Ok, so I bought the armybook last week and have been devouring it ever since. I love it, the fluff, the models, abilities etc. There are so many good combinations though I'm not sure which to buy first! So I figured I would start by building an army on paper and then buying the models. Here's my first try @ 2000:

Arch Lector on war shrine, magic sword that gives +2 str, enchanted shield and magic armor that gives a reroll

Warrior Priest w/ 2 dispell scrolls

2 Master Engineer w/ Hochland long rifles, LA, pigeon bombs

3 x 10 Handgunners w/ marksman w/ hochland long rifles
6 x 5 handgunner detachments, 2 for each parent unit

10 Greatswords

2 Great Cannons

Hellblaster Volley Gun

Steam Tank

just a rough list, should be about 2000 pts
thoughts?

I played Empire for about two years, and know my way reasonably well around the book i think.
[QUOTE]Arch Lector on war shrine, magic sword that gives +2 str, enchanted shield and magic armor that gives a reroll[/QUOTE]
This is a good solid choice of leader, but I would suggest gearing him differently. Give him either vanhostmanns and holy relic to be a character killer in challenges, or the mace of helstrum to tear apart monsters, all depends on what you are playing.

[QUOTE]Warrior Priest w/ 2 dispell scrolls[/QUOTE]
Warrior priests can't take scrolls unfortantely ( :( ). I would put him on a horse with full protection and leave him naked, or take the rod of command which can be great for when you JUST need to hold on for 1 round.

[QUOTE]2 Master Engineer w/ Hochland long rifles, LA, pigeon bombs[/QUOTE]
No. Never ever ever take engineers. They are the worst units in the book for a competive sense. Not only do they have BS 4, (lower than the outrider champ!) they take up a valuable hero slot. The only reason i would ever take them was a fluff sense, and if this is what you intend to do, go ahead.

[QUOTE]3 x 10 Handgunners w/ marksman w/ hochland long rifles
6 x 5 handgunner detachments, 2 for each parent unit[QUOTE]
This looks pretty solid as a core choice, although I would put at least 1 knightly order unit with muso to countercharge or 1 unit of big blocked up infantry to act as a character bunker ( spearmen would be ideal for this list).

[/QUOTE]10 Greatswords[QUOTE]
IMO, this guys suck. I would swap them for a big unit of infantry or extra points to bulk up your characters.

[/QUOTE]2 Great Cannons

Hellblaster Volley Gun

Steam Tank[QUOTE]

All very good choices, although I would swap the volley gun for a rocket battery, they have seriously been nerfed since 6th.

If you replace the 2 engineers, i would put in a scroll caddy, and a BSB, or capatus (captain on pegasus used as a mage or artillery hunter) you will have alot stronger list.

How have the volley guns been nerfed? They seem a lot more powerful than rocket batteries, but a LOT more prone to misfires...
as for the engineers, I didnt even notice their BS 4, that is complete BS...i was going to use them as snipers to kill mages due to my low magic def...as well as help the cannons with misfires as i love the reroll ability...
overall thanks for your great feedback! Its appreciated, what do u think on taking a unit of flagellants?

Another thought:
what about giving the engineers the reroll ability from the sigmars prayers? Have you ever seen that used effectively?

I have never taken flaggies myself as I couldnt afford the metals ones, but now they have great plastic models and the new matry rule they are great. I would either take a VERY big block (30) as a combat unit, or 1 10 man unit just to hold up a unit for a turn.

Last edition you didn't have to roll to hit, meaning it was devastating against skirmishes or single characters. This edition you have to and to apply all modifers which SUCKS

That hammer of sigmar on the sniper enginneers ( the prayer) is a great idea that i've never heard before. That would make them hit incredibly hard. Great idea B)

That sounds good, but once you have had a tiny bit of practice you hardly ever need the reroll.