1st month spending
Saurus Boxed Set £15
Skink Boxed Set £15
Old blood
£6
Kroxigor
£8
Total
£44
£6 left over for next month
A Tale of OGC Gamers
Lizardmen
Based on the White Dwarf series from 1999, OGC held its
own army-building event. Starting with £50 in January 2004,
players then had £25 a month to spend until June, for a total of
£175. Players would then pit their armies in the Tale of Gamers only Tournament to decide
the best winner. This part of the tale follows Luke Greensmith’s Lizardmen…
Month 1
Writing this I am stranded and alone on the wrong side of the Pennines to OGC. To piece
together my army I came up with THE PLAN. I have pre-picked a 2000-point army and
have to beat my way towards it through finance hell. It’s doable and I should have cash to
spare so the army’ll end up 2000+.
Choosing Lizardmen wasn’t difficult. The biggy was NO WIZARDS. No floating frogs. Not
even a level 1 Shaman with dispel scrolls for magic protection. Fortunately the Blessed
Spawning of Tepok is at hand for my dispel needs and my dice pool should equal or exceed
my opponents. When I got my hands on the army list the Slann started to look awfully
tempting… but the thought of a nice beefy Carnosaur steeled my resolve. So THE PLAN
was formed and it had big scary dinosaurs in it.
I’d made a conscious decision to stick to the stores and not lark about with mail
order, but when I went to get my first installment alarm bells started ringing. There
were no Scar-Veteran or Chieftain models, only wizards and an Oldblood on foot. I
grabbed the Oldblood model for a Scar-Veteran but the Chieftain’s gonna take some
converting (and my bits box is on the other side of the country…) To make up most
of my army’s backbone I bought one box each of Saurus and Skinks then with some
spare cash got my first Kroxigor, leaving £5 to carry over to next month. Coming
shortly… modellings worst accidents, only on Sky One.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Those little stumps on monster models go inside the base
and don’t need laboriously sawing off after claiming the life of an innocent knife
blade before the ragged remainder of the stump was used as intended (it dawned on
me eventually)
The Saurus were all drafted as spearmen with a full command section, and the
Skinks became two ten man (lizard?) units. One as a skirmish screen for the Saurus
with javelins and shields, the other as scouts with blowpipes and a Brave to lead
them. The Skink spares that weren’t casualties of Luke (one died in a superglue
explosion and the other was decapitated by over-enthusiastic filing) and some
gubbinz off the Saurus sprues became the Chieftain with the Staff of the Lost Sun. A
javelin head replace by a pole with some green stuff pseudo-runes became the staff, various bits and pieces became
armour, a spare Saurus shield makes him look bigger, and the biggest change in the model was having its front
foot on a green stuff rock making it stand proud instead of sneak around. The Chieftain now comes with S5 3x
multiple shots with more metallic paint needed to fulfil the ‘multicolour’ staff requirement; it’s bi-metallic at the
moment. The newly demoted Oldblood, who is roughly the size of a 40K Ork in Mega armour, is fine as it is and
can plod around with the Burning Blade of Chotec to surprise any knights that believe they’re nigh invincible as its
save modifier goes from -2 to -5 and one of his two Blessed Spawnings I made from Quetzl to keep him alive
longer (+1 scaly skin save). Both Saurus hero and unit get a lick of purple paint as they’re blessed by Tepok, now
adding a dispel dice each to my dispel pool. Part of THE PLAN is to give as
much as possible Tepok’s blessing to negate enemy magic. Unfortunately
this makes my Saurus special units and costs extra to boot. Worth it
though…
The story behind the plan is that this force is The Far Claw Of The Old Ones
who travel long distance on crusades to fill out a sequence of missions that
the Chieftain keeps in order returning for more after they run out killing
anything that tries to stop them or isn’t a part of the Old Ones plan along the
way. A Slann decreed that this task force was vital and should be composed
mostly of the chosen of Tepok who can range to the ends of the world
without the need of the Slann’s protection. When’s the next ship to the Old World?
