Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

GW still cannot make up their minds after all these years about whether it is Ulthanash or Ulthanesh, or Eldanash or Eldanesh. While much of the Codex is copy/paste of existing Eldar stuff, there are a few nuggets of new stuff:

Craftworlds:

Explanations of world runes given for all Craftworlds except Kaelor (which isn't present).

-Altansar's rune is the Broken Chain. Refers to Vaul's chains, and seems to imply that Vaul at some point had his chains shattered. The upper most part of the rune has a broken infinity loop which was a new addition after Altansar escaped the Eye of Terror. The Altansar Eldar also never take off their helms in front of other Eldar and they speak only in whispers.

-Il-Kaithe's rune is the Helm of Eldanesh, referring to an artifact of Asuryan that Eldanesh received gave prescience. Il-Kaithe itself means Knowledge of Blood.

-Lugganath's is the Black Sun, referring to the lost glory of the original Eldar star systems. Lugganath itself means Light of Fallen Suns.

-Iybraesil's is Wisdom from Pain or also known as the Hand of Heg. Refers to the tale of Morai-Heg getting her hand cut off to drink of the wisdom in her blood. Iybraesil refer to this to mean no knowledge can be claimed without sacrifice.

-Yme-loc's is the Crucible of Souls. As I suspected with the last Codex, it is a reference to Vaul and his forge. The craftworld has a secret weapon in the form of an arcane engine that can destroy a continent in a single night.

-Mymeara (thus canonizing the FW craftworld) has the Cursing Eye, referring to Asuryan's omniscient eye that could perceive and kill.

The background for Lugganath in the Daemon and CSM Codex has had it getting itself afflicted with Nurgle's plagues, its seers turned into trees in Nurgle's realm, its towers shattered by noise marines. Now in this Eldar Codex it combines the last reference and says the Emperor's Children are driven off after Autarchs authorize Hemlocks to be used. The corsairs known as the Sunblitz Brotherhood (from Rogue Trader days and from FW's Imperial Armour) is associated with Lugganath. Lugganath viewed as little better than corsairs by other craftworlds.

Mythological:

Anaris was splintered along with Khaine and its fragments also came to rest amid the Craftworlds.

Ulthanesh defeated a drake called Draoch-var and the Firesabre is reputedly forged from one of the drake's fangs.

Faolchu's Wing is a golden pinfeather gifted to Eldanesh's heirs by Faolchu after becoming disconsolate at Eldanesh's death.

Asuryan was struck down during the War in Heaven by the "chill blades of his foes" (reference to C'tan or Necrons maybe?). Isha drew heat from a hundred stars and put them into a gem that then drove the unnatural chill away and healed Asuryan.

Vaul had daughters since they are allegedly the ones responsible for forging Baharroth's Shining Blade in the dying fires of a supernova.

General:

After defeating Imperial Titan Legions (plural) upon Malaxis in 741.M41, the Autarchs of the 5 largest Craftworlds meet and decide (against the advice of some Farseers) the lesser races must be shown their place. Message gets out and more Eldar take up the Path of the Warrior in the following centuries., though dozens of civilian paths fade away as a result. In the Codex GW seems to be playing up the difference of opinion between the militant Autarchs and the more traditional minded Seers.

(?Reference to Dirty Dozen) The Twelve Outcasts of Alaitoc (i.e. 6 Wraithknights) raid the crone world Belial IV (war zone in Eye of Terror campaign and the Bill King novel Farseer) to collect spirit stones. Now the background has it that Wraithknights being one of the main sources of new spirit stones by venturing into the Eye of Terror.

Ordo Xenos suspects Yriel of being responsible for the loss of 1,000 class IX or greater ships (no idea what the class indicates specifically). Yriel corrects them by releasing a listing showing he claimed 11,000 ships when he led the Eldritch Raiders, and these ships were from humans, Hrud, Kroot, Tau, and Chaos

(?Reference to Blizzard's Diablo and/or Starcraft) Biel-Tan and Iyanden unite to attack worlds around the Octarius system in order to deny Hive Fleet Leviathan biomass. Using a "modified version of the psychic doomsday device used to destroy the Tyranid-infested planet of Duriel", they succeed and ensure no shred of biomass is left intact (?reference to Protoss ending in Starcraft: Brood War). Afterwards, another section of Leviathan is destroyed by Eldar attacks.

