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Looking to start Dark Eldar in the new year, mainly because I really like the models. I want to put together something I can work towards, and am probably going to purchase a battleforce at some point around Christmas (so i've included the models from the box). I want it to be competitive at a local game store and want to have a variety of models. I also really like the jetbikes and they are probably going to make the final list. I dont have anything yet and haven't bought anything at all! Comments and criticism accepted and encouraged.

HQ

Duke Sliscus the Serpent 150

Elites

5 Kabalite Trueborn w/3 blasters and haywire grenades, Venom w/splinter cannon= 172
5 Kabalite Trueborn w/3 blasters and haywire grenades, Venom w/splinter cannon= 172

Troops

9 Kabalite Warriors w/blaster, Raider w/ flickerfield 166

Hekatrix w/venom blade, 9 Wyches w/ shardnet and impaler, Raider w/shock prow, flickerfield 200

9 Kabalite Warriors w/blaster, Raider w/ flickerfield 166

Fast Attack

6 Reavers 2x Heat Lance 156

Heavy Support

Ravager 105
Ravager 105
Ravager 105

Won't somebody discuss the above with me? Am I off base with the jetbikes? Are the trueborn units too small? Do I have too few troops? You can even say something like "Hey Gordash, way to think outside the box on the heavy support!"

pesonally, i would give the bikes blasters, and the wyches haywire grenades.
Theres not huge amounts of poont to giving trueborn hg i think.

Also, if you want some better variety in the models, go Ravager, Razorwing, Talos for your hs.

I'm thinking of moving more towards the jetbikes. Here's what I'm now thinking

HQ

Duke Sliscus the Serpent 150

Elites

5 Kabalite Trueborn w/2 dark lances 110
5 Kabalite Trueborn w/2 dark lances 110

Troops

9 Kabalite Warriors w/blaster, Raider w/ flickerfield & shock prow 171

Hekatrix w/venom blade, 9 Wyches w/ shardnet and impaler, Raider w/shock prow, flickerfield 200

9 Kabalite Warriors w/blaster, Raider w/ flickerfield & shock prow 171

Fast Attack

6 Reavers 2x Heat Lance 156
6 Reavers 2x Heat Lance 156

Heavy Support

Ravager 105
Ravager 105

66 points left over for either a venom for a squad of trueborn, or some upgrades to the reavers/ravagers/raiders/squads.

Is this the right track for a bike list at 1500 pts?

You could consider dropping the numbers on the Kabalite Warriors as you don't get 10 for the Heavy weapon anyway.

It's not very efficient. Lots of wasted bodies in the warrior units. 5 in a venom w/dual cannons and a blaster is a far better choice unless you're going for that dark lance, which you're not. I think sliscus a bit of a waste, though my opinion of him is quite low in general. The tb are fine but drop the hgs. Wyches require a hammy and hgs to be effective. Otherwise, when thier transport blows up, ~50% will die in the blast and the unit will be a wash. Bikes are cool, but die off quickly. Ravagers are fine and I would always stick with 3.

Yeah id try for maybe 2 ravagers and a plane of some sort just for variety, thats what I plan to do anyhoo.

I love reavers, and heatlances, keep in mind they will die easy without some FNP or cover, also I find the turbo-boost attack to be a little lacklustre.

Personally Id prob kit out the trueborn for anti-infantry, dropping the DL and grabbing shard-carbines/splinter cannons etc as you will probly be using the ravagers to dish out most of the anti-tank.

I probably wouldnt worry about shock prows either, but thats me.
Generally the weapon the vehicle has will do more damage than tank shocking or ramming, and they tend to either blow up when hit or the flickerfield does its job.

As a side note Iv only played with my DE for maybe 8 or so games so Im no DE master tactician or such.

I've modified the list yet again to incorporate a few more troops in Venoms. I could take out the duke and replace with a Hammy. That would free up some more points. In that case I'd try to get another Ravager in there. What would you do with the Wyches? Would you just drop them completely?

HQ

Duke Sliscus the Serpent 150

Elites

5 Kabalite Trueborn w/2 dark lances 110
5 Kabalite Trueborn w/2 dark lances 110

Troops

6 Kabalite Warriors w/blaster, Venom w/splintercannon- 125 points

Hekatrix w/venom blade, 9 Wyches w/ shardnet and impaler, Raider w/shock prow, flickerfield 200

6 Kabalite Warriors w/blaster, Venom w/splintercannon- 125 points

6 Kabalite Warriors w/blaster, Venom w/splintercannon- 125 points

Fast Attack

6 Reavers 2x Heat Lance 156
6 Reavers 2x Heat Lance 156

Heavy Support

Ravager 105
Ravager 105

Total 1467 (a bit of room for upgrades and what have you)

As your Trueborn have only two dark lances, i assume that they are going to hide in cover and snipe. So they don't really need to be five, IMO.

You have 6 warriors in your units, but it's just a mistake, your points are good, stick with 5.

And maybe droping Sliscus for a third Ravager and a Haemonculus would be an idea, but I haven't tested him.

