2250 HE List

I would like suggestions for a competent 2250 High Elf army list. My army is currently a hodge podge of troops and I just bought the Island of Blood set more for the portable rule book and a few of the new figs, but my army totally sucks and I know this. I just don't want to buy a bunch of figs that are the 'wrong' figs, if that makes any sense. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

E

Same goes for me. Read the 8th ed rules 30 minutes before a small tournament. Came last, won a door prize.
Need tactical info the new HE, using IoB as my base set also.
Is an almost totally bow armed army capable of winning?

Okay I will start by saying that I have never played a HE list. Although I plan on building one upon returning from Afghanistan as the IoB box set is too good to pass up (Skaven too). However, I have been playing warhammer and other table tob minis for the better part of two decades. I have been playing around with list writing while over here and have played against them often. Here is what I can tell you based on past experience, current tactics I have been reading online and I am going to factor in costs of models:

Lords: Teclis is by far and away the most powerful caster point for point I think in the game right now (well at least tied for it). If you want to go magic heavy you couldnt find a better place to start.

heroes: your nobles and mages can be tricked out well, and are not a super point investment

Core: okay here is where we get into it a little. You need 625 points of core and your choices are limited, but you have quality in there. You can get spearmen or archers (in my opinion you need both) so why not take the best of both worlds. Sea Guard!! Okay on paper they are pointy, but you can take a unit of 25. Deploy them 10 wide or so and you will get roughly 22 shots from bows a turn then reform them when the enemy gets closer and you have 4 ranks of spears to fight with that always strike first. Thats 20 attacks at 5x5 in formation. I put 2 units of thes in core as my min selection.

Special: Oh the choices the choices.... Alot looks cool but I tend to focus on three choices here... the swordmasters (just consider these guys a blender on two legs) with great weapons, a high ini, always strikes first and 2 attacks you are getting 15 str 5 attacks hitting on 3 or 4 before your opponent gets to swing usually. then you need some hard hitting cav...in high points games you could go with dragon princes, but all the cav are preety good for their points, just buy what you can squeeze in point wise. Lastly I like the shadow guys (not sure actual name off the top of my head), scouts, bows...a good harrassment unit ( but not necessary if you dont have points).

Rare: eagles suck and can now easily lose combat to a good war machine crew with an engineer or the likes...I say go bolt thrower, bolt thrower and more bolt throwers.
Okay so the good news is that most of this can be produced affordably throught the IoB box set.

You get guys with spears - Sea guard
You get a cool looking caster fig - teclis or any mage for that matter
cool guy on a big eagle - my opinion this special character is not that good, keep him for fun, trade him or ebay him.
You get cav - build em and then use them for whatever cav you want to play that game.
you get a bolt thrower - you will need more

YOU GET A TON OF SKAVEN - start a second army or trade them for someone elses HE half of a box and double your figs.

This is my two cents on HE i am sure others will have additional input. Dragons are also a mainstay in HE lists, but until I actually get to play a few games under 8th and determine how fragile they may have become (large target flyers that is) I am witholding any advice as I can not offer dependable advice at this time. Maybe someone else who plays dragons or other large targets can chime in here.

~quickfuze

Current warhammer armies:
Tomb Kings
Daemons of Chaos
Chaos Dwarves
Bretonnia
Skaven - coming soon
High Elves - coming soon
Dogs of War - WIP
Warriors of Chaos (well I had beastmen and they took alot of my models into WoC so maybe)

Current Warhammer 40K armies:
Iron Warriors Chaos
Nurgle Chaos - WIP
Dark Eldar
Emperors Purging Light (a huge collection of Space Marine, Sisters of Battle, Daemonhunters and Witch hunters and IG that allows me to play a list from any those codexes) - WIP

Hordes/Warmachine:
Legion of Everblight

Thanks for the input, quickfuze. I read eagles are good for redirects because they are cheap and expendable. Plop them down between your unit and an enemy unit, let them charge the eagle, then come back with a flank charge. I haven't successfully done this quite yet, but the concept is sound. I haven't had much success with bolt throwers yet either, but it's more of a bad dice thing than an issue with the RBTs.

quickfuze wrote:

you get a bolt thrower - you will need more

Weapons of Terror! *shakes a fist at Quickfuze*

I've known some High Elf players who found them to be point heavy compared to other races. Frankly I always had a respect for them when deploying a Vampire Lord on Zombie Dragon.

Redirecting is a good strategy especially when dealing with frenzied units. just be careful that the eagles dont just get ran over and you end up being charged from an over run and not getting the flank charge you are looking for.

Yeah, it is best done with cav probably from an angle, I just can't keep my cav on the board long enough to give it a try

I know Crobar is fairly knowledgeable w HE and I know WittDooley has done some research as well. Both would be good sources as well

High Elves are very versatile. I don't suggest bringing a lot of shotting and a lot of magic in the same army. High elves don't have cheap enough troops to handle that. Their troops are solid and worth their points, but not cheap. If you like cav., consider the dragon Princes instead of the Silver Helm. 8th edition rules are not cav friendly. You can't beat spearmen as a core choice. point for point, they can hold their own against anyone. If you can, I would suggest a unit of Phoenix guard to hold your center. Teclis is one of the best casters period, but I only bring him if I go magic heavy, you can make a 250 point lord who can hold his own against most anyone. Never leave home without Korhil, at 140 points, he is hard to beat.
I am one of the people who feel that the bolt thrower is over priced. I seldom bring any but I love the eagle under 8th edition rules. At 50 points, your opponent has to pay attention or the eagles are in the backfield killing war machine / ranged troops from the flank or rear so they don't get a stand and shoot. White Lion chariots make a great hammer and can blow open a combat for 150 points. As for the Seaguard? I tested them under 7th edition and they could not earn back the extra 80 points over spearmen at a unit size of 20. That is 80 points for 15 shots at a max of 24" range, 1 or 2 shots and hopefully a stand and shoot...questionable, but may be worth it now. I usually do bring a unit of archers though and give them a musician and light armor. It makes them 12 points a man but well worth it since they always go first.
If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. I am a little burn't out on the game since the new rules. First time in 15 years I have said that. Myabe they will grow on me . If you want a game and help with a list and options, I don't mind helping, everyone has their own style of play and I like to encourge people to try the game and form their own opinions.