Kysaduras the Anchorite is confirmed now to be an Ulthwe Seer.

There are Everguard on Alaitoc. Previous Codex showed a picture of some of Biel-Tan's.

Autarchs now have a more convoluted path. It seems they are deliberately granted a piece of Aspect Warrior wargear after they finish their time with one Aspect. So does this mean they are already on the Path of Command and then spend time with each Aspect training? In last Codex it seemed the Path of Command was embarked on after finishing each Aspect. The wording also seems to imply the Path of Command is chosen for the Eldar rather than them choosing it freely themselves.

Hemlock fighters are ominious and their pilots risk going insane or losing themselves in the infinity circuits of the fighter, leaving only a husk in the cockpit. Their heavy D-scythes were first created upon Iyanden and are capable of scrambling the engrams of a Necron Warrior or severing a Tyranid from the Hive Mind. The targets tumble to the ground with unmarked bodies but with their "animus" cast into the warp (assuming they had one in the first place). The Eldar believe this act of separating spirit from body to be an act permitted only to Morai-Heg as it is an act of a god, but Autarchs maintain these rules are now obsolete.

Karandras and Ahra are said to have duelled in the ruins of Zandros over the Shrine of the Slicing Orbs. Outnumbered by Ahra and his disciples, and unable to defeat Ahra in combat, Krandras goads Ahra over 17 days into a killing rage then fades away into the shadows. Ahra kills all his disciples in a murderous rage.

Shining Spear shrines are large and said to take days to walk from one end to the other. Shining Spears said to feel the flow of the land underneath them through subtle changes to the sound of their anti-gravitic motors. Shining Spears reputedly never leave their saddles during the duration of training, which can take years. Sounds a bit ridiculous as what about eating, sleeping, bathing and toilet breaks?

Fire Dragons apparently undergo hazardous trials and dangerous rituals in their shrine. What is not specified (although personally visions of things like walking through beds of hot coals come to mind).

Crimson Hunter Aspect taking its basis from Khaine legend where Khaine fashioned 2 daggers out of the blood that dripped from his left hand. These daggers were used to blind the White Wyrm Oghanothir that nested in a hollow moon. The Crimson Hunter shrines are transparent atriums linked by tunnels that float alongside the craftworld, where they duel with their fighters for practice (with lasers set to low power, just enough to illuminate).

Fire Prism has had its reference to linking removed and has gained 3rd fire mode described as narrowing of the beam.

Sometimes Revenant Titan pilots that have lost their twin (Revenant Titans often fielded in pairs and often with with a twin in each), instead opt to be put into a Wraithknight.

Wraithknight entry has reference to the "curving discs that show a portion of death within life and a portion of life within death" (i.e. The Tai-chi or Yin/Yang symbol). Also a bit of grimdark rumor that twins who are too attached too life might be steered by the craftworld councils to a darker fate (i.e. do something to ensure the death of one twin so that they will both end up in a Wraithknight).

Tales say that Harlequins other than the Solitaire that try to play the role of Slaanesh succumb to madness and cannibalism.

Fuegan is also said to hope the Dragon could bring harmony through selective destruction rather than regarding the force of oblivion as only being able to bring discord. The Dragon of Eldar myth is synonymous with destruction.

Fuegan is often depicted holding the serpents of wisdom and entropy in his grasp. It is also said that at the end of days he will bind the Dragon with a chain of retribution forged from the deaths of the Eldar's enemies, though such a feat would mean mastery over destruction itself. (Possible echoes of Fenrir or Jormungandr?)

Fuegan fought on Haranshemash and defeated a score of Daemon lords with the firepike and then a dozen more with the Fire Axe.

The rise of Ghazghkull Thraka was orchestrated by Eldrad and Ulthwe in order to prevent a Waagh that would have been more threatening to the Eldar. This is old background. However now we know that it was to prevent a Waagh that would have threatened Craftworld Idharae. This would be the same Craftworld that the Invaders Space Marines Chapter destroy.

