Ok, so I have a tournament coming up and the point limit is 1250 points. I'm not sure why they chose that number but I'm guessing it was so everyone will have to put together a new army list for the event. I am going to be taking my wood elves and I want some advice. Here are some ideas for what I have in mind:

Characters:

General
Wild Rider noble on stag - killing blow spear or regeneration armour
or
Wardancer noble - amber pendant (for those pesky ASF opponents)
The wardancer is cheaper (and in my opinion more effective) but I have a nicely converted stag model that I never use!

Spellsinger (level 1 or 2) - scroll caddy
or
Branchwraith (level 1?) - +1 dispel dice spite
I like that the branchwraith can cast as well as hold her own in a fight, but I also like the scrolls that the spellsinger provides

Core:
I'm leaning toward a unit of glade guard and a unit of dryads but I might switch it up for a change.

2 - 4 units, any combination of the following:
30 glade guard (3 units of 10, 2 units of 10 and 2 units of 5 scouts etc)
8-10 dryads
5 glade riders not technically painted (or assembled) but I might get them done in time

Special:

10 wardancers or split into 2 units of 5.
3 treekin
5 wild riders

The treekin seem like an expensive unit for this point level, I'm thinking a unit of 5 wardancers and a unit of 5 wild riders might be best.

Rare:

Treeman
Waywatchers
Great Eagle

I think I'll take the treeman over the waywatchers, a great eagle might be an interesting choice for a change, but at this point level the treeman will be pretty much unopposed. Plus the 1250 point limit to me seems like a 1000 point list + free treeman!

There you go guys. Those are my options as well as some of my opinions. When I've got my book handy I may add a few list variants with actual point values. I'm tired of always winning sportsmanship in tournaments but losing all my games. Why can't I do both?

Lol- because sportsmanship is representative of how you make others feel, and it makes others feel great when they can walk all over you.

Your sportsmanship may be in doubt with a treeman in a list this small, but it should help you win more games.

I would probably take the wild rider noble on stag- it may not be the best choice (though it's not too bad), but converted models usually get you some bonus points at tournaments.
I'm a fan of magic, so I'd probably take a lvl 2 scroll caddy for the next character choice. Normally I'd suggest against upgrading a caddy, but as you also have the treeman's spell you can actually throw out a half decent number of spells for a small game. The branchwraith is nice, but the magic upgrade is expensive and you already have a lot of good combat stuff.
For core, 2x10 Glade guard and 1x8 Dryads is a usual must for me (2x8 dryads if you had them). I also really like glade riders- but I guess points will be tight already.
I agree with you on Wardancers and wild riders over the treekin. Treeman and treekin in a game this size will either win well or lose well, and is not good for sportsmanship. I'd try and fit in a 6th or 7th wardancer though, and wild rider standard if you have one.

I have no idea what the points for this is going to look like- probably far too many, as usual for elves. Let us know what you come up with.

Thanks for the reply Geep. I took some of your suggestions and came up with this list:

Characters:
Wild rider noble on Stag - Oaken armour (I want him to stick around)
Lvl 2 spellsinger - Hail of Doom Arrow (I'll probably wish I had a scroll or two when I go up against magicy armies but I like the suprise of the HODA)

Troops:
10 glade guard
8 dryads w/ champion

2 units of 5 wardancers
1 unit of 5 wild riders

Treeman

Points: 1250
Models: 36
Units: 6 (including treeman) - 1 ranged, 5 combat
Power dice: 4 (and one bound spell)
Dispel dice: 3
Bow shots/turn: 12 + strangleroot + HODA

It is a pretty small list, but I think it will hit hard. I'll have to be careful with it because I can't take too many casualties before it affects my ability to win combats. I thought about giving my noble the killing blow spear instead of the armour but I decided that a 1/2 chance of saving a wound is better than a 1/6 chance of getting a killing blow. Plus on the charge he is killy enough with 5 S5 attacks.