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Here's the list:

Treeman Ancient, Annoyance of Nettlings, Cluster of Radiants- 375
Drycha- 335
14 Dryads- 168
14 Dryads- 168
12 Dryads, Branch Nymph- 156
12 Dryads- 144
12 Dryads- 144
6 Treekin- 390
6 Treekin- 390
Eagle- 50
Eagle- 50
Eagle- 50
Treeman- 285
Treeman- 285
Total- 2990

This is my "usual" list, minus a unit of 6 treekin, plus drycha and a third eagle. It's got +3 dispel dice from drycha's 2 and the treeman ancient's 1! And drycha can teleport from forest to forest if she likes.

What do you guys think? I could drop 2 dryads and still meet the minimum for core, which would give me 34 points to play with (counting the ones I have left over). However, I don't think there's anything for me to spend it on!

Was it a good decision to lose the 3rd unit of 6 treekin? I think so, since they're pricey (even though they rock now!) and I'll probably need the extra boost to magic defense to stand a chance at 'Ard Boyz!

I think you're going to be struggling with this army book (just to make it clear, this post is not an implication of your list writing abilities). Dryads are going to feel the hurt of close combat now with the 8th edition rules (unless you can really be ace with tree singing and get them in combat in a forest). The treekin and Ancient are going to hit real tough, but they've got some vulnerabilities - noteably flaming attacks. People are taking those like mad now, and it only takes one flaming wound to negate your regen for that turn.

Your eagles will be good for disruption, but I fear that this is really a one or two phase list, especially with no real shooting to speak of. Rank and file infantry are so big now, they can stand to lose far more models than you can.

Good points... and yes, flaming attacks ruin my day along with things that cause d3/d6 wounds, magical attacks... hmm, what else?

Wood elves have always struggled taking down blocks, although the treekin have been OK at it for me so far in 8th. Also, I've actually noticed dryads doing better in this edition- they go first with initiative 6, they no longer are penalized by "outnumber" for combat res, and if they charge they get +1 combat res- so that's a difference of 2 combat res right there! And being stubborn in a forest helps- although tbh, the several times I've had that position in 8th ed, I lost combat and failed my leadership test, anyway! I think they're fit for taking on weak, small, or non-fighty blocks at least (they have been so far, relying on kills for combat res). But against a "real" block like grave guard, or anything tough / hard-hitting... treekin along with a treeman are the best I've got!

The eagles have been my MVP thus far! With a walking list like this, they're the only thing I have that can reach out and touch a warmachine early-ish in the game.

I considered a level 4 caster (this is 'Ard Boyz, after all, so I thought about including a non-tree person) but there's nowhere for them to go in the list- non-forest spirits can't join my tree units, and to be a forest-spirit a caster has to be mounted, so no look out, sir! So drycha seems to be a better fit, I think. I'm specifically wondering if the extra magic defense from her is worth losing the treekin... I think it is, but I'm still weighing things. Hopefully her "teleport" ability will come in handy at some point, too!

Thanks for the comment!

I can't say anything about this list's competitiveness, but it is a list that i always wanted to make. I originally bought the wood elves' army box back when they were released and wasn't happy with the mix of models it had after playing a few games with it. I traded it for a friend's Chaos that i then gave away when the Daemons book came out and ruined my army. Now that the new rules are out i have been excited about playing fantasy more and came back to the wood elves. I hope it does well for you and i think i might just copy it for my own list .

That's great to hear . I'll let you know if it does well!! It's certainly more viable than before, but who knows at something like 'Ard Boyz if it'll stand a shot or not...

I like the list.

We'll need to see scenarios, but the more I think about it, the more I might like one unit of dryads that is 20 strong and then the others be a little smaller. Esp. if there's a watchtower-like scenario..

I still like a level 4 because it gives you greater threats in your magic phase. Honestly, the tree-singing isn't going to get through that much vs. level 4 opposing spell casters.

Having your level 4 within 3 inches of dryads still gives her a 4+ los. If you combine that with a 4+ ward, that's pretty survivable against shooting. None of the spells in lore of life require line of sight, so hiding her well would work out great I think. I can understand going either way though.

A murder of spites is really undercosted now imo, +d6 str 2 poisoned attacks would cost more than 25 points for most people. However, he's already a beast in h2h so maybe not the best use of the points.