(and I personally hate this one) The timeline has Eldrad alive at M31 warning Fulgrim. This is at odds with the background saying Eldar live over a thousand years on average. Having someone live over 10 times the average lifespan of an Eldar and with living memory of the Fall that is not a Phoenix Lord (i.e. essentially a spirit animated suit of armor) is getting to be ridiculous for a race where supposedly so much power and knowledge has been lost (after all, why not just go ask Eldrad how things were in the old days?).

Craftworld Iyanden Codex supplement:

Iyanden was the craftworld to discover the use of infinity circuits as a final repository for the dead and was the first to recover waystones from the crone worlds. They shared these secrets with other craftworlds and called for unity in reforging a new Eldar empire. Only Biel-Tan joined Iyanden. Ulthwe and Alaitoc claimed other higher duties such as defeating ancient enemies (Necrons?) and other craftworlds claimed insufficient resources.

Biel-Tan and Iyanden handled the western and eastern rims of the galaxy respectively. Iyanden was the reason the forces of Chaos have never established a major stronghold on the eastern rim of the galaxy. However their alliance with Biel-Tan faded after Biel-Tan also hit other alien races whereas Iyanden kept its focus on the forces of Chaos. Iyanden refused to aid Biel-Tan in a major campaign for a maiden world in M34 that saw Biel-Tan ultimately emerge victorious despite the Imperium sending 2 sector fleets and 10 Space Marine Chapters. However during the battle Biel-Tan had sent a large contingent to aid Iyanden though it was unclear whether this was out of respect for their past alliance or just from desire for xenocide. After Iyanden was hit by Kraken, Biel-Tan abandoned Iyanden as their "own dream of an empire reborn suffers no stragglers."

Despite the abandonment of formal alliance, Iyanden and Biel-Tan cooperated on Duriel to destroy a surviving tendril of Kraken in order to prevent it linking up with Leviathan. Afterwards as mentioned already in the Eldar Codex, they cooperate to destroy additional worlds.

The Eldar of Iyanden greatly value lineage and Iyanden was one of the first Craftworlds to flee the old Eldar empire.

The Fire of Creation burns in the Shrine of Asuryan atop a pyramid made of diamond. It is said by some to be the last splinter of Asuryan's power. The Fire goes out after Iyanden is hit by a Chaos torpedo in the final stages of the Battle of the Burning Moon in 942.M41. After Iyanna departs the Shrine to find the last Tear of Morai-Heg in 999.M41, the Fire flickers back to life, unnoticed by her.

Iyanna is now the pre-eminent voice for Iyanden's policy following the disappearance of Yriel in 999.M41. She quests for the Tears of Morai-Heg, which are gemstone fragments/artifacts, which she believes can lead to the fulfillment of the prophecy which will see Eldar reborn. However her vision of rebirth seems to involve sending the souls of the living Eldar of Iyanden into the Infinity Circuit, as a trigger to awaken Ynnead, so it seems she sees the Eldar being reborn as a race of the dead.

One of Iyanden's most powerful ships, the Blood of Khaine, is captured in 585.M40 by the Imperial Fists 2nd company. The Fists take the ship to the forgeworld of Hypnoth for study but Iyanden retaliates. Under Admiral Draech, the Eldar ship is destroyed before it can be studied and boarding parties comprising ghost warriors are sent against 2 Imperial Fist strike cruisers, Vengeful Praetor and Stalwart Hammer. Both are overwhelmed by Wraithblades and scuttled.

The success of Iyanden against Chaos on the eastern rim prompts the two smaller craftworlds of Idharae and Malan'tai to ally with Iyanden. Malan'tai was built like a fortress whereas Idharae's splendor was a rival to the old Eldar empire. The 3 craftworlds cooperated to destroy Hive Fleet Naga though Malan'tai was destroyed and Idharae suffered grievous losses (which would presumably explain their later destruction by the Invaders Space Marine Chapter, which in turn would lose their fortress monastery at the hands of Alaitoc).

An expedition to the destroyed craftworld of Malan'tai to salvage whatever can be salvaged to help repair Iyanden instead finds it overrun with Orks. After defeating the Orks, it is determined there is nothing salvageable remaining so the remains of Malan'tai is steered towards the nearest star in order to destroy it.