2nd month spending
Box of Saurus Warriors: 15
Kroxigor: 8
Total: 23
Last week: 6
Current floaty pounds: 8
3rd month spending
Box of Skink Skirmishers: 15
Kroxigor: 8
Total: 26
Last Month: 8
Current floaty pounds: 7
4th month spending
2 Salamander hunting packs24
Total: 24
Last Month: 7
Current floaty pounds: 8
Month 2
A boring month. In every which way (more Saurus to assemble
means more mould lines, more stupid legs that need sorting out with
green stuff, MORE GREEN STUFF). But on the plus side I did the
Kroxigor right this time! But all told I was denied a third Kroxigor
and left with floaty pounds. Damn floating frogs are out to get me!
But I will survive! Purple Saurus forever!
Month 3
The time grows nigh for the first foray of The Far Reaching Claw of the Old Ones. Easter break from
uni! Battle time with the latest component of the force (and the others too, or there wouldn’t be much
of a force). The last boring instalment this month making the backbone of the army and the next three
months get me to the good stuff at long last. GREAT BIG DINOSAURS! But that’s for the future
(along with an army story based conversion to fit in with the long distance theme of the army). This
month, Skinks! Annoying little gits if you ask me but necessary for the overall plan. And the third and
final Kroxigor at long last after being out by one measly pound last month. Unfortunately I only
noticed when I got home that the new Krox was identical to the first one I bought and not the third
version I hadn’t got (the Luke no work well morning in coffee without)
So the current state of the force:
I had a short-term seduction by the shiny new magic items in the
Lizardmen army book (if you call three months short) and the overall plan
now has two magic items in the 2000-point force. One anti magic and one
interesting. The Scar veteran now as nothing fancier then a stat line from
hell, which I can live with as nothing else can. The Skink Chief I
converted as one of the two final magic items in the shape of The Staff of
the Lost Sun. There are two blocks of 16 Saurus, one with spears and one
with hand weapons for the save bonus (I’d prefer 20 but don’t have the money to spare for another box
in the ‘Gamers budget). Three Kroxigors for some muscle and their good manoeuvrability (small unit,
movement 6, aquatic) means I can deal with any chariot threats. There are four Skink units, Scouts with
blowpipes and two skirmish screens for the Saurus as they have no
numbers to spare to missile fire. The most interesting doesn’t fit in the
final plan but bulk up the force to 1200 points with 65 points of magic
items fleshing it out. All the spare Skinks are given Javelins and shields
plus the scout ability to fill in for next month’s addition. They’re less
powerful but more manoeuvrable. Can you guess what’s on the
horizon? No one will like it, I can tell you that for free.
Leaving: £ 6 for something special next month…(you’ll never guess what)
Month 4
My special surprise? Think Hellblaster. That runs. And swims. And causes fear. And eats skirmishers
that try and sneak up on them. My favourite Lizardman unit… The Salamander Hunting Packs! I was
after all three (and I will have three before I’m done) but was foiled by money. Stupid money. It’s all
the Slann’s fault!
Ahem…
Anyway. I like the idea of man eating monsters charging around the battlefield setting everyone on fire,
and they’re definitely better then a handful of Skinks chucking pointy sticks around. Worst case
scenario, they turn around and eat the Skink handlers which entertains me no end! The one downside is
that they are only strength 3. I still love the fact they’re strength 5 in
combat though! It remains to be seen whether they’re as good as I hype
them, but still. Fire breathing monsters! Whee!
I wonder if Slann are flammable…
Coming next month. My primary reason for getting the Lizards after
punting the floaty frog out of the window. Big Assed Monsters!
5th month spending
Carnosaur
20
Salamander hunting pack 12
Total: 32
Last Month: 8
Current floaty pounds: 1
6th month spending
Steagadon
25
Total: 25
Army Total Cost: £174
Month 5
First things first, I want that third Salamander! I went through a few phases with my Lizardmen. First I
wanted Saurus Cavalry (too much money), then I started drooling over big monsters (more on them
soon), but now I have my new favourite models. I want more
After that I moved on to the soon-to-be centre piece. While Salamanders have replaced them as my
favourite single unit this remains my favourite Warhammer monster.
The Carnosaur.
While it can only be bought as a Special Character (something I intend to remedy by sawing off a
magic item and bolting on a shield instead) it is an awesome model to behold. Stunning to look at and
something you really don’t want to be charged with.
Two major changes to the GW conformity routine though.
