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I've decided to branch off into fantasy battle, and have decided to play Dark Elves.

Can someone help me set up a list? I want to aim for a sea raider force, with lots of corsairs.

Hope it's not too much trouble, but I need help.

S_P

well raiding forces in fluff are full of corsairs and dark riders also harpies follow there boats knowing there will be much to feast on also some times bringing hydras to heavily defended areas some times they will hire out sorceresses to come with them so if you want a fluffy list
so a 1000 point fluff list

Master 156
heavy armor
sea dragon cloak
sheild
pair of hand bows
Hydra blade

30 corsairs 350
x hand weapon
full command
hydra banner

10 corsairs 100
hand bows

10 corsairs 100
hand bows

5 dark riders 117
X bows
musician

war hydra 175

total 998 points

if you wanted you could drop the hydra for more corsairs and dark riders but hydras are just so great i would keep it around this list is very straight forward flank your large corsair block with smaller ones use the smaller ones to harass units and to counter charge what ever the big block is fighting your hydra if nothing else will draw alot of attention and fire and can be devastating when supporting a large block of corsairs with the two hand wepons if you line them up 6x5 you get 24 re roll to hit attacks in the first turn of combat plus you will usualy attack first or at least at the same time add to that a hydra with 7attacks and thunder stomp plus the 4 attacks for the handlers and the breath weapon if you think you will need it

Terrifying lack of punctuation there, but thanks a lot Laststand. I'll give that list a look.

Thanks

S_P

A hydra at 1000 points is just mean. I would opt for 2 both throwers at that points level. And what is the big block of corsairs going to beat? I think the banner of Murder (AP) would do better.

The only other problem I see is that you only have 1 banner in the entire army.

so you say that a hydra is too good in 1k pts so he or she shouldnt take it? thats pretty dumb plus bolt throwers are over priced pieces of poo. 100pts a pop for either 1 s6 shot that pens or 6 s4 not the best 100pts you could spend. you could get 10 crossbowmen for that price and they can let loose either 10 or 20 shots for the same amount of points. for every 1 bolt thower you get O&G can get 3 of them big whoop no multi shot and 1 less BS wo cares you have 3 of them instead of 1. Hydra>2 bolt throwers everytime

What would you suggest for changes Casper?

S_P

lukesdabest wrote:so you say that a hydra is too good in 1k pts so he or she shouldnt take it? thats pretty dumb plus bolt throwers are over priced pieces of poo. 100pts a pop for either 1 s6 shot that pens or 6 s4 not the best 100pts you could spend. you could get 10 crossbowmen for that price and they can let loose either 10 or 20 shots for the same amount of points. for every 1 bolt thower you get O&G can get 3 of them big whoop no multi shot and 1 less BS wo cares you have 3 of them instead of 1. Hydra>2 bolt throwers everytime

Thats exactly what I'm saying...at 1k i'm guessing the goal of the army is to learn/half fun with his fluffy army. I know from experience as I use to run a hydra at 1k and my friend quit playing.


Heroes:
Master - Hvy Armor, Sea Dragon Cloak, Shield, General (90)
Master - Hvy Armor, Sea Dragon Cloak, Sheild, BSB (115)

Core:
Corsairs - x30, FC, Banner of Murder (350)
Corsairs - x10, Hand Bows (100 pts)
Corsairs - x20, FC (225)
Dark Riders - x5, Musician, Xbows (117 pts)

Total 997 pts.

Changes:
Adding the BSB will give you numerous benefits to the army. If you want magical wep/armor for both masters, I would drop the unit of 10 corsairs with handbows. They really won't kill/do much.
The while the hydra adds a huge punch, I think early on you may not need one.
I am still undecided about how effective a unit of 30 will be instead of lets say 2 units of 25.

Expanding the Army:
Add in the Hydra for more hitting power and some bolt throwers (taken from their ships). I would then add in harpies/shades and more Dark Riders for warmachine hunting, and then for theme more Corsairs (of whatever variety)

Whatever your fluff is going to be, make sure to work some Hydras into it. You can thank us later.

"The Corsairs raid the quiet coastal town in the dead of night, seeking slaves and gold. Release the Hydra-Kraken!!"

Whatever you got to write, man, seriously. Hydras are awesome.

- Blackbone

Thanks for the list Casper. I'll work on some fluff, forgive me if it's awful, I'm a touch rusty on my fantasy-fu.

S_P

As you expand a 1500 point list could look something like this:

Heroes:
Master - Hvy Armor, Sea Dragon Cloak, Shield, General (90)
Master - Hvy Armor, Sea Dragon Cloak, Sheild, BSB (115)

Core:
Corsairs - x30, FC, Banner of Murder (350)
Corsairs - x10, Hand Bows (100 pts)
Corsairs - x20, FC (225)
Dark Riders - x5, Musician, Xbows (117 pts)
Dark Riders - x5, Musician, Xbows (117 pts)

Rare
Hydra (175)

Total: 1289 (211 points left) If you drop the small corsair unit (hand bows) you could squeeze in a lvl 3 for some magic defense and some magical gear/armor for your heros who are lacking in the ward save department.

