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I was wondering what people would like to see in the next Eldar codex, so here's a rundown of some things I would love to see and some opinions on each:

1. character Wraithlord/lords, maybe make them an HQ under certain circumstances, like Take this named wraithlord and become more Iyanden (wraith construct) based, with bonuses and negative's

It does seems their moving away from that though, what with Guard no longer having a doctrine's style pigeon-hole kind of play experience, or anything else like that. just a trend I noticed.

2. This is kind of like a royal court/wolf guard idea, but makes sense, what about taking warlocks and being able to attach them to any squad? Would help with LD, or a destructor flame template for your Dire Avengers. and have

them be outside force Org.

3. more aspects as troops, I know some wouldn't necessarily make as much sense, like Dark Reapers, but Elites is kind of crowded right now as it stands. I think maybe two of each aspect per elite slot would be nice, so you could still have x20 striking

scorpions, x20 banshee's, fire dragons, ect. Part of me thinks they might need to ret-con (saying that right?) the fluff a bit, because as it stands, Eldar suffer more from the specialization than benefit. Like having a weapon that has dual purpose, so they

could keep the fluff the same. like dire avengers that can take bright lances, or an assault equivalent. or Striking scorpions that can blow up vehicles with a chainfist equivalent. I just think that right now the aspects dictate the choice, not the wargear

options dictating the choices. I know that specialization is traditional Eldar, but it feels like it might not hold up too well against all these potent generalist armies that exist, but, it is an expert army after all.

4. A close combat wraithguard, with an ID AncestralGlaive (instead of a generic WraithGlave) , or something like that. or not even ID just +1S for S6 would be nice. Also make Their Wraithcannon 18" (but make their pts increase to 40pts) Obviously not

having both CC glaive and Wraithcannon. Get rid of Wraith sight, or just make them -1 Initiative if not in the Farseer/spiritseer bubble.

5. More weapons platforms, not quite as many as guard, but more than Eldar currently have. My biggest gripe with Eldar, is affordable long range AT, in the Eldar Dex it's overpriced, and short in supply, and DE can muster them like no ones business.

6. Minor and major Farseers, their not all powerful, they were novitiates at one point too, so maybe like Haemonculi in that they can have 1-3 per HQ slot.

7. I know I'm going to get flamed for this one but I don't care......keep Eldrad around, I mean if Capt. Tycho can be dead fluff wise, and have rules, why not Eldrad?

8. Overhaul the Avatar, if Marine characters can have EW so should he. Also, make his points hike up, but make him hit at S8, most mc's hit pretty hard, so it's not beyond the realm of believability. Also, +1 wound, If Mephiston has 5W so should the

Avatar.

Maybe make a nasty Biel Tan Avatar, and then a Vanilla one.

Interested in hearing thoughts/opinions.

A Wraithlord character would be awesome to see!

I would bet my left hand that Warlocks will be, as you said, similar to the royal court in the fact that they can lead squads or form a super squad around a Farseer or Autarch. So, I'm sure you will get that wish.

Not sure if they will or should make more Aspects troops. All they need to do is make Guardians much better then Eldar troops wouldnt be so bad. Dire Avengers should get better as well.

Some of the things you mentions I think would make them to similar to DE in many ways(Dire Avengers with Lances), and somethings you said makes them seem to much like IG(more weapons platforms). Granted, I dont know what I would do to change it, but thats GW's job.

You don't consider 36 inch Bright Lances to be long range? I do agree however they need to be much cheaper.

Sadly, I doubt the Avatar will get much better. His new title may as well be 'GETS OWNED BY SPEHSS MAHREENS!'. They won't buff him for that reason, they want Space Marines to be able to best him. I site all Necron characters as an example here. I am convinced we only got WS 4 so that we would not be better than GW's cash cow in close combat.

Don't use apostrophes fr plurals. They're not meant for that.

I think taking Warlocks like you take a Royal Court or Wolf Guard is very possible, and I like the idea. It makes them possibly more prolific and that's frankly what Eldar are all about. They could be in the Force Org, or something like for each Farseer you can take 1-10 Warlocks that don't take up an HQ slot, but are otherwise treated as such like a Space Marine command squad.

I think Banshees or Striking Scorpions could go to Troops. Banshees are really elite though, but I can at least see some Aspect shuffling to move them to different slots.

The Avatar does have Eternal Warrior. He's a Daemon. All Daemons do. Unless I'm remembering that wrong, but I'm pretty sure he's a Daemon. Keeping Eldrad around, even though he's dead, is fine. It's not like there aren't battles before the year 40,000 you can fight.

