Skrag and Lore of Undeath?

So i have recently become obsessed with the idea of Lore of undeath and running it with Ogres. But i have a few questions

Edited:

1) Can Skrag take lore of Undeath?
Yes

"This section describes a new type of spell and presents a brand new Lore of Magic that can be used in your games of Warhammer. Unlike other spells, which can only be used by Wizards who list that spell lore in their special rules, any Wizard can choose to generate spells from the Lore of Undeath."

2) Does he need Butcher tax?
This comes down to whether Skrag counts as a Slaughtermaster or Butcher

"If you field any Butchers and/or Slaughtermasters in your army, at least one of them must choose there spells from the Lore of the Great Maw"

3)Is Skrag a Slaughtermaster?
Fluff wise is subjective, he certainly was but is now the Prophet of the great maw

Rules wise there is no reference in the Ogre book or FAQ saying that he counts as either a Butcher or Slaughtermaster.

The Rules for Butcher tax is clearly written only for the Slaughtermaster and Butcher


It is obvious GW did not consider this when writing Skrags rules as they never considered End Times: Nagash at that time but still this is a loop hole that means youcan take Lore of Undeath on Skrag without butcher tax

This surely changes everything

Pandora's box has been opened!

On a serious note, a great argument being put forwards. My initial thought would be that you would still need at least one character who can cast spells from the LotGM.

Not wishing to side-track but would Skrag still get regeneration after his first kill?

As i said it comes down to whether Skrag counts as a Slaughtermaster or Butcher

As for the Cauldron benefits I believe he would as the cauldron has no effect from magic. It is all combat based

By this being right, will also mean that anyone who has fielded Skrag alongside a Butcher with Beasts for example, fielded an illegal army

I think skrag does count as a slaughtermaster. So does the ETC. Under ETC comp he counts as 2 choices With one for being a slaughtermaster

I think skrag does count as a slaughtermaster. So does the ETC. Under ETC comp he counts as 2 choices With one for being a slaughtermaster

ETC both Skrag and a Slaughtermaster are 2 choices and are comped together because they are both Wizarding level 3+

You are using a comp system to validate rules when in fact ETC has no say over rules written by GW. Unless there is something in the rulebook, an army book or an FAQ then surely i am right.

I am surprised nothing like this has come up earlier as RAW says you still need a Butcher with LotGM before including any other Slaughtermaster/Butcher with another lore whilst Skrag is in the list

Do not get me wrong, i am willing to be proved wrong but right now i cannot find a single solid rules argument against this

I have a hard time not calling this cheeky rules lawyering to avoid the butcher tax. RAW I think you're right and don't need it, but RAI is the complete opposite. Skrag is inferred to be a Slaughtermaster without being explicitly called one, kind of how the Banner of the World Dragon can give Malekith Stubborn even thoughHE isn't a dragon, but he's on one (who isn't listed as "Dragon," either but as a "Monster").

If it was a friendly game I would be all for it and I think that's an awesome idea, but if I saw it in organized play I would like the TO's ruling to be the final say. You can just take a level 1 Butcher on Maw as a scroll caddy anyway and completely avoid any arguments

IDK.. all of Skrag's fluff calls him a slaughtermaster..

Skrag the Slaughterer was initially a respected Slaughtermaster under the Arch-Tyrant Bron Rockgrinder. However, he made a mistake of slaughtering and cooking the Tyrant's pet Gnoblar, a crime for which he lost his arms and got his cauldron chained to his back. After that, Skrag was banished into the same warpstone labyrinths that the future Gorgers are thrown at birth. He was expected to provide a solid meal for the degenerated creatures, but, as unlikely as it seemed, he was ferocious enough for the Gorgers to accept him. As soon as he gained their trust, he arranged them into an army and butchered the Rockgrinder and his entire tribe for the sake of the Great Maw. An offering this large didn't go in vain and he became a Prophet of the Great Maw, a living avatar of its ghastly will.
Being a Prophet of the Ogre God of gluttony, he has an almost unrivalled authority and thus often masters Ogre hordes for war. He will usually take some younger Butchers as his apprentices, allowing the horde to really benefit from the Maw's powers, and he will invariably summon his Gorger allies, the unexpected numbers of ferocious half-beasts breaking the hostile army's back.

