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So, I've been looking at getting back into WHFB after a long hiatus and one of my old favorite units back in 4th/5th ed was the Skink with a shortbow. I see now that Skinks with shortbows are only allowed in the Southlands list. In doing a search of the WHFB Army Lists and Tactics, I found few threads on Southlands armies - has 7th Ed. skirmisher rules killed the Southland list dead? I recognize that part of the beauty of the list was the ability to march block with the skirmishing skinks, but wouldn't the extended range of the shortbows compensate a little for that?

As far as I can tell it hasn't as the current Lizardmen book is the same one you have. That being said there is a new book coming in February it looks like so its hard to say as to what will be there and what won't. As far as the new edition making the list hard to play with, I don't think the rules hurt that particular list too much but I'm still absorbing 7th myself.

If you are worried just use them as 'counts as' if they are lost when the new book comes out.

Southlands are still a great army (not that I'd ever take a ranked unit). But as Eldramesha has said you'll probably end up losing it in the new book.

I didn't really mean that the Southlands list was dead in the sense that the rules are no longer valid, I meant dead in the sense that no one plays it because it's not a very effective army.

Are short bows effective in the Southland list as it stands right now? Or am I better off just getting skinks with blowguns and going with a straight Lizardmen list?

Death By Monkeys wrote:I didn't really mean that the Southlands list was dead in the sense that the rules are no longer valid, I meant dead in the sense that no one plays it because it's not a very effective army.

Are short bows effective in the Southland list as it stands right now? Or am I better off just getting skinks with blowguns and going with a straight Lizardmen list?

Do as you will to do. It's like Stelek says, there aren't really bad armies, just bad generals. Also I didn't say that the list wouldn't be there, I said, it's hard to say what will be there and what won't as I've seen no rumors with any kind of concreteness.

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It's like Stelek says, there aren't really bad armies, just bad generals.
</snip>

Ridiculous lies. This theory is provably wrong.

What is ridiculous is saying the southlands list is not strong.

Going all skirmishing skinks as core is devestating (you wouldn't be dumb enough to take the ranked units)

Fantastic points denial (BSB should be the only standard on the field)

And massive mobility and great shooting from skinks and salamanders.

I've had the misfortune to fave them with VC (pre current army book) and they were very, very annoying.

The same goes for the Red Host. Even with the +1 WS, ranked skinks just don't work too well. Arcanodons however, work wonders.

<snip>
It's like Stelek says, there aren't really bad armies, just bad generals.
</snip>

I call bs, have you seen his posts? There are a lot of really bad armies if you listen to him, daemons in particular for 40k.

Back on topic your bows are probably dead since there is not slated release for skinks yet which implies those models are out. Their only 2-3 editions old though so you got your use out of them

i take alot of offence to this, being a southlands player myself

they are still an amazing army to play, high in numbers and great models, it just takes practiceand a good plan or 2 to win with them.

skinks are 6 points each, give them blowpipes and go greater daemon hunting.
anything less than a 6 to hit is a waste of time, but with 2 shots per sink, 2 units of 15 will cause 5 wounds on a greater daemon or other large creature (not including saves)
with massed shots skinks are uncontested when it comes to bringing down large creatures. (best troop choice for this job)
and at 6 points per skink you can afford to have one unit charged and killed if it means killing something 200 - 300 points, and removes a very big threat.

when used to maximum effect southlands lists can be unstoppable, but are not very forgiving.
things like giant eagles can cause havoc unless killed quickly.

combat needs to be avoided by basic skinks, due to lack of rank bonus and command they will lose against anything.
how to fight units:

thin down large units with skink fire (if the unit runs away then that allways good) then charge i with something like a steggadon or kroxigors.
salamanders also work well as fire support, great for armoured units like knights.

allways take terradons!
use them to hunt war machine crew, lone wizards, or very small skirmisher units (not gutter runners as they will die very quickly)

and thats about all i can think of for now
i hope ive made you think about a southlands army
and sorry for any incorrect spelling or grammar.

There are a few bad armies out there.

There are many many bad builds of otherwise good army books.

If you run a good army, and lose to a bad army (aka optimized versus say a battleforce army) then odds are...it's you that is the 'bad' part of that equation.

Southlands in all skirmisher mode is annoying as . I started mine that way, then just swapped over to a 2nd Gen Slaan with some Temple Guard and Kroxigor.

Somehow the list got worse yet more people were willing to play against it. lol

Stelek, not all skirmishers, skink cohorts are a rank and file unit, but are as useful as a chocolate teapot.

Waaagh_Gonads wrote:What is ridiculous is saying the southlands list is not strong.

Going all skirmishing skinks as core is devestating (you wouldn't be dumb enough to take the ranked units)

Fantastic points denial (BSB should be the only standard on the field)

And massive mobility and great shooting from skinks and salamanders.

I've had the misfortune to fave them with VC (pre current army book) and they were very, very annoying.

what happens if you summon zombies into combat with the skinks? You are fighting them on more or less even terms to a unit should last long enouggh for you to pin down the skinks and charge them.