Personally, I want to see points reductions across the board, but that'll happen anyway. I want Guardians to be viable for whatever their points cost will be, so you don't strictly see Dire Avengers in Troops slots. I would also like to see more Fast Attack options open up, since that slot is one you'd figure Eldar would live and die in, instead of being the dumping ground for Swooping Hawks and Vypers.

I'd really like to see a plastic release on par with the Dark Eldar rerelease. New jetbikes, new Wraithguard, and plastic kits for Warp Spiders, Fire Dragons, Striking Scorptions, Howling Banshees, Dark Reapers and Swooping Hawks. I've been saying for a while that many of the aspects share similar bodysuits, and it's mostly the arms, weapons, and heads that change. With a little design reworking, you could make combo kits for Fire Dragons/Dark Reapers, Striking Scorptions/Swooping Hawks, and single kits for Banshees and Spyders.

I just hope GW doesn't add a new kind of aspect warrior. I like the balance there is in place already, they just need new models yesterday.

TheCrazyCryptek wrote:
Sadly, I doubt the Avatar will get much better. His new title may as well be 'GETS OWNED BY SPEHSS MAHREENS!'. They won't buff him for that reason, they want Space Marines to be able to best him. I site all Necron characters as an example here. I am convinced we only got WS 4 so that we would not be better than GW's cash cow in close combat.

Hello completely useless, out of place, off-topic and poorly thought out post out of left field, what's up? Why do you think the Avatar not being much better is specifically so Space Marines can beat him? Why do you think Necron characters having WS4 is so Marines can beat them? Why does this matter, when Codex: Space Marines has been a mid-tier codex in every single edition of the game, commonly beaten out by Eldar, Chaos, and Orks? I don't think you know what you're talking about.

Brother SRM, I sincerly hope you will prove me wrong here. I would love to see a stronger Avatar, I really would.

To avoid destroying this thread with the fires of Flame War, I will say nothing more.

Brother SRM wrote:
I just hope GW doesn't add a new kind of aspect warrior. I like the balance there is in place already, they just need new models yesterday.

4th Edition codex has lost units since 2nd but hasn't gained anything new? I would hope they add in a new Aspect Warrior, along with other things.


Namely what Just Dave has done with his Fandex, maybe slightly more balanced. I think it allows TONS of different options.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/413804.page

The option to make aspects as 0-1 as troops, otherwise Elites. If Fire Dragons were troops... we'd be worse than Grey Knights. All the Leafblower IG nuts would be green with envy. At current points (which we're hoping to see slightly reduced) 2 Farseers with Guide, 4 squads of 7 Fire Dragons in Wave Serpents in a 1000 point army. Hissy fits e'erywur.

My wishlist: They're actually there beyond a tidbit where a Space Marine's boot is crushing one of their heads.

felixander wrote:

Brother SRM wrote:
4th Edition codex has lost units since 2nd but hasn't gained anything new? I would hope they add in a new Aspect Warrior, along with other things.

I'm cool with new units and variations/options for units, I just don't want more specific Aspect Warriors until GW can support the ones they've got. The Warp Spiders and Swooping Hawks are older models than GW's target demographic for crying out loud! I like that each Aspect Warrior performs a specific task and (in theory) performs it well. If they can invent a new aspect with new functionality that doesn't overlap with what's there, then that would be cool.

4th Edition codex has lost units since 2nd but hasn't gained anything new? I would hope they add in a new Aspect Warrior, along with other things.

ll. If they can invent a new aspect with new functionality that doesn't overlap with what's there, then that would be cool.

They did create a Long Range tank hunter for Forgeworld to play with. they don't exactly have an aspect like the Shadow Specters.

I'd like to see Rangers improved, and/or have the cost lowered.

Harlequins should be fearless, or at least stubborn. They hang out in the web way, their minds are totally open to all the experiences of the material realm and they manage to not go totally insane, and they may or may not be the guardians of the black library.

Wraithguard should get slightly longer range guns. As it is, it's way to easy to just skirt around them.

They need to be at least as psychically potent as GK. There's no way a librarian should be able to cast as many powers as the greatest Seer of the most psychic race ever, that's just poor writing.

Possibly less reliance on psychic powers to survive, or possibly some way to reduce psychic defence (though I don't want to invalidate other people's things either). With all the reliable psychic defence that exists these days in the form of psychic hoods and thing space wolves has (some sort of rune-thing?), it makes it really difficult when your unit is as good as dead without fortune or something.

