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Mainly for fun, I wrote some experimental rules for my craftworld characters... The background for this first guy is that once I had my Dire Avenger squad being shot to pieces, except for the exarch. Then he had four mortars, two lascannons, a battlecannon and plenty of lasgun fire on him... And DIDN'T DIE!

Shamalir, the knight of the Dolorous Shape
Master Exarch of the Tonesh-ian Dire Avenger shrine
You may instead of upgrading a Dire Avenger into an Exarch, upgrade it to Shamalir, as long as the squad numbers 10.
Stats: Like DA Exarch, but 2 wounds.
Equipment: The Sword of Sorrow, Shimmershield, Shuriken Pistol
The Sword of Sorrow: (Not really decided about this one, as it is both fluffy and un-fluffy at the same time)
This is a Close Combat weapon. Make a note of how many Dire Avengers in the squad has died; when a certain number has died Shamalir gains a bonus.
2: +1 attack
5: Power Weapon
9: +1 Strength
Exarch Powers: Defend, Bladestorm
pts: 75 (includes the original DA)

And then we have
Artemis Davoña, Chief Farseer of Tonesh-ian
Artemis Davoña takes up a HQ choice.
Stats: Like Farseer
Equipment: The Heaven Blade, Shuriken pistol, Rune Armour (3+ Invulnerable save), Ghosthelm, Spirit Stones, Runes of Warding and Witnessing.
Psychic Powers: Guide, Doom, Fortune and Mind war.
The Heaven Blade: Count as a Witchblade, that allows Artemis to strike at Initiative 10.
pts: 185

Artemis is mainly a kitted out Farseer with some bonuses, but Shamalir is a bit more special. What do you say? Anything you think is unbalanced?

Shamilar.
DA = 12
Exarch = +12
Defend = +15
Bladestorm = +15
Shimmershield = +7 ?
Pistol = +1
Extra wound = hmm +3 ?

65, at a guess.

So your paying 10 points for that fancy CCW...
You have a shimmershield and 2 CWW anyway, which you can't get normally, so you already have more attacks than similarly equipped Exarchs. But then again, its not a power weapon, which is kinda sucky, as both option available to an Exarch regarding CCW's are power weapons. All in all it doesn't seem to be very powerful, but a good idea =)

I'd do this... 5 points cheaper, but no bladestorm, this Exarch (with this weapon set-up) seems to favour combat rather than firearms.

Shamalir, the knight of the Dolorous Shape
Master Exarch of the Tonesh-ian Dire Avenger shrine
You may instead of upgrading a Dire Avenger into an Exarch, upgrade it to Shamalir, as long as the squad numbers 10.
Stats: Like DA Exarch, but 2 wounds.
Equipment: The Sword of Sorrow, Shimmershield
The Sword of Sorrow: This is a Power weapon. Make a note of how many Dire Avengers in the squad has died; when a certain number has died Shamalir gains a bonus. (only Shamalir, not the squad)
2: +1 Attack.
4: May re-roll missed hits.
6: +1 Strength.
8: May re-roll failed wounds.
Exarch Powers: Defend
pts: 70 (includes the original DA)

Next we have a Farseer = 55
warding = 15
witnessing = 10
spirit stones = 20
powers = 95

195 total.

I can see where the lower cost comes from... i mean if you tally up Eldrads equipment he comes to 228, then he gets a 3+ invun, divination, +1T and a third power.... and he costs 210.
I'm not sure about the powers, why does he know all but one? I'd either take all of them or just maybe 3? I also dislike the sword... I 10 isn't that big a deal to someone who is I5 anyway, your going before most units, only HQ units will go at the same time or after you, and no way in hell should a Farseer be in combat with one of those! Unless he has a unit of warlocks, and then one would have enhance so he would be I6 anyway.

Heres what i'd do...

Artemis Davoña, Chief Farseer of Tonesh-ian
Artemis Davoña takes up a HQ choice.
Stats: Like Farseer
Equipment: The Heaven Blade, Shuriken pistol, Rune Armour (3+ Invulnerable save), Ghosthelm, Spirit Stones, Runes of Warding and Witnessing.
Psychic Powers: Guide, Doom, Fortune Eldritch storm and Mind war.
The Heaven Blade: The heaven blade has been held by the Chief Farseer since the craftworld first set out, it is an ancient relic from the crone worlds and has been imbued by countless spirit stones adorning its hilt over the millenia. The heaven Blade counts as a Witchblade that grants the wielder +1 attack. In addition, any roll of a 4 or less on a psychic test will ensure that power cannot be stopped, by any means (such as psychic hoods)
pts: 200

Points... not too expensive, but take Eldrad as a basis, drop the third power, the power weapon ability, divination and T:4... add in the chance to have unstoppable powers and +1 attack to compensate, and drop 10 points.
(note, i think all Farseers should have something similar in the new dex anyway)

Hmm, you do have some interesting points here.

