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My son is showing interest in 40k. He really likes the Craftworld start collecting box. I play space marines and have no idea what is good or affordable for Craftworld. Sadly there are very few Eldar players in my local store. I would like to get him a 1,000 point army that is reasonable priced and gives him access to multiple unit types and play styles. The start collecting is near 500 points. Is this a good starting point and what should we get to fill out 1,000 points?

500 is a good starting point. Learn basic concepts, and dont invest too much

Welcome!

If he's just starting off, a neat little force that can TAC would be ideal.

HQ:
-A farseer allows for a lot of diversity and is quite versatile. My first choice
-An Autarch used to be quite variable but less so recently. Nice and easy to play with, and the winged one could be fun but potentially a bit difficult to use with the pistol.

I'd miss the phoenix lords as the models are eh and they're quite specific.

Troops:
-A unit of guardians is pretty stock standard. Some variety with the weapon platform.
-Dire avengers are pretty okay and the exarch has a lot of options. Personally my favourites due to the longer range and durability.
-Rangers are very cool and competitive but at this points level you may want more dakka.

All are good options and I'd definitely encourage you to look into them.

Transports:
-A wave serpent lets you embody the eldar's playstyle. Fast, good firepower and has lots of trickery.

Highly recommend one, good fun and a great foundation for an army.

These are basically the staples of a smaller army. You could add in some heavy support such as reapers would be nice, but for a core the above units are IMO "the go".

The start collecting box is a bit specialised IMO. Wraithguard are very short ranged, elite units, kind of like thunder hammer terminators with a bit more range. The lord and walker are decent and the farseer is great. Just be wary that there's very little anti-infantry there unless you specialise for it.

If you can find it, the old eldar battleforce is great. Unit of guardians, unit of DAs, a serpent and a vyper. Lots of variety and a solid base.


Here's a potential base:


++ Patrol Detachment (Aeldari - Craftworlds) [27 PL, 500pts] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Craftworld Attribute: None (Mixed Detachment)

+ HQ +

Farseer [6 PL, 110pts]: Shuriken Pistol, Witchblade

+ Troops +

Dire Avengers [3 PL, 64pts]
. 4x Dire Avenger: 4x Avenger Shuriken Catapult
. Dire Avenger Exarch: Two Avenger Shuriken Catapults

Guardian Defenders [5 PL, 95pts]: 10x Guardian Defender
. Guardian Heavy Weapons Platform: Shuriken Cannon

+ Heavy Support +

Dark Reapers [4 PL, 102pts]
. 2x Dark Reaper: 2x Reaper Launcher
. Dark Reaper Exarch: Reaper Launcher

+ Dedicated Transport +

Wave Serpent [9 PL, 129pts]: Twin Shuriken Cannon, Twin Shuriken Catapult

++ Total: [27 PL, 500pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe

^Just a sample. It's a bit iffy but should do ok?

For a "starter" army I'd personally go:

Farseer
2x 5-Man Avenger Teams, Exarch w/ dual Shuriken Catapults
1x 4-Bike Shining Spear Team, Exarch w/ Star Lance
1x Triple Shuriken Cannon Wave Serpent

Comes out to 498 points, allows for a very fast and mobile play style, while still having the capacity to deal with most things at that point level. It also can be *very* easily built upon to get up to the 1000 point level should you later decide to go that way.

In terms of price point it's two boxes of Avengers, one Farseer, one Wave Serpent and two boxes of either Windriders or Shining Spears. I personally like the look of the Windriders better, and use them instead to build my Spears. They're also *significantly* cheaper, and not GW Webstore exclusive.

Well, I would start with the battlebox: start collecting craftworlds.
This is a very cheap offer. It gives you 1 Farseer, 5 Wraithguard, 1 Warwalker, and 1 Wraithlord.
This would be enough to learn the game mechanics.
Get battlescribe for army building on your computer, iphone, ipad or whatnot.

Keep the wraith theme and semi competitive, how about:


++ Unbound Army (Faction) (Aeldari - Craftworlds) [57 PL, 985pts] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Craftworld Attribute: None (Mixed Detachment)

+ HQ +

Autarch Skyrunner [6 PL, 108pts]: Laser Lance, Shuriken Pistol, Twin Shuriken Catapult

Farseer [6 PL, 110pts]: Shuriken Pistol, Witchblade

+ Troops +

Guardian Defenders [5 PL, 95pts]: 10x Guardian Defender
. Guardian Heavy Weapons Platform: Shuriken Cannon

Guardian Defenders [5 PL, 95pts]: 10x Guardian Defender
. Guardian Heavy Weapons Platform: Shuriken Cannon

Rangers [3 PL, 60pts]: 5x Ranger

+ Elites +

Wraithguard [11 PL, 200pts]: Wraithcannon, 5x Wraithguard

+ Heavy Support +

War Walkers [4 PL, 70pts]
. War Walker: Shuriken Cannon, Shuriken Cannon

Wraithlord [8 PL, 113pts]: Shuriken Cannon, Shuriken Catapult, Shuriken Catapult

+ Dedicated Transport +

Wave Serpent [9 PL, 134pts]: Shuriken Cannon, Twin Shuriken Cannon

++ Total: [57 PL, 985pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe

Gremmer: looks quite good as an army at the 1000 pt level.
Tactically, you deploy the Guardian squads in cover with good line of sight for the platforms.
The Rangers infiltrate and should be placed in front of your army.
The Wraithguard should be mounted in the Serpent. You basically move the Serpent at full speed in turn one and shoot the weapons. Next turn, the Wraithguard could hop out and dislodge their D-scythes.
The Autarch serves as a counter-charge unit or could charge with the Wraithguard.
The Farseer could either stay backfield or go with the Wraithguard. He could Guide one of your units and Doom an enemy unit.
The overall tactics depends on the enemy. A Khorne army will definitely come to you, so play defensively. On the other hand, Tau is rather shooty and will try to stay out of cc.

