High Elves: 2000pt IOB-based List

[stormbringer]

Everyone,
As I continue to develop my Skaven, I've been thinking about a High Elf list to go with them (or against them really).

Here's a 2000pt list I came up with based on the Island of Blood sets:

Eltharion & Stormwing (490)
Mage LV2 with 30pts of magic items (165)
Noble BSB with Dragon Armour, Great Weapon, and Longbow (134)
20 Lothern Sea Guard, FC with Flaming Banner (275)
20 Lothern Sea Guard, FC (265)
17 Sword Masters, FC with 30pt Banner (315)
5 Ellyrian Reavers, FC with Bows (126)
5 Ellyrian Reavers, FC with Bows (126)
1 Great Eagle (50)
1 Great Eagle (50)

Starting with my 2 X IOB, I only need an additional 20 Sea Guard and 2 Great Eagles. This seems pretty achievable for me. I thought I might use one of the Sword Master Standard Bearers as my noble and just give him a different paint job.

Later, I'd like to add: 20 Phoenix Guard, FC (330)

What's everyone think? My biggest concern is only having a Mage LV2 on an army which should dominate the magic phase. If I drop one of the Reavers and add an Archmage, I'm over on points for my lord choices. I could drop the 205pt Stormwing, but I really like him as a center point for the army.

BTW, What point level do people like playing at? Is 2000 points too small or big? Adepticon is 1000, 2200 & 3000 points. Fantasy 'Ard Boyz is 3000 points. Anyone have a preference?

Jeff

[khornedog]

looks good using what you get in the set. i would be concerned with magical offense and defense. One lv2 won't help too much against the magic heavy hitters. I personally like white lions over pheonix guard, but I think it is personal preference.

I like the 2250 level but it feels like the point value norm seems to keep rising.

Good Luck!

[stormbringer]

Looking at the Sword Masters vs Phoenix Guard vs White Lions....

• Sword Masters have 6WS, +2S from Great Weapon, 5I, and an extra attack.
  
• Phoenix Guard have 5WS, +1S from Halberd, 6I, 4+ ward save, & fear.
  
• White Lions have 5WS, +2S from Great Weapon on top of S4, Woodsmen, & Stubborn.
  

All seem pretty equal, but I like the extra attack & higher WS on the Sword Masters or the 4+ Ward on the Phoenix Guard.

Jeff

[droofus]

One mage + elthy is definitely a liability. Especially given that you don't have any form of magic defense elsewhere in your force. I would at least try and bump his magic item allotment up to 40 and get him the Annullian Crystal. That item is simply amazing in this current magic environment.

On possible source of points would be to drop the swordmasters down to two units of 7. 7 is usually the best as it maximizes the number of attacks you can get on a standard (read: near universal) 5 wide infantry formation. Meanwhile you're not paying extra points for rear-rankers who won't be able to attack to the fullest extent anyway. Make one a bladelord and you've got 15 attacks shredding most units by a good enough amount to stay alive.

Just some suggestions. I haven't played a ton in this edition, but when I have played I've found the above to be true.

[stormbringer]

Thanks for the suggestions. Below is my revised list (1993 pts) geared toward 7-wide units. This will give me 4 casters (Eltharion LV2, Mage LV2, Mage LV2, & Noble BSB LV1). I'll have four lores to choose from and a potential of 7 spells to cast. I'll have +3 Dispel and steal one power dice from my opponent.

Eltharion & Stormwing (490)
Mage LV2 with Annulian Crystal (175)
Mage LV2 (135)
Noble BSB with Dragon Armour, Great Weapon, Longbow & Radiant Gem of Hoeth (179)
14 Lothern Sea Guard, FC with Flaming Banner (203)
14 Lothern Sea Guard, FC (193)
14 Spearmen, FC (151)
7 Sword Masters, {Bladelord & Standard Bearer} (129)
5 Ellyrian Reavers, {Standard Bearer} with Bows (119)
5 Ellyrian Reavers, {Standard Bearer} with Bows (119)
1 Great Eagle (50)
1 Great Eagle (50)

With these changes, I'll need 10 more Sea Guard, a regiment of Spearmen, and 2 Great Eagles. Not bad.

Jeff

[ben1028]

One of my buddies has been experimenting with high elf lists, and so far small unit sizes have not worked out very well for him. Here are some reasons why:

1. Not enough of them to soak up hits in magic and shooting phases. AKA, they won't make it into CC against a very shooty army. Also, if they panic and run, it is much more likely they won't be able to rally. Remember that if the unit is reduced to 25% or less, it can only rally on double 1's. With a horde of 40 you can take 30 casualties before you reach that point, with 7 swordmasters you can only take 5 (which is also most of the unit anyway).

2. They don't have the manpower to outlast larger units. They won't recieve much (if anything) for rank bonuses, and even your combat specialists will be fighting the odds in many situations. On top of that, small units make it less likely that you will have a unit capable of disrupting an enemy in a multiple combat.

Consider combining the Sea guard into a horde of 29 + BSB. Shooting they would have 25 shots, which is a relatively small loss of 4-5 shots from having the two units of 14 + BSB. In close combat you will have rank bonuses in your favor and 30 attacks. With the always strikes first and reroll to hit, this unit will be able to hold it's own, while a unit of 14 would probably be torn up by a larger unit. The unit will also be harder to break or panic off the table, and provides a better bunker for your BSB.

In the games we have played, we have also been less than impressed with the Reavers. They are basically expensive archers that can move fast, but seem too squishy to really be worth the points. If you do plan on using them, try combining the two units of 5 into one of 10. This way you can take advantage of their manuverability to position them for flank or rear charges to disrupt enemy ranks. It might also be worth it to give them spears as well so that they hurt a bit more when they do flank the enemy. Not sure on points cost, but good alternatives might be repeater bolt throwers, or maybe more sword masters?