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I am going to be playing 8th edition the first time in two weeks with 500 point armies of Skaven. I have no idea what my enemies armies might be. I built two different armies and wanted to get some thoughts. I know there are some weak spots in this army but feel they are fairly solid.
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1st Army - 498 pt Army

Chieftain w/additional Weapon
Warlock Engineer (Lvl 1 Wizard)

30x Clan Rats w/command w/Ratling Gun
25x Clan Rats w/standard bearer
5x Giant Rats w/Packmaster

5x Gutter Runners w/snare nets

*I planned to put my Chieftain into the 25x Clan Rats Unit while putting the Warlock behind the Giant Rats. I felt with the large blocks of units when (if) my Gutter Runners finally enter the scene they should have something to charge into....or catch fleeing.

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2nd Army - 500pts

Chieftain w/additional weapon
Chieftain w/additional weapon w/banner of Undermountain

5x Giant rats w/packmaster
29x clan rats w/standard bearer w/ratling gun
29x clan rats w/standard bearer w/ratling gun

Was going to put each chieftain into a different Clanrat unit. Just move across the board with the Giant rats between the two units to over flank should the big units get attacked.

Thoughts?

I just started playing Skaven. Read:Collecting.

My test lists that I've made for low points also look very similar to your first one. I'd really like to hear how either of them play out.

I plan to do battle reports.

I'm not so sure about the Giant Rats, with only 5 of them it seems like they won't really be able to do much.

If I was you, I'd take the first list, drop the rats and either give one of the heroes an extra magic item or add an extra 5 clanrats to the 25 rat regiment.

(This is just what I'd do, and I'm by no means brilliant at gaming, so take with a pinch of salt )

1: The giant rats really wont do much, the only real use for them would be a safeguard against your own doomwheel if you took one.

2: Rattling guns seem good on paper, but trust me, they really dont do a great deal except blow up, or fire very little shots that actually do damage something.

3: Might be worth throwing the cheapest magic weapon you can on the chief.
In small games a wraith or banshee would give you real problems.

4: If you drop the giant rats and the rattling guns, it might be worth taking a catapault as at low points, the damage they do is pretty damn good.

5: More of a fun item, but if you do take a warlock, give him a doomrocket.
It can do severe damage early on when it works, but theres allways an amusing risk it wont.
Ive found it to pay off more often than blow myself up, so i see it as a good gamble. (just dont fire it short range)

I was thinking of taking rats simply to screen another unit. Or put a unit so that others can flank. But I can understand what your saying about it...small games are about units...so if I could throw some of those units out and replace them with other clan rats is a good call. I sadly don't have have a catapult or anything. So I will think about giving the heroes some magic and yes...doom rocket is awesome.

Failing that, even swapping the guns for warpfire throwers will make a huge differance.
I tend to test everything even if it looks bad on paper, so i usually run every type of weapon team.

The rattling gun really looks good, but rarely does anything.
The warpfire on the other hand, roasts most things and causes a bit of doubt when charging you.

The magic weapon i'd say is a must though, as ethereal creatures will cause you hell without it.

Yeah good point. Ill give it a try.