The 8th Ed handbook is excelently written by Rothgar here:
http://warhammer-empire.com/theforum/index.php?topic=46111.0It's something I have been thinking about when I read something similair on the dwarf website. Although in a little different form. There they link to a seperate thread and discuss all the bad and good options for every army book entry (besides the special characters). While I was more thinking of creating a short list compendium that people can reference here while making / posting their own army list.
This list should answer most common questions about our Empire choices as they are right now.
Please do comment in this thread if you feel something has been left out or is wrongly listed.
Eventually I would like to list the most common setups and their positive role and some negative roles they have on the field of battle.
EDIT (08-03-2012): Changed the topic title a little bit to accomodate archiving and a new topic to cover "8th Ed BRB and 8th Ed AB"
I'll start with our Lord choices and follow up in the next posts with Heroes, core choices, special choices and our rare choices
Lords:General of the EmpirePro:+ Banner option for a core unit
+ Cheap Ld 9
Neg:- Not much extra to offer compared to a TMG or AL
Mounts:* Not really seen on a griffon, and when used with an Imperial Pegasus it is usually an improved version of a Captasus and then not as the General option.
Commonly used Items:* A good option for great weapons, because Initiative 5 is not all that great for a character, so he'll be going last in most challenges anyway.
Templar Grand MasterPro:+ Most killy character we have
+ with IC knights used as hammer Unit
+ already comes with weapon + armour + makes his unit Immune to Psychology
Neg:- Mounted on Barded Warhorse, can't be fielded otherwise
- Only makes his own Knightly order Immune to Psychology (WYSIWYG policy if used will need to reflect this)
Mounts:* Only Barded Warhorse
Commonly used Items:* Usually seen with Laurels of Victory and a magic weapon for increased damage.
Arch Lector of SigmarMost arguably our best Lord choice.
Pro:+ 2DD
+ 2 Prayers
+ Difficult to kill with right kit
+ if used with War Altar access to all spells of Lore of Light
Neg:- Not our most killy character out there
Mounts:* War Altar (as chariot) (2k and up armies mostly), Barded Warhorse or on foot are all common applications for the AL
Commonly used Items:* Dawn Armor, VHS
Wizard LordUsually seen as a level 4 wizard for the added spell and extra 4 points to the casting total.
2k and up armies usually field one of these together with a level 1 or 2 for a decent magic fase.
Pro:+ adds 3 or 4 to spell casting / dispell values
Neg:- easy to kill for alot of points
Mounts:Normally he isn't seen mounted and is either tugged away in one of our core units (leaving it before close combat) or on it's own on the field (trying to avoid the friendly casualties when IF happens)
Commonly used Items:RoP, Dispell Scroll, some kind of ward save item (pref. The Crimson Amulet)