You have a shimmershield and 2 CWW anyway, which you can't get normally,

The thought here was that he holds a pistol in the same hand as the shield is fit on. Autarchs, for example, can hold their pistol in the same arm as they have their forceshield on, cannot they? Otherwise I like what you did with his sword. Still, I think he should have bladesturm, I like the tactic to shoot a lot just before assaulting.

Artemis, on the other hand (who by the way is female).

I can see where the lower cost comes from... i mean if you tally up Eldrads equipment he comes to 228, then he gets a 3+ invun, divination, +1T and a third power.... and he costs 210.

Yes, that is very true.

However, in the fluff i wrote about her, it says that her eventual enemies has been unable to strike her before they was killed, that is where I took the heaven blade idea. But I now got a better one, I'll take the idea of the blade you posted (very nice idea about it, like both the fluff and the rules), but drop Eldritch storm (which I never use anyway) in favour of something like this:
Mystic Mist... No just kidding. That's not the name.

Arcane Haze:
The farseer extends her psychic aura, slowing down her enemies and making them easy prey.
This is a psychic power that can be used in beginning of the Eldar turn. Choose one enemy unit within 18" of Artemis; that unit has their initiative redused to 1 until the end of the turn.

Saintspirit wrote:Hmm, you do have some interesting points here.

You have a shimmershield and 2 CWW anyway, which you can't get normally,

The thought here was that he holds a pistol in the same hand as the shield is fit on. Autarchs, for example, can hold their pistol in the same arm as they have their forceshield on, cannot they? Otherwise I like what you did with his sword. Still, I think he should have bladesturm, I like the tactic to shoot a lot just before assaulting.

Yes, but you arn't an Autarch. I put the extra attack in sword effects so you's most likely have the extra attack by the time you reached combat anyway. As for bladestorm, i like that tactic aswell, but it would make him even more expensive! Possibly go for bladestorm instead of defend... defend sounds too defensice, where as bladestorm is perfect for, you know, storming things.

Saintspirit wrote:Artemis, on the other hand (who by the way is female).

There Eldar, they all look like girls anyway

Saintspirit wrote:

I can see where the lower cost comes from... i mean if you tally up Eldrads equipment he comes to 228, then he gets a 3+ invun, divination, +1T and a third power.... and he costs 210.

Yes, that is very true.

However, in the fluff i wrote about her, it says that her eventual enemies has been unable to strike her before they was killed, that is where I took the heaven blade idea. But I now got a better one, I'll take the idea of the blade you posted (very nice idea about it, like both the fluff and the rules), but drop Eldritch storm (which I never use anyway) in favour of something like this:
Mystic Mist... No just kidding. That's not the name.

Arcane Haze:
The farseer extends her psychic aura, slowing down her enemies and making them easy prey.
This is a psychic power that can be used in beginning of the Eldar turn. Choose one enemy unit within 18" of Artemis; that unit has their initiative redused to 1 until the end of the turn.

You could just buff up Eldritch storm, still have all the same attacks but any unit that takes a wound from it has its I lowered to 1 until the start of your next turn.

dayve110 wrote:
Yes, but you arn't an Autarch. I put the extra attack in sword effects so you's most likely have the extra attack by the time you reached combat anyway. As for bladestorm, i like that tactic aswell, but it would make him even more expensive! Possibly go for bladestorm instead of defend... defend sounds too defensice, where as bladestorm is perfect for, you know, storming things.
You have a point there, but what is he supposed to bladestorm with if he don't have a pistol?

There Eldar, they all look like girls anyway
Haha, that's true. Though Artemis was originally a greece goddess. I hate bottle bruther Artemis.

You could just buff up Eldritch storm, still have all the same attacks but any unit that takes a wound from it has its I lowered to 1 until the start of your next turn.
Hey, I like that.

1) He's busy directing fire! The way normal Exarch's do it when they have a shimmer shield/power weapon combo
2) Well... I'm not big on my Greek Gods/Godesses so i didn't know
3) Yay

So, this is how these two guys turned out, then, unless anyone else has anything to include.

