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So, my girlfriend was helping me paint some Skitarii, which ended up becoming a "how do you play the game?". After demoing a quick 1000 point game of my IG vs my Space Wolves for her, she seemed interested. A trip to the local Warhammer store later, and she has decided she likes the look of the Harlequins, and got a Troupe box to start putting together and painting.

To come up with something for her to build toward, I put together the following list:

Masque Detachment

Elites

Shadowseer; The Mask of Secrets, Haywire grenades, Mastery Level 2, Neuro Disruptor
Shadowseer; The Laughing God's Eye, Haywire grenades, Mastery Level 2, Neuro Disruptor
Shadowseer; Haywire grenades, Mastery Level 2

Troops

Troupe; Master (Haywire grenades, Harlequin's Caress, Crescendo), 2x Players w/ Harlequin's Kiss, 1x Player w/ Harlequin's Caress, 1x Player
Troupe; Master (Haywire grenades, Cegorach's Rose), 2x Players w/ Harlequin's Kiss, 2x Players
Troupe; Master (Haywire grenades, Harlequin's Caress, Neuro Disruptor), 2x Players w/ Harlequin's Kiss, 2x Players, Starweaver

Fast Attack

Starweaver
Starweaver

Heavy Support

Voidweaver; Prismatic Cannon


I've never built an Eldar list, let alone a Harlequin list, so I'm wondering if anyone has any feedback on how that might perform. The Shadowseers are there to give protective buffs to the Starweavers containing the Troupes, or if they don't have protective buffs, join the Troupes in the Starweavers and run into assault with them.

Thanks!

For the Emper--er...wrong place.

I would personally stay away from the Masque Detachment as it is too restrictive for not enough benefit. So I'd build out of Formations. Falchou's Wing and Path of Heroes are the two best Cegorach's Jest is a decent way to get a Troupe in too.

The Jetbikes are vital for adding volume fire with JSJ and AT. So I would take some with glaives they are quite punchy in CC too.

An infiltrating Solitaire is not to be under estimated either. Being a mobile glass hammer army the better you control the board the better your chances. Hiding the Solitaire out of LoS in midfield creates a no go zone for your opponent giving you control of the table and setting up those hut and run ambushes.

As for gear mask is essential on a Shadowseer otherwise I would avoid the relics. On the squads I would want some sort of weapon on most if not everyone. Embraces are first choice but a kiss or two in the squad gives some Ap2. Then take Caresses only on the Troupe Master as they are expensive you want maximum benefit from them.

I've never been a fan of the Prism Cannon and in an army so low on access to AT swapping out a Haywire weapon seems fool hardy.

Avoid the neuro disruptors on the Shadowseer as they should be firing their grenade launchers instead.

Put a Starmist Rainment on your Warlord instead. Since the Masque allows to run AND charge, the Starmist rainment will give your Warlord a 3++ most of the time.

Starmist raiment is pretty useless unless you're rolling santic for sanctuary. You don't want a T3 warlord tanking on what us still just a 3+ save at the end of the day. Get him to 2+ and then it starts looking worth while, get the reroll 1s Warlord trait and you're gravy. But overall that is too many points invested trying to turn a glass hammer into a tank. It just isn't going to be worth it. If you want that get a Shadowfield Archon ally.

FlingitNow wrote:I would personally stay away from the Masque Detachment as it is too restrictive for not enough benefit. So I'd build out of Formations. Falchou's Wing and Path of Heroes are the two best Cegorach's Jest is a decent way to get a Troupe in too.

The Jetbikes are vital for adding volume fire with JSJ and AT. So I would take some with glaives they are quite punchy in CC too.

An infiltrating Solitaire is not to be under estimated either. Being a mobile glass hammer army the better you control the board the better your chances. Hiding the Solitaire out of LoS in midfield creates a no go zone for your opponent giving you control of the table and setting up those hut and run ambushes.

As for gear mask is essential on a Shadowseer otherwise I would avoid the relics. On the squads I would want some sort of weapon on most if not everyone. Embraces are first choice but a kiss or two in the squad gives some Ap2. Then take Caresses only on the Troupe Master as they are expensive you want maximum benefit from them.

I've never been a fan of the Prism Cannon and in an army so low on access to AT swapping out a Haywire weapon seems fool hardy.

Well, each squad running 2 haywire grenades was why I felt more comfortable putting in the Prism Cannon.

I'll definitely have to try playing around with those formations, though. Bikes would be nice to have.

Erik_Morkai wrote:Avoid the neuro disruptors on the Shadowseer as they should be firing their grenade launchers instead.

Ah, yeah. Really good point. Wasted points there. Thanks!

FlingitNow wrote:Starmist raiment is pretty useless unless you're rolling santic for sanctuary. You don't want a T3 warlord tanking on what us still just a 3+ save at the end of the day. Get him to 2+ and then it starts looking worth while, get the reroll 1s Warlord trait and you're gravy. But overall that is too many points invested trying to turn a glass hammer into a tank. It just isn't going to be worth it. If you want that get a Shadowfield Archon ally.

That was pretty much my thought as well. Glass cannons are tough to tank, so might as well just go for hiding him at the back and hoping for the best instead of sticking him at the front and having him insta-popped from failing a save.

I would second the suggestion of adding a Solitare if you're dead-set on running a Masque.

While Harlequins are fun, they have some short-comings. If this army plan is long term you may wish to consider those other options of additives now rather than later.

Shortest suggestion there - Dark Eldar for melee, Craftworld for shooting or psychics.

She likes the look of Dark Eldar as well, so that's likely going to be the first thing allied to it.

Was just trying to put together a low point basic army she can start with using Harlequins.

The plan is definitely long term, but is low on the priority list, so it's likely going to be -quite- long term.

Harlequins are so fragile and require a lot of skill to play well.

Go easy on her and let her win the first few games.

Yeah. I'm well aware of that. And I warned her of that as well.

To be fair, I started with a similar army (fragile and delicate) with High Elves back when you randomly determined who was your general. Scroll Caddy general, hooooooo!