In 993.M41, the Inexorable Fury, a battle barge of the Novamarines, exits warp within 1 light year of Iyanden. Not taking the risk that it might be a prelude to attack, Yriel sends ghost warriors from the House of Ulthanash to board and destroy the vessel.

After Kraken's attack, Yriel defeats daemons led by M'kar the Reborn, the Necrons of the Sautekh Dynasty, and an Imperial sector fleet led by High Commodore Rassoloth. After Yriel disappears in 999.M41, Iyanden's seers see M'kar and the Ultramarines as 2 separate threats to Iyanden. They solve this problem by luring M'kar to attack the Ultramarines thus neutralizing both threats.

The ghost warriors dwell in the ghost halls which are their families' ancestral domes. The dead are often more extreme in personality than the living for only the strongest character traits and obsessions survive death. Different houses of ghost warriors rarely fight together.

Iyanna Arienal is of the House of Arienal (i.e. a noble house) and the House was wiped out by a Chaos torpedo that hit Iyanden, except for Iyanna. Iyanna apparently has reddish hair from the artwork. When Iyanden was nearly wiped out during the Tyranid attack, she led some ghost warriors in the final defense and bought time.

Farseer Kelmon, head of Iyanden's Farseers and an old GW character, has the last name Firesight and is from the House of Haladesh. After dying in the fight against Kraken, it is said he wanders the ghost halls of his family consumed with regrets.

The House of Valor is a house that died out during the attack of Hive Fleet Kraken. Their rune is apparently called Dawn of Hope.

The House of Varinash was a once great house. Formerly they were so numerous that they had influence over many Aspect Shrines and could field warhosts on their own. Now only a few hundred of this house are left among the living.

Adrallanar of the House of Teuthlas was mentor to Iyanna Arienal. The Spear of Teuthlas was heirloom of the house though knowledge of its origins appear to have been lost since the Fall. Adrallanar and his house were destroyed by Hive Fleet Kraken, though Iyanna has since carried the spear and even given it to emissaries to carry when speaking on her behalf.

Helm of Xellethon was crafted by the master smith Xellethon and looks like a deceptively delicate alabaster helm. It magnifies the presence of the wearer's soul and enables ghost warriors to more easily see the wearer.

Eldrad apparently spoke to the Council of Iyanden about Kysaduras the Anchorite and Ynnead but the Iyanden seers dismissed talk of Ynnead as "morbid fantasy", but Iyanna did not. She believes in Ynnead's coming and believes that when the souls of the living Eldar become one with the dead, it will rouse Ynnead to consciousness to defeat Slaanesh, and let the Eldar endure in the infinity circuits forever (presumably as a race of the dead).

The Phoenix Lord of the Shining Spears is revealed as Drastanta, Tempest of Starlight. Carried the Celestial Lance. Apparently overly proud and given to needless lone battles. Saw Asurmen already fallen before the Keeper of Secrets N'kari and used the Celestial Lance to defeat N'kari. Emerged from the conflict on Asur but then vanished though the Celestial Lance has been passed from shrine to shrine and craftworld to craftworld.

The infinity circuit was first manipulated into being a soul reservoir by the Bonesinger Ivaril Brightshard and Mehlindri Silversoul. His former waystone is the Wraithforge Stone. His soul is already in Iyanden's infinity circuits and Ivaril was apparently the most skilled Bonesinger Iyanden has ever known. Mehlindri Silversoul sacrificed herself to start up Iyanden's infinity circuit and her soul is said to still linger to welcome the newly dead.

The workings of distort weapons are apparently lethal to the living, explaining why only wraith constructs can carry them. Presumably the weapon platforms allow sufficient distance for live gunners to operate it.

Not all spirit stones recovered are empty and waiting for Eldar to use. Some have existing Eldar souls trapped in them from the Fall and some are spiteful and malevolent. These stones are put into the ghost weapons wielded by Wraithblades.

After Yriel left to become a pirate, his second-in-command Lord Ethrael was appointed as leader of Iyanden's fleet. Ethrael was competent though not brilliant and was obedient to the Farseers. Ethrael detonated a star to delay Hive Fleet Kraken's approach but the Tyranids absorbed the losses and still advanced. Ethrael died in the Tyranid attack after sending his crippled ship Starwind Voyager into a large Tyranid ship and overloading his ship's systems to self-destruct, destroying both ships.

