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I have read in various threads that Harlequin codex isn't good. Then I keep reading in other threads, a few people mention it is awesome. So why is the Harlequin codex awesome? Is it the stories? The minis? The rules?

I am just curious for something that has lots of complaints others think it's great.

I think people fall into two major camps when it comes to harlequins. Camp A is made up of those of us who have been in love with the harlies for years and see the new book as a great way to bring them to the battlefield. Especially after the lacklustre rules they've had for a while.

Camp B is made up of the people who are looking at harlies mostly from a competitive standpoint. They see a toughness 3 army full of 5+ saves that doesn't have much in the way of abuseable spam or deathstars and thus dismiss it as being fragile and weak.

I fall into Camp A. The harlequin codex isn't overpowered, and that's a good thing. The harlequins are squishy, and that's probably also a good thing (thematically). What it is is fast and hard-hitting enough for me to have fun using it against my buddies. Shadowseers are now amazing rather than a hefty tax. death jesters are all kinds of fun to use. The solitaire is fantastic when he/she works. The basic troupers are sufficiently customizable to keep things interesting. The troupe masters are acually pretty solid now rather than being a tax. The warlord tables are interesting. The formations are interesting.

The harlequin book is full of unusual, fun-to-use options that stand up well enough against most of my opponents without being game breaking. I give the codex a solid A. Maybe an A- if I'm being especially critical.

They're Psychic, Gunkata, Capoeira, Murderclowns what's not to like?

They have some fun features and abilities, battle brothers for eldar and DE helps make a mini power conglomerate to counter the IoM allies table, and they have a unique style visually and on the tabletop.

Really the biggest let downs of the book are how few options there are, and how restricted you are in ways to take them.
You want those elite choices as independent characters? Then you must take this 600 or so point formation. CAD? no. Allied Detachment? No. Large formation with only elites as options, or formations. I still think no HQ options was a strange choice.

Wyldhunt wrote:
I think people fall into two major camps when it comes to harlequins. Camp A is made up of those of us who have been in love with the harlies for years and see the new book as a great way to bring them to the battlefield. Especially after the lacklustre rules they've had for a while.

Camp B is made up of the people who are looking at harlies mostly from a competitive standpoint. They see a toughness 3 army full of 5+ saves that doesn't have much in the way of abuseable spam or deathstars and thus dismiss it as being fragile and weak.

I fall into Camp A. The harlequin codex isn't overpowered, and that's a good thing. The harlequins are squishy, and that's probably also a good thing (thematically). What it is is fast and hard-hitting enough for me to have fun using it against my buddies. Shadowseers are now amazing rather than a hefty tax. death jesters are all kinds of fun to use. The solitaire is fantastic when he/she works. The basic troupers are sufficiently customizable to keep things interesting. The troupe masters are acually pretty solid now rather than being a tax. The warlord tables are interesting. The formations are interesting.

The harlequin book is full of unusual, fun-to-use options that stand up well enough against most of my opponents without being game breaking. I give the codex a solid A. Maybe an A- if I'm being especially critical.

This is a great way of describing the codex. I think it's spot-on.

My only real issue, like many others, is that the formations and detachments are strange. However, in our play group, we've softened it up a little with house rules so that they can be added in as allies without having extremely restrictive/specific formations.

Also/and/but -- the Harlequin family is growing, which is fantastic. But, it's not really a large enough family (like Dark Eldar) to make into an individual, playable army -- although I think it's far enough along that if you're dedicated, it could be your primary detachment. Maybe the next time around!

The harlequins are awesome.

The codex is crap. GW knew that everyone wanted a good Harlequin army, so they released one to force everyone who wanted to play them into purchasing hundreds of dollars of minis for the privilege of putting them on the table to lose against anyone playing a real list.

the_scotsman wrote:
The harlequins are awesome.

The codex is crap. GW knew that everyone wanted a good Harlequin army, so they released one to force everyone who wanted to play them into purchasing hundreds of dollars of minis for the privilege of putting them on the table to lose against anyone playing a real list.

It's really not that bad. If you already had some harlies lying around, then there's a good chance you can use the cast of players. A shadowseer with Veil of Tears and/or dance of shadows can help them cross the table safely on foot, or you can stick them in a raider. Their formation rule is meh, but this is essentially the easiest way to get at the new rules without having to spend a ton of money on new models.

The heroe's path only calls for 3 models. Three expensive models, granted, but you're pretty likely to already have at least a seer and jester if you've collected harlies in the past. This formation is semi-mandatory if you want to run the solitaire anyway (in my humble opinion), and stealth + shrouded seers and jesters can be great outflankers or early game harassment.

I have a few problems with Cegorach's jest, but it's sort of a sampler platter for harlies.

The masque itself is pretty pricey, but it's also the option for when you want an entire harlequin army rather than a small splash of them. Remember that sky weavers are optional as you can fill the mandatory FA slots with the star weavers you want for your troupes. Your opponent would also probably be willing to let you use vypers or venoms as void/star weavers, especially if you're running an entirely harlie army. That just leaves the troupes themselves and any elites you want to throw in. As previously mentioned, you probably already have seers or jesters if you were already using harlequins, and you obviously already have at least a few troupers if you were using the murder clowns in the past.

As for losing against a "real" list, eldar fans can already spam wave serpents or venoms if they're hell-bent on winning at all costs. Harlies have been doing just fine for me (and against me) in friendly games.

Thanks everyone for the comments. I believe I have a good understanding now.

There wasn't a single harlequin detachment in the top 32 at adepticon, a tournament which allowed unlimited detachments and comped things that could've shot them off the table. They're basically throwing points away unless you just want to play for fun or try to build an entire list around an army with low toughness, high save and extremely restrictive, point heavy formations that give you little in the way of useful special rules.

I'm inclined to chalk some of that up to the newness of the book, Toofast. Even if people were comfortable enough using the new book, they'd still be likely to make some mistakes playing with it. Also, don't knock the formations. Cast of Players isn't great, but anything with rising Crescendo gives a harlie squad in a starweaver an effective average charge range of about 24". That's not too shabby, and neither is an entire formation of 3+ jink saves or the ability to hop back inside a transport on the turn you assault.