8th Ed. Saurus Horde?

[Hasnat]

Hi,

I am entering a tournament in a few weeks. The points limit is 800 and the army must follow the normal selection rules but no army may spend more than 200 points on Lords and Heroes in total (as opposed to 200 on Lords and 200 on Heroes).

I have been using the following list when I’ve entered this same tournament before:

• Skink Priest, Level 2, Ruby Ring of Ruin, Diadem of Power
  20 Saurus Warriors, Full Command
  20 Saurus Warriors, Full Command
  10 Skink skirmishers
  1 Salamander, extra handler

It has done reasonably well unless I’ve had bad luck. However, things change within a year and I wanted to ensure that this list did not have any major flaws in it in light of new releases. I have also been considering the following two lists:

• Saurus Scar-Veteran (*), Shield, Gold Sigil Sword (Initiative 10 in CC), Ironcurse Icon
  Skink Priest, Diadem of Power
  40 Saurus Warriors (*), Standard Bearer
  10 Skink skirmishers
  1 Salamander, extra handler

• Skink Priest, Diadem of Power
  24 Saurus Warriors, Standard bearer
  24 Saurus Warriors, Standard bearer
  11 Skink skirmishers
  1 Salamander, extra handler

Which of the three would you prefer and why? Also, what particular enemies should the list you prefer be cautious of?

Thank you.


(EDIT): the asterisks (*) indicate the unit the character would join.

 

[newscales]

i don't know why there are asterisks.

I would go with the SV and priest, with the 40 saurus. you only get points for wiping a unit, so the bigger the block, the better I think, at least for a small points game. just have to be able to dispel big trouble spells, hence the diadem. I think that one works better.

* However, I just woke up so I may still be talking out my butt instead of with my brain.

 

[Hasnat]

Let's hope not.

A friend of mine thinks that combat characters are not generally worth it and that an ordinary unit will do more damage. To what extent is this true for Lizardmen in small games? If one were to agree with my friend's statement, would List 1 or List 3 be better?

 

[newscales]

Our core is one of the few ones out there that gets more than 1 attack with the front models. We will regularly have 5 attacks more than the other core. not much core can match S4T4 either and a lot of core is WS3 or lower. Odds are that the core doesn't need the help against other core. Against armies like Ogres or HE, it can be much harder to work out because their infantry has special rules.

The higher WS and S/T alone I think would be a solid inclusion, even a mundane equipped SV in a saurus block would help almost gaurantee combat rez I think.

 

[Hasnat]

Using statistics, a Saurus horde will beat any unit they are charged by or charge with the equivalent points cost except Chaos Warriors and large Ogre units (and only if the Ogres charge, which with M6 they will).

The only issue I see with such a large unit is the lack of target saturation and movement options that 2 20-man units provide. For example, in a game one of my units was charged by a 6-man Irongut unit but held, so I used my other Saurus unit to flank charge and destroy the Irongut unit.

 

[vict0988]

One thing to consider when wondering if you want to go with a mage general or a fighter general is, the lower leadership which often comes with the mage, in your army it would mean that your skinks and your salamanders leadership are both 2 lower than otherwise. Which could mean that they could get taken out with considerably less effort than otherwise.

As for fighter characters are not worth it in small games, that may be right when your fighter has 3 attacks ws 5 t 4 s 4 and costs about as much as a salamander, but when you have 4 attacks t 5 s 5 for just a few extra points, i definitely think it may be worth it.

But taking no magic defense could be pretty bad, if it were not because you are playing at 800 points. Where no one can bring a level 4, and a level 2 should not be able to do that much damage, compared to if you bring a scroll/diadem caddy or a real wizard.

An argument could be made that the wizard will also help you, but since you are bound to the random spell generated in lore of heavens, i just think a warrior character will be worth more.

You could consider putting him on a cold one, and giving him the charmed shield, and a magic weapon. Doing this would allow you to be able to deal with any potential ethereals.

Have him join the skinks, untill he can charge his target, i think that is probably the way to go.

I think you should split up your saurus, and make one unit 15 strong if you play with the watchtower scenario, otherwise just split them evenly, just to be able to make more tactic decisions, and deal with a wider array of armies and tacitcs.

 

[Hasnat]

One thing to consider when wondering if you want to go with a mage general or a fighter general is, the lower leadership which often comes with the mage, in your army it would mean that your skinks and your salamanders leadership are both 2 lower than otherwise. Which could mean that they could get taken out with considerably less effort than otherwise.

Indeed. However, why would anyone shoot at skinks when they have 2 Saurus blocks marching at them? People do though, and I then manage to into combat with their expensive unit and usually win.

As for fighter characters are not worth it in small games, that may be right when your fighter has 3 attacks ws 5 t 4 s 4 and costs about as much as a salamander, but when you have 4 attacks t 5 s 5 for just a few extra points, i definitely think it may be worth it.

But taking no magic defense could be pretty bad, if it were not because you are playing at 800 points. Where no one can bring a level 4, and a level 2 should not be able to do that much damage, compared to if you bring a scroll/diadem caddy or a real wizard.

I am very nervous about taking no magical defence whatsoever, even at 800 points there can be some fairly nasty wizards and also, Undead rely on their magic... but I may still be wrong.

An argument could be made that the wizard will also help you, but since you are bound to the random spell generated in lore of heavens, i just think a warrior character will be worth more.

I was planning to field the Skink priest for a cheap magical defence only, not really to cast.

You could consider putting him on a cold one, and giving him the charmed shield, and a magic weapon. Doing this would allow you to be able to deal with any potential ethereals.

If I were to take a Scar Veteran only, I'd do so only to improve my Saurus Warrior blocks... but that's rarely needed with 24 of them.

Have him join the skinks, untill he can charge his target, i think that is probably the way to go.

I think you should split up your saurus, and make one unit 15 strong if you play with the watchtower scenario, otherwise just split them evenly, just to be able to make more tactic decisions, and deal with a wider array of armies and tacitcs.

I will be playing Watchtower in the next round if I qualify. However, I'm unsure about taking a Saurus unit less than 20-man strong.

I could field 20 SW and 23 SW with banner, Scar vet with LA and Fencer's blades, sallie and 16 skinks?