Moving Blogs!

Moving!

I am consolidating all of my blogs into one central location and enabling my friends to post their armies and insight as well. I appreciate everyone that “Friend Connected” me at one point, and would ask that you do so on my new blog. This new location will enable me to make more posts with less editing and expand my direction as a gamer of six rather large armies.

I think we all understand how far encouragement will take us in this hobby, and I want to say thank you for your comments and feedback.

dzer0.com

Eldar Formations in Apocalyse?

This past Sunday I was able to partake in a rather large game of Apocalypse with nine other people spanning over 60k worth of points. When setting up for this game I reached out to the Eldar community but didn't find much for Apocalypse besides the use of our awesome super heavies. This being my third Apoc game with 4 – 7k of my own I would simply like to examine the formations I took, what worked, and what I would like to try in the future. Maybe this will help a fellow Eldar player when trying to decide what to use with our precious points. Pictures of our game can be found HERE (look for my red Eldar)


My Eldar Formations:

Aspect Assault Wave
Need: Autarch + 3 Aspect Squads (10 each in Wave Serpent)
Get: Energy Shields downgrade to STR:7, Tsunami wave lets you give up shooting to Pin.

This is always a given. Every Apoc game they have been hit with a bombardment of some sort and it goes down to a Str7 against side armor. In one game I lost 1/4 Serpents and the other times nothing happened. My only problem using this formation is the lack of desire to manage troops in big games. Tstunami Wave is lame, I would rather shoot or Star Engine.


Cloudstrike Squadron
Need: 3+ Falcons, each upgraded with Holo-fields
Get: give up shooting to fly, pulse lasers gain Lance rule on next turn

This has some serious potential. Flying in Apoc is already a huge advantage with letting you move anywhere on the map and only vehicles with an A.A mount can hit you with normal BS, everything else needs 6's. Also, you either use 4th Apoc rules and every hit moves to a glance, or 5th and you always get a cover save. Use this to move deep into enemy territory and drop 9 Lances on a super heavy. You could also drop a squad of Fire Dragons, or even suicide one falcon with a cheap unit to deliver a Vortex Grenade.


Shadow Walker War Walker Host
Need: 3+ Squadrons of War Walkers
Get: secret deployment, fire all weapons twice

This is three squads of War Walkers (I put one walker in each squad) that are NOT put in Strategic Reserve (Beacons have no effect) and can be deployed in any of your turns (well past turn 3) anywhere on the map up to 12" away from an enemy. the turn they come in they can fire all of their weapons twice. I outfit mine with Scatter Lasers which means I get 16 shots per model or 48 shots for the formation aimed at up to three separate targets. You could easily try Bright Lances for 4 shots per model or 12 Lances per formation. They won't last long, but they eat foot soldiers pretty quick.


The Seer Council of Ulthwe
Need: Eldrad, 3+ Farseers, 5+ Warlocks
Get: Ambush, Careful Planning, Strategic Redeployment; Warlocks can take Augment

I love/hate this formation. You get three extra Strategic Assets but you have this huge level of redundancy and no default transport option. I like to take Dark Reapers and pay for the transport to pass onto these guys. This means they will be standing on the table turn one out in the open which is obviously very scary in Apocalypse. If you have a super heavy, stick these guys within range and fortune, guide, etc everything you can. Our super heavies get the Titan Holofield option for free which gives a 4+ save every time it takes damage (NOT a cover save). Fortune on this will be your favorite thing in the world as you light up the sky with D weapons and make enemies all over the place. Augment enables your Warlock to take a psychic test to double the range on a single Farseer for that turn.


Spirit Host
Need: 3+ Spiritseers, 3+ Formations of Wraithlord and/or Wraithguard
Get: Everything within 12" of any part of the formation is Fearless, basically a bigger Avatar bubble.

This is not the best formation, but I always play with 2 - 3 Wraithlords and one full unit of Wraithguard anyway. The Fearless option is just a little bonus, but coupled with the Seer Council and Strategic Redeployment, you are putting Wraithguard in a nice spot somewhere on the table. I think the best option is to simply place the host spread out slightly behind your precious tanks to buffer Flank March assaults. I tend to keep the Avatar close to my Spirit Host for the MC trio.



