8th Ed. Stegadons?

[megz04]

What are peoples opinions of Stegs?

They were the first thing I wanted to get for my lizardmen army, yet I noticed they often don't feature in army lists. I was just wondering if there was a reason for this?

Thanks

 

[HoverBoy]

Aareason – because people are chicken of warmachines.
The new more accurate artilerry rules hit monsters that along with steadfast made monsters less "beatface powah OMFG" making them take brains to use instead, for people who are used to their steg to pretty much crump enemy armies solo it drove many of the older players away from stegs when 8th came along, given time and persistent people (like me POWER TO THE STAMPEDE!) stegs will find their new role.
I personally find stegs to work great in conjunction with saurus blocks, saurus add ranks and some kills while the steg adds a whole lot more kills for total annahilation of enemy forces

 

[Clockwork]

Ancient Stegadon with Engine of the Gods is great against Wood Elves. Not so much useful otherwise except as a scare weapon. I occasionaly roll an EotG or Ancient Steg against undead or high elves, but that's about it.

Just got a 2nd though, so want to try the two-Steg combo one day.

 

[JohnMavrick]

I rarely leave home without either an EotG or an Ancient (either w/ a Skink Chief, Chief BSB or regular Ancient). I love to run them up along side my Saurus or trample a flank. If your worried about war machines use terrain to mask until your Chameleons or Terradons take them down.

 

[strewart]

With true line of sight rules now, there isn't really a lot of terrain that will actually cover a stegadon... Might make it harder to hit for some things, but even most forests can be seen through. What are people using to cover up the steg?

Artillary is indeed the main reason not to take them though, they will naturally be the first target due to their size and things like cannons and warp lightning cannons really are powerful and accurate now. They are a very nice model though, and not a useless choice, can still have a good effect on the battlefield, just need to use them a bit more carefully. Unless you are playing competatively, your army won't be at a big disadvantage for having one.

I find a plain ancient steg to be the most useful choice now. Add a chief and it costs too much, same with a priest, also puts a lot in characters.

 

[Xlcontiqu]

I am a firm believer in the Reg Steg. Not only is it cheaper than the ancient, it also has a giant bow, which I actually manage to hit things with. I use it for mainly supporting my main blocks or taking out smaller units. Stegadons definitely have a role, just not as clear cut or easy as it was before.

 

[Arli]

I really like the Skink chief with war spear. That is a devestating charge! Especially effective against HE.

 

[JohnMavrick]

With true line of sight rules now, there isn't really a lot of terrain that will actually cover a stegadon... Might make it harder to hit for some things, but even most forests can be seen through. What are people using to cover up the steg?

Buildings mostly for us. Hills will cover it too. In our shop we have substantial terrain and it's an accepted rule that you have to see over 50% of the Steg itself and not the sticking up parts of the howda or the javlin tips of my skinks atop (it's a fairly dynamic model...at least as best I could make it anyhow).

I am a firm believer in the Reg Steg. Not only is it cheaper than the ancient, it also has a giant bow, which I actually manage to hit things with. I use it for mainly supporting my main blocks or taking out smaller units. Stegadons definitely have a role, just not as clear cut or easy as it was before.

If you can make the Giant Bow work then by all means use it! I'd probably use the regular Steg more often if the bow could hit stuff. LoL For me though the two Giant Blow Pipes on the Ancient's (IMHO) better stat line have a better use. But as we've said before it's all about what you like and how you like to use it.

 

[walach]

i find 1 regular and 1 ancient works well for me. characters just seem incredibly vulnerable to any war machine/template attack now, frankly i'd rather take a priest on foot and a regular ancient steg than put them together.

 

[SeBM]

I really think the Stegadons of all kind have a niche role in Lizardmen armies. I really enjoy using an Ancient Stegadon against my friend's Daemons of Chaos and I can see it being very good against a lot of armies. Granted, Dwarfs, Empire and Skaven will more then likely blast it quickly, but the rest of your army isn't getting shot so that's still pretty good .

 

[JohnMavrick]

I do agree that war machines make taking a character on a steg riskier than it's ever been. But in the case of a BSB I never give Chief's or Scar Vet's magic banners any how because I can buy talismans or armour to protect them. In the case of a Priest I usually only ever give him the plaque of tepok anyways so I still have a few points for ward save protection. Unfortunately it doesn't extend to the mount...