Shamalir, the knight of the Dolorous Shape
Master Exarch of the Tonesh-ian Dire Avenger shrine
You may instead of upgrading a Dire Avenger into an Exarch, upgrade it to Shamalir, as long as the squad numbers 10.
Stats: Like DA Exarch, but 2 wounds.
Equipment: The Sword of Sorrow, Shimmershield
The Sword of Sorrow: This is a Power weapon. Make a note of how many Dire Avengers in the squad has died; when a certain number has died Shamalir gains a bonus. (only Shamalir, not the squad)
2: +1 Attack.
4: May re-roll missed hits.
6: +1 Strength.
8: May re-roll failed wounds.
Exarch Powers: Bladestorm
pts: 70 (includes the original DA)

Artemis Davoña, Chief Farseer of Tonesh-ian
Artemis Davoña takes up a HQ choice.
Stats: Like Farseer
Equipment: The Heaven Blade, Shuriken pistol, Rune Armour (3+ Invulnerable save), Ghosthelm, Spirit Stones, Runes of Warding and Witnessing.
Psychic Powers: Guide, Doom, Fortune, Arcane Haze (see below) and Mind war.
The Heaven Blade: The Heaven Blade has been held by the Chief Farseer since the craftworld first set out, it is an ancient relic from the crone worlds and has been imbued by countless spirit stones adorning its hilt over the millenia. The Heaven Blade counts as a Witchblade that grants the wielder +1 attack. In addition, any roll of a 4 or less on a psychic test will ensure that power cannot be stopped, by any means (such as psychic hoods)
Arcane Haze: Uses the same rules as for eldritch storm, except that any unit affected by it has I 1 until the next turn.
pts: 200

Guess I'll be putting up something new tomorrow, perhaps
The Rogue of Tallarn

I like the idea of the special farseer and the special effects of Heavens Blade the blocking of the psychic hoods is a good step and hope to see more things like this in the future codex Eldar psychic powers, while still very powerful, have taken a hit in the current meta game

Picking my old topic up again, as I have came up with an idea of an Autarch of Tonesh-ian:

Ramandhir, Autarch of Tonesh-ian - 130 pts
WS 7 BS 6 S 3 T 3 W 3 I 6 A 4 Ld 10 Save 3+

Wargear
Spectral Shield:
This gives a 4+ invulnerable shield. In addition, each turn you may choose one ranged or close combat attack an enemy has made on Ramandhir, that he saved. The model that was the source of that attack immediately takes one hit with the same values and special rules that attack had. For example, should Ramandhir be shot by a Lascannon and save the wound, the model wielding the lascannon will immediately take a S8, Ap 2 hit. Only one attack may be reflected per turn - should he take two wounds from a single model and save both, only one will hit the original source.

Power Weapon, Plasma Grenades, Haywire Grenades, Ancient Helmet (Counts as Banshee Mask)

Special Rules
Crusader of Repentance: Ramandhir is forever on a mission to compensate for what sins he made in his earlier life. He has the Stubborn and Furious Charge special rules.

Independent Character, Fleet, Master Strategist (as Autarch).

I like that autuarch, and the other 2 actually. Not too much added on, but enought to give them a character of their own. I especially like the reflected shots idea, I almost want to say to tone it down a fraction, but actually, I think it's reasonably balanced. If he's going to get furious charge though, does he need a banshee mask? I7 is pretty badass anyway. Unless you're going against assasins (why?) or lelith and co, then I don't think its really necessary.

PS could I recommend changing the name to spectral shield rather than speculum, as it conjours up all sorts of gynaecology images, which while hilarious are perhaps not what you were after.

Reanimator wrote:I like that autuarch, and the other 2 actually. Not too much added on, but enought to give them a character of their own. I especially like the reflected shots idea, I almost want to say to tone it down a fraction, but actually, I think it's reasonably balanced. If he's going to get furious charge though, does he need a banshee mask? I7 is pretty badass anyway. Unless you're going against assasins (why?) or lelith and co, then I don't think its really necessary.

Furious Charge is mainly to get S4 on attacks. Otherwise, good to hear they feel balanced and such.

PS could I recommend changing the name to spectral shield rather than speculum, as it conjours up all sorts of gynaecology images, which while hilarious are perhaps not what you were after.

Haha, I didn't know that. The word was inspired by the WHFB item Van Horstmann's Speculum (a mirror, not a medical tool!). But I see your point, so I'll change it.

Errata on the Spectral Shield, to clarify a little:

Spectral Shield:
This gives a 4+ invulnerable shield. In addition, each turn you may choose one ranged or close combat attack an enemy has made on Ramandhir, that he saved. The model that was the source of that attack immediately takes one hit with the same values and special rules that attack had. For example, should Ramandhir be shot by a Lascannon and save the wound, the model wielding the lascannon will immediately take a S8, Ap 2 hit. Blast weapons and template weapons reflected will not result in placing markers but will only hit the source - however, template weapons will still ignore cover saves. Only one attack may be reflected per turn - should he take two wounds from a single model and save both, only one will hit the original source.

added text in red.