Musings on lists for 2013

Slowly but surely I have to think about what to play in 2013 with my Trollbloods if I want to go to any major tournaments. Currently our gaming group is aiming at the 2013 ETC in the UK. The good thing about this tournament and having a fresh army is that you need only one list at 50pts. But what should it be?

My first list is my pDoomshaper list that simply dispels anything the enemy may throw at me while trying to overwhelm him with my infantry:

Hoarluk Doomshaper, Shaman of the Gnarls - WB:  7
-    Earthborn Dire Troll - PC: 10
-    Mulg the Ancient - PC: 12
-    Troll Axer - PC: 6
Fell Caller Hero - PC: 3
Stone Scribe Chronicler - PC: 2
Kriel Warriors - Leader & 9 Grunts: 6
-    Kriel Warrior Standard & Piper - Standard & Piper 2
Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes - Leader & 5 Grunts: 4
-    Stone Scribe Elder - Elder 1
Trollkin Fennblades - Leader & 9 grunts: 8
-    Fennblade Officer and Drummer - Officer & Drummer 2
Swamp Gobbers Bellows Crew - Leader & 1 Grunt: 1

My second list attempts to hunt Colossals. The Long Riders are supposed to take them down while Janissa is supposed to prevent them from charging:

Borka Keglayer - WB:  5
-    Pyg Keg Carrier
-    Earthborn Dire Troll - PC: 10
Trollkin War Wagon - PC: 9
Fell Caller Hero - PC: 3
Horthol, Long Rider Hero - PC: 5
Stone Scribe Chronicler - PC: 2
Janissa Stonetide - PC: 3
Kriel Warriors - Leader & 9 Grunts: 6
-    Kriel Warrior Standard & Piper - Standard & Piper 2
Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes - Leader & 5 Grunts: 4
Long Riders - Leader & 4 Grunts: 11

My third list is musing on the topic of how to play the Mountain King. The idea is to cause many knock-downs just before the Mountain King charges in. With Grim's gun and the Runeshapers one can tilt quite a few models before they get to feel Dhunia's wrath. Yet it is clearly the weakest list as the big challenge is to keep the Mountain King alive. I hope the Bouncer helps somewhat, but somehow this list hasn't the special something to it yet:

Grim Angus - WB:  6
-    Trollkin Runebearer
-    Mountain King - PC: 20
-    Troll Bouncer - PC: 5
Fell Caller Hero - PC: 3
Kriel Warriors - Leader & 9 Grunts: 6
-    Kriel Warrior Standard & Piper - Standard & Piper 2
Trollkin Runeshapers - Leader & 2 Grunts: 4
Trollkin Runeshapers - Leader & 2 Grunts: 4
Pyg Burrowers - Leader & 5 Grunts: 4
Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes - Leader & 5 Grunts: 4
-    Stone Scribe Elder - Elder 1
Swamp Gobbers Bellows Crew - Leader & 1 Grunt: 1

Last but not least, I simply tried to make a shooty list where Gunbjörn goes for the center of the table to establish a firebase and do some board control:

Captain Gunnbjorn - WB:  5
-    Dire Troll Bomber - PC: 10
-    Earthborn Dire Troll - PC: 10
-    Troll Impaler - PC: 5
-    Troll Impaler - PC: 5
Trollkin War Wagon - PC: 9
Fell Caller Hero - PC: 3
Kriel Warriors - Leader & 9 Grunts: 6
-    Kriel Warrior Standard & Piper - Standard & Piper 2
Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes - Leader & 5 Grunts: 4
-    Stone Scribe Elder - Elder 1

Now I just need to know how the meta changes in the next nine months so I have the right list available at the right time. However, I have a strong feeling that it will either be the pDoomshaper or the Borka list so I guess I focus on them for now. Since most tournaments have a two lists format, having them both ready won't hurt either. What I find interesting, however, is that no matter how much I dabble in thoughts with other warlocks, I always return to pDoomshaper and Borka. I mean, eGrissel and eMadrak are excellent warlocks, too, and there is also a certain individual factor in terms of one's play style, but pDoomshaper and Borka are definitely not to sneeze at.