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I was looking at maybe starting a 30/50 wound dark elf army. A store near me has the warhost of naggaroth on sale. Is that a good starting point? Any recommendations for the army or tips. Never played them or against them. But always thought they looked cool

If you've got a good price on minis you like, then go for it

As far as that set in game, it seems pretty solid to start with. Good mix of shooting + fighting, with decent synergies provided by the Fleetmaster (+ Corsairs) and the size of the Darkshards. You'll probably want to pick up a heavy hitter next - Executioners are among the best troops in the game and should definitely dish out some hurt, though a Monster and a Wizard wouldn't be bad ideas in the near future as well, because Cool and Good and all that.

As for balancing your armies, I would heartily recommend considering the SCGT pool system, it's been good to me in my recent games, and certainly better than just going by wounds (and infinitely better than models). Under SCGT this warhost box is 35 choices, with 5 Corsairs that you'll probably want to find somewhere, as virtually all pool systems work in multiples of warscroll minimum unit sizes (so 10, then 20, then 30 for Corsairs, while the set comes with just 15?). Anyway, the SCGT itself ran at 100 pool choices, with a total pool of 150 to choose from, but you're welcome to dial it down as small as you like. 50 with 75 pool would be closer to a 1000 point 8E game if we consider 100 pool a 2000 point game. (Making 35 around 700 points.)

SCGT (and more) builders can be found here: http://scrollbuilder.com/

But yea, get the set, then add more cool things

- Salvage

If you can get it the starter set is a good way to begin the Dark Elf army, at least until GW makes a Get Started box for them. If you make the Scourge Runner Chariot then all you would really need is the Kharibdyss and you should be able to field the Reavers battle formation. If you decide to go all-in with the Corsairs then I recommend a unit of Dark Riders, their ability combines well with the Corsairs and can make for some very fast shooting.

The Drakespawn Knights can hold their own very well in close combat even after the charge. If you can get another unit of them, then you can cycle them in and out of combat by having one retreat and the other charge in. You could also do the same with a chariot

Dark Elf warriors can be built in one of 3 types: Crossbows (Darkshards) which get lots of decent shooting when over 20 models; Swordsmen (Bleakswords) which can generate extra hits on 6s and 5s or 6s when 20 or over; and Spearmen (Dreadspears) which gain increase To Hit if they haven't moved and have 20 or more models, this can make their to-hit a 2+ with 2" range.

Dark Elf shields let you re-roll save rolls of 1s against shooting and 1s and 2s against combat. Never forget this! (For the Darkshards just glue them to their backs). Banners give you +1 Bravery and an additional +1 if you are near a Hero from the correct sub-faction. Musicians let you re-roll one dice for the charge

One or two Sorceresses or a unit of Doomed Warlocks should round out what you got quite well.

Personally, I can't stand using comps either by some point system or wounds. I find they are unnecessary for the way AoS plays. So cant really help you there.