Would not this thread be better placed in the proposed rules forum?

@OP-There have been many threads on this topic and the general consensus was usually that the Eldar suffer from too many units that overlap, are poorly defined, over reliance on farseers for synergy and units that just don't synergize with any other units in the codex(Swooping Hawks, Shining spears, ect..).

Also, this thread might be better timed(as in 2weeks, ya know after the new edition hits). Then we can see what direction the game is taking.
Asking for changes to fit a system with only 2 weeks left in it seems like a waste of effort imo.

What I'd like to see it's generally more Eldar shenanigans. Eldar are out-paced in this respect while it's usually what they do best. Essentially each unit should have a unit-specific special rule while aspect warriors have two with wargear to further define role. Aspects should all be aimed at around 16ppm for the light aspects with the heavier (reapers, spiders, spears) around 20-25 (yeah that pretty much means no new niceties for spears, just a diet).
Other than this general idea, they need to sort the aspects out. There are some which do the same thing (cwe are specialized so this shouldn't exist at all) and others which do not do what they do clear enough (are scorpions infiltrators, infantry killers or defenders? It's cool for all at same time, but maybe not in cwe codex - same with dire avengers, their equipment do not support their proposed role)

Warlock councils absolutely, but they mustn't be bound to farseers! If bound to one hq only, it well only make that hq mandatory, or in this case MORE mandatory

@ Spectres: they aren't tank Hunters, they're light-infantry and MC Hunters. They are about as efficient at killing tanks as defender guardians.

Captain Avatar, must stuff in that forum are wishlists, yes, but usually worth an aim to be playable.

Personally, I believe across the board point reductions is a somewhat 'lazy' fix and counter-intuitive to the Eldar playstyle as it encourages larger numbers, rather than elite units. I believe instead - in most cases, e.g. minus Guardians - that units should be made to justify/be viable for their points cost, rather than just making them cheaper. This would hopefully serve to keep the Eldar as a largely elite, low numbers army with some very powerful units; as the fluff typically supports. This could also make the army less reliant on Farseers to function.

I believe Shuriken weaponry needs an overhaul and more than a simple range boost, whilst personally I'd like to see something beyond Fleet to represent their speed & agility, particularly as 5th ed fleet only really benefits assault.

Whether the Avatar should be changed is a fairly tricky one; for continuity sakes, he could stay as he is and has long been... Or he could be buffed to a level similar to the Swarmlord, Abaddon, C'tan etc. I personally believe he should be buffed. Partially to represent his status as a god of war & primarch equal and partially to make him less reliant on a Farseer.

Captain Avatar wrote:Would not this thread be better placed in the proposed rules forum?

Arguably, IMHO. There's not exactly any proposed rules in here, but rather its a wishlist/discussion it seems, which means I think it should remain in discussions.

Personally I hope they don't make a special Wraithlord character, purely because there doesn't seem to be any reason to other than "we can" (then again I despise special characters in general so maybe I'm biased )

Perhaps a special rule that says one (or more?) unit of any aspect can be taken as a troops choice. Increases aspect troops and while keeping the other slots open. (just noticed that felixander said something similar to that before me)

And I fully agree on making warlocks a wolf guard-esk unit with the ability to split off from the main group before deployment and lead squads, but I feel the requirement of a Farseer to take them is logical (fluff-wise and all).

A stronger 'attack' based psychic power for the farseer would be sweet. I like Eldritch storm but it's as weak as a new born duck.

An assault ramp on the wave serpent

But when 6th ed finally rolls around the number one item on my wishlist will be plastic wraithguard

Plastic wraithguard

warlocks in more squads

stronger farseers (Read as, standard 3 powers if the upgrade is paid for)

force weapon-esk upgrades (Witchblades are cool, but against armor saves and / or FnP, you're not going very far)

More durable Avatar of Khaine

Wraithseer (Bwahaha)

Giving MCs a way of dealing with tank shocks. Instant death if they stand their ground, especially when a trygon is twice the size of a rhino, is quite frankly nuts.

Brother SRM wrote:Don't use apostrophes fr plurals. They're not meant for that.

I think taking Warlocks like you take a Royal Court or Wolf Guard is very possible, and I like the idea. It makes them possibly more prolific and that's frankly what Eldar are all about. They could be in the Force Org, or something like for each Farseer you can take 1-10 Warlocks that don't take up an HQ slot, but are otherwise treated as such like a Space Marine command squad.

