*cracks knuckles*
Let's do this. You want TAC? Let's do TAC. I am also writing this up at like 2am so it may be a tad rambling.
I wrestled with a lot of ideas before I came up with this list. I will absolutely have to revive my old list emporium soon because this has given me some seriously dumb ideas (Extremis Chamber play very nicely with a Bloodclaw Starhost). For this thread however, I have simply refined an older idea so as to keep largely within the rules of being focussed on Seraphon.
Brace yourselves- there is no Bastiladon in this list.
The List
Bloodclaw Starhost 100
Old Blood on Carnosaur 320
Scar Veteran on Cold One 100
Scar Veteran on Cold One 100
Scar Veteran on Cold One 100
Warriors (10) 100
Celestite Clubs
Warriors (10) 100
Celestite Clubs
Warriors (10) 100
Celestite Clubs
Shadowstrike Starhost 120
Skink Starpriest 100
Chameleon Skinks (5) 120
Chameleon Skinks (5) 120
Terradons (3) 140
Sunleech Bolas
Celestial Hurricanum 320
Gryph Hound 40
Total: 1980
The Reasoning and the Theory
Whilst attempting to build a balanced list, I try and ensure that I tick as many of the list building rules as possible:
- Can I deal mortal wounds?
- Am I prepared to take mortal wounds?
- Am I mobile enough?
- Do I have sources of magic or unbinding?
- Do I have means of dealing with artillery?
- Can I deal with tarpits?
- Can I deal with aggressive deployment?
- Do I have either a balance of both combat and ranged damage, or an overwhelming amount of one of them?
- Can I take objectives?
When thinking of what makes a good TAC list, I thought that the best way of being ready for anyone is to simply not let them play how they want to play. The aim of this list is to disrupt the enemy gameplan and alpha strike their weak points. On recent review, Terradons are far better than I gave them credit for when used in a Shadowstrike starhost- they can potentially weaken/kill 3 key targets the turn they drop in (Drop rocks, shoot, combat) which is integral to what we want to achieve. This will be the lynchpin for our plan of attack. The Bloodclaw with 3 Scar Vets on Cold Ones is a cost effective way of creating our Alpha Strike contingency- they gain a lot of attacks and cut through heroes or chaff units alike. The Hurricanum is a Hurricanum. The Gryph hound is there to bulk points, and can give me protection from enemy units that want to outmanoeuvre my Alpha Strike.
The Game Plan
It is no coincidence that all the heroes in the Bloodclaw and the Hurricanum have a movement of 10- this will form our Alpha Strike. Their goal is to intercept the enemy army and kill as many things as possible. Scoring units, Monsters and Heroes are our priority with this group. What is so nice about this is that the Hurricanum synergises so well with the Bloodclaw heroes- it provides with a to hit buff, it can ping off enemy heroes or monster killers with its mortal wounds, and (most excitingly for me), it means that I can actually try and unbind enemy spells for once due to being so far up the field. In return, the Bloodclaw can keep the Hurricanum safe from combat and provide too many high value targets for the opponent to focus on.
The Starpriest and the Gryph will also be running to keep up with our Alpha Strike, as the Starpriests spell and staff buff on our Carnosaur can be absolutely brutal, whilst he Gryph hound is excellent at stopping armies like Sylvaneth or Clan Skryre from getting round our attackers.
The Terradons and the Cham Skinks are both there to dismantle the opponent on turn one. Drop your Terras so that you can move them over a key target such as Wizards, Priests and War Machine crew, then drop rocks on them. You can then choose to either use your shooting to finish off your initial target or pick a new one. You can then repeat the process with your combat phase. If all goes according to plan you've traded your Terradons up in terms of points, and also ruined your opponent's initial plans. The Cham skinks are excellent at taking out similar targets, but don't be so eager to dispose of them- late game they can snag you objectives.
The Warriors exist solely to use their 10" march to get to objectives. They're not awful in a fight which is nice, but don't go throwing them to the wolves.
Conclusions/Thoughts
As a few members on here know, I really like cheesy, silly lists. This, unfortunately, is not overly cheesy. It is however pretty balanced, and will give most armies a damn good fight.
Keeping it mostly focussed on Seraphon hurt quite a bit. Spending 220 points on battalions hurts my min/max brain, but it provides so much flexibility that we otherwise would miss out on. I really wish that I could find a way of getting healing in here as well, but damnable hero limits got in the way.
Could this list crack something super defensive like Bowsers? Hard to say. Could it beat other balanced lists? I would put money on it. It brings just enough of each of the core rules of list building to create something that is strong, but fair.
Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of playing fair.
To the list emporium, awaaaaaaaaaaay
.l