If there are a lot of forests, I think this army could do well. Being stubborn in forests is nice. And you still get flank/rear combat res bonus. Treekin/treemen in the front, dryads into the sides is a winning combo. Even if they don't break, you probably killed most of them!

Thanks for the feedback, Killjoy! I'm going to go home and re-read murder of spites- it's never really killed anything for me in 7th, did it get better in 8th? I have the points to include it since I can drop 2 dryads. I'll check it out

I think I'll be going with drycha to fit my theme, and so I can actually go through with selling off my last few elf models to fund the new army! But I do agree treesinging's not going to help much, if at all :-/.

I'll also re-consider the size of my dryad units. Would there be any benefit to having a large one other than in the watchtower mission? I can't remember, does it have to be core placed in there? Otherwise, I'd go with a unit of 6 treekin (since they count as 3 models each, they're under 20) but I believe it had to be core...

More thoughts after I check the book at home!

I'm pretty sure it has to be core.

A larger unit means you have to kill more to qualify for VPs. Of course you lose some flexibility too. I like a mix - one or two larger units and then smaller units around them for flanking.

Re: murder, it definitely got a lot better because now str 2 can wound anything and its got a higher initiative than the treeman itself (which used to not really matter but helps now).

Wouldn't dryads be fairly good at defending buildings? Ranks don't count and 10 tree girls are pretty mean when it comes to fighting. And auto-steadfast on the fail. A unit of 20 dryads is also kinda neat for hugeness sake

Good luck with the list RT, way to stick with the theme. I'd expect fire to decimate trees like crazy but you should still manage some carnage all the same

- Salvage

Why would they be auto steadfast?

Good call, Salvage, I think so, too! Unfortunately, the only time I've played watch tower in this edition was when we were a bit low on time and assumed a lot of things- only looking up the rules for attacking and defending it on the second turn, after my dryads had already been kicked out.

10 on 10, with no rank bonuses (I can't remember if banners help, I think they do) dryads can indeed do pretty well! I ended up having to try to get in vs. some grave guard, and was thinking that my dryads might have actually done better than the treekin, since only 3 treekin can fight, ending up with a lot less attacks than the dryads would have.

I'm afraid of fire, but what can I do? Laugh it off, boys, you'll grow that back next spring! Or something... . I'll let you know how I do!

Will also update on what size units I decide to take for the dryads... thanks for the comments!

Killjoy00 wrote:Why would they be auto steadfast?

Building defenders are always steadfast if they lose combat (BRB 129).

- Salvage

I missed that - very good to know.

I still feel like I don't know 8th well enough to really say on lists like this. I think you probably know better than anyone how it'll do. I'm guessing that you expect to lose several of the dryad units, but cause plenty of damage in the process, letting a second wave maybe finish things off?

And anything without much flaming or magic will not be loving life against the bigger trees.

Best I can do is think what I'd try to do back against it. I think priority kind of needs to go towards wrecking the Treekin. They're hard hitting and tough enough to avoid the worst of the grind. Any models I can take off before they get in will reduce the eventual impact.

I'm very interested in seeing how well it performs in game. Some armies should net big wins for you- others will probably be an uphill battle. Reports to abound, I hope...

RZ

Will definitely be writing some reports . The "second wave" idea is interesting- with 8th forcing units to stay 1" apart and skirmishers to form up as a loose block, I'd been deploying out in a line. However, maybe it makes sense to "stack", especially when I know I'm facing an uphill battle against a unit. I'll think about that!

Hrm, your target prioritizing is correct, hopefully my opponents do not think so clearly . The treekin really suffer from a single cannonball- can cut their number down to 4 in a single go.

I do think I'll have a good matchup against some armies, and struggle against others. Here's hoping I get a draw that the trees like!!

You know, it occurs to me that if the 'Ard Boyz goes with "out of the book" scenarios, that Blood & Glory isn't going to treat you very well...

Have they posted scenarios yet?

Hrm, which one is blood and glory? (No book at work). I know I can't even take the field with the break point mission, but unfortunately it's really hard for me to get around that with this army. I haven't gotten to play all of the scenarios yet, are you referring to the 1-6 battles?

Yes, clearly things will change a little once we see scenarios. Hopefully nothing requires banners!!

About deployment - because you have so many flexible units, you really have an opportunity to be a little more "creative" here. Just deploying in a line across the field can be limiting. In my mind, you could do something closer to what empire does with its detachments (with the big dryad block and/or treekin anchoring and other dryad blocks hitting the flanks) or what my WoC sometimes do and hit with waves of relatively elite infantry. So I think of a mix of "line" and "stack" can be really useful.