Number 1: Off with his hand! Scrap the special crap and you now have a rampaging Old Blood instead
of a poncey overpriced and completely pointless special character. On goes his shield, which will
become a Shield of the Mirrored Pool for a game I call ‘Fun With Magic Missiles (look at me! I’m an
overpowered character about to earn triple my points in VP’s with one roll of the die1 *BOING*
AIIIIEEEE! **BURN**). The Old Blood himself gets light armour, a spear for a S6 poke on the
charge, the Blessed Spawnings of Tepoc and Quetzl like his Scar-Veteran counterpart leaving him with
a 3+ total armour save and adding a dispel dice to the pool.
Number 2: Instead of the GW recommended retarded paint scheme
for a camouflaged super predator (day glow pink or something) , to
make it GREEN! That’s right! It can hide in the forest, to sneak up
on it’s prey! Not advertise a peepshow by flashing on and off!
Next week, I’ll have everything to create a clash of the titans! If I’m
bored. And being particularly sad. I’ll shut up now.
Month 6
Behold! I shall call him Stampy! My menagerie is complete (except for the floaty frog, I think Stampy
flattened it). I have Kroxigor, Salamanders, a Carnsaur and now a Stegadon. What can I say? I’ve
always liked dinosaurs and now I can unleash dinosaurs upon weak fleshy creatures! The glee of
jumping up and down on humans then eating the fleeing survivors! I don’t care how I do in the
tournament now, I just want to smash things up with my monsters! Although, if I do that well enough I
should be victorious.
Once again, the Stegadon will be painted in a style that would actually conceal it in the jungle instead
of being a walking ‘Eat At Joe’s’ billboard. The Shell I want to do a very dark green with Scorpion
Green plating (look at my Skink shields for the effect. It also raises a point of what the Skink shields
may be made out of). This minor brainwave isn’t hypocrisy, dark green with vivid green dappling is
actually a real life camouflage. I saw it on a crocodile (or alligator, same difference) on a nature
programme and thought it looked cool.
I also got a last minute change to my list. I really wanted to have a Skink hero running around with a
Heavy Bolter, wait! Er… Staff of the Lost Sun, so I could Scout into a good position and unleash laser
hell. Unfortunately a magic item limit has been applied to the tournament to prevent such beardyness.
Miiiikeee! Pre-emptive strike stopping me from having fun. Muttermuttermutter…. Anyway, I have to
Frankenstein another spare Skink the end result being Commando Skink, with 2 hand weapons, the
Blessed Spawning of Sotek, Venom of the Firefly Frog and the Scout ability so I can deploy him
somewhere annoying were he can waylay War Machines and stray Wizards. Not as effective as my
first idea but he (it?) could fill a niche role that could prove vital in the right circumstances, so my 2000
point army is now on track to dominate the New World.
The Far Claw of the Old Ones reaches forth to reclaim sacred artefacts…
That’s right! Only a Slannless force would actually leave
Lustria! See! Sense! Story! Frogs would NOT float over the
ocean on a solo mission to take on a cannon crew! Stupid
diorama. Stupid Games Workshop. STUPID EVERYBODY!
How the Lizards fared
You can find out all about the Lizardmen’s performance in the Fantasy Tournament in
Motion 2004 section on the website. Here is a quick summary of how they performed…
Tournament standing: 4th place (of 5)
Winner: Best Selected Army Award
Lizardmen (Luke Greensmith)
Lord -
Oldblood (Spear, Light Arm., Spawnings- Quetzl, Tepoc & Itzl, Shield of the Mirrored Pool, Carnouaur) 439 pts
Hero -
Scar-Veteran (Light Amour, Shield, Spawning of Quetzl & Tepoc)
124 pts
Skink Chief (Additional Hand weapon, Scout, Spawning of Sotek, Venom of the Firefly Frog) 109 pts
Core -
Skink Skirmishers (10, Blowpipes, Scouts)
70 pts
Skink Skirmishers (10, Javelins & Shields)
60 pts
Skink Skirmishers (10, Javelins & Shields)
60 pts
Special - Saurus Warriors (16, Spears, full command, spawning of Tepoc)
284 pts
Saurus Warriors (16, full command, spawning of Tepoc)
252 pts
Kroxigor (3)
174 pts
Rare -
Stegadon
235 pts
Salamander Hunting Pack (3)
195 pts
Total -
2,002 pts