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I haven't even played a single game with them yet but when I do I'm going to run something like this...

Warrior Priest - 77pts
Heavy Armour, Enchanted Shield, Luckstone

Master Engineer - 6*pts

Battle Wizard - 100pts
Lv2 (Light)

40x Halberdiers - 270pts
Full Command

20x Swordsmen Detachment - 140pts

11x Handgunner Detachment - 99pts

Helblaster Volley Gun - 12*ts

Celestial Hurricanum - 13*pts

1001pts

I'm thinking about maybe adding a BSB and/or some Inner Circle Knights in place of something.

What do you think?

Looks pretty good. It looks like you're going for some close combat synergies with your Warrior Priest and Hurricanum. If that's the case you might want to revise your magic lore to Light or Shadow. Two reasons for that: (1) he's only a level 2 and Light and Shadow (though especially Light) have low casting values, and (2) the buffs from Light or the debuffs from Shadow will work well with your combos from the CH and the WP. Those two combining are not always enough to take down a tough enemy, particularly with Halberdiers, so additional buffs in the magic phase will help you.

Also, BSBs are CRITICAL for Empire. Your Handgunners might disappoint you, so those are some points you could consider shedding. 40 Halberds might be a bit much for 1,000 points, so you could drop some points there, too.

Otherwise, I think it looks good. You'll enjoy the Helblaster. When you go up in points, make sure to add a Cannon or two and some faster units. But for a 1,000 point game, I think you're set!

After looking over the lore of light again I decided that I will definitely go with it over life because of its versatility.

If I had the points to add a BSB I would but I feel like the choices I made are more important at this point level. The handgunners are there mostly as just a bunker for the wizard but hey maybe they'll do something.

They probably won't do anything. It's unfortunate, I know, because we all want that regiment of gunpowder. Therefore, if you're looking for a bunker, you might want to consider a smaller unit of Archers. They're cheaper and they can skirmish, plus you can still deploy them as a detachment of five.

Honestly, I wouldn't give up on a BSB. Like I say, perhaps reducing the numbers of Halberdiers, switching 10 Handgunners to 5 Archers, and maybe bringing your Swordsmen detachment to 15, would give you the room. What you're going to find with Empire, is that you're not going to win every combat, so the Hold the Line rule with a reroll is critical, considering your Ld is sitting at 8.

I'm sure you'll like Light. I have taken it for a long time and have been very satisfied.

I would drop the hand guns, and 5 swordsmen I think thats enough for a bare bsb

I would drop the hand guns, and 5 swordsmen I think thats enough for a bare bsb

Well its more about the issue of being out of points to spend on heroes. I'm fine with trading out handgunners for a few archers, I'll save the handgunners for a bigger game.

However even if I for example bump up the Warrior Priest to a Arch Lector I'll still struggle to fit a BSB in the available hero points. I'm honestly more concerned about failing fear/terror checks vs. failing break checks, if I could find a way to make my main unit immune to psychology and thus give it to the other units I could ignore panic as well. I mean I'm sure I could manage to find the points to put a crowd of command on my priest but that doesn't really solve the issue.

It might be worthwhile to just rely on the buffs from the wizard and the Hurricanum, remove the Warrior Priest, and stick in a Captain with a Crown of Command. That will give you stubborn and the Hold the Line bonus. If you don't have the points there you don't have to make him your BSB, but if you do, that would give you some more security.

Just some thoughts.

I mean, the other possibility is that your combos are so good you never lose combat. That would be ideal, right?

Alright how about this...

Arch Lector - 109pts
Heavy Armour, Enchanted Shield

Captain - 93pts
BSB, Full plate, Shield

Battle Wizard - 100pts
Lv2 (Light)

40x Halberdiers - 270pts
Full Command

20x Swordsmen Detachment - 140pts

5x Archer Detachment - 35pts

Helblaster Volley Gun - 12*ts

Celestial Hurricanum - 13*pts

997pts

Looks deadly to me! You probably don't need the Engineer in a 1K game anyway; that HBV will be effective because the units you'll be facing will be smaller.

Good luck!