Flamelords+Firebelly options

So, with the slightly silly clamour for a Firebelly mount option I got to thinking. What would be a good mount for a Firebelly? I also thought Firebellys could use a Lord counterpart.

Flamelord:

If Firebellys are the priests of the Firemouth, Flamelords are its prophets. Flamelords are only revealed perhaps once every two or three generations and their coming is a sign of woe for all enemies of the Volcano god. The nature of the revelation is different, some revelations have come about when the chosen Firebelly has slipped and fallen into the bowels of the Firemouth itself, others have happened when under assault by an enemy wizard who channels the power of fire, but the end result is unmistakable. The Firebelly's skin is wreathed in flame, his very blood turns to Magma and his skin becomes as a cooled lava flow. He has become an Avatar of the Firemouth.

Flamelord 350 points

M6, WS4, BS3, S4, T5, W5, I3, A4, Ld8

Troop Type: Monsterous Infantry(Character)

Equipment: Hand Weapon

Magic: A Flamelord is a Level3 wizard who uses the Lore of Fire.

Special Rules: Flaming Attacks, Ogre Charge,

Avatar of the Firemouth: A Flamelord is the chosen of the Volcano God, a living lava flow, his appearence terrifying to behold. Flamelords cause Terror and have a 5+ ward save, this save is increased to 2+ against flaming attacks.

Fire Breath: Firelords have a Str5 Breath Weapon with the Flaming Attacks special rule.


Options:

May upgrade to a Lvl4 wizard for 35 points

May choose to be armed with one of the following,
Additional Handweapon 2 points
Great Weapon 9 points

May take magic items worth up to a total of 50 points

Firebellies and Flamelords may choose to be mounted on a Giant Fire Beetle for 75 points
If this option is taken, the models unit type is changed to Monsterous Cavelry

Giant Fire Beetle 50 points
M7, WS3, BS3, S5, T5, W1, I3, A3, Ld5

Equipment: Crushing Mandibles and Hooked legs(hand weapon)

Special Rules: Fear, Impact Hits(1), Strider

Bombardier Sacks: Giant Fire Beetles have glands on the end of their abdomen that contain 2 fluids that, when mixed in air, explode in a most forceful manner. Bombardier Sacks are a shooting weapon with the following profile,

Range 6", Str4, Poisoned Attacks, Multiple Shots(D6)

No penalties are ever taken when firing Bombardier Sacks, its nearly impossable to avoid a spray of toxic fluid.

Leaving aside the mount for a minute, that Lord choice is very undercosted. If you compare to a SM, you get effectively the same stats, but with a 4+ Ward and a 2+ vs Flaming thrown in. If you spent the points to buy them normally, that brings you to 300 points. However, you also gave him Flaming Attaks and a Str5 Breath - these need to be costed in somehow. With the effectiveness of breath weapons, I would personally see this as nearer the 350 mark than 300.

The mount is a cool idea, but again is it not too cheap for what it gives you?

Very cool idea, but i think sandals might be right about the lord being on the cheap side.

Maybe take away his ability to take magical items?  Then I can see him costing 300 points.

Or only 50pts worth, as he already has 50pts worth built in.

I would lower the save to 5+ Ward Default, and increase the points by 25-30.

I am thinking of increasing to 350 and reducing to 50 points of magic items.

I like the 5+ ward idea.

also increased the beetle cost to 75 pts

No lord gets less than 100pts in Magic items as far as I know.

And why is that a problem?

It breaks precedent.

I love the idea of the giant fire beetle mount.

I would like to make a suggestion or two on him:

I think you should remove the impact hit from the giant fire beetle, and let the beetle itself be the thing that causes Terror. Also, i'd increase the range of the Bombardier Sacks to 12". Finally, i'd give the guy 4 or 5 attacks but at an initiative of either 2 or 1. I picture them to be massive walking tanks.

Increase the cost of the mount to around 80-90pts.

I also found an awesome image of what I picture the giant fire beetle to look like.

In my opinion the beetle should have at least 2 wounds minimum that would seem more logical because the thing is big.

Wouldn't effect anything as you would still use the Firebelly or Flamelords wound statistic. It can't be attacked seperatly.

Your right it totally slipped my mind that you use the highest would profile, my bad. Maybe you could make it a rare or special choice by itself and give it that extra wound?

Agree on the wounds. I didn't see it either. The stonehorns for the hunters have 6, so why not give this guy 6?

Agree on the wounds. I didn't see it either. The stonehorns for the hunters have 6, so why not give this guy 6?

Because the stonehorn is a monster, this is monstrous cavalry.

The maybe 3 wounds would be more to its style and its a decent amount.

Hmm... Maybe just use the mournfang profile and add something "fire-ish".

Because the stonehorn is a monster, this is monstrous cavalry.

Aha, I see now where it says Monstrous Cav. I had it pictured to be much larger, in my head. That's also why I recommended that the beetle cause terror.

Since you say he has lava runnning through his veins maybe when he dies he does D3 wounds to all enemy's in base contact. I think that'd be cool.

I found a model that could represent the giant fire beetle. Unfortunately I don't know the size of the model.

I think this guy would make a nice Monster mount for a FireLord. Definitely would be causing some terror.....

I love the idea of lord-level firebelly. Why did not GW think of that?

A very cool idea with the fire beetle.