The Imperium attempted to foster rivalry between Yriel's Eldritch Raiders and the Xian's Black Raiders and the Scarlet Command. This backfired when Yriel absorbed these other Eldar corsair fleets. The total strength was nearly 100 vessels. This conflicts with Imperial Armour 12 (since the Eldritch Raiders are previously described as one of the largest and most deadly corsair bands in the galaxy) which says the Void Dragons were estimated by the Imperial Navy to have over 3,500 ships. One possible explanation would be that Yriel's vessels were mostly capital ships whereas the Void Dragons had more escort sized vessels. Otherwise the Eldar Codex's timeline report of Yriel claiming 11,000 ships as prizes (and listing their names in their original languages) is hard to believe. Barely a third of Yriel's ships survive the Tyranid attack on Iyanden.

Yriel's mother is of the House of Ulthanash. His father was rumored to be an outcast from another craftworld and hence Yriel having the blood of both the lines of Ulthanash and Eldanash. Other rumors claim his father was from a darker realm (i.e. Dark Eldar?).

Iyanden's Avatar still gets taken down by 12 Carnifexes but now takes out 3 of them before being overwhelmed.

The "ghost halls" are referred to as such because they are those areas where the wraithbone has run wild after the Tyranid attack since it was overcharged with the spirits of so many dead in such a short time. The ghost warriors linger near their old family estates, and this means some estates are now inhabited only by the ghost warriors as those lineages were wiped out. Another "ghost hall" area was the Fortress of the Red Moon which was one of the final bastions of Iyanden resistance against Kraken. The dead have rebuilt it as a sepulchre with crystal statues of the dead guarding the battlements. The dome of the Forests of Silence now house crystal trees.

Normally the Bonesingers keep the wraithbone controlled but now there are not enough Bonesingers and the spirits of the dead are too determined. Strange haunted house like phenomena occur and raise the risk of madness for those that try to enter these ravaged areas.

Asdrubael Vect is also around ten thousand years old. Chapter Master Dante of the Blood Angels is over 1100. Eldrad could simply be an outlier on the bell curve of the average eldar lifespan. Also, I can't recall any piece of lore that has stated that eldar can die of old age (then again, most inhabitants of the 41st millennium don't live that long regardless of species).

DarkSoldier wrote:
Asdrubael Vect is also around ten thousand years old. Chapter Master Dante of the Blood Angels is over 1100. Eldrad could simply be an outlier on the bell curve of the average eldar lifespan. Also, I can't recall any piece of lore that has stated that eldar can die of old age (then again, most inhabitants of the 41st millennium don't live that long regardless of species).

Asdrubael Vect CLAIMS he is 10,000 years old in his "Torturer's Tale" short story. However the Dark Eldar Codex only reveals his activity several thousand years after the Fall. Either he is that old and nothing of note is mentioned before as he was of lowly status, or he is lying about his age.

As for lifespan, yes there has been stuff stated as far back as the 2nd edition Eldar Codex, and re-stated again in different wording in the latest Codex. The average Eldar has a lifespan of over a millenium. However even then a claim of 10,000 years comes off as ridiculous. Let's say people today have an average expected lifespan of 80 years. If someone came along and claimed they were 800 years old (or 10 times the average life expectancy), would they be believable? Unfortunately this is an example of GW seizing upon the 3rd edition Eldar Codex blurb of a dying tortured Eldar Ranger saying this and taking it as truth, instead of perhaps the fact that the Ranger has nothing to lose by mixing in false information to tell his captors.

The bit with Eldrad and Fulgrim is directly from the Horus Heresy book "Fulgrim" IIRC from 2007, it's been around for a while now. Yes, it's odd and doesn't make any sense, but then neither does most of the Eldar (or 40k in general) fluff when you put much though into it.

 Vaktathi wrote:
The bit with Eldrad and Fulgrim is directly from the Horus Heresy book "Fulgrim" IIRC from 2007, it's been around for a while now. Yes, it's odd and doesn't make any sense, but then neither does most of the Eldar (or 40k in general) fluff when you put much though into it.

