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So here's the dilemma:

For the purposes of this short-story I plan[on some day...] writing, I need to a way for Eldar characters to feasibly take on MEQ in melee combat. The issue is, even with the most liberal depictions of Eldar I've come across, they've been shown to have at best a level of physical strength(and resilience) slightly above human potential(the usual depiction is normal/at unaugmented human levels).

The problem is that I want my Eldar characters to, while still be at a disadvantage in the area of physical strength/resilience, be able to feasibly take on, for instance, a CSM in melee combat. I want them to be able to realistically parry attacks, maybe even not have their bodies completely caved in by a direct hit, but contemporary fluff doesn't really allow for this(instead, authors seem to get around it by either A) Having the Eldar dodge every.single.blow--to me, that's not practical or B) Against all logic, make the Eldar able to block/parry and take a few hits). Yes, there's the solution of them "redirecting" blows, but...come on. So here are some solutions that I think creative license would allow for:

1) An Eldar martial arts system that would allow warriors to channel their psychic energy, allowing for temporary buffs or permanent, passive benefits. Established would the be the notion that all Eldar have technically similar levels of psychic ability--it's just that Seers have the ability to manifest it in non-physical ways.

[technically, feasible solutions end here; the rest are just ideas that I thought of, but discarded for one reason or another]

2) Wraithbone-reinforced skeletal structures would be nice, but afaik, the Eldar prefer "purity of form".
3) Lowering the strength levels of MEQ to more "reasonable" levels.
4) Having Aspect armor that augments physical attributes(the problem here is that Rangers would be a central part to the story).
5) Lastly, have them simply acknowledge that one hit from a MEQ would be very bad for them and go 100% shooty in those cases.

'probably used the term "MEQ" out of context, but meh. Thoughts?

I don't think you understand just how freaking fast the eldar think. They very well could dodge every blow a human threw, and almost every blow a space marine threw. The idea of redirecting hits is key to almost every eldar close combat style, you don't need really need to add new layers of fluff. It's well established that eldar have more than enough finesse to last in a fight against a space marine.

#4 is the best explaination if you want CC resiliance.

#5 is how eldar should fight.



Face it, Eldar Strength=Human Strength. A space marine could crack an Eldar's skull, or any other bone, with 1 hand.

Eldar Strength = Human strength and inhuman reflexes. That's a powerful combo and I doubt one close combat specialist Aspect warrior like a Striking Scorpion would just crumble if attacked in CC by a Marine. They'd fight it out on even terms.

There's actually another fluff insertion I could make:

As a result of their reflexes and agility, their bodies would have needed to evolve to have a resiliency higher than human-level, otherwise they risk serious repetitive injuries from sudden, fast movement(I'm thinking tougher ligaments, more effective cartilage). Not to mention they'd need to have more durable bodies to avoid getting "burned out"(arthritis, etc.) at a young age(young for Eldar, anyway).