Why Jain Zar and the Banshees that Howl?

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**SamusDrake**

Yup, definitely to fit in with the Ynnari. The Banshees fit the melee-focus of the faction, along with the Wyches and Incubi. They are also only one of two elite aspects for Kill Team, so it was either going to be them or the striking scorpions.

They are expensive so be sure to call in as much discount as you can for them. I got about 22% off, but still felt a bit pricey.

A Craftworlds Combat Patrol set will likely include some Banshees, so thats when to pick'em up. Also, its not hard to imagine the Banshees being part of a Kill Team faction set, of which Craftworlds is yet to recieve.

I'm wondering if the Ynnari are going to be given their own codex for 9th, and if so could be in a patrol set for that release.

**Togusa**

Bellerophon wrote:
I think it's probably in line with what's already been suggested - the Banshees have always been one of the most prominent aspect warrior units anyway, and it fitted in with the Ynnari storyline.

Although I think the banshees were a sensible choice from a prominence/popularity perspective, I think they were some way down the list for 'needing' new models. Their 4th Ed sculpts were fine, the main problem was that they were finecast. Ones I'd have put ahead would be the Swooping Hawks (3rd Ed models, quite flimsy connection to the base even in metal so I can only imagine the finecast is even worse), Shining Spears (it just seems absurd that they're stuck with the old jetbike models when the new windrider jetbikes were released 6 years ago - come on, they just need an upgrade sprue with some laser lances, heads and exarch options!) and Warp Spiders (I still like the models, but they're quite clearly 2nd Ed vintage and they look it next to newer stuff).

What I'm curious about is whether they've got more aspect warriors 3d modelled but just not released yet, or whether they really did just do the banshees. It would make sense if their designer(s) got on a roll for a particular faction and designed more than one unit at a time, and we know they've often designed things well in advance of releasing them. The windriders are a good example, I recall the design had been shown off at Gamesday in 2007 and it was 8 years before they actually released them, for whatever reason. They could easily be sitting on a bunch of CAD designs for other aspects and just picked the banshees out of the list to release. The dead guardian on the new Lelith's base is a hint in that direction - would they CAD model new guardian armour just for a base ornament, or did they have the files for the unit anyway and just grabbed them from the library?

I like the models and I'll run them in games. I'm just surprised is all. I would have thought Dark Reapers, Fire Dragons or Dire Avengers would get first treatment given how much more useable they are.

**beast_gts**

Togusa wrote:
I'm just surprised is all. I would have thought Dark Reapers, Fire Dragons or Dire Avengers would get first treatment given how much more useable they are.

Dire Avengers (without Asurmen) were first, in 2017.

I really want to know how GW came up with the price for Banshees - more that Wraithguard and £10 more than the (roughly equivalent) plastic Dire Avengers.

**Apple fox**

beast_gts wrote:
Togusa wrote:
I'm just surprised is all. I would have thought Dark Reapers, Fire Dragons or Dire Avengers would get first treatment given how much more useable they are.

Dire Avengers (without Asurmen) were first, in 2017.

I really want to know how GW came up with the price for Banshees - more that Wraithguard and £10 more than the (roughly equivalent) plastic Dire Avengers.

It really depends how far back GW uses data from as well, going back to 3rd I would say that banshees where one of the most popular aspects. And a single unit would often have twice as many as dark reapers. With dire avengers often being converted so hard for Data collection.
With a swordwind army they messed up marines well, with eldar heavy support being fantastic at the time dark reapers where in a slot that was more contested.

**Togusa**

beast_gts wrote:
Togusa wrote:
I'm just surprised is all. I would have thought Dark Reapers, Fire Dragons or Dire Avengers would get first treatment given how much more useable they are.

Dire Avengers (without Asurmen) were first, in 2017.

I really want to know how GW came up with the price for Banshees - more that Wraithguard and £10 more than the (roughly equivalent) plastic Dire Avengers.

I'm not sure what you mean, Dire Avengers haven't been upgraded with a new kit in 2017.

**beast_gts**

Togusa wrote:
I'm not sure what you mean, Dire Avengers haven't been upgraded with a new kit in 2017.

I'm having a brain-fart, aren't I? The web store has them listed as "Eldar-Dire-Avengers-2017", but it's a re-box of the earlier kit, isn't it?

**dhallnet**

beast_gts wrote:
Togusa wrote:
I'm not sure what you mean, Dire Avengers haven't been upgraded with a new kit in 2017.

I'm having a brain-fart, aren't I? The web store has them listed as "Eldar-Dire-Avengers-2017", but it's a re-box of the earlier kit, isn't it?