I think Banshees or Striking Scorpions could go to Troops. Banshees are really elite though, but I can at least see some Aspect shuffling to move them to different slots.

The Avatar does have Eternal Warrior. He's a Daemon. All Daemons do. Unless I'm remembering that wrong, but I'm pretty sure he's a Daemon. Keeping Eldrad around, even though he's dead, is fine. It's not like there aren't battles before the year 40,000 you can fight.

Personally, I want to see points reductions across the board, but that'll happen anyway. I want Guardians to be viable for whatever their points cost will be, so you don't strictly see Dire Avengers in Troops slots. I would also like to see more Fast Attack options open up, since that slot is one you'd figure Eldar would live and die in, instead of being the dumping ground for Swooping Hawks and Vypers.

I'd really like to see a plastic release on par with the Dark Eldar rerelease. New jetbikes, new Wraithguard, and plastic kits for Warp Spiders, Fire Dragons, Striking Scorptions, Howling Banshees, Dark Reapers and Swooping Hawks. I've been saying for a while that many of the aspects share similar bodysuits, and it's mostly the arms, weapons, and heads that change. With a little design reworking, you could make combo kits for Fire Dragons/Dark Reapers, Striking Scorptions/Swooping Hawks, and single kits for Banshees and Spyders.

I just hope GW doesn't add a new kind of aspect warrior. I like the balance there is in place already, they just need new models yesterday.

TheCrazyCryptek wrote:
Sadly, I doubt the Avatar will get much better. His new title may as well be 'GETS OWNED BY SPEHSS MAHREENS!'. They won't buff him for that reason, they want Space Marines to be able to best him. I site all Necron characters as an example here. I am convinced we only got WS 4 so that we would not be better than GW's cash cow in close combat.

Hello completely useless, out of place, off-topic and poorly thought out post out of left field, what's up? Why do you think the Avatar not being much better is specifically so Space Marines can beat him? Why do you think Necron characters having WS4 is so Marines can beat them? Why does this matter, when Codex: Space Marines has been a mid-tier codex in every single edition of the game, commonly beaten out by Eldar, Chaos, and Orks? I don't think you know what you're talking about.

I think Cryptek is actually right, Fulgrim pwns the Avatar, (with some trouble, and help from his demon sword) Lorgar pwns him, and Marneus Calgar (who's not a primarch) pwns him too,

so he really is a SPEHS MUHREENE punching bag sadly. All good posts though, plastic kits is a must imo, Finecost is expensive as hell, and should really only be for HQ's, or special characters (Arjac/Lukas).

I think plastic wraithguard in squads of 3-5 would be perfect, and all Eldar aspects, except Dark reapers getting 10 man plastic kits too with options for exarchs. The entire Eldar line should be that way. And Avatar does

not have EW, his Demon rule is different, and in no way associated with the demons codex.

I think Cryptek is actually right, Fulgrim pwns the Avatar, (with some trouble, and help from his demon sword) Lorgar pwns him, and Marneus Calgar (who's not a primarch) pwns him too,

so he really is a SPEHS MUHREENE punching bag sadly

The avatar is not just a Space Marine punching bag, the eldar is generally a punching bag as a whole, they couldn't win much in their own dex, and their avatar even got beaten by tyranids on no more than two to three separate occasions.

bobamus87 wrote:
I think Cryptek is actually right, Fulgrim pwns the Avatar, (with some trouble, and help from his demon sword) Lorgar pwns him, and Marneus Calgar (who's not a primarch) pwns him too,

so he really is a SPEHS MUHREENE punching bag sadly. All good posts though, plastic kits is a must imo, Finecast is expensive as hell, and should really only be for HQ's, or special characters (Arjac/Lukas).

I think plastic wraithguard in squads of 3-5 would be perfect, and all Eldar aspects, except Dark reapers getting 10 man plastic kits too with options for exarchs. The entire Eldar line should be that way. And Avatar does

not have EW, his Demon rule is different, and in no way associated with the demons codex.

Fulgrim and Lorgar are primarchs. They are one step off from being gods - much like the Avatar himself! Calgar kills one but he gets the crap kicked out of him and he didn't do it alone. He's also one of the toughest Marines in the universe - not just some schlub with a boltgun.

A plastic kit or a new Finecast kit would be cool. Besides, if the Avatar's not a special character, what is? I'm down with Aspects and Wraithguard in plastic though, you're not alone there!

