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This is my first real WFB army, I haven't played since 6th edition and even then it was only small games, so here is my first go at anything over 1000 points! (fairly rough, i'm writing from memory as my book has dissapeared!)

Heroes
Rune Smith, Runo fo stone, Rune of Dispell scroll, Shield
Thane, Rune of Stone, BSB

Core
39 warriors, Great Weapons, Full Command (Thane and Smith in here)
20 Thunderers, Shields, Full command
20 Quarrelers, Great Weapons, Full Command

Special
Cannon, Rune of Forging??? (re roll misfires) Engineer

Rare
Organ Gun

I have had one game, getting a victory against Lizardmen! we are both fairly new and i think with better deployment it could have gone the other way. The Thunderers really stole the show, shooting his main block of saurus to pieces then holding their own in combat until the warriors could help them out. Quarrlers proved pretty average at shooting (damn skermishers!) but clobbered a stegadon in combat so they made up for it! The warriors didn't see battle till the last 2 turns, but they helped bash thier way to victory. Cannon was very reliable, blasing skinks, slamanders and wounding the stegadon, but the organ gun misfired on turn one and only got one round of shooting before being poisoned to death by skinks.

Any tips on how to inprove this pretty standard army would be great! Thinking of shifting some fat and upgrade to a runelord, or getting a runic standard for the BSB

Well first off, welcome back to the Throngs! The Dwarves are mighty in 8th edition! And really the absolute bane of Lizardmen.

As for the list, within 8th, it is not amongst the norm so to say of Dwarf lists. But it can work, as you have seen. Lists now are comprised of large blocks of Hammerers and GW Warriors. I personally prefer using two big blocks of Hammerers, 25-35 of them, and the filling in Core with GW Quarrellers and a small unit of Thunderers.

Your list, at 1000pts, may be able to squeeze in a Runelord but I wouldn't count on it, the valuable points may be needed elsewhere. Stick with the Runesmith, give him MRoBalance(Take on Power Dice from the enemy and add it to your Dispel pool.)RoSPellbreaking(same as Dispell Scroll.)RoStone, for that extra protection, maybe even MRoGromril if you can fit it in.

The Thane should be focused primarily around defensive Runes. RoStone is good, RoSpite would also be good, or RoCleaving, just for some extra hitting power. A Runic Standard I use often is the MRoChallenge. It will be excellent for redirecting enemies, especially cavalry, right into your Hammerers, so another unit can flank charge. A Runic Standard that is good for Hammerers, should you feel like equipping them with one, is RoBattle, for extra Combat Res.

The Core looks pretty good, but Lizardmen are easily taken out with mass shooting and it won't always work out. Take a smaller unit of Thunderers, maybe 10-15. Thunderers are excellent at ripping through just about anything in their range, and work well with the Organ Guns, but against other armies, this can change quickly. Keep the Quarellers, maybe split them into two units of 10, and the Warriors look good, unless you want to take the Hammerers route, in which case simply swap that unit for Hammerers, and then change the Core accordingly.

The Cannon also looks good, the RoForging is just what you need, and RoReloading can also be good.(Can fire every turn in, even if mis-fired in previous.), and the Engineer will also serve well here, maybe give him a brace of pistols if it will fit. The Organ Gun is also an excellent choice, it is one of my favorite units, and always does a great job at tearing through cavalry or infantry. Automatic hits and an artillery dice worth of shots! Why not take it?

If i drop the thunderer unit, what would be a good way to fill the points? Hammeres look exensive, and i don't plan on fielding a lord so will they still be as usefull?

i also own about 30 HW/S warriors if they would be usefull? maybe try 2 units of 30 warriors? 1 with shield, and one with great weapons?

Hammerers are always a good choice, and though the unit may not be big, it will be good for flank charging or holding a unit. The Thane will also be good here, give him the RoChallenge to force enemy charges along with defensive Runes and a RoCleaving for slight extra attack. You won't really need a Lord and Hammerers are still good without one.

As for Warriors, no matter how many you take, just give 'em GW's. HW/Shield is not as good now a'days, and the GW will let you hit back with some real strength. The two units of 30 would be good, both with GW. Then two units of 10 GW Quarrellers. Or, put the Warriors at around 25, and add in some more Hammerers in place of the Thunderers, and keep the Quarrellers.

The original list is actually quite good, but like I stated before, the Thunderers are rather pricey, and do not always work. But the units of Quarrellers with the Cannon and Organ Gun should work very well, and I can see it working great with the Hammerers, Warriors and Quarrellers guarding the flanks/war machines.