Get him a fire prism, can be anti-tank and anti infantry. And if it moves under half speed you can fire the prism cannon twice for either 2 shots at str 12 Ap -5, 2d3 shots at str9 ap -4 or 2d6 str6 ap -3

This list capitalize on 3 fire prism.
Using the "fire link" stratagems to kill almost anything per turn.

Autarch is to snipe characters and regains cp on roll of a 6.

Farseer to support and rangers to screen those fire prism from any deepstrike assault.

cheers,


++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Aeldari - Craftworlds) [55 PL, 999pts] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Craftworld Attribute: Alaitoc: Fieldcraft

+ HQ +

Autarch [4 PL, 100pts]: 5: Mark of the Incomparable Hunter, Banshee Mask, Craftworlds Warlord, Faolchu's Wing, Forceshield, Reaper Launcher, Scorpion Chainsword, Shuriken Pistol, Star Glaive

Farseer [6 PL, 110pts]: 2. Doom, 4. Executioner, Shuriken Pistol, Witchblade

+ Troops +

Rangers [3 PL, 60pts]: 5x Ranger

Rangers [3 PL, 60pts]: 5x Ranger

Rangers [3 PL, 60pts]: 5x Ranger

+ Heavy Support +

Fire Prism [9 PL, 160pts]: Twin Shuriken Catapult

Fire Prism [9 PL, 160pts]: Twin Shuriken Catapult

Fire Prism [9 PL, 160pts]: Twin Shuriken Catapult

+ Dedicated Transport +

Wave Serpent [9 PL, 129pts]: Twin Shuriken Cannon, Twin Shuriken Catapult

++ Total: [55 PL, 999pts] ++


Automatically Appended Next Post:
HQ hides inside wave serpents.

Come on, three Fire Prisms in a beginner list.
The boy needs first to learn the game mechanics and not to capitalize OP strategies.

The start collecting box and the eldar half of the wake the dead will give him the basis of a very useable army, add in a couple of boxes of dire avengers or guardians and it's a complete battalion detachment. Plus you can use the primaris half, winner winner etc etc.

Here is an extension of the battle box:

New Roster (Warhammer 40,000 8th Edition) [57 PL, 997pts]
Battalion Detachment +5CP (Aeldari - Craftworlds) [57 PL, 997pts]
No Force Org Slot
Craftworld Attribute
Selections: Alaitoc: Fieldcraft

HQ [10 PL, 190pts]

Farseer [6 PL, 110pts]
Selections: 1. Guide, 2. Doom, Alaitoc: Puritanical Leader, Craftworlds Warlord, Shuriken Pistol, The Phoenix Gem, Witchblade

Illic Nightspear [4 PL, 80pts]

Troops [15 PL, 255pts]

Guardian Defenders [9 PL, 135pts]
Selections: 15x Guardian Defender [120pts]
Guardian Heavy Weapons Platform [15pts]
Selections: Shuriken Cannon [10pts]

Rangers [3 PL, 60pts]
Selections: 5x Ranger [60pts]

Rangers [3 PL, 60pts]
Selections: 5x Ranger [60pts]

Elites [11 PL, 225pts]

Wraithguard [11 PL, 225pts]
Selections: D-scythe [110pts], 5x Wraithguard [115pts]

Heavy Support [12 PL, 193pts]

War Walkers [4 PL, 70pts]
War Walker [4 PL, 70pts]
Selections: Shuriken Cannon [10pts], Shuriken Cannon [10pts]

Wraithlord [8 PL, 123pts]
Selections: 2x Shuriken Cannon [20pts], Shuriken Catapult, Shuriken Catapult

Dedicated Transport [9 PL, 134pts]

Wave Serpent [9 PL, 134pts]
Selections: Shuriken Cannon [10pts], Twin Shuriken Cannon [17pts]

Created with BattleScribe

The battle plan is to deploy the Rangers in cover together with Nightspear.
The Guardians can either stay back and babysit the shuriken cannon or gate with webway strike to take on a harder target.
They should be supported by the Farseer using guide and doom
The Wraithguard goes into the Serpent to approach the enemy, and the WL and WW give fire support.

 wuestenfux wrote:
Come on, three Fire Prisms in a beginner list.
The boy needs first to learn the game mechanics and not to capitalize OP strategies.

lol. you have to admit thats a strong 1000 list.

 Pellegrino wrote:

 wuestenfux wrote:
Come on, three Fire Prisms in a beginner list.
The boy needs first to learn the game mechanics and not to capitalize OP strategies.

lol. you have to admit thats a strong 1000 list.

Indeed, but for learning the game its too much and too one-dimensional.