7th Ed. Lore of Shadow Army set-up

[Peukon]

Having spent a lot of time looking over all the lores and their benefits (thanks for the great topics here on the forum), I've decide to give Lore of Shadow a go, and to that respect make a list the really benefits from it. My main concern is if the "core" of the army is viable.

Basically I was thinking of running a Slann with temple guards in the middle, flanked by 2 units of Saurus warriors each with a Scar-Veteran on foot. One of them will of course have the Jaguar Charm. That way I can really put the pressure on my opponent with possible two guys flying 20 ahead and killing chariots or taking out mages or war-machines.

These 3 units will be supported by faster moving stuff on the flanks and maybe a EotG.

What do you guys think?... Is this just crap or does it have potential?

 

[Dumbledore]

It has potential. Get an EotG in there for sure so that the big shadow spells can be gotten off reliably. I've been thinking of trying a similar line up as with fourteen TG three units of 6x3 saurus infantry would look awesome. Consider having Hide of the Cold Ones on the other scar vet. Although expensive this makes him a fear causer, which can be exploited with shadow magic to become a terror causer. Get some skinks and terradons too, maybe a salamander.

Really I'd personally prefer to build a list that I'm happy to take on anyone with and then choose lore as needed, but shadow is versatile enough that you can force yourself to use it every game and still have an army that plays well.

 

[Peukon]

Thanks for your input Dumbledore, I really appreciate it

I've added my first draft of the list in the army list section, in my eyes it looks ready for some play testing, and could work out pretty well (at least I hope so)

 

[Caneghem]

There is always a useful spell to cast in the Lore of Shadows, and Creeping Death and unseen lurker are useful every single round, even if conditions are horrible for the other 4 spells. It is pretty common to see a high value target for Pit of Shades, though not guaranteed. The fear/terror enhancer will be useful against some armies, not even worth casting against others. Crown of Taidron is probably going to be too hazardous to your own troops to be worth casting, but always consider it if your Temple Guard unit is surrounded. Steed of Shadows can be a great tactical spell, though you will need to have a character on foot somewhere nearby. You may consider a Scar-Vet in the TG or an adjacent unit of saurus warriors, so that you can Steed of Shadows him into a far-off target and wipe it out.

 

[strewart]

It is pretty common to see a high value target for Pit of Shades, though not guaranteed. The fear/terror enhancer will be useful against some armies, not even worth casting against others.

I'm not so sure.. I assume you mean undead and the like? Remember, if you cause fear you are immune to it. Also any terror will count as fear so you won't need to worry about terror checks. If you cause terror you are immune to both. Not hugely useful, sure, but if you have dice (and what Slann doesn't?) it might be worth throwing it, even if only to try to eat a couple of DD.

 

[Peukon]

Thanks for your comments guys... It really helps... and I defiantly think I'll go with a fluff army based on the Tlax (I love fluff), and my Wood Elf army is actually a "ghost" army to so it couldn't be any better.

Now I just have to figure out if I should go with 2 units of Saurus Warriors with 18 or 12 models in them. Going bigger means they have more fighting potential, but it will also mean fewer units. I might go with the bigger ones if I can make it all work together without loosing other key units.

 

[Caneghem]

It is pretty common to see a high value target for Pit of Shades, though not guaranteed. The fear/terror enhancer will be useful against some armies, not even worth casting against others.

I'm not so sure.. I assume you mean undead and the like? Remember, if you cause fear you are immune to it. Also any terror will count as fear so you won't need to worry about terror checks. If you cause terror you are immune to both. Not hugely useful, sure, but if you have dice (and what Slann doesn't?) it might be worth throwing it, even if only to try to eat a couple of DD.

That's a good point, and initially I was thinking that most of the LM army either casuses fear or is immune to psych (TG). You have your skrox units with their accompanying fear-causer. But the good old saurus spear blocks might actually need the spell cast on them if they are in danger of losing combat to undead. My Slann 2250 list just doen't include the normal version of the saurus block, so I wasn't thinking of them. If you are gearing your list toward Lore of Shadows anyway, you'll probably want your heroes on foot so you can fling them around using Steed of Shadows. This means no heroes on cold ones tucked into units, so you may need shades of death to compensate.

 

[lupercal]

I like the idea of forming an army that makes people react to you rather then the other way around. This idea has merit. If you form you army around a lore then you are more likely to make things happen with your spells since you will more or less specialize in that lore.

 

[Dreadgrass]

Just spinballing ideas but what about throwing the Totem of Prophecy on your TG unit? then making a US 20 Terror causer in the middle of your army..... you'd autobreak a lot of Trolls/ ogres...

 

[Peukon]

Just spinballing ideas but what about throwing the Totem of Prophecy on your TG unit? then making a US 20 Terror causer in the middle of your army..... you'd autobreak a lot of Trolls/ ogres...

This idea has potential, I love the idea of a big fear causing unit, and with the War Drums (and maybe Unseen Lurker) it just might be manoeuvrable enough.

I'm just a bit scared investing so many points in one unit (must be my old Wood Elf MSU mentality kicking in)

 

[Caneghem]

Just spinballing ideas but what about throwing the Totem of Prophecy on your TG unit? then making a US 20 Terror causer in the middle of your army..... you'd autobreak a lot of Trolls/ ogres...

This idea has potential, I love the idea of a big fear causing unit, and with the War Drums (and maybe Unseen Lurker) it just might be manoeuvrable enough.

I'm just a bit scared investing so many points in one unit (must be my old Wood Elf MSU mentality kicking in)

I think for the points you spend on it you won't get all that much benefit, since with shades of death you can get lots of quick little terror tests on things that will be hanging around anyway. That lone salamander or that kroxigor hanging out with a unit of skinks can suddenly trigger terror tests. The auto-breaking of trolls and other normal fear causers isn't all that necessary, since the TG block will have enough static res on its own to take down normal fear-causers with ease. Things you would really want to auto-break that already cause fear tend to be immune to psych anyway, so the terror is pointless. Undead and Daemons come to mind here.