Yeah the current kit is something like 15 years old.
Maybe 2017 is when they halved the content of the box for the same price (thanks James, these were too heavy to pick up home) but I feel like even that happened before this date.

**Tyel**

I think Dire Avengers got halved around 2013.
Having originally come out in 2006.

**Dolnikan**

Tyel wrote:
I think Dire Avengers got halved around 2013.
Having originally come out in 2006.

Which, incidentally, still made them the newest Aspect Warriors before the Banshees got released.

**Kale**

Every time I see this thread all that goes through my head is 'Jain Zar and the Banshees' -sound like a good name for a band!

**Grimtuff**

Dolnikan wrote:
Tyel wrote:
I think Dire Avengers got halved around 2013.
Having originally come out in 2006.

Which, incidentally, still made them the newest Aspect Warriors before the Banshees got released.

All* of the (now current) 3rd gen Aspect Warrior kits came out at the same time as the Dire Avengers.

*Except for Warp Spiders/Shining Spears as they never want to change those. Ever.

Though if want to be really really pedantic, the last Aspect Warriors made before those Banshees were the Shadow Spectres from Forgeworld. Or if you want to go even more "ackshuallllyyyyy" it is the Crimson Hunter aircraft, which is an Aspect.

**SamusDrake**

Kale wrote:
Every time I see this thread all that goes through my head is 'Jain Zar and the Banshees' -sound like a good name for a band!

Thats what I thought too! Exhalted!

**the_scotsman**

Probably because banshees are the most generally iconic eldar unit that you tend to see outside of like, Farseers?

**Tiberius501**

I would love new shining spears. But I’d also really love a box of new Warlocks. God Eldar need an upgrade.

Anyway, as others have said, we can only guess. I would guess it’s because they’re popular and fit into their Ynnari theme. They were probably just a pretty easy choice.

I really wish though that they recognized that the bad sales were based on terrible pricing and the unit having terrible rules.

**petrov27**

Yeah my fear is that they looked at the sale volume of that terrible expensive box set they released the plastic Banshees in and are just all "yep obviously no one wants Eldar these days - back to churning out Marines!"

**Crispy78**

SamusDrake wrote:
Kale wrote:
Every time I see this thread all that goes through my head is 'Jain Zar and the Banshees' -sound like a good name for a band!

Thats what I thought too! Exhalted!

Siouxsie might have something to say about that...

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

Tiberius501 wrote:
I would love new shining spears. But I’d also really love a box of new Warlocks. God Eldar need an upgrade.

Anyway, as others have said, we can only guess. I would guess it’s because they’re popular and fit into their Ynnari theme. They were probably just a pretty easy choice.

I really wish though that they recognized that the bad sales were based on terrible pricing and the unit having terrible rules.

Ynnari might prove the ideal candidate to bring about that upgrade.

Given they bridge the (admittedly not massive) gap between the three main Eldar forces, I’d expect them to reflect that in their aesthetic. But, right now? Craftworld Eldar don’t have as strong an aesthetic as their Dark and Harlequin compadres. Previously that’s not been a major issue, as Craftworld are your common or garden variety. The glorious average from which all others diverge.

Aesthetically, they’ve not changed since their inception. Sure, they’ve gained new toys along the way, but if you wanted to play Rogue Trader (everyone should at some point, it’s bonkers!), you’ll be able to do so using the majority of the modern range. The only unit that’s particularly changed are the Ghost Warriors being physically enlarged in 2nd Ed. Here, have a look.

Before

After

The Spirit Warrior in the first pic is pretty much the Wraithlord of today, as what is now the Wraithlord design used to have a physical pilot back in Rogue Trader.

Now, I’m not suggesting nor advocating a massive revisit of the aesthetic. I’m not that daft. But if Ynnari are to have a melding of three looks, why not tart up the oldest of the three constituents whilst your at it, just define it a bit more.

**Nevelon**

Crispy78 wrote:
SamusDrake wrote:
Kale wrote:
Every time I see this thread all that goes through my head is 'Jain Zar and the Banshees' -sound like a good name for a band!

Thats what I thought too! Exhalted!

Siouxsie might have something to say about that...

Get her a powersword, she’ll fit right in.

**dan2026**

GW really need to do a massive update of the Craftworlds range.
How can you possibly convince anyone to start an Eldar army when most of the range is ancient and not even updated to plastic?

It’s absurd.

**Da Boss**

It's quite odd how the Eldar forces you see are so Wraith-heavy, just because that is the only "modern" plastic kit.

But those Banshees are just way too expensive. I'd rather look for old metals on Ebay.

