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So I finally, at long last, got my Eldar codex in the mail. Oy. This is an attempt to come up with something fun, balanced, and vaguely competitive to use either in regular play or COD . At first glance, it'll seem a little all over the place. There are a lot of slow moving elements (unmounted DA, PF, FS, 'lord) and a pile of fast moving elements (FD+Falcon, WS, Jetbikes, Autarch). It's almost like two armies, one fast and one slow. I guess I'm hoping it'll work as a 'two sword' approach (a la JTS1486 with his 3rd ed. Tau); fast elements claim objectives, take out hard-to-reach enemy units/tanks, and counter-assault, while slower units hold the gunline. But I digress. Take a look for yourself...

Unnamed 1500 (1493) Eldar List:

HQ

• Autarch: Wings, mandiblasters, PW, FG
• Farseer: Runes, More Runes, Doom, Guide, Fortune, WB/SP

Elite

• 6 Fire Dragons (ride in falcon)
  
• 7 Banshees +Exarch w/War Shout, Executioner(yes, I said Banshees. Shut up).

Troops

• 6 Pathfinders
  
• 7 DA +Exarch w/Bladestorm, Dire Sword
• 4 Jetbikes, SC
• 4 Jetbikes, SC

FA

• 5 Warp Spiders+Exarch; Withdraw, Spinneret Rifle
  

Heavy Support

• Falcon: Stone, Field, Vectored Engines
• Wraithlord: Bright Lance, SC

Now, Questions:
1. The unit that seems most out of place here are the DA, due to their range and slow speed (at least the pathfinders can infiltrate, scout, and have a 36" range and a good cover save). I'm tempted to drop 'em, either for some dark reapers, or some swooping hawks, or more pathfinders. Thoughts?
2. Anti-tank: Do I have enough? Anti-horde: Do I have enough? I'm thinking SAFH Guard are going to give me fits. Any other holes here?
3. Is my idea totally flawed? Should I just focus on one type (fast, slow) or another? Would this work better in COD?

Thanks for your thoughts!

What is your Falcon coming with? Bright Lance, Scatter Laser, Star Cannon?

It's good that your DA's seem out of place to you, because they are. As mobile a list as you've got, their gonna get shot to peices trying to get into range. People are going to key in on the nice juicy slow moving target all by itself. Wave Serpants for the Foot Sloggers.

Eldar seem to work best being able to move fast now. I played against a foot slogging Eldar list a couple weeks ago, and it was like a pack of wolves in a hen house. His only mobile unit on the table was a farseer on a bike, and a twin linked lascannon solved that issue really quick.

Given that you don't have the points to buy a WS for the DA's, i'd say drop them all together. Between the Warp Spiders, Jetbikes, and Pathfinders, you'll have a good amount of shootyness. Use the points to buy a wave serpant (if you've got enough, don't have a book on hand to check) for the Howling Banshees, because their just another juicy target that your opponent will be smart enough to erase before they get into charging range.

Hope this was helpful.

Thanks for the suggestions. Falcon has a Scatter-laser, sorry.

Banshees were going to be for counter-assault, not assault. I just don't see how they could effectively use a WS in 4th. I'd have gone for Harlies instead, but I didn't have the points. I may drop the DA and just swap the banshees out for harlies instead...

I agree with djones' advice.

To me, the list feels a little all over the place.  It feels like the army can be taken apart very quickly because the slow elements don't feel like they compliment the fast elements very well.

Personally I think that you should go for a fast quick strike army.  If you're going to take DA's you should be taking at least 2 squads so that both of them have overwhelming shuricat fire. 

I personally do not like the jet bikes but to each their own.

What role does the Autarch serve?

Counter Assault for what though? Your entire list is mobile and will be all over the place, so what is your Banshees going to be protecting? The DA's that will be shot to death?

Using them for Counter Assault isn't a bad idea in a static list. Especially if you've got a Farseer that can Doom units. But in a mobile list it's wasted points, because they are going to need to be mobile as well. Thats why it would be best to put them in a WS. Have the Autarch run with them, and that would be a nasty assault unit that would be able to handle most things, especially when their target is doomed.

Posted By djones520 on 11/30/2006 3:14 PM
Have the Autarch run with them, and that would be a nasty assault unit that would be able to handle most things, especially when their target is doomed.

That's actually a neat idea. I like the flexibility of having the jump pack (partly a habit from my SOB days), but just having him run with the banshees is a good idea. Frankly, I'll keep the wings on him, as it allows him to run with the Warp spiders as well.

Here's a revised list:

HQ

• Autarch: FB, PW, Mandiblasters, wings (runs either with Warp Spiders or Banshees)
  
• Farseer: runes, more runes, stones, Doom, Fortune (runs w/Banshees)
  

Elite

• 6 Fire Dragons (in Falcon)
• 7 Howling Banshees + Exarch w/War Shout, Executioner

Troops

• 6 Pathfinders
• 6 Pathfinders
• 3 Jetbikes+Warlock (Singing Spear, Destructor), 1 SC
• 6 Jetbikes, 2 SCs

Fast Attack

• 7 Warp Spiders, + Exarch w/Withdraw

Heavy Support:

• Falcon: Scatter laser, SC, Stone, Field, V-Engines

A little more focused now, I think. And more bodies, which makes me happy (only 47, but even so). I'll save the DA and the 'lord for my COD army.

Thoughts?

Second list is much improved, and I really like where it's headed. Weak spot is still the banshees, who with 2 IC's in there is one hell of a tasty target, especially with the difficulty of damaging much of the rest of the army - inv saves on bikes, coverhugging pathfinders, falcony falcon. No idea really how to fix this, and I'm very happy to see you sticking with the ladies, despite the new hotness of the harlies ...

So looks like a fun list, and an Eldar army I'd actually look forward to facing, which is saying a bunch

- Boss Salvage

Yeah, Banshees have some weaknesses, but I don't plan on charging them out (and will be placing 'fortune' on them every turn anyway). One IC can always run with the WSs if I think they need more assault protection/send them tank hunting (thank you mr. fusion gun!).

It has been pointed out to me that the smaller jetbike squad, despite it's resiliance, is testing after one casualty, so I might switch 'destructor' to 'embolden', just to be on the safe side...Otherwise, I'm fairly happy.

@Lordtendril: I know you don't like bikes, but I'm one of the few who did in 3rd ed., and let me tell you, I missed my horde of bikes from 2nd ed! I'm not buying more than two figs to make this list work (another Warp Spider, and something to use as an Autarch), that's how many bikes I've got!