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am new to war hammer and I have bought a few models now.
I have 10 skinks armed with a javelin and shield. What part of their warscroll do I follow? Are these Melee units only or do they also throw the javelins? Also do I need an alpha model in this unit?

A meteoric javelin can be used as both a melee and missile weapon, so you use the profile appropriate to the phase you're using it in.

You don't have to have an Alpha, no, but there's not really any reason not to. If you don't have an appropriate model for some reason, just nominate an ordinary Skink you'll remember (e.g. "the guy waving his javelin in the air").

So I can shoot with these and also use them in the combat phase or is it one or the other?

You can do both in the same turn, yes.

Ok thanks, I am now confused about the point cost for the skinks. I have the generals handbook, am I reading it correctly that my unit of 10 skinks would cost 80 points? So 20 skinks would be 160 points? I’ve seen some people with a unit of 11 or 12 skinks. How do you figure out the points cost for them units?

Read the section on the page before the pitched battle profiles about differently sized units. Basically you pay in full increments: 1 - 10 Skinks are 80 points, 11 - 20 are 160 points, etc. There's not much point taking 11 or 12 models, since you'd be paying for 8 or 9 models you aren't using.

Dayredfern wrote:
Ok thanks, I am now confused about the point cost for the skinks. I have the generals handbook, am I reading it correctly that my unit of 10 skinks would cost 80 points? So 20 skinks would be 160 points? I’ve seen some people with a unit of 11 or 12 skinks. How do you figure out the points cost for them units?

I don't want to sound like I'm saying RTFM here, but it does seem to me that you need to read the core rules in a bit more detail. By all means continue to ask questions here too, but reading the rules cover-to-cover will really help you grok the core concepts of the game. It did for me. Relying on learning the game from your mates at the LGS isn't always the most effective, especially if they themselves don't understand the rules all that well.

AND THAT BEING SAID, I would take this opportunity to point out that this is (in my mind) THE major problem with AoS. The newer, friendlier GW has made this huge effort to amend rules faster, put out FAQs, erratas, commentaries, etc. This is all well and good from a veteran player perspective, but I think the breakneck pace of these changes really has had a negative impact on new players of the game. When a battletome can come out and a week later have massive parts of the text invalidated, or when the rules (and points) change between GHB editions, and then change again when the GHB is FAQed/errataed a week later...it can be awfully confusing. Not to mention the random addition of rules in supplements (Malign Sorcery, etc) that could completely elude even someone who plays the game somewhat regularly.

What I am trying to say here is, don't feel bad that you are confused. Some of us who "know the game" are often confused as well. GW has not yet figured out how to get all their ducks in a row on this issue. The app/Azyr is a good step towards a "single source of truth"...but even that is often a bit behind on being updated. Hopefully they figure this out soon though, because it certainly turns me off and I consider myself in the know, I can only imagine how it must seem to brand new players.