Hi all, I am new to the lizards less then a month old, and I am wondering why most lists have the Slann as the asb and not a scar vet? The skink reason is pretty easy to grasp t3 asb = dead asb.
Probably because the Slann is the best mage in Warhammer.... and is pretty hard to kill. (Most give him the standard because it believe he used to have to bear it in the last edition if you took one) That being said I use Scar-vets and Old Bloods a lot too.
For me it's the fact that the Mage can take a magic standard + magic items. If you take a scar vet he can only have a magic standard and no other magic items. this means that the scar vet - whilst still being one tough cookie - misses out on getting some real good magic items to help him out. Thats my logic anyway.
I take the slann as bsb with standard of discipline (ldr 10 rerollable cold blooded and stubborn in TG). Yes please, in the unit of temple guard, that unit will not break as long as one temple guard remains. A scar vet can be used to absorb the challenges for the TG unit. IMO it is crazy to not take the slann as BSB. I have never had the slann break in combat and run. If the temple guard are gone, you have more trouble than worrying about the slann running anyway.
Put him in a unit of TG and he is basically safe. Problem with hero BSB is if they run (Break/Flee) they die so you always want them protected. That is why a Slann BSB running solo is dangerous. If he gets into combat he will loose and if he flees...well you just remove him. Put him in a TG unit, the enemy will have to kill the TG...they will not break.
One word of caution about putting him in w/ TG. One good Purple Sun or Pit of Shades and you're likely to lose the whole unit. In 1 on TG, In 2 on Slaan. At least that's been my experience. (lost him on top of turn 1 to Pit. last time I put him in w/TG)
You face that regardless of TG or not. I will take my chances with the TG and my slann's becalming cogitation taking the shadow caster's 6s away. To me, it is much more important to have an almost unbreakable bodyguard unit around my slann.
I'm not a fan of slan TG combo, but I must admit it is very very resilient, in addition if you get hit by a purple sum, or the pit, remember slan gets look out sir, because it's a template. And as Arli mentioned with becalming cogitation even the book of hotec/dweler's isn't that scary (they still have to roll 21+, and with the 6's gone it's difficult.) Another thing the TG+slan is ideal for a life slan, it's not an auto win, but it forgives plenty of mistakes. In addition you dont have to worry about thing's like flank or rear charges. Last tournament I played (came first) I could have afford to pursuit with my TG, knowingly I would receive a rear charge by a huge unit of irongut's with tyrant, and possibly a flank with a yeti or gorger. I knew that I can afford to lose combat and have a 98% chance to stick around, do a combat reform and win the next combat round. Not something I could do with the saurus. I love the lone slan, because of maneuverability, but in a competitive environment like a Tournament risking your slan is something I'm not willing to do. And that is why a BSB slan in a unit of 25 TG is soo good. a fluke or a bad dice rolling is minimized to less the 2%, it only get's better if your unbreakable.
I've had a Slann/BSB run off the table in a unit of 24 temple guard. The charging opponent (DoC) won the combat by a little (rolled very well & I rolled poorly) and proceeded to chase my Slann with the TG off the board in the second or third turn. Definitely not the norm here, but unless the unit is simply unbreakable, there is always that chance that they can flee. Odds are that your slann is safe within a TG unit most of the time (besides stupid spells like PoS or PurpS).
There is one advantage to a Skink ASB... They can take that +1 Move standard, and their unit can then flee and pursue 3d6, dropping the lowest. Your Skrox units suddenly become as fast as heavy cavalry, while another viable option is a very large screening cohort of skinks who can be moved ahead of your army, to pelt someone with javelins, before fleeing behind the safety of your blocks of Saurus. And for my personal preference, 3d6 with a re-roll, on Stubborn Ld 9, is close enough to unbreakable for me.
7M and 3D6 pursuit's, is a rule from 7th ed. in 8th ed you need swift stride. so having 7m gives you 7m and nothing more in 8th.
i see the reason for the slann also being the asb, 2 magic banners in my tg would make for a nice buffed regiment.