2400 Empire Tournament List

This is a very good point.  Only Light Wizards can add +1S to the Banishment spell.  So it really comes down to a casting order decision for the Empire player.  Cast Banishment from the Lv4 wizard (who would get the +4 wizard level to add to his casting total at S6) or from the War Altar (casts with only the total on your Power Dice roll, only needing a 4, but making it easier for your opponent to dispel since he will get to add his wizard levels to his dispel attempt, but it also is at S7). The War Altar is more sure to take down those big bad targets (monsters, high Toughness characters, etc.) but the Wizard will give you a higher casting total, making it more difficult to dispel. (Note that I didn't say that it would be easier to cast, only because the War Altar's Banishment has a casting total of 4, making it possible to cast on 1 dice, 2 reliably. This could be a reason for holding it until the end.)

One good strategy would be to throw out 6 dice at Banishment from the War Altar, hoping for a irresistible force, and ensure you have a strong spell, that suffers no miscast. If it doesn't get IF, then it puts your opponent into a tough decision as to try and stop a 6-dice roll, or throw out their Dispel Scroll. This decision is compounded by the fact that the Lore of Light has the lowest casting spells in the game, so you get more mileage out of your Power Dice. Your could potentially get a lot of smaller spells off with fewer PD.And with things like the Hurricanum and Luminark providing +1 PD and DD, as well as at least 4 channeling attempts from 3 Light Wizards and the Arch Lector, your chances to generate additional PD is really good. Unless you are facing some magically oriented armies (like Vampire Counts, Lizardmen, etc.) you should be able to outclass your opponent in the casting dice department.

Another strategy would be to cast Banishment from your Lv4 first, and bar your Wizard just rolling incredibly unlucky, this should draw out a Dispel Scroll rather quickly, leaving the door open for the War Altar and other minor spells. I'd probably follow up with a few of the minor Light Spells, that will more than likely be let through (Shem's Burning Gaze, Pha's Protection, etc.) since they'll be waiting for that War Altar Banishment spell (so be sure to save at least 2 PD for it).

Those are just two quick strategies that revolve around a Light Council build.

Yes, those are two good strategies, and I should think they depend on the available targets. If you have a HVAT you might kill in one go, you should go for the first option. If there is no such target available (e.g. because it is in CC, or hidden within a unit), then go for option 2. You do not even have to start with Banishment, then. Depending on the situation, Pha's Protection, Birona's Timewarp, or the Net of Amyntok may be more important spells.

Staying with the topic of FAQ, here is one that is as correct as it is irrelevant.

Official Update Version 1.2, p 2

Q: Does the War Altar of Sigmar confer the Stubborn special rule to any character mounted upon it? (p47)

A: No.

Now, this is correct, since Stubborn is not listed on BRB 82 as one of the special rules conferred from mount to rider. However, it is also irrelevant, because Break tests are not taken by the character, but by the combined unit, and the combined unit is affected by the Stubborn special rule. The same principle applies e.g. to the Larget Target special rule. The War Altar will not confer the Large Target special rule to the character mounted upon it, but that is irrelevant, because one does not shoot at the character, but at the combined unit, and the combined unit is affected by the Large Target special rule.

Note also that the War Altar on its own will not be able to use the Stubborn special rule that often. The War Altar does not have a crew, and has itself no Leadership value. The only way to benefit from Stubborn would be by using the General’s Ld through the Inspiring Presence special rule. However, if you take the AL on WA, the General will usually be the Arch Lector himself (at least in normal games), and once the AL is dead, the WA will not be able to use the Stubborn special rule at all.