**the_scotsman**

Da Boss wrote:
It's quite odd how the Eldar forces you see are so Wraith-heavy, just because that is the only "modern" plastic kit.

But those Banshees are just way too expensive. I'd rather look for old metals on Ebay.

The main thing for me is just comparing them to the Harlequin kit.

Harlequin kit: Contains swords+shuriken pistols for all (6) models in the kit.

ALSO contains kisses for all models in the kit, ALSO contains 4 optional pistols, ALSO contains an additional 5 optional melee weapons in addition to the standard weapons

All heads are separated from masks, allowing you to completely customize heads

All legs are separated from torsos, allowing you to completely customize torsos

There are 2 extra torsos and many extra heads.

Howling Banshees: Contains swords+shuriken pistols for all (5) models in the kit

Contains 3 additional pieces of wargear to create the exarch - an offhand sword to make mirrorswords, an executioner and free hand, and a triskele you swap the sword arm for.

Contains 6 optional heads - one for the exarch, 5 helmetless heads. Note that the helmetless heads are completely 100% identical.

Heads are separate from masks but can only go together one way.

legs are joined to torsos making the leg+torso poses fixed.

There's just much, much, much better kits out there for martial-posed warrior elfs.

**Dysartes**

Tiberius501 wrote:
I would love new shining spears.

Not redoing Shining Spears when they redid the Jetbike is a baffling decision.

**Nevelon**

Dysartes wrote:
Tiberius501 wrote:
I would love new shining spears.

Not redoing Shining Spears when they redid the Jetbike is a baffling decision.

Agreed. And all it would take now would be a new plastic sprue to toss in the bike box. Or, re-use the digital files and make new ones where 80% of the work is already done. I suspect this is low hanging fruit that will be taken advantage of if/when the Eldar get a new release.

**Tiberius501**

Nevelon wrote:
Dysartes wrote:
Tiberius501 wrote:
I would love new shining spears.

Not redoing Shining Spears when they redid the Jetbike is a baffling decision.

Agreed. And all it would take now would be a new plastic sprue to toss in the bike box. Or, re-use the digital files and make new ones where 80% of the work is already done. I suspect this is low hanging fruit that will be taken advantage of if/when the Eldar get a new release.

I’d very much hope so!

**Apple fox**

the_scotsman wrote:
Da Boss wrote:
It's quite odd how the Eldar forces you see are so Wraith-heavy, just because that is the only "modern" plastic kit.

But those Banshees are just way too expensive. I'd rather look for old metals on Ebay.

The main thing for me is just comparing them to the Harlequin kit.

Harlequin kit: Contains swords+shuriken pistols for all (6) models in the kit.

ALSO contains kisses for all models in the kit, ALSO contains 4 optional pistols, ALSO contains an additional 5 optional melee weapons in addition to the standard weapons

All heads are separated from masks, allowing you to completely customize heads

All legs are separated from torsos, allowing you to completely customize torsos

There are 2 extra torsos and many extra heads.

Howling Banshees: Contains swords+shuriken pistols for all (5) models in the kit

Contains 3 additional pieces of wargear to create the exarch - an offhand sword to make mirrorswords, an executioner and free hand, and a triskele you swap the sword arm for.

Contains 6 optional heads - one for the exarch, 5 helmetless heads. Note that the helmetless heads are completely 100% identical.

Heads are separate from masks but can only go together one way.

legs are joined to torsos making the leg+torso poses fixed.

There's just much, much, much better kits out there for martial-posed warrior elfs.

That we did not even see them get axes I think is just so sad. I think they could also get singing spears variant as well to give a sort of short ranged unit to really change them up why sticking to its aspect.

Rules wise since the aspects all share some design in how they are stat out, I feel they didn’t want to get people buying the old minis so couldn’t really update banshees to make them play great.

**Dysartes**

Tiberius501 wrote:
Nevelon wrote:
Dysartes wrote:
Tiberius501 wrote:
I would love new shining spears.

Not redoing Shining Spears when they redid the Jetbike is a baffling decision.

Agreed. And all it would take now would be a new plastic sprue to toss in the bike box. Or, re-use the digital files and make new ones where 80% of the work is already done. I suspect this is low hanging fruit that will be taken advantage of if/when the Eldar get a new release.

I’d very much hope so!

Yeah, you can probably get away with one additional sprue covering three bikes, potentially including an Exarch.

Alternatively, do a three bike box, with an Exarch/Phoenix Lord character clampack as a separate purchase.

**Jidmah**

They could just put three phoenix lords on one spure. They are ripping off DG players by selling an HQ, an elite character and a random unit champion for $60, they might as well do the same for any three characters any eldar player might want to have.