Skrag the Slaughterer, Prophet of the Great Maw, earned his title shortly after being kicked out of his tribe. Prior to his life as a prophet, Skrag was the Slaughtermaster to a wealthy Tyrant. One day the Tyrant found his favored Gnoblar as the main course for the feast. Needless to say he was furious. He had Skrag's hands hacked off and, as a final insult, ate them in front of the beaten Slaughtermaster. Skrag's Cauldron was hooked deeply into his skin and was thrown into the caverns beneath the mountain and sealing the only exit off with a boulder.

Skrag was beaten and bruised, but he was not broken. He slammed his former cooking tools into his bloodied wrists and made makeshift weapons, hoping to find a way out. Shortly after he was attacked by the Gorgers inhabiting the caverns, his blood was fresh. Skrag was not scared. He charged the gorgers, killing them with unmatched fury. When the largest of the Gorgers (the Grotesque) appeared, Skrag promptly chewed out the Gorger's throat, killing him. Once the Grotesque was dead the others obeyed Skrag instantly. Skrag and his newfound army of Gorgers marched out into the snowy plains and descended upon his old tribe, slaughtering everyone in sight. The Tyrant was boiled alive in Skrag's cauldrons. The great amount of sacrifice imbued Skrag with the blessings of the Great Maw, and the Prophet was born.

Cannot argue that he was a Slaughtermaster but:

IDK.. all of Skrag's fluff calls him a slaughtermaster..

Skrag the Slaughterer was initially a respected Slaughtermaster under the Arch-Tyrant Bron Rockgrinder. However, he made a mistake of slaughtering and cooking the Tyrant's pet Gnoblar, a crime for which he lost his arms and got his cauldron chained to his back. After that, Skrag was banished into the same warpstone labyrinths that the future Gorgers are thrown at birth. He was expected to provide a solid meal for the degenerated creatures, but, as unlikely as it seemed, he was ferocious enough for the Gorgers to accept him. As soon as he gained their trust, he arranged them into an army and butchered the Rockgrinder and his entire tribe for the sake of the Great Maw. An offering this large didn't go in vain and he became a Prophet of the Great Maw, a living avatar of its ghastly will.
Being a Prophet of the Ogre God of gluttony, he has an almost unrivalled authority and thus often masters Ogre hordes for war. He will usually take some younger Butchers as his apprentices, allowing the horde to really benefit from the Maw's powers, and he will invariably summon his Gorger allies, the unexpected numbers of ferocious half-beasts breaking the hostile army's back.

Skrag the Slaughterer, Prophet of the Great Maw, earned his title shortly after being kicked out of his tribe. Prior to his life as a prophet, Skrag wasthe Slaughtermaster to a wealthy Tyrant. One day the Tyrant found his favored Gnoblar as the main course for the feast. Needless to say he was furious. He had Skrag's hands hacked off and, as a final insult, ate them in front of the beaten Slaughtermaster. Skrag's Cauldron was hooked deeply into his skin and was thrown into the caverns beneath the mountain and sealing the only exit off with a boulder.

Skrag was beaten and bruised, but he was not broken. He slammed his former cooking tools into his bloodied wrists and made makeshift weapons, hoping to find a way out. Shortly after he was attacked by the Gorgers inhabiting the caverns, his blood was fresh. Skrag was not scared. He charged the gorgers, killing them with unmatched fury. When the largest of the Gorgers (the Grotesque) appeared, Skrag promptly chewed out the Gorger's throat, killing him. Once the Grotesque was dead the others obeyed Skrag instantly. Skrag and his newfound army of Gorgers marched out into the snowy plains and descended upon his old tribe, slaughtering everyone in sight. The Tyrant was boiled alive in Skrag's cauldrons. The great amount of sacrifice imbued Skrag with the blessings of the Great Maw, and the Prophet was born.

I am surprised nothing like this has come up earlier as RAW says you still need a Butcher with LotGM before including any other Slaughtermaster/Butcher with another lore whilst Skrag is in the list

Do not get me wrong, i am willing to be proved wrong but right now i cannot find a single solid rules argument against this

It has come up earlier --> http://www.ogrestronghold.com/forum/index.php?topic=27499.msg360592#msg360592

By RAW:  Skrag is not a Slaughtermaster or Butcher, and for better or worse, does not count in the "Butcher Tax".

-Snark