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This is the list I'm going to suggest to a friend who's trying to get back into the game (for the first time since 2nd edition).  Part of this is based on what models he already has available to him.  I think the only things he'd really need to get would be the Farseer, a Viper or two, and one Falcon.  Maybe Jetbikes, I know he has some old Harliquin jetbikes but I'm not sure about Guardian jetbikes.  He'd probably have to modify his Exarchs a bit, but that shouldn't be too hard.

Bikeseer w/Runes of Warding, stones, spear, Doom, Fortune, Guide

Scorps x6 Exarch w/claw, Stalker

Harlies x6 w/kisses, shadowseer

Jetbikes x3 w/cannon

Dire Avengers x10 Exarch w/shimmershield, defend in a serpent w/tl cannon, cannon, vectored & star engines, stones

Viper x3 w/cannon, scat, stones

Spiders x8 Exarch w/extra spinner, powerblades, Withdraw

Falcon x3 w/cannon, scat, holofield, vectored & star engines, stones

It looks lke a solid Mech Eldar list, but there are a few problems.  First, you have four fast attack choices (Spiders, 3 Vipers)  I'd loose a Viper and while doing so think about the amount of anti-tank.  Right now I see a lot of S6 firepower, but I've found that with Mech Eldar, you really can't rely on getting those flank and rear shots.  Somtimes you have to pop an av 14 vehicle.  I'd probably give the vypers scatter lasers, and put bright lances on a couple of the falcons.  I've found the three str 8 ap 2 shots to relieably down harder tanks and vehicles.  The falcon equipped in this way is also a great unit for the bike seer to roll with.  He can use it to prevent getting shot at, and he can  fortune it so that its BS 3 isn't a problem.

I also think that the Falcons don't really need all of the upgrades.  I think Vectored engines are like an overly expensive insurance policy that you don't need.  Star Engines on the other hand make total sense,  Fly 36", drop the kids off at the pool, and fly away. 

Using the points this saves you, you could add a spearlock to the jetbikes, and give bladestorm to the Dire Avengers.  I find Bladestorm to be way more useful than Defend when using Mech Avengers.  Most of the time if you are doing it right, the DA's hop out, bladestorm, kill everybody (with the help of Doom), and then embark again the next turn, and so have no need to shoot.  Defend is still worth it though, as sometimes they need to get up close and personal.

Oh and if you only plan on having two mounted squads the Fire Prism might be a good choice for your third heavy skimmer.

Good Hunting.

In order to do this, the falcon has to move less than 6"--which means it doesn't get the skimmer moving fast rule and can be penetrated. Sounds like a really bad idea to me.

Oh, good point.  I guess I've been playing that one incorrectly for a while.  Yeesh.

NP, Sam.

The list looks good otherwise. I agree that 3 is a bad number for vypers in a unit, so 2 in 1 unit and 1 in the other is better. Also I find that a mix of starcannons and scatterlasers on different falcons gives more flexibility: starcannons for heavy infantry plinking and scatterlasers for light armor. In my experience so far, vectored engines save hundreds of VPs on a regular basis by (1) giving transported units time to get out and (2) forcing the enemy to divert antitank firepower and/or high-strength assault units to deal with the immobilized falcon (the guns and holofield still work).

My thinking on the Vipers was that they'd all be in one big group, and to have the farseer nearby Fortuning them. They should get 4-5 kills even against MEQs that way, which would limit the amount of return fire. Splitting them up seems like it would make them more of a harassment unit than a real threat (which is good in some ways, I suppose). If they were split up, what two units of a single viper and using the points from the third for 5 Fire Dragons.

I haven't been too worried about AV14, since 1) it's rarely seen around here, 2) most AV14 a lower side armor that the many mobile units could take a potshot at, and 3) in a pinch the harlies can take it out and more than make their points back. Monoliths will be a problem with this list, but to be honest I don't really know what to do about that.

The reason I was thinking Defend on the Dire Avengers was that I was planning on using them as a tarpit more than a fire unit. I've got plenty of shooty in this list as it is, these guys were going to dismount, shoot and charge. Their goal would be either to hold a unit up until the scorps/harlies could join and kill stuff, or to create LOS blocking terrian for something else to hide behind for a turn. Either way, even without Doom it'd take a large unit to avoid two Torrent checks, which has a good chance to remove hidden powerfists and whatnot.

I'd origionally considered having a second jetbike unit and a 10-strong unit of Banshees, but I already had 2 units of CC troops and wasn't sure more were really needed. That's also why there isn't a unit of Fire Dragons, I didn't have room for them at first. Which do you think would be a better use of the 3rd elites slot, this or dropping a Viper for a unit of Fire Dragons?

Using 3 falcons was to help out in Escalation, and because prisms just seem better in pairs. It would save a few points, though.

That was my thinking when making those choices. Any glaring misconceptions? I'll be thinking about your comments and will post an updated list after I get going at work (in about 6 hours or so).

So how about this?



Bikeseer w/Runes of Warding, stones, spear, Doom, Fortune

Banshees x10 in a serpent w/tl cannon, cannon, vectored & star engines, stones

Scorps x6 Exarch w/claw, Stalker

Harlies x6 w/kisses, shadowseer

Jetbikes x3 w/cannon

Dire Avengers x6 Exarch w/shimmershield, defend, bladestorm

Viper x2 w/cannon, scat, stones

Spiders x8 Exarch w/extra spinner, powerblades, Withdraw

Falcon x3 w/cannon, cannon, holofield, vectored & star engines, stones

One less Viper, the Farseer loses Guide, the Avengers are reduced to 6 and ride in a Falcon, and I've added 10 Banshees in a Serpent. This would mean that the DA really are only good for a small tarpit, and need Farseer support to do damage. The remaining Vipers are harassment only now, not so much a real threat. Better, worse, or about the same?