Turragor

That would make things a bit more difficult yep

SoB grand strat, tactics and core battalions bring the system more into line with what 40k is like. That is to say, eventually this will contribute to imbalance but you know, life goes on and a healthy tournament scene can still exist. Personally I'd prefer core everything - but tbh so long as warscrolls and factions are unique there is imbalance. Also personally, I'll still play 40k and AoS over other offerings from other companies - even if those offerings are more balanced. It's just the way I lean ( at the moment)

So Annihilators are gaining popularity (pre- book in lots of 3) for doing basically what Starcast does (maybe a bit better). Interesting. Ofc, new book, new off-beat list possibilities are around the corner. Allegiance: Stormcast Eternals - Grand Strategy: Dominating Presence - Triumphs: Celestant-Prime (325) Lord-Arcanum (160) - General - Command Trait: Staunch Defender - Celestial Staves (Artefact): Mindlock Staff Knight-Vexillor (120) - Meteoric Standard 5 x Liberators (95) - Warhammer & Shield 5 x Liberators (95) - Warhammer & Shield 5 x Liberators (95) - Warhammer & Shield 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Aetherwings (45) Everblaze Comet (100) Total: 1985 / 2000 Reinforced Units: 0 / 4 Allies: 0 / 400 Wounds: 100 Drops: 12

Battleline is interesting. I think before we hop to decide what warscroll is best, we should factor in: Battle tactics - including those that are already tough for SCE to pull off, Grand strategy, and Subfaction/Stormhost strengths (ofc we should also wait for new book) I am as excited for AetherAnnihilation as the next player but, while 3x 'Super Unit X' sounds great as battleline - that's a thought that has grown from our elite & expensive faction restriction. It may be best to have a lib unit or 2 still that sits on objectives between Yndra and regens. Then take 2 x 4 dracothian guard and play hammers. Maybe it's best to take Astral Templars and go pure Palladors for mobility on the objectives and then the rest of the list is some kind of new ranged spice - capable of clearing the objectives the Palladors need to land on. Perhaps the new Dragon unit has the monsters keyword, 14" move, fly and mini mw breath, meaning a list with them, their hero and Krondys becomes seriously sexy. Perhaps you shoehorn those units into stormkeeps and take some CoS chaff /ranged as you won't really need scions. Who knows. We've paid a battleline tax with one of the worst warscrolls for so long that we're like kids writing a shopping list before visiting the supermarket: it's just lists of sweets. It will be nice to have freedom, but as all parents advise their kids, you shouldn't eat just candy if you want to grow into a big, strong ... AoS army list ... ..

I hope the book is good enough that Aetherwing Annihalation is not the best list to play. I also hope that Aetherwing Annihalation is the best list to play. I'll ****** do it GW.

Allegiance: Stormcast Eternals - Stormhost: Knights Excelsior - Grand Strategy: Hold the Line - Triumphs: Lord Imperatant (160) Lord-Relictor (110) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) Total: 1980 / 2000 Reinforced Units: 0 / 4 Allies: 0 / 400 Wounds: 93 Drops: 11 I can't believe they'll allow this kind of thing. Ofc points and maybe min numbers will change. I'd love it. It'd be like the Ride of the Rohirrim but giant fat armoured warriors smashing about. EDIT/ Wait... Allegiance: Stormcast Eternals - Stormhost: Knights Excelsior - Grand Strategy: Hold the Line - Triumphs: Lord Imperatant (160) Lord-Relictor (110) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Annihilators (190) 3 x Aetherwings (45) 3 x Aetherwings (45) 3 x Aetherwings (45) 3 x Aetherwings (45) 3 x Aetherwings (45) 3 x Aetherwings (45) 3 x Aetherwings (45) 3 x Aetherwings (45) Total: 1960 / 2000 Reinforced Units: 0 / 4 Allies: 0 / 400 Wounds: 123 Drops: 17 ...Maybe I should only take units that begin with A, like Aventis as leader

This is it boys and girls, the golden age. Battleline conditionals: Annihalators, paladins, palladors, hunters, Dracothian guard etc https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/08/12/build-all-dragon-armies-and-other-fierce-forces-with-the-new-stormcast-eternals-battletome/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=AOS:+Best+ways+to+expand+your+Orruk+and+SC+armies,+with+refernce+to+the+new+battletomes+part+1 Separately SoB get special core battalions. We'll get a ton. It could be very nice indeed in September.

