Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Greetings All,

So I am looking for some general guiding advice on building a skaven army. I am basically starting off with 3 isle of blood sets of skaven, and building from there. I am buying them from gamesworkshop rather than ebay for an escalation league, so I will admit that my primary hindrance here is cash, I simply cannot drop huge sacks of cash to pick and choose the most optimum list. So I am basically looking to build off the isle of blood models and make the most competitive list that I can, that is also the most cost effective and I am looking for any and all input that the more experienced players may have. From my own research, I have built the following list

LORD
1x Grey Seer with Dispel Scroll, and Talisman of Preservation - 301
1x Warlord with Armour of Destiny and Ogre Blade/Shield - 183 pts (conversion work from IoB Warlord)
HEROES
1x Chieftain with BSB and Charmed Shield - 75 pts (converting the warlord from IoB)
1x Engineer with Brass Orb - 65
1x Engineer with Level 2 and Warp Condenser - 120
CORE
40x Clan Rats with Shield, Spears, Full Command, Poisoned Wind Mortar- 285 (Warlord goes in here)
40x Clan Rats with Shield, Full Command, Mortar- 265 (Seer and Chieftain go in here)
20x Slaves with Musician (going to use 20 clanrats from IoB for this in since the cost of 5 rats on GW is outrageous) Warlock goes here - 42
20x Slaves with Musician (same) Warlock goes here - 42
1x Packmaster and 5 x Giant Rats- 23
SPECIAL
6x Gutter Runner with Poisoned Attacks and Slings -108
40x Plague Monks with Musician and Plague Banner - 325
RARE
-Doomwheel - 150

--

This would leave me only having to purchase a Doomwheel, 40 Plague Monks, 6 gutter Rats, and a Grey Seer to make a 2000 list. All suggestions welcome, and thanks for your time!

Curious if anyone has any suggestions on proper 1000 / where to build from here. Most lists seem to say "all slaves", where are people getting these masses of slaves to use? It's 15 bucks for 5 slaves! That's crazy. I was hoping to build around clanrats to keep costs down and use the rats from the isle of blood, but after the beating I just received from Warriors of Chaos using a 1000 version of this list, I am wondering if that is possible.

Here're my two warptokens;

1. The Clanrat box can be used to make Slaves (I believe it says so on the box). In fact, some of the models in that box can basically only be slaves; shackles and manacles and chains and whip-marks.
Units of 20 are good at re-directing the enemy; they're big enough to hold up/pose a threat to the enemy's re-directors (war hounds, fast cavalry, etc), but they're still cheap.
To hold the enemy down, though, you'll want a big block. I'd say no less than 40. I usually find 50 to be enough.

2. I'd recommend the Warlord downgrade his Ward save; give him the Talisman of Preservation or the Foul Pendant for a 5+, then give him the Enchanted Shield. 15pts less for a 3+/5+ instead of a 4+/4+.
Then, I'd give your BSB said Armour of Destiny; he's really just so terribly important. You won't have room for the Charmed Shield, but it'll be worth it.

3. Doomrocket. Get one. It. Is. Good. Too good.
The Brass Orb is more expensive, a ton less reliable, and much less devastating, on average, than the Rocket. Against a Steam Tank or an Anvil of Doom, it can net you silly amounts of points, but otherwise, the Rocket is king.

4. Not sure if I'd give Clanrats both shields and spears, but maybe it'll work for you?

5. the Doomwheel is...eh. It's great at killing monsters. It's okay as support, and it's very tough. Considering all that, a Warp Lightning Cannon is usually better, and for almost half the points. There isn't a unit out there that the Abomination can't pose a serious threat to. I'd consider those options.

As for a 1000pt list, I usually go with a Warlord, a Warlock, and a BSB, all pretty sparsely equipped. Two units of 30-35 Clanrats, one big block of Slaves, Gutter Runners (poison and slings, always), and then a Cannon or two, maybe some Censer Bearers, Rat Darts, etc.

Hope that helps!