Doomshaper tier list- 6 units of Runeshapers! Looking for tips.

[RiTides]

I actually have the models to field this :-) or at least, I will, when I get the last 2 units of Runeshapers in a few days.

Doomshaper (+7)
Earthborn - 10
Slag Troll - 6
Krielstone Bearer + 5 scribes + elder - 5
Runeshapers - 3
Runeshapers - 3
Runeshapers - 3
Runeshapers - 3
Runeshapers - 3
Runeshapers - 3
Janissa - 3

Total - 35

Only tier 3, due to having a single dire troll. I could drop a unit of Runeshapers to upgrade the Slag to a Mauler, and be tier 4... but then I'd only get to place 2 walls instead of 3.

I think this list will definitely be able to deal with high DEF, but high ARM could be a problem. Trading in a unit of Runeshapers for the Mauler upgrade would probably help with that. Or trading 2 in for Mulg, but I'm trying to get away from using Mulg! And I'd like to have as many of those units as possible, giving me a full krielstone at the start of the game.

The slag troll is nice, though, because Doomshaper has so many anti-warbeasts spells, that the slag's ability to get an extra dice on his 2 ranged attacks against jacks makes the list a bit more "all comers".

Thoughts and tips appreciated :-)

[zor]

Drop a unit of runeshapers and switch the slag up to the mauler. You will be in a better place. Remember those walls can become more of a hindrance than a benefit when you have too many there. Personally I would drop a total of 3 units and run 3 units of runeshapers and do axer/mauler/ebdt as battlegroup, but you may be able to get away with just mauler/ebdt and be equally as happy. Depends on how much you can deal with if you run into something that shuts your runeshapers down.

[RiTides]

I think you're right, zor! And it would put me at Tier 4, which is nice :-).

For 50 points, I was then thinking to put in Mulg, along with the Runeshapers unit that is possibly getting dropped. But, I forgot that with all those walls around, only the Earthborn can charge over them (with pathfinder)! So the Axer is a good idea... will think about that. I don't think he's as necessary with the Earthborn, though, since it already has pathfinder.

[goesgoch]

From personal experience 4 units is just right - you then get a fine balance between them and beasts.

Anyway, if a table is set up with the right amount of scenery - it should be difficult to get 3 down as your walls generally need to be at that 20" limit.

At 35pts I run

Full Krielstone and Elder
4 units of Runeshapers
Jannisa
Mulg
bomber (recently - change up from Earthborn - but thinking of going back to earthborn/axer combo)

At 50 I add Impaler/bouncer/pyre

[RiTides]

Yeah, I may very well go with the Earthborn variant of that list!

However, I think it's going to be too tempting for me to at least try a list without Mulg, and perhaps with one of the extra units of Runeshapers.

Tactics tips are welcome, too :-). Runeshapers seem way better than most of our ranged units, right, being able to use their magic stat of 7 (instead of rat)? And having AOEs, so still being able to hurt infantry, even without a "hit". And knockdown on a crit... for 3 points, they just seem awesome!

[RiTides]

Any more thoughts on this? I'd love to try 5 or 6 units of them, and may give it a go for starters... understanding it won't be quite as competitive, but would also let me absorb losses to the Runeshapers and retaliate with the survivors.

Just got owned by DEF 17 Kayzay, so that's a primary consideration in my mind here :-P

[Ap0th]

I would have thought that the runeshapers would handle kayazy just fine. That many aoes from close range will spell death to squishy kayazy. Just move up enough to reduce the scatter to a negligible amount and let rip with a full unit and problem solved.