I run a horde formation of 30 corsairs with FC and the sea serpent standard. It owns.

Casper wrote:As you expand a 1500 point list could look something like this:

Heroes:
Master - Hvy Armor, Sea Dragon Cloak, Shield, General (90)
Master - Hvy Armor, Sea Dragon Cloak, Sheild, BSB (115)

Core:
Corsairs - x30, FC, Banner of Murder (350)
Corsairs - x10, Hand Bows (100 pts)
Corsairs - x20, FC (225)
Dark Riders - x5, Musician, Xbows (117 pts)
Dark Riders - x5, Musician, Xbows (117 pts)

Rare
Hydra (175)

Total: 1289 (211 points left) If you drop the small corsair unit (hand bows) you could squeeze in a lvl 3 for some magic defense and some magical gear/armor for your heros who are lacking in the ward save department.

or another hydra

Hydras are exceptional for their points. However they won't win you any friends using them in 1k games. Two at 1500 is kind of bonkers too. It depends a lot on your play group though. The one I play in it would be frowned upon. However I'm sure there are others where you'll need that hydra because everyone else is taking their hardest stuff to throw at you regardless of points level. So in the end it's up to you.

The problem with adding another hydra at 1500 is that he has no magic what so ever. I expect at 1500 there to be at least a lvl 3 in the enemy army. With no magic defense at all that lvl 3 will have a great day (unless he blows himself up which is a possibility). Adding your own lvl 3 sorceress allows you to pull some interesting tricks with the corsairs.

Shadow - great hex's that really help out DE's Str 3 issue, dont forget the Miasma and Pit of Shades combo, and Okkam's is just great for elves.
Death - character sniping, giving the corsairs terror or fear, and Purple Sun are all worth it
Metal - helps deal with elves poor armor and armor piercing issues

Any of these lore's would be better than a 2nd hydra imo.

Looking at that 1289pt list above, and thinking on how to get it up to 1500pts, i would agree with caspar in that you need some magic in there.

I would drop the smaller unit of corsairs and add a level 3 or 4 sorceress. Then i'd add some magic items to your masters/sorceress, a ward save wouldn't go amiss on the BSB or sorceress and the other master could do with a more killy weapon. Either that or add more corsairs to your unit of 20 corsairs, you'll probably be able to get it to 24 models and run it 6x4

Can somebody add a Sorceress (or two, depending on points) to this list; and if points allow, a bolt thrower?

Heroes:
Master - Hvy Armor, Sea Dragon Cloak, Shield, General (90)
Master - Hvy Armor, Sea Dragon Cloak, Sheild, BSB (115)

Core:
Corsairs - x30, FC, Banner of Murder (350)
Corsairs - x20, FC (225)
Dark Riders - x5, Musician, Xbows (117 pts)
Dark Riders - x5, Musician, Xbows (117 pts)

Rare
Hydra (175)

Thanks in advance

S_P

Lords:
Supreme Sorceress - General, Level 4 Upgrade, Focus Familiar, Pendant of Khaeleth (320)

Heroes:
Master - Hvy Armor, Sea Dragon Cloak, Shield (90)
Master - Hvy Armor, Sea Dragon Cloak, Sheild, BSB (115)

Core:
Corsairs - x30, FC, Banner of Murder (350)
Corsairs - x20, FC (225)
Dark Riders - x5, Musician, Xbows (117 pts)
Dark Riders - x5, Musician, Xbows (117 pts)

Rare
Hydra (175)

How's that? What other units can you recommend?

S_P

Thats looking good.

Things to consider adding as you continue would be either Magical Weapons/armor for the Masters (or a magic banner for the BSB). Then you need to look at adding more units, something to protect your flanks as you only have 2 blocks of troops currently. You should consider how you would fight against tougher units that have good armor like Dwarfs, WoC, Knights and other Monsters.

Is there a limit as to how much I can spend on Heroes? I know about the limit to lords, but am unsure if this.

If there isn't, I'll add a Sorceress (can I use other lores aside from Dark Magic?), then I'll add some bolt throwers and maybe another Hydra.

Any suggestions for elite infantry/other selections are welcome.

Fluff-wise, the two masters will be young highborn twins on a joint Hakseer Cruise, led a Female Captain. I'm working on it.

S_P

There are limits.

25% max Lords
25% max Heroes
25% min Core
50% max Special
25% max Rare

You can't have more than 2 of the same Rare or Special choice until 3000 points (unless you have the elite army rules - only HE have this to my knowledge)

DE can have Shadow, Death, Metal, Fire and one more (no codex on me) besides Dark magic. You have to pick your lore when you build the army (for tournaments at least)

Thanks again Casper, the lower level Sorceress will have the Lore of Metal then.

S_P