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This poll is just to see how many folks go for the super competitive builds that they see on the internet, or go for lists of their own making!

I wonder would it be better to field your own list that might come as a surprise to players who've prepared for all the super killer lists, but aren't ready for a surprise list that's not been around the web before. Is a surprise as good or better than a killer list?

If you don't know how to use your list or have little experience with it, it will more likely be dismantled by someone who knows the capabilities of their army and knows when to commit/take risks in their favor.

IMO of course.

Sanctjud's right.

That and the thread title doesn't reflect the question. You're asking "what kind of army list do you use", not "which is the best army list". Also, you've only put groups rather than army lists.
Then we get onto your definition of 'better'. In terms of competitiveness, which is generally the idea of tournaments, then almost certainly it will be "Super Competitive list based on ETC competitors or local gamers 'winning lists'" as the other two don't really reflect list building, just owned models or your ability to roll a dice.
Finally, your title suggests you were going to have certain lists (eg. Razorwire, Mech Vet...) rather than two types of managing an army.

Ultimately a good list helps (not what you asked), but it's the general that really matters.

You can troll the interwebs all day for the best army lists, but when it comes time to put those models on a tabletop and you don't know HOW to use them...

Lists made and tailored to fit your own personal tastes, then constantly trimmed and retailored to meet your changing tastes due to your tabletop experience, in my opinion, will always come out ahead.

I would have to agree with SaintHazard. Ive tried to do the whole searching around the web for the best list thing etc and found that it doesn't work to well. People play a certain type of list better and if they cater to what they play well, then they will make whatever list they bring competitive. I've played lists that are supposed to be cheesy, but it didnt match my play style and i got crushed because i didnt know how to run it. I have recently been play testing and play testing and have made a list to spam what i know and what i like and i must say, its been MUCH more effective.

To each his own. For everything else, theirs Orks.

I would like to direct anyone who doesn't agree with these statements toward Dashofpepper's batreps.

He doesn't have the most "competitive" list of Orks out there, but he wins tournaments because he knows his army, through-and-through, and as a result makes very few mistakes.

Seriously, go see. It's worth the trip over to his blog.

Thanks for the info sainthazard. Since this dawn of the internet information age people seem to think they can find a winning formula, spend loads of their $$$ £££ €€€ and make an army that will simply win!

Its not true, and its good to see that other folks prefer organic builds rather than using someone elses build.

It is interesting though to see the ETC lists and wonder how you would go up against an army like that! Its also great to see that not all their lists are the same, and the same list played by two different gamers will have very different results!

We just had an 1850 tournament down here in High Point NC. With the exception of one army everyone had fair, balanced lists that were fun to play against and yet competitive enough to challenge you. I think that when going to a tournament you should run a list that you can win with but also represents your play style.