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Hi I'm looking forward to playing my first 1000pt WFB game as Dark Elves, but I'm in two minds as to whether or not I need a BSB. If I was to take the BSB I'd need to either lose my sacrificial dagger or remove both sea dragon cloak and heavy armour from my mounted Master. Is the benefit of the BSB more important than the +3 to armour or the sacrificial dagger? Not having ever played before makes it hard to compare them!

Thanks

Most of the time, I'd say no, but it's mostly up to you and doesn't matter too much. We do escalation campaigns sometimes, starting from 800 and escalating in 400s, and I include my BSB at 1200, though then I do get the bonus 100pts for a fully-painted army. It also depends on your list. If you've focused on something like a sizeable unit of Witch Elves or Black Guard or Execs, that's designed to kill whatever it touches, you probably won't need one. If it's more shooting focused, with perhaps a weak-ish combat unit for support, you might. Basically, ask yourself how often you're likely to take a panic or break test, and that should give you your answer. If it's low, just stick in a Standard of Discipline and the Lichebone Pennant and be done with it.

What's your list anyway? At 1000pts, I'm not sure it's a great idea to be taking a non-BSB Master. Get your obligatory magic in, then pile in the hurty with Xbows, BG, Execs, Warlocks and the like. Depends on how competitive you want to be I guess

Hope this helps, if you've any more questions, just ask!

Thanks ever so much for the feedback, it makes a lot of sense! My army list is mostly dictated by what I have to hand, I was looking at taking the following for 1000pts.

Lvl 2 Sorceress with Sacrificial Dagger
Master with darksteed, BSB, shield

19 Bleakswords (standard, musician)
15 Darkshards (shields, musician)
5 Dark Riders (shields, RXBs)

5 Shades (GW, light armour)
1 Hydra

Being competitive isn't a massive concern (I'm going to be awful anyway) but it would be nice to know I'm not taking the double hit of inexperience ~and~ an awful list! Tactics would involve me trying to shoot things then flanking with the riders+master and shades. Napoleon I am not....

What lore is your lvl 2 taking? I would suggest keeping your Hydra within IP (Inspiring presence) range or 6" away from other friendly units that way if it's ever forced to take a leadership check (due to panic for example) you've got a much better shot of passing it. I learned this lesson the hard way against lizardmen skink shooting and my hydra was a nonfactor the entire game because it panicked and didn't rally until the final turn.

Also based on the breakdown of your army list, it seems to me like your Sorceress is going in the bleakswords unit? Which I've found to be a bad idea simply because if someone gets in combat with that unit they will direct their attacks against her and she will die very easily.

I would run your list as follows: I would put the Sorcereress in the darkshard unit instead run the hydra next to that keeping it within IP for as long as possible, bleakswords in the middle as your main combat block, and the riders on the other flank to threaten the opponents flank. Shades would be warmachine hunters (if your opponent had any) or combo charge your opponents nasty close combat unit.

These are of course suggestions the Shadow always seems to give great advice so maybe he can chime in on suggestions to improve your tactics but i always learn best from the mistakes i make in game. Good luck to you and as always roll lots of sixes.

Thanks for the advice, really appreciated. For lore I was thinking Life or Dark - I've read that Life is considered a bit cheesy as it goes against fluff, but I don't think people will mind once they see me play. I had planned for my sorcerer to sacrifice her way through the Bleakswords, but if I move her to the Darkshards I can either put my Master in with the Bleakswords or drop him entirely and grab some more Darkshards or a reaper or something.

I would recommend lore of DEATH just because its fluffy and gets the job done.