JWK47 said:
Call me a pessimist but I'm pretty concerned by the release and it's ability to compete at least in my local meta:
...
Right now the army that the lizardmen seem to be modeled after is Beastmen (combat blocks supported by monsters). This terrifies me because the concept of the army book is so out of touch with current competitive warhammer.
Keen to hear people's thoughts about where the teeth of this army might lie in a meta dominated by WoC, Skaven, HE and Ogres
Well, if you focus only on the negative, I suppose things look bad. But there are a couple things that should help you realize the sky is not in fact falling.
First, the book's not out, and the only things being confirmed right now come from the White Dwarf. So we're getting incomplete information at best.
Second, you appear to be, in fact, blindly pessimistic. You mentioned that the Slann might get nerfed... well, probably in some ways, yes, but it has also been widely confirmed that the Lore Attribute for High Magic will allow the Slann to customize his Lore over the course of the game. He will be able to take Loremaster as well, and so you'll start with 8 spells and be able to customize as you see fit. This reserves the Slann's spot on the throne of "Best in Warhammer," because it basically allows him to tweak his lores to suit varying opponents. His temple guard also appear to be dropping in points, while gaining PF.
Salamanders will probably lose march-and-fire, because let's face it, it was probably never intended to allow them to march and fire, since razordons couldn't either in the last book. They're only 5 points more expensive and will still be worth taking, though they'll be less of a no-brainer to use. You also didn't mention razordons going down 10 points and having access to a BS buff now, or the rumor that they'd be getting stomps.
Skinks lose 1 Ld, disallowing the skink cloud, but this is rumored to come with a point reduction. If kroxigors drop in points as well, skrox are much more affordable.
Carnosaurs may very well still be not worth taking, but we don't yet know their full rules and what upgrades they can take. At least now you can fit one in your hero points and not give up your level 4. Didn't have that option before. Also it is gaining PF, and speaking of meta, monstrous cav will be pretty scared of the D3 wounds the carno does.
Saurus - really you can't complain much if they remain the same points and gain PF. As already mentioned, Slann is arguably a better caster now that he can cast from 9 lores in a single game. Remember all those dual Slann lists? Only need one now, he can change lores mid-fight.
Bastiladon - +1I isn't that great, especially if this is a bound spell, but you failed to mention the rumored str5 template weapon this thing is rumored to be toting. If it fires like a stone thrower, you can use Hand of Glory to boost BS and indirect fire to guide the projectile where it'll do the most damage. I don't think anybody knows what the Ark of Sotek will do, and who knows, maybe they made jungle swarms worth having... Jungle Swarms aren't a great choice but if a unit can spit them out for free instead of 65 points (whatever the new cost is) then it may be something to look at.
Ripperdactyls - Don't know if 4+ AS is confirmed (at best 3+), but they have potential as bunker kamikaze units. These will probably take a lot of practice to use well.
Trog - We don't know enough to say it won't be worth taking. We don't even know what that oracle fellow on the back does yet. Maybe he gives a ward save or helps buff troops?