My Dark Eldar Formations

Ravager Titan Hunter Squad
Need: 3+ Ravagers
Get: Shadow Beam (Turns off Void Shields, Power Shields, and Holo-Fields for the rest of this squads shooting)

This has some serious potential if you are going against Super Heavies. Stompas have Power Shields, Warhounds have Void Shields. The problem is how weak the vehicles are compared to how much threat they cause. If you can stick them in reserve until the right time these will be useful. 9 Dark Lances is never a bad idea.


Spinter Raider Force
Need: Archon in Raider with Retinue and 3+ squads of Raiders or Reavers
Get: Deploy anywhere, count as flying turn 1

This formation is nasty. I kitted mine similar to how I use them in a normal game but I think I may go super cheap next time. The entire formation is a suicide squad sacrifice so keep it cheap. the beauty of this is the 3 man Reaver Jetbikes with 2 Blasters per squad deployed anywhere on the table. Going up against a super heavy? Shields are ignored if you are within 12" range! 3 Dark Lances from the Raider, and 2 more lances per every 3 jetbikes. They are weak units deployed thick behind enemy lines but the first turn of flying should let you shoot them at least twice before they are dealt with or tied up in close combat. The amount of commotion these will cause first turn is just too good to ignore. You could also use a bit of psychology to bait for their target location in conjunction with a scheduled bombardment. Keep them out in the open, let them draw out prized assault units that people want to show off, and let the scheduled orbital bombardment blow the area to bits on turn 3.



My Eldar List

Scorpion Type II
Nightwing Interceptor

Aspect Assault Wave
Autarch/Banshees/Dragons/Avengers (All powers, Executioner, Pike, Shimmer)
3x Serpents (B Lance/Cannon + full upgrades)

Cloudstrike Squadron
3x Falcons (B Lance/Cannon + full upgrades)

Shadow Walker War Walker Host
3 separate squadrons of 1 War Walker (2 Scatter Laser + Stones per Walker)

Spirit Host
3x Spiritseer (Enhance/Embolden/Conceal)
10 Wraithguard +Spiritseer(Enhance)
2x Wraithlords (2 Flamers, B Lance/EML)

The Seer Council of Ulthwe
Eldrad
3x Farseer (All Doom/Fortune/Guide, ROW, SS, Witchblade)
5x Warlock (Augment, Augment, Conceal, Embolden, Enhance) mix of Blades and Spears

Misc
The Avatar //with Spirit Host//
Fuegan //with Aspect Assault Wave//
Baharroth //Vortex Grenade//

Fire Prism (Cannon + full upgrades)
Dark Reapers
+Wave Serpent ( B Lance/Cannon + full upgrades) //for Seer Council//



Dark Eldar Allies:

Ravager Titan Hunter
3x Ravagers (3 D Lances + Nightshields per)

Splinter Raid Force
Archon (Agoniser/Pistol, Shadow Field, Drugs, Haywires)
Warrior Retinue (2 D Lances, + D Lance on Raider)
3x Reaver Jetbike Squads:
2 Blasters
Succubi (Punisher/Tormenter Helm, Drugs, Haywires)
one squad has Goblet of Spite another Nightmare Doll

Coastal Assault

All efforts have been shifted towards my 1850 list for the upcoming Coastal Assault tourney later this month.
I am making a few upgrades to old models and moving forward with highlighting and better paint jobs.
I hope to use the Dark Art lava bases I purchased previously but we shall see how much time I have left.

There is one more Apoc game in January and I have been getting more vehicles ready.
+ Scorpion Type II Superheavy
+ Nightwing
+ Falcon x2 (Total of 3)
+ Fire Prism
+ Wave Serpents x2 (Total of 6)

I will be putting up pictures of my 1850 list as I work on them. 4 weeks to go!

2010 New Year Resolution

General

1. I will not buy a new army 40k or Fantasy
I currently have 6 armies, 3 for each system (8k Eldar, 4k Dark Eldar, 6k Space Marines, 8k High Elves, 4k Dark Elves, 4k Wood Elves). I do not need a seventh army, no matter how awesome Daemons look, or the fact that I can use them for both fantasy and 40k.

