8th Ed. Lifestar?

[Gor-rok]

With the new random charge distances, I'm still a little wary of leaving the Slann out in the open without his faithful temple guard. As many others have noted, lore of Life and it's Throne of Vines is an ideal way to avoid miscasting one's expensive guardians into oblivion, but I'm wondering just how far I can take the concept in a larger game.

So: Slann with Becalming, Mystery, Rumination, and Unfathomable; Cupped Hands, Plaque of Protection, and BSB with Rampager's Standard (re-roll charge distances)

32 Temple Guard, full command; champion with hornet blade; Razor Standard (armor piercing)

The whole point is going to be getting this unit, possibly with some combination of toughness 8, 4+ regeneration, and/or 2D6 S4 auto hits, into combat with... Well, anything. The whole rest of the list will be set up to assist with this. It's vulnerable to something like Pit of Shades, but with Becalming they're not getting irresistible force, so I'll have a chance to dispel (and you better believe a skink with the dispel scroll is coming along).

This is indeed a definitive example of putting all the proverbial eggs in one basket, but I wonder how effective it could be. The enemy, in theory, could only avoid it for so long, and the Razor standard could be swapped for the one that gives +1 movement if it seems like I'm having problems pinning them down.

At any rate, I've got to try it for the sake of having a unit called 'The Lifestar'. Your thoughts, as always, are appreciated.

 

[Rated G]

Personally, I think that Slann has way too much bling. Need to call that fool Huggy Toad.

Seriously though, way way way too much. I don't even know if I would take this in 3000 pts. The enemy will avoid this bunker and focus on what little is left of the rest of your army. They will wipe it out by turn 3, maybe 4, and spend the next few turns doing whatever they please with your mv4 industrial strength egg crate. If you are going for points denial, it will be a very boring game, unnecessary, and more than likely, ineffective.

I think you can trim it down considerable and still get the effect you want.

 

[Sebulba]

I think it could be good, just don't become overly confident that you'll get all those spells off. Sure it would be cool to have all the buffs up, but what if you roll a 1 and a 2 and get 3 dice? Sure you could cast 3 of the spells with all those disciplines but a lot of those can be dispelled on your opponents turn. It's a lot of points so makes sure you take enough support units to help them out.

 

[Horus1976]

I find the 8th edition slann way better than the 7th. He can cast Lore Of Life with much less dice (usually two are enough) so he has less chance to miscast and when he does (sometimes intentionally) ...The Old ones have Cupped Hands. . The good thing is that now he doesnt blow up his guard that easily. Add some magic resistance, magic banners and perhaps a Scar Vet in the unit and is ready. I just don think that you need to make them 30 strong. Use the points for support units.

 

[Gor-rok]

All good points there, and speaking with the voice of reason. I still think the concept is for the most part sound, but for serious games I should indeed see to toning down the Slann points and TG numbers.

What I'm anticipating though in 8th ed. is gigantic horde blocks of things like Chaos Warriors and Ogre Ironguts, if the few games I've seen so far are any indication. Things like that are going to be just as unwieldy as the giant Temple Guard block, and they'll have a hard time hunting down my salamanders, skinks, and other quick support units if they're just going for the easy kills. Plus, with that much attacking power, how can they resist going in for the kill on my Slann point sink?

I also wouldn't underestimate the charge distance a move 4 unit can get off these days, especially if the dice can be re-rolled with that banner. I may be able to tie them up in combat early on, and then we'll see if this unit does what I think it'll do up close...