And yes I know where it's from and I still think it's idiotic. I don't like how Eldrad is set up as some sort of Eldar Mary Sue. I have no problems with the Emperor being stronger than Eldrad since the Emperor is a gestalt of many souls whereas Eldrad is just one. Also it subtly contradicts the Staff of Ulthamar fluff from 2nd edition which described it as being traditionally carried by the chief of Ulthwe's seers. Well now they have made it so there has only ever been one chief of Ulthwe. The dying Ranger in the 3rd edition Eldar Codex was trying to put down the Emperor and elevate Eldrad out of spite. However GW went with it literally.

Whenever the Eldar have appeared in the Heresy books, they have been littered with errors and contradictions. It's as if the writer(s) didn't know their Eldar background and just fudged it or with at best a cursory reading of the Eldar stuff.

Personally that's the lesser issue with Eldrad for me, I can at least see how trying to prevent the heresy or at least the EC's from participating in it would generally be favorable to the interests of the Eldar. I can totally agree with some of the other contradictions/issues you mentioned, but honestly the larger issue (to me) is having fingers left over on one hand when counting how often he *hasn't* appeared in Eldar lists I've seen in the last...at least 6 years That, at least to me, does more to cheapen his background status than anything else, though that's also another issue altogether

 Vaktathi wrote:
Personally that's the lesser issue with Eldrad for me, I can at least see how trying to prevent the heresy or at least the EC's from participating in it would generally be favorable to the interests of the Eldar. I can totally agree with some of the other contradictions/issues you mentioned, but honestly the larger issue (to me) is having fingers left over on one hand when counting how often he *hasn't* appeared in Eldar lists I've seen in the last...at least 6 years That, at least to me, does more to cheapen his background status than anything else, though that's also another issue altogether

I hate special characters appearing all over the places especially with a frozen timeline. Given how long it takes to travel in the 40K universe, it is completely unrealistic for them to be showing up to all the conflicts in the galaxy, particularly every little company level skirmish. I prefer the old editions where generic HQ's were more common and there was more flexibility to kit out. I'd ideally prefer they have special characters as examples of special abilities and have those same abilities be available to generic characters (but perhaps more limited or at higher cost so special characters remain stand out examples of their race).

Overall I must admit I'm a bit disappointed by the relative sparseness of new fluff. Most of it is regurgitated from past Eldar sources, sometimes verbatim, and I really hope the Iyanden supplement includes more new stuff, and not (I fear) just a re-copy paste of the Defence of Iyanden from either the WD article or the Doom of the Eldar board game.

It seems strange that they reference the Slicing Orbs again, but don't include them in the Codex. A (large) part of me suspects that this is somewhat due to GW's 'streamlining' of releases.

Have they made changes to the Dark Reaper background? Their armour is supposed to lock them to the ground for stability, yet they've been given the ability to move and shoot.

 Just Dave wrote:
It seems strange that they reference the Slicing Orbs again, but don't include them in the Codex. A (large) part of me suspects that this is somewhat due to GW's 'streamlining' of releases.

Have they made changes to the Dark Reaper background? Their armour is supposed to lock them to the ground for stability, yet they've been given the ability to move and shoot.

The Slicing Orbs are a unique shrine to 1 craftworld, and it is suggested by the timeline background and Karandras's entry and the previous rulebook entry that first mentioned their duel, that Zandros is in ruins.

No changes to the Dark Reapers in terms of background. Only a vague mention their battle rites involve feats of focus, coordination, and balance, and that their training is focused on the challenge of attaining the perfect shot. Unfortunately the old Crack Shot power is gone. That would have been perfect for the ranged aspect Exarchs and Phoenix Lord to ignore cover.

Just Dave wrote:
Have they made changes to the Dark Reaper background? Their armour is supposed to lock them to the ground for stability, yet they've been given the ability to move and shoot.

Just because the armour can lock them down doesn't mean they can't move and shoot. If the process is fast enough then maybe it only needs to happen for a couple of seconds, long enough to let them get shots away before moving on. The rules arevan abstraction of combat, not a reliable indicator if what would happen in "real" life.

 Flinty wrote:

Just Dave wrote:
Have they made changes to the Dark Reaper background? Their armour is supposed to lock them to the ground for stability, yet they've been given the ability to move and shoot.