If power weapons go to AP3 then our Eldar will be utterly unable to counter termis in CC. :( Banshees will be made of fail...

mercury14 wrote:If power weapons go to AP3 then our Eldar will be utterly unable to counter termis in CC. :( Banshees will be made of fail...

Really wish people would stop using "fail" like that. Ugh.

Eldar will get some way to deal with Terminators in close combat, of that I'm sure. There's talk that the AP3 power weapons thing is actually a typo, and even so, GW's not going to miss the opportunity to sell you a new unit to deal with a certain threat.

Brother SRM wrote:

mercury14 wrote:If power weapons go to AP3 then our Eldar will be utterly unable to counter termis in CC. :( Banshees will be made of fail...

Really wish people would stop using "fail" like that. Ugh.

Eldar will get some way to deal with Terminators in close combat, of that I'm sure. There's talk that the AP3 power weapons thing is actually a typo, and even so, GW's not going to miss the opportunity to sell you a new unit to deal with a certain threat.

That's fine and dandy, once we actually get a new dex. What to do for the next year or so until then, is the real question?

But you're right, no sense on worrying over that one until it actually happens. Even when it does, it's not like Banshees were seen as a competitive choice right now. Heck, I see more effective clowns in tournament lists then I do banshees.

- Point cost adjustments throughout the codex
- 5 man Guardian squads
- Star Cannon back to 3 shots
- All Pheonix Lords have EW + Inv saves
- PL make their Aspect troops. I'd be happy if they counted as scoring
- All Exarch powers effect entire squad.
- Release the new jetbike NOW!

Brother SRM wrote:Fulgrim and Lorgar are primarchs. They are one step off from being gods - much like the Avatar himself! Calgar kills one but he gets the crap kicked out of him and he didn't do it alone. He's also one of the toughest Marines in the universe - not just some schlub with a boltgun

Brother SRM is right. Primarchs should be able to kick the crap out of the Avatar. While the Avatar of Khaine is bad ass, hes just a projection of the gods power -- the primarchs are nearly gods onto themselves.

If your talking about the tabletop 5th edition rules, a fortuned Avatar is a hell of a scary opponent. Here is the mathhammer if they fight.

Calgar vs Avatar
WS 6 vs. WS 10 = 50.00% chance to hit,
S 8 vs T 6 = 83.33% chance to wound (increase to 97.22% with Titanic Might)
Avatar had fortuned save = 25.00% chance to get through.
50.00% × 97.22% × 25.00% × 5 attacks = ~0.61 unsaved wounds per turn.

Avatar vs Calgar
WS 10 vs. WS 6 = 75.00% chance to hit,
S 6 vs T 4 = 83.33% chance to wound
Calgar has iron halo, so = 50.00% chance to get through.
75.00% × 83.33% × 50.00% × 4 attacks = ~1.24 unsaved wounds per turn.

The Avatar will kill Calgar in 4 rounds on combat. Calgar will kill the avatar after 7 rounds of combat.
If you were smart enough to keep that fortune on the Avatar, he will crush Calgar. Even without fortune, the Avatar will probably kill Calgar, as he starts taking 1.21 wounds per turn, but strikes first due to an Initiive of 6. To add insult to injury, the Avatar is 95 points cheaper than Calgar (120 points cheaper if Calgar is in his terminator armor)
The Avatar is a 'fing BEAST.

Amanax wrote:
That's fine and dandy, once we actually get a new dex. What to do for the next year or so until then, is the real question?

But you're right, no sense on worrying over that one until it actually happens. Even when it does, it's not like Banshees were seen as a competitive choice right now. Heck, I see more effective clowns in tournament lists then I do banshees.

There's been conflicting rumors as to what the AP of power weapons is, but I think at absolute worst GW will FAQ it so Eldar have some counter to 2+ armor. Well, at absolute worst GW won't do anything about it, but I'm being optimistic here

The thing is even if they don't fix it, your not going to see a flood of TAC marine armies taking the table.

TAC marines die easily to PGs. With the rumor that a stationary squad of IG vets can chuck out 6 STR 7 AP2 shots a turn at 24", terminators will have enough of a counter that I doubt TAC terminator armies proliferate the game.

If storm shields remain at 3++, then they still kick banshees ass with AP2 or AP3 PWs.

If RF weapons are indeed upgraded we need our basic Shuriken weapons boosted by a big margin.
Farseers could use either some kind of bubble or upgraded rate of casting / range. Maybe switching the time when buffing powers can be cast. 6" on the beginning of the turn limits Fortune and Guide targets.

