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Hi, folks.

Getting back into the hobby after a long hiatus (treat me like I'm new, basically) and I want to make a fluff army themed around Eldar Outcasts. With that in mind, Rangers, light equipment and scout vehicles will take prevalence, with Harlequin Allies.

Here's what I've got in mind for the first 1000 points:

CAD (680pts):

Illic Nightspear
2x10 Eldar Rangers
1x3 War Walkers w/ Eldar Missile Launchers & Ghostwalk Matrix

Allied formation: The Heroes Path (Harlequins) (320pts)

1x Shadowseer w/ Level 2 Mastery & Haywire Grenades
1x Death Jester w/ Haywire Grenades
1x Solitaire w/ Cegorach's Rose & Haywire Grenades

All comes to exactly 1000 points and just under 190 quid, not including paints and equipment that I'll need to buy.

While I'm just doing this for fun rather than competitiveness, I am kind of curious to see if an army with this theme can be effective. A couple choice/tactical queries, though:

1. Am I better off with Illic for his Ranger-buffing rules, or should I take an Autarch with the Uldanorethi Long Rifle instead and use those points to get Enigmas of the Black Library for my Death Jester and Shadowseer?
2. Am I better off splitting the Rangers into four groups of five or keeping them as two groups of ten?
3. Finally, if I were to make the jump to 1500 points, what kind of additions might you recommend that would keep to the theme?

Thanks!

I see a severe lack of mobility.

Rangers are nice troop for camping objectives but you only have 2 troops who rely on cover because of their weak save.

Rangers are not relentless so if you move and shoot you waste their sniping ability.

If you are dead set on Rangers I would go with 4 x 5 guy squads if only to be able to spread over more and give your opponents more targets.

If you are considering going to 1500, I highly suggest adding a squad of Reapers with an Aegis line.

The Illic + Reapers combo is pretty good.

Illic despite being an IC still has a rather poor save and no EW to keep him alive.

Set an Aegis line with Lascannon with Reapers behind it and both the Exarch and Illic in base contact with the Lascannon.

The Aegis gives them a 4+ cover. Illic's shrouded brings that to a 2+. Should anything ignore cover, Illic can LoS onto the Reapers who have a 3+ armor save, increasing his survivability.

Reapers offer you a good S5/S8 AP3 platform, Lascannon + Exarch offers you devastating anti-air because of Inescapable accuracy (re-roll vs zooming flyers, skimmers, flat-out, turbo-boost),the Reaper Rangerfinder (ignore jink), Fast shot (Lascannon has 2 shots when fired by exarch).

Illic's warlord trait allows him to split fire from the Reapers or he can use the Lascannon himself should the Reapers focus on something else.

I think you should add some Dark Eldar Allies as well. Seeming you are outcasts, maybe you met up with Deldar at some point? Totally your call there though, but could up your mobility moving too 1500 points. add a hq of flavor and 2 or 3 warrior squads in transports.

Definitely break the rangers into 4x5, Maybe consider dropping some rangers for a squad or two of dire avengers? or gaurdians.

Thanks for the replies. Got me thinking a bit.

So I'm thinking going up to 1500 points:

CAD:
HQ:
Illic Nightspear

Troops:
3x5 Rangers
1x9 Dire Avengers + Exarch w/ twin-linked Avenger catapults

Heavy Support:
1x4 Dark Reapers + Exarch w/ Eldar Missile Launcher
1x3 War Walkers w/ Eldar Missile Launchers & Ghostwalk Matrixes

Allied Formation: The Heroes Path
Solitaire w/ Haywire Grenades & Cegorach's Rose
Shadowseer w/ Mastery Level 2 and Mask of Secrets
Death Jester

Fortification: Aegis Defense Line w/ Icarus Lascannon Gun Emplacement

All of this gives me a remaining 165 points to spend. I'm considering a Vyper Squadron of three with Shuriken Cannon upgrades and Starcannons for some mobile bladestorm dakka and anti-heavy infantry shots, which would be exactly 165, but I'm also conscious that I'm kind of lacking in the melee department. Hmm.

Unless you're willing to commit to a Wraithknight, Eldar melee is typically quite lackluster. It either doesn't have a mode of transport or it doesn't perform efficiently.

Harlequins and Dark Eldar can do this a bit better. In low point games I've had reasonable success with just a Solitare for melee potential.

My only real criticism would be the Missile Launchers. Extremely expensive buggers, I'd either dedicate to a Crimson Hunter if you're struggling with air or purely rely on Scatter Lasers if it's just a hypothetical threat.