7th Ed. Newbie list: 2250 tournament

[Buhallin]

Greetings, all. Not first post, but close

I'm prepping for a tournament in May. I'm quite new to Warhammer, and have been playing smaller games with a friend. We've gotten a few in, and the tournament is going to be a big jump for me, so I was looking for list advice.

The spread is a basic "Cover all the bases" selection that's intended to be a good, balanced list. As a newer player I'm unsure not only how to make/run a more specialized, optimized list, but also what I might expect to run into at the tournament, so flexible and balanced seems the way to go.

So, on to the list... This is from memory, but the list has been run in AB so if the points are off I probably forgot something.

Slann Mage-Priest [Focused Rumination, Becalming Cogitation, Cupped Hands of the Old Ones]

Saurus Scar-Vet, Battle Standard Bearer [Plaque of Dominion]

Skink Chief + Stegadon [Stegadon War-Spear]
Skink Priest [L2 Upgrade, Cloak of Feathers]
Temple Guard x10 +Banner
Saurus Warrior x18 +Banner +Musician +Spears
Saurus Warrior x18 +Banner +Musician +Spears
Skink Skirmishers x10
Skinks x16 + Kroxigor x2
Cold One Cavalry x5 +Banner +Champion
Terradon Riders x3
Salamander x1, +Extra Skink Handler

Commentary:

- Not sure if I need the BSB or not in this mix, but I like the extra potential for anti-caster that I get from the Plaque. Considering dropping for a second salamander and upping the Temple Guard, or possibly Focus of Mystery
- Figure the Stegadon anchors the center of the line, with the Saurus to either side. Salamander and Skirmishers flank for harassing shots as they can get them, while the Cold Ones look for soft targets to exploit. Terradons do what terradon's do - annoy Frenziers, drop rocks on war machines, and generally make a nuisance of themselves
- I know a lot of people don't like the Kroxigors, but I love the models so they're in, at least until I see how useless they are In this mix I'll probably hold them slightly in reserve, to try and set up charges against opponents the Saurus manage to engage
- I'll probably have issues against superheavy magic, but the Plaque + Becalming Cogitation + a timely Cupped Hands transfer should at least cause a bit of havoc

Comments and help appreciated!

 

[Stegadeth]

Honestly I would find a way to make that Stegadon an Engine of the Gods for the Skink Priest and give cloak of feathers to the Skink Chief as a war machine hunter or versatile wizard whacker. I feel like the minimum for a Slann is 16 Temple Guard as that gives you four ranks and a few more TG to start replacing those that will die. I am not a fan of Skink/Kroxigor units on paper, so have never played them. It just seems to me that for the points there are better units that won't drop like T2 flies.

The BSB in the unit of Cold Ones (I assume that is where the Scar-Vet is going?) is a mixed bag. I love a geared up Scar-Veteran in a unit of Cold One Cavalry as it turns it into a real hammer unit. If the Scar Vet is going in there now it just seems too easy to give up those Victory Points because a challenge from a real hero will defeat your unit Champ in one round of Close Combat meaning your BSB is next and usually poorly-geared compared to other heroes, assuming you are facing an Army with Heavy Cavalry like WoC, etc.

I also like a unit of Terrdons filled out to 4 instead of the minimum 3. If something bad does happen, or if they are shot at (granted, a cheap unit taking shots is always a very good thing!) you usually still have enough left to actually do something.

Finally: More Skirmishing Skinks! I can't overstate that. They are cheap. They always tend to bring down way more points than they cost with poisoned shots. Most of my opponents now actually try to make them less effective by actually getting into close combat with them! Pretty funny when 70 points of troops attract attention from monsters, giants, etc. Especially when I can take the stand and shoot and have a chance of bringing them down. Quite ridiculous, actually.

How many points is the tourney? I didn't bother to check the point cost out since you weren't sure it was accurate. I love that you got in 2 units of 18 Saurus. They are wonderful and can even tie up heavy Cav and the like for several turns.

 

[Buhallin]

2250 points.

BSB was going to be on foot, probably hanging out near the Saurus to ensure nothing unusually whacky happens with breaks, trying to stay visible to taunt enemy wizards with the banner without getting himself slaughtered.

I wouldn't mind getting more skinks in, but part of the challenge on this for me is the painting... I've got less than 3 months, and apart from the skink skirmishers and (by the end of tonight) the cavalry, it all needs paint. So something that adds another 20 or so models might not be the best idea I suppose I could pull the Skrox unit for them, and may consider that... But like I said, I love the Kroxigor models, so it's going to be a hard choice. I look at the unit primarily as a pair of hard-hitting Kroxigors with ablative skink armor Not sure how well it'll work, but I like the models enough to want to see them not work before I pull them.

I wouldn't mind going with an EotG instead of the regular Stegadon... it may be my Warmachine background talking, but I see a lot of potential use in the priest being highly mobile to channel spells from the Slann.

I'm certainly on board with the idea of upping both the Temple Guard and the Terradons... Now I just have to find the points...