Another thing that I thought would be interesting lately was something of a resurrection system for the Phoenix Lords. Something like if they die then they can "resurrect" by taking over an Exarch of their aspect. I thought that it might be a bit too powerful though, so maybe if when they return they only have 1 wound. I kind of got the idea from that one Necron character, and the Greater Daemons from CSM. Also, y'know one of the 40k books but I don't want to spoil which.

Also, another thing. Perhaps if the Avatar dies it just goes "inactive" and you can resurrect it by sacrificing one of your Exarchs or Autarchs or something. Again, kind of spoiler-y.

PLs I don't know, but a strong 'no' to the Avatar reincarnation.

It just seemed like an effort of a whole craftworld. What awakens him is a battle lust of numerous Eldar and influence of the Infinity Circuit. A long and careful ceremony of war, bringing Khaine from slumber by a collective Eldar minds.
Resurrecting him on a battlefield feels more like "Instant Avatar, add Exarch".

More possible is making Avatar additional objective, Bjorn style.

Brother SRM wrote:
Eldar will get some way to deal with Terminators in close combat, of that I'm sure. There's talk that the AP3 power weapons thing is actually a typo, and even so, GW's not going to miss the opportunity to sell you a new unit to deal with a certain threat.

Maybe. But what if the Eldar codex is still 18 months away?

Amanax wrote:
But you're right, no sense on worrying over that one until it actually happens. Even when it does, it's not like Banshees were seen as a competitive choice right now. Heck, I see more effective clowns in tournament lists then I do banshees.

It doesn't really matter if they're more or less competitive because not all of us play at a competitive level. 90% of my games are just friendlies and Banshees work decently well. If Banshees get stuck with AP3 then we're better off meeting Termis in CC with Scorpions which are meant for horde killing. Or Harlies, though the Troupe Master would need a weapon downgrade.

labmouse42 wrote:
If storm shields remain at 3++, then they still kick banshees ass with AP2 or AP3 PWs.

Banshees still win against SS Termis, point-for-point. Though my favorite tactic is tarpitting them with Defend/Shimmershield/Fortuned Dire Avengers lol. Unfortunately the Exarch would stop being any kind of threat with his power weapon...

mercury14 wrote:[Banshees still win against SS Termis, point-for-point. Though my favorite tactic is tarpitting them with Defend/Shimmershield/Fortuned Dire Avengers lol. Unfortunately the Exarch would stop being any kind of threat with his power weapon...

Lets mathammer it out. Lets take 10 banshees with an exarch and executioner, which clocks in at 182 points to 5 TH/SS termies.

Banshees vs TH/SS Termies
WS 4 vs. WS 4 = 50.00% chance to hit,
S 3 vs T 4 = 33.33% chance to wound (increase to 55% with Doom)
TH/SS had invuln save = 33.33% chance to get through.
50.00% × 33.33% × 33.33% × 18 attacks = ~0.99 Dead TH/SS termies

Exarch vs TH/SS Termies
WS 5 vs. WS 4 = 66.66% chance to hit,
S 5 vs T 4 = 66.66% chance to wound (increase to 89% with Doom)
TH/SS had invuln save = 33.33% chance to get through.
66.66% × 66.66% × 33.33% × 2 attacks = ~0.29 Dead TH/SS termies

TH/SS Termies vs Banshees
WS 4 vs. WS 4 = 50.00% chance to hit,
S 8 vs T 4 = 83.33% chance to wound
50% × 83.33% * 10 attacks = ~4.1 dead banshees

There are a few caveats. We can expect 1 TH/SS termie to be dead before he can swing, so your going to have ~3 dead banshees the first round of combat. If the banshees get the charge, you might have 2 dead TH/SS the first round, resulting in a tie combat. By the end of turn 1, the termies are down 20%-40% of their fighting force, while the banshees are down ~40%.

Its that lack of an invuln save that kicks the banshees in the jimmies. Now, if they get a 5+ parry save and you can fortune them, then the banshees can ignore 55% of the incoming attacks. They fill a similar role that dire avengers with fortune and shimmershield can, but instead of reducing one attack they can smack down with power weapons.

On the other note, yes I always give my avengers defend/shimmershield. I had a squad of paladins assault them, and watched his surprised face when his 8 man paladin squad had 8 swings and I was getting a 55% invlun save from them. He spent half the game grinding away 12 point models while my foot'dar clobbered the rest of his army!