unit of terradon usually do (and that's a lot already) and attract a lot of shooting etc. But maybe that's their role on the battlefield use that to your advantage?
But it will definately look great and be a lot of fun to play. You'll have to post a pic of the conversion when it's done... I think it sounds like it will look awesome!

 

[kroxigor01]

From the perspective of in game effectiveness, I think giving light armour, shield and a spear is the best option. His main purpose is to cheaply (93 points) deliver 3 S5 attacks to a warmachine.

Another more interesting (though of dubious worth) build is the 'mini high elf noble with battlebanner'. Chief on Terradon with light armour, shield, spear, BSB and Warbanner. 143 points of 20" moving 2 combat resolution. Suddenly your little skink hero can beat fast cavalry, skirmishers, heavy cavalry (with no command) and other fast flyers easily.

 

[Caneghem]

A build I've been thinking about trying has 25 points of magic items, so it's not too extreme.

Give him, light armor, spear, enchanted shield, and venom of the firefly frog.

VotFF gives him magical attacks and poison, so in those off times when you don't break a warmachine crew on the charge you have an easier time wounding in the subsequent rounds. Also with the poison in place, you might feel confident enough to charge in and pluck that last wound off of something really tough, though of course you're taking your life into your hands doing that!

The 3+ armor save with this setup (your original setup was 3+ as well) prevents the weaker stuff from hurting him as often, in the odd case where crew are fighting back (or high elves).

If you have a decent magic phase built up though, the scar-vet with the jag charm is probably better in almost every way.