Just because the armour can lock them down doesn't mean they can't move and shoot. If the process is fast enough then maybe it only needs to happen for a couple of seconds, long enough to let them get shots away before moving on. The rules arevan abstraction of combat, not a reliable indicator if what would happen in "real" life.

The limb supports have been mentioned as far back as 2nd edition but have never had any rules. The result was a stationary Dark Reaper squad if you wanted to get any use out of them as moving them made them give up a turn of firepower. The ability to move and fire at least gives them some measure of mobility.

Iracundus wrote:


The rise of Ghazghkull Thraka was orchestrated by Eldrad and Ulthwe in order to prevent a Waagh that would have been more threatening to the Eldar. This is old background. However now we know that it was to prevent a Waagh that would have threatened Craftworld Idharae. This would be the same Craftworld that the Invaders Space Marines Chapter destroy.

You can't fight fate, I guess. Perhaps Idharae was always meant to be destroyed, whether by the Orks or by the Humans.

The appearance of Eldrad in the Fulgrim book is just one example among thousands of how mind numbingly stupid and out of control the background material is.

I guess it was too much trouble to invent a new Eldar Farseer to have an encounter with Fulgrim.

I was hoping the Iyanden supplement might introduce or revive some good material (like the old Iyanden characters of Farseer Kelmon and Warlock Karhedron) but having found out now that Matt Ward is writing it, I fear now what may be coming.

Iracundus wrote:
I was hoping the Iyanden supplement might introduce or revive some good material (like the old Iyanden characters of Farseer Kelmon and Warlock Karhedron) but having found out now that Matt Ward is writing it, I fear now what may be coming.

What's the worst that can happen?

Further fluff inflation. It is already a worry that Yriel can claim to have taken 11,000 ships. Now even if Class IX and above refers to escort sized vessels and above, that is still a huge number as BFG lists the average Imperial sector fleet at 50 to 75 warships of varying size (from the BFG rulebook). Now even if some of those prizes are civilian ships (as is likely), and even if some of those are vessels without warp capability, that is still a huge amount of shipping to take out, and in 50 years no less.

Iracundus wrote:
Further fluff inflation. It is already a worry that Yriel can claim to have taken 11,000 ships. Now even Class IX and above refers to escort sized vessels and above, that is still a huge number as BFG lists the average Imperial sector fleet at 50 to 75 warships of varying size (from the BFG rulebook). Now even if some of those prizes are civilian ships (as is likely), and even if some of those are vessels without warp capability, that is still a huge amount of shipping to take out, and in 50 years no less.

Now that you mention it...oh crap. This isn't going to end well.

 Admiral Valerian wrote:

Iracundus wrote:
Further fluff inflation. It is already a worry that Yriel can claim to have taken 11,000 ships. Now even Class IX and above refers to escort sized vessels and above, that is still a huge number as BFG lists the average Imperial sector fleet at 50 to 75 warships of varying size (from the BFG rulebook). Now even if some of those prizes are civilian ships (as is likely), and even if some of those are vessels without warp capability, that is still a huge amount of shipping to take out, and in 50 years no less.

Now that you mention it...oh crap. This isn't going to end well.

Actually now that I re-read that section it's worse, as there are definite capital ships involved:

The Eldritch Raiders wreak havoc upon galactic shipping. Over the course of nearly half a century, they claim prizes ranging from Ork hulks to Inquisition corvettes, Tau ambassadorial transports to Chaos battle cruisers. It is speculated by Ordo Xenos prognosticars that no less than one thousand class IX or greater vessels have been lost to his fleet. In a boastful communique, Prince Yriel disavows this notion by listing his Raiders' conquests, totalling over eleven thousand ship names and call signs in languages as diverse as Hrud, High Gothic, and Kroot.

p. 23, 6th edition Eldar Codex

Ork hulks are huge, and Chaos battle cruisers are definite capital ships in BFG. They are also written as plural. Also they are written as prizes which means they are captured rather than just destroyed, and that is a much harder task. Presumably the Eldar would search then scuttle or sell them off since they don't use other races' technology.