Gordash wrote:
I've modified the list yet again to incorporate a few more troops in Venoms. I could take out the duke and replace with a Hammy. That would free up some more points. In that case I'd try to get another Ravager in there. What would you do with the Wyches? Would you just drop them completely?

HQ

Duke Sliscus the Serpent 150

Eh...He's ok. If you are running a wych cult he's good otherwise go with a haemonculus.

Gordash wrote:
Elites

5 Kabalite Trueborn w/2 dark lances 110
5 Kabalite Trueborn w/2 dark lances 110

If you want 2 DL then cut the bodies to 3. Otherwise cut them to 4 all with blaster in a venom w/2 SC

Gordash wrote:
Troops

6 Kabalite Warriors w/blaster, Venom w/splintercannon- 125 points

Hekatrix w/venom blade, 9 Wyches w/ shardnet and impaler, Raider w/shock prow, flickerfield 200

6 Kabalite Warriors w/blaster, Venom w/splintercannon- 125 points

6 Kabalite Warriors w/blaster, Venom w/splintercannon- 125 points

First thing that jumps to my mind is that this is illegal. You cannot have more guys in a squad then the DT can carry. It's one of the annoying rules in the codex. Second you only need 5. Third you need more squads. Objectives are 2/3 of the games and 3 squads won't live long for the DE.

Gordash wrote:
Fast Attack

6 Reavers 2x Heat Lance 156
6 Reavers 2x Heat Lance 156

Scourges do this job much more effieciently. You need one less body and can move at the same rate inorder to shoot. Give the Haemy a portal if you want to get scourges somewhere safely. Otherwise DS them behind a tank and watch it go boom.

Gordash wrote:
Heavy Support

Ravager 105
Ravager 105

Total 1467 (a bit of room for upgrades and what have you)

Add a third ravager and give them all FF. You also need some level of CC. Just to slow down that big deathstar bearing down on you, or to serve as a distraction. I'd suggest so wyches. 9 of them with a hekatrix with an agoniser. All of them having haywires and one with a shardnet. Toss them in a raider with FF and add the Haemy. That gives you another troops choice, more darklight, some much needed CC, and someplace for the haemy to go.

I've taken some of your advice and thanks a lot for it! I really like the look of the Reavers so they are going to stay in for now. How does the rest of the list look? It's 1496 in total. I think it's legal.

HQ

Haemonucleus, liquefier gun, venom blade 60

Elites

3 Kabalite Trueborn w/2 dark lances 86

3 Kabalite Trueborn w/2 dark lances 86

Troops

5 Kabalite Warriors w/blaster, Venom w/splintercannon- 125 points

5 Kabalite Warriors w/blaster, Venom w/splintercannon- 125 points

5 Kabalite Warriors w/blaster, Venom w/splintercannon- 125 points

5 Kabalite Warriors w/blaster, Venom w/splintercannon- 125 points

Hekatrix w/venom blade, 8 Wyches w/ shardnet and impaler, Raider, flickerfield 185

Fast Attack

6 Reavers 2x Heat Lance 156
3 Reavers 1x Heat Lance 78

Heavy Support

Ravager, FF 115
Ravager, FF 115
Ravager, FF 115

Personally, I would probably do that as 3 squads of 3 reavers.

If your dead set on bikes maybe consider the baron? He can join your bike squads to give them stealth and keep pace. Turbo boosting with him is out though, but otherwise adds a bit of survivability to the bikes.

Otherwise I was like you. Bought 15 bikes thinking they would be awesome..... Heat lances and blasters, plus crazy attacks on the turbo boost and 3+ cover! However I learned fast that A: they attract TONS of attention. This means they get shot all to heck quicly. And with avg toughness and crap armor they get turned into Bolter fodder. B: to effectively use the BV you need to finish your move outside 12" of the enemy. Else your begging to be rapid fired, and or charged. In both cases it's bad news for the bikes. And getting a turboboost line that hits an enemy and leaves your bikes in good position is hard if not impossible. C: the special weapons they bring, heat lanes blasters etc, are all available on more efficient units. Scourges, true born are generally cheaper, can have more, and are a touch more durable.

Bikes look awesome and the figs are great. But for some reason game psychology is to shoot at bikes because bikes = threat. Over estimated but yea. The result is bikes in general get shot to pieces and rarely make points back. And that's 200+ points of something else that could still be alive and killing stuff.

I play the following sliscuss list at 1500:

1 Duke Sliscus the Serpent


3 Kabalite Trueborn,3 Blasters,
Venom w/dual splintercannon,
3 Kabalite Trueborn,3 Blasters,
Venom w/dual splintercannon,

8 Kabalite Warriors
Raider, Flickerfield,
8 Wyches Haywire Grenades
Hekatrix, Agoniser,
Raider, Flickerfield
8 Wyches Haywire Grenades
Hekatrix, Agoniser,
Raider, Flickerfield

3 Beastmaster, 4 Khymerae, 4 Razorwing Flock

1 Ravager, Flickerfield, Nightshields
1 Ravager, Flickerfield, Nightshields
1 Ravager, Flickerfield, Nightshields