I don't think I'd need to move them to block opponents in the opponents' charge phases. They'd be everywhere. But yeah, that could be the next stage, when I don't want anyone to play me at all ever

PS if the book disappoints I'm doing this in protest:

I played StD (Tzeentch marked Knights of the Empty Throne with 6 Varanguard general and 20 chaos warriors) last night and those 1+ or 2+ saves with reroll 1s are as oppressive as my old unkillable stardrake lists I felt empathy with my opponents of old. I took Gotrek and he was Stormcast MVP as expected. I also played the Prime and Yndrastra together and I really like it already but the Prime needs a ward. It's comical the difference between the two. Plus Yndrastra's base size means it's easier to get cover (for example). I trialled caster-Drakesworn Templar - which was novel but Amulet is king. I like to think I played Krondys's stupid brother. I like Everblaze Comet. Against some armies you won't want to waste an enemy hero phase unbind on a dispel. However I got a lot of value from the comet in first 2 rounds against an army with 5+ spell ward and 6+ ward save against the mortals. My starcast sense is tingling. 26-11 loss in the end as I just didn't have the numbers or damage (apart from fishing for 6s from Gotrek) to get through the tzeentch StD lines. Battle tactics will be so key, I'm going to be looking at every warscroll with those in mind. Hoping the dragons get 'monster' keyword. If so at least 2 - 3 monster keyworded units are a no brainer for this season in Ghur imo.

Yes! The meta deserves this.

I have rediscovered (building last of Dominion box) my biggest pet peeve. I hope it is remedied in the new tome. Gryph hounds (in various forms) come with 3 different base sizes... That is all.

This will indeed win you games its true! I mean, I hear 10 Evocators and a bunch of Annihalators is pretty spicy right now. I can't see those scrolls getting worse post new tome. My own hope is that lots of other previously niche stuff becomes extra spicy or downright saucy.

Im waiting till post book - I think most mentioned it. It sounds like Annihalators are cool but even with a book you know what won't change? Movement and reach. It's kinda like if retributors get good - they'll be able to clean out a specific area then they're stuck. A lot of the best stuff needs to get where it needs to in multiple battlerounds (not just the drop down). Especially to secure battle tactics.

Similar to the prime, low number high quality attacks lose out to high number low quality attacks.

Why yes! Of a sort. It needed an FAQ: Longstrike Raptors shooting +6 in the hero phase because they haven't moved (yet)

This is perfectly logical. And then I'm thinking of list building as a kind of prisoner's dilemma where you don't take the worst cheese in case someone takes the worst cheese against you. And then the lists are unveiled and you open your eyes to see: I love this hobby haha

There are a few examples of RAW/RAI debates like this, it's just up to local TOs. If it's a RAW/RAI loophole then go for it. SCE get a new book soon rendering it obsolete. SCE aren't challenging any tournaments. TOs decide so you don't need to debate with opponents. If it were a loophole in StD, Disciples, LrL etc, the players there would definitely be using it if TOs allowed. It's the nature of the game! If you play a friendly game with pals then ask them if your interpretation is ok. If its a tournament - TO decides. Given that, I think there's been too much of an attempt to condemn @PJetski for his list. It puts me in mind of Stormwinged (taken twice, one on each Drake; used in move, charge & pile-in) which I think a lot of ppl thought was more ok. My own feedback would be IF the TOs allow it, the Evocator choice is good and triple stormwinged is a nobrainer. IF the TOs don't allow it, I'd still take stormwinged and the evocators aren't necessarily invalidated so the need to adjust the list may not exist.

Hard to 100% see with the way the photos are shot, but to me it looks like the wings up normal drake guard and the hero are the same dragon mount with a different head option. My bet is a single kit. No idea if it makes 1 or 2.

It has been the case for a long while that some of the coolest SCE units have been very, very poor performance wise. So while it makes sense for these new fine beasts to be actual hammers, I'll wait until I see rules confirming As it is, they're awesome and I've a history of buying awesome and trying to make it work regardless of ingame strength.

Yeah, playstyle will be different for sure but its the origin of what I wanted to play when I started out. I wanted to play stardrakes. Ofc, now it looks like Stardrakes and dracothian guard etc will play 2nd fiddle to the new dragons but that's the nature of GW games. Im not even mad I knew this going in

yeah I think 'fly' is the real kicker. Its why Im mainly ready to forget about DG. Even if DG get an ace warscroll or battleline potential, why wouldnt you take flying heavy cavalry as battleline?

Oh and I've already made peace with the possibility that these dragon knights and dragon heroes are totally separate and dont talk to our preexisting dracothian guard and stardrakes. I own 3 stardrakes and 6 guard but I'll get over it. This is the nature of the game - cool stuff comes out non-stop. Rules wise, they may still throw a curve ball and all extremis is extremely good. Could indeed be a sin guy tome.

Dare we hope?! Imagine if we get to be Drukhari in AoS. The fanbase will meltdown as we melt Nagash, Archaon, Morathi et al. Not Gotrek, that little sucker is still an avoid on sight.

That I know nothing of so it would put this in retcon territory if so. I guess we'll see when the book arrives with the accompanying lore.