Eldar

2. I will finish basing my Eldar up to 3k
I bought the Dark Art Miniature Lava Bases and they have been sitting in a box unpainted for about 6 months. About 60 troop bases, and 6 large bases for Wraithlords and War Walkers.

3. I will finish painting my Eldar List up to 3k
Everything is 3 color tournament qualified, I just need to highlight all of it.

4. I will finish painting my Scorpion Super Heavy. Even if it will only see 3 games in the next year.


Dark Eldar

5. I will finish modeling/painting/highlighting my Dark Eldar up to 3k
I am currently playing jetbikes with no riders, or riders with no heads/arms, etc. I have been slowly modifying Dark Eldar with Dark Elf parts and I need to just finish it. About 50% is painted to a three color standard, the rest primed black


Space Marines

6. I will finish building my Blood Angel List up to 3k
I have 6k worth of hand me down Space Marines I want to turn into Blood Angels. No Drop Pods, no Baal Predators, no Rhinos, no Attack Bikes, and only 5 Assault Marines. I do have 30 some odd scouts, and 20 devastators, and 20 old school small based terminators that I will never use. If GW does drop a new Blood Angel’s codex in 2010, I would love to have this ready to go. I guess this is like buying a new army if you consider all the vehicles I need to find.

5k Apocalypse

I am getting my 5k apocalypse list together and I want to see what you guys think.
Unfortunately, I do not own any Imperial Armor stuff but here is where I am so far.



Aspect Assault Wave

Autarch (Mandiblaster; Warp Jump Generators; Scorpion Chainsword; Fusion Gun) //Fire Dragons//

Dire Avengers (Bladestorm ; Defend ; Power Weapon; Shimmershield)
Wave Serpent(Star Engines; Shuriken Cannon; TL Bright Lances)

Fire Dragons (Crack Shot ; Dragon's Breath Flamer)
Wave Serpent (Star Engines; Shuriken Cannon; TL Bright Lances)

Howling Banshees (Acrobatic; Executioner)
Wave Serpent (Star Engines; Shuriken Cannon; TL Bright Lances)


Spirit Host

Warlock (Destructor; Spiritseer Upgrade; Witchblade)
Warlock (Destructor; Spiritseer Upgrade; Witchblade)
Warlock (Enhance; Spiritseer Upgrade; Witchblade)

10 Wraithguard
Warlock (Enhance ; Spiritseer Upgrade; Witchblade)

Wraithlord (Flamer x2; Bright Lance; Missile Launcher)
Wraithlord (Flamer x2; Bright Lance; Missile Launcher)
Wraithlord (Flamer x2; Bright Lance; Missile Launcher)


The Phoenix Court of Khaine

Avatar
Asurmen
Baharroth
Fuegan
Jain Zar
Karandras
Maugan Ra


Other

Falcon (Holo-Field; Spirit Stones; Star Engines; Vectored Engines; Scatter Laser; Shuriken Cannon)
5 Dire Avengers (basic)

Fire Prism (Holo-Field; Spirit Stones; Star Engines; Vectored Engines; Shuriken Cannon)

Eldrad Ulthran //with Banshees//




The debate

Now, for my last 500 or so points I am trying to decide what would be more beneficial


1. I could beef up the Assault Wave with Scorpions

Striking Scorpions (Stalker; Scorpion Chainsword; Scorpion Claw)
Wave Serpent (Star Engines; Shuriken Cannon; TL Bright Lances)


2. I could add another formation, but I only own 3 War Walkers so 1 in each squad
The Cloak of Shadow and Web of Twilight formation rules makes this a tempting option

Shadow Walker War Walker Host
War Walker (Spirit Stones; Scatter Laser; Scatter Laser)
War Walker (Spirit Stones; Scatter Laser; Scatter Laser)
War Walker (Spirit Stones; Scatter Laser; Scatter Laser)


3. I could add more Farseers


4. I could add a beefy Harlequin Troupe to run with the Phoenix Court

Wave Serpent: Cannon vs Catapult

I hear this conversation all the time, and my true motive for posting this here is only to bring another idea/use for the Shuriken Cannon out. I bring it to every game and pop pesky vehicles/dreads in the side/rear constantly.


