8th Ed. Standard unit sizes

[The_Question_NL]

Heya Guys,

Question:
What are normal unit sizes for lizardmen units?
I was thinking about starting an army with at the base a Slann and a unit Temple Guard.
Is it the same with Saurussus as with Orcs around 30-35?
And Skins same as gobbo's around 20-40?

Cheer,

Jeroen.

 

[n810]

20 temple guard is fairly common.
saurus units vary dependin on the point level of the game.
so some where between 20-40.
skink skirmisher units are usualy taken that the minimal unit size.
Skink/Kroxigor units trypicaly contain 1, 2, or 3 kroxigor,
you need at least 8 skink per kroxigor for a legal unit (I think it was 8).

 

[The_Question_NL]

Why only 20 temple guards?
Seems to be a little few for me in case of a cc unit and ranks?
Or do you need buffs or need to keep the guards out of cc?

Cheers.

Jeroen.

 

[n810]

Don't forget that the Slann dispaces 4 temple guard....

20 gives you a unit 6 wide and 4 deep.
and coverage on every side of the slann.

26 and 16 temple guard are also reasonably common.

 

[Qupakoco]

I agree with n810.

When you compare Saurus to Orcs you need to keep in mind that each Saurus has 2 attacks. That means we have a much higher damage output than Orcs would, allowing us to get by with less models for the same results. That's my thoughts anyhow. Plus Saurus cost more.

 

[Hasnat]

There is no 'standard unit size' - it will vary depending upon the points level being played, the opposing army perhaps, the army list style and so on.

However, I would strongly assert that Saurus Warriors should never be taken in unit sizes of less than 20 models (19, if you put a Scar Veteran in the unit). Saurus Warrior units have a role to play - smash the enemy, be a brick wall or both. They can't do that if you don't have at least twenty of them.

Secondly, Skink skirmishers should be taken in small unit sizes of about 10-15. This allows them to move around easily and again to perform their role (irritating the enemy), which if they were fielding in too large a unit, they would not be as effective at doing.

 

[PlasmaDavid]

Does anyone have experiences of having mega-blocks of Saurus or skinks to share? 50 Saurus would be pretty awesome...

 

[Qupakoco]

For Saurus there was a thread on that some time ago.

Link: Saurus Warriors - To horde or not!

My opinion is that it makes them very cumbersome to play with. 10 Saurus wide means your unit is 10-inches wide. That's an inch short of a sheet of printer paper! Try moving that around a game board with terrain. I'd stop my Saurus blocks at 36, going 6x6. (6 wide is my preference)

For Skinks, 40 or more is plausible if there are Krox in the unit. 4 Krox and 50 Skinks would be scary. I recall Arli saying that his opponents just try to run from a unit like that. But without the Krox the Skinks are really easy to kill and likely won't get their points back. Against almost every army Skinks are hit on a 3+ and wounded on a 3+ with a 6+/6++ save, while requiring 4+ and 4+ followed by a 5+/6++ to return damage. Pretty awful. Maybe it they were buffed with Light or Life they'd be ok, but certainly not by themselves.

 

[PlasmaDavid]

Cheers for the input!

I've recently been playing with 2 x 20 blocks of Spears, and after getting router by the Bretts last night I think it's time to push the blocks together, if you know what I mean My two blocks did nothing all game as they attempted to manouver into a good charge position, but by the time they lined up the Bretts just rode off.

Next game I play I'm going to go all out Saurus 40 model hoard, with all of the lighter stuff on the flanks.

 

[Scalenex]

My personal preferences for 2500ish games, I adjust it between these ranges depending on how many points I have left over (or overspent)

25-30 HW Sauri
30-35 Spear Sauri
21-26 Temple Guard (Life Slann)
26-31 Temple Guard (any other Slann)
0 Temple Guard (no Slann)
9-14 Cold One Riders with Scar Veteran
7-10 Chameleon Skinks
10 Skink Skirmishers
Skink Cohorts: any and all sizes based on purpose http://www.lustria-online.com/threads/choosing-the-size-of-your-skink-cohorts.9790/

 

[kroxigor01]

My personal preferences for 2500ish games, I adjust it between these ranges depending on how many points I have left over (or overspent)

25-30 HW Sauri
30-35 Spear Sauri
21-26 Temple Guard (Life Slann)
26-31 Temple Guard (any other Slann)
0 Temple Guard (no Slann)
9-14 Cold One Riders with Scar Veteran
7-10 Chameleon Skinks
10 Skink Skirmishers
Skink Cohorts: any and all sizes based on purpose http://www.lustria-online.com/threads/choosing-the-size-of-your-skink-cohorts.9790/

For comparison here is what I like:

17-18 in my MSU list Lore of Light list othewise 24 HW Saurus
I never take Spear Saurus
16 Temple Guard (Life Slann)
0 Temple Guard (any other Slann)
I never take Cold One Riders
5-6 Chameleon Skinks
3 Terradons
10 Skink Skirmishers
I never take Skink Cohorts

I play in a much less horde/huge unit metagame though.

 

[duranerik000]

Im prob going to get some criticism but I like the saurus w spears as a hoard of 40 expensive but depending on base size and if u charge ur getting one full rank of attacks n then 2 to 3 ranks of support against infantry they do well... against big beasties well lets just say lots of blue blood is on the battlefield.

I tried terradons w brave cus i like the higher bs but for 1 -3 shots for three guys n 3d3 rocks they just have not impressed me so far. chamo skinks killed other skirmishers.... yay! and blowpipes have a thing for killing large targets that i love.

 

[PlasmaDavid]

I ran 40 hoarde Spear Saurus vs high elves the other day.

We rolled watchtower, and I managed to make the mistake of deploying the spears last. They just got blocked by terrain/my own units lots.

I'll be going to two units of 5x5 from now on, unless it's a silly-huge game with wide open spaces.