Wyldhunt wrote:SideSwipe wrote:
How could a falling population[which I'm extrapolating from your increased losses] hold ground? Why would they conquer worlds when it's already established that the Craftworlds are closer to ghost towns than full? They have no need for territory.
In Biel-Tan's case, their modus operandi seemed to be to wipe out specific threats to/colonists of maiden worlds. Then, thanks to their seers, they could go do other stuff until the seers detect an upcoming threat to the territory they'd previously saved/reclaimed. That said, the impression I get from craftworlds that care about smaller craftworlds and maiden worlds is that they're constantly have to let some threats slip so that they can address others.
Biel-Tan's modus operandi of eliminating squatters on Maiden worlds was
IMO meant to show how they don't have a realistic plan of restoring the Eldar empire. They might wipe out the squatters but then the Maiden world lies there unsettled and unused. Biel-Tan was just using the rationale of "This was made by my ancestors therefore nobody else can touch it, even though I cannot do so either." I always thought Biel-Tan was engaged in a bit of self-deception in that regard.
Now I agree though with the idea that the Eldar should have some "metagoal" that gives a glimmer of hope since it seems all the other factions have been given something to fight for as well. This glimmer may be true hope or it may result in the Eldar expending themselves in a last brilliant flash of glory, but of course we know
GW won't ever get to that stage. Ynnead to some extent fulfils that role but
GW have written themselves into a corner because Ynnead can not fully awaken and truly defeat Slaanesh and restore the Eldar to rule the galaxy for setting balance purposes, so
GW should give other lesser achievable goals for the Eldar to strive for. The Harlequins have the ambiguous final jest of Cergorach that they work towards. The Craftworlds, Exodites, and Dark Eldar though are kind of directionless in terms of any such metagoal (even though we know
GW won't let any faction actually reach theirs).
In the bits about the Ynnari, there is mention of how young Exodites seem more sympathetic to the Ynnari cause, viewing the isolationist ways of the Exodites as a mistake. I saw that as maybe
GW teasing or sounding out the idea of Exodites and Ynnari together or as allies.
The potential ideological split and ferment between the different branches of the Eldar is something I wish
GW would explore more.