Theory
The Eldar Wave Serpent is our transport/tank hybrid vehicle and personally, I think it is by far the best vehicle in the game. It is my opinion that it should maximize both roles to be completely effective. I understand Eldar players may often want to move more than 6” in a turn thus voiding the Shuriken Cannon’s effectiveness for the majority of the game. The difference here is the potentiality now exists where you CAN shoot at vehicles and blow them up on the few turns you NEED to, instead of always shooting your two garbage shots that NEVER do anything worthwhile. Also when/if your main weapon is destroyed, you are STILL a threat.

Turn 1 – 3 Wave Serpent is a transport vehicle
Turn 3 – 6 Wave Serpent is a tank


Shuriken Catapult – 12” Range, S4, AP5, Assault 2, Twin-Linked
These will always hit with the TL, but will only wound 50% of the time against MEQ who will get a 3+ armor save anyway. If you fire this gun every turn (which you wont due to 12" range), you may realistically kill 2-5 troops in an entire game. They need 6’s to glance AV10 vehicles and are honestly not a threat to anyone.


Shuriken Cannon – 24” Range, S6, AP5, Assault 3 +10 points
With the BS: 3 you will only hit 1 – 2 shots each turn but your target completely changes. AV10/11 Vehicles become juicy possibilities, especially later in the game. If you fire this gun 3 times in a game, you may realistically penetrate 1 – 3 vehicles in a game, combine this with a Bright Lance and your target priority becomes much stronger.


Paired with Bright Lances
If you decide to shoot at a vehicle with a single Bright Lance, you have one shot to make it happen. If you hit, and you penetrate, and they do not have a cover save, and you actually roll on the chart they still have a 1-6 shot of nothing really happening. If you can combine this with 3 more shots at the same vehicle that you are already shooting at anyway, you have 1-3 more rolls to make that puppy blow up.


Eat Vehicles
I want to show you some of the vehicles you can pwn with Shuriken Cannon’s that you can’t touch with Shuriken Catapults. And you know just as well as I do how awesome Serpents are at moving into position when you need them to.

S6 vs AV10 = 4+ to Glance, vs AV11 = 5+ to Glance


AV 10 All around
Vypers
Land Speeder (These taste the best)
Raiders
Trukk

Side 10, Rear 10
Chimera

Front 11, Side 11, Rear 10
Looted Wagon
Whirlwind
Razorback
Rhino
Piranha Light Skimmer
Immolator
Penitent Engine

Side 11, Rear 10
Predator
Vindicator
Ravagers
Rhino
Killer Kans
Devilfish
Excorcist

Rear AV10
Dreadnought (These taste pretty good too)
Defiler
Hellhound
Lehman Russ Battle Tank
Battlewagon
Hammerhead Gunships
Sky Ray Missile Defence Gunships
Deff Dread

Rear AV11
Soul Grinders
Lehman Russ Demolisher

Eldar: Local Tourney List

2k point Local Tourney List

this is what my evolved list has become, separated by units


Passing Team

Elite: Howling Banshees/Eldrad
HQ:Eldrad Ulthran
9 Howling Banshees
Howling Banshee Exarch (Executioner)
Wave Serpent (Shuriken Cannon; Bright Lance)

Troops: Dire Avengers
9 Dire Avengers
Dire Avenger Exarch (Bladestorm; Defend; Power Weapon; Shimmershield)
Wave Serpent (Shuriken Cannon; Bright Lances)

Troops: Dire Avengers
5 Dire Avengers
Falcon (Holo-Field; Shuriken Cannon; Scatter Laster)



Running Team

HQ: Avatar (Eater of Worlds)

Heavy Support: Wraithlord
(Flamer x2; Bright Lance; Missile Launcher)

Troops: Wraithguard
10 Wraithguard
Warlock (Enhance; Spiritseer; Witchblade)

Heavy Support: Dark Reapers
4 Dark Reapers
1 Dark Reaper Exarch (Crack Shot ; Reaper Launcher)

Total Roster Cost: 1997