I understand the Eldritch Raiders were canonically the most powerful fleet of corsairs in the galaxy, but the short time frame makes it hard to believe. They could have thrust the time frame further into the past and lengthened it then it might be more believable. Now one could claim Yriel was lying, but the fact it's written that he listed their names and call signs suggests otherwise (since it would be possible to call him out for a false listing).

What the hell; battle cruisers and the like are believable, but hulks? You'd need an entire army to even have a chance of securing one. There's a reason only hulks can board star fortresses.

An Ork Hulk is the same thing as a Rok, I assume? Or is it a true battleship, rather than a mobile Asteroid base?

I would like to point out that Mymeara hasn't just been canonized with the 6th edition codex. It has been around since at least 1992. Craftworlds were often named after the worlds from which they originate if I remember correctly, and Mymeara was one of the most beautiful worlds in the Eldar empire of old.

From the Renegades supplement of Epic Space Marine 2nd edition, page 6, first paragraph:

"Their glittering civilization encompassed tens of thousands of worlds, planets so beautiful and full of wonder that their names alone conjure the paradise that was the Eldar empire: Croesus, Mymeara, Iydris, and Eldorado the Golden. "

Roadkill Zombie wrote:
I would like to point out that Mymeara hasn't just been canonized with the 6th edition codex. It has been around since at least 1992. Craftworlds were often named after the worlds from which they originate if I remember correctly, and Mymeara was one of the most beautiful worlds in the Eldar empire of old.

From the Renegades supplement of Epic Space Marine 2nd edition, page 6, first paragraph:

"Their glittering civilization encompassed tens of thousands of worlds, planets so beautiful and full of wonder that their names alone conjure the paradise that was the Eldar empire: Croesus, Mymeara, Iydris, and Eldorado the Golden. "

Mymeara the Craftworld didn't exist back then. Those were throwaway references to worlds of the Eldar empire, and implied to be lost. Mymeara the Craftworld has only been canon with this latest Codex. My statement stands.

Mymeara has been canon since they made it into a forge world craftworld. Forge world stuff is canon you know It didn't take the new Eldar codex to make it canon. And I'm sure in the future you will see a few more craftworlds become canon, probably named after a few of the worlds you call throw away references.

Haven't read the background of the new Codex yet, but I was very disappointed how few pages deal with it. Most pages are used to describe all units (granted also with a bit of background), but the Tau Codex has a lot more (and ess units). So I am surprised that there is anything new in the fluff.

Roadkill Zombie wrote:
Mymeara has been canon since they made it into a forge world craftworld. Forge world stuff is canon you know It didn't take the new Eldar codex to make it canon. And I'm sure in the future you will see a few more craftworlds become canon, probably named after a few of the worlds you call throw away references.

There are some that would debate the canonicity of FW publications. With a Codex there is no debate. I also highly doubt you will see any craftworld named Eldorado or Croesus considering how obvious the historical reference is. Since Biel-Tan and Saim-hann and the whole unfortunate mon-keigh of 3rd edition, the Eldar have been moving away from such obvious ripoffs.

I was expecting Maugan Ra to punch out another Hive Fleet honestly...

Iracundus wrote:
I also highly doubt you will see any craftworld named Eldorado or Croesus considering how obvious the historical reference is. Since Biel-Tan and Saim-hann and the whole unfortunate mon-keigh of 3rd edition, the Eldar have been moving away from such obvious ripoffs.

Not so obvious now, but the trend is still there.

Iybraesil's is Wisdom from Pain or also known as the Hand of Heg.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brasil_%28mythical_island%29

As far as Yriel goes it seems the 11k number comes from himself. I wouldn't be surprised if he is exaggerating and aggrandising his own image.

Also Eldrad's age is silly but he's also basically a wizard amongst a race of quasi-wizards...yeah dumb explanantion but that's how I'd rationilize it. Considring the scope of 40k fluff it's certainly not the worst derp moment. Though to be honest I don't like any of the Horus Heresy stuff, I think the less we know, the more mythic it seems and the better, but that's just me.

Anyway, I'm wondering is there a lot of Necron rivalry in the codex? The Necron codex made it seem like Eldar are the arch nemesis of the Crons as well as Chaos (and somewhat Nids but they are more like a foil). In the same vein does the codex play up a lot of the Slaanesh rivalry?

Eldrad is possibly the most powerful psyker among the most psychically powerful race