Also, don't miss out, due to your superior flexbility, on the opportunity to deny a flank. Quarters don't mean anything here, so if you can deploy one or only two units towards one half of the field, it is easy to quickly move them back to the other side where you are going to have a chance to engage and hopefully crush a much smaller portion of the other side's force.

I will definitely consider doing more "stacking"- I've felt a little one-dimensional in my deployments in 8th ed so far, so that seems like a great idea!

For some reason, in 7th edition "denied flank" never worked for me. I always felt like it ended up just giving me less room to manuever as my opponent (usually deployed in a line) "swung the door closed" of his line and just rotated it to face me. At least with the dual flank (and, at that time, very little in the center) I would force him to split up to face my units.

I especially did well putting treekin on the flanks in 7th (in units of 4) since they could overpower enemy flanking units usually. I may go back to this for the tournament- put a treeman and unit of treekin on either flank, with a single treeman in the center-ish to keep them honest, and sprinkle dryads to taste

Edit: Of course, with some of the weird deployment scenarios in the 8th edition scenarios, I might not get full choice in the matter!

Hi RiTides, interesting list but something is bothering me.

can you have Eagles in an army with Drycha? as far as I am aware Drycha must be the army general and your army may not include any models that do not have the Forest Spirit special rule.

If I am right you might have to squeeze in some Wild riders for warmachine hunting.

Don't know if I am correct as you are well aware I am essentially a noob!

looks fun RiTides. Best of luck and keep us posted how it fares. Even if I'm a shameless beastman player I like wood elves above all over elves for style.

ahh but you are so right WombleJim!

If only she didnt HAVE to be the general :(

with the points lost with the eagles, You could get some wild riders!
Or go for a level 2 Glamourweave wizard!!!

Getting hidden path could be quite funny when cannon balls can't hurt your treekin etc.
Though being a tournment? theres going to be intense Magic defense everywhere :(.

Still a lvl 2 with staff of sorcery. +3 to dispell rolls, and your other +3 dispel dice might be helpful. (or dispell scrolls etc)

WombleJim wrote:Hi RiTides, interesting list but something is bothering me.

can you have Eagles in an army with Drycha? as far as I am aware Drycha must be the army general and your army may not include any models that do not have the Forest Spirit special rule.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Thwarted again!!!!

Will have a think on this and come back shortly...

Ohhhhhh, Womble, with the devastating right hook to RiTides list! It's going to take him a moment to recover from that one folks!

I do apologise

especially after the help our dear RiTides has given me on getting back into the hobby

didn't want you to practice for a tournie with an illegal army!!

Thanks, Womble, I do appreciate it- I was just shocked is all! And after taking on Jin's empire list today at GamesDay with my trees, and the single eagle I brought Again playing a really valuable role, I don't think I can leave them out.

I am leaning towards just running my "standard" 3K list, and adding in that third unit of 6 treekin and going super-magic-defense-light with just the cluster of radiants.

The thing is, with the winds of magic being so fickle, it really seems to me that it's possible to do this whereas it never was before in 7th edition.

So that's the plan, man! Back to square 1 thanks to WJ's careful reading . Better to find out now than at 'Ard Boyz with an illeagal list!!

So it will look like:

Treeman Ancient, Annoyance of Nettlings, Cluster of Radiants- 375
14 Dryads- 168
14 Dryads- 168
12 Dryads, Branch Nymph- 156
12 Dryads- 144
12 Dryads- 144
6 Treekin- 390
6 Treekin- 390
6 Treekin- 390
Eagle- 50
Eagle- 50
Treeman- 285
Treeman- 285
Total- 2995

I'm kind of hoping to go up against a gunline, rather than a magic-heavy army, with this list! Certainly, I had good luck against Jin's army today with a Lot of misfires, but I think I might prefer it to magical spells and the like that will negate my ward saves. Will definitely let you all know if the risk turns out to be a good one or not!

Now that looks fun. 3 treemen and a lot of dryads and kin. I look forward to hearing how it fares. Its got a chance at least as you said!

Was thinking that you could still have an all tree list. For warmachine hunting you wouldn't have the eagles, but with at least three tree singings to fire off you can have your own wood shoot across the board and then Drycha can summon a unit of dryads from it next turn.

Just a thought and no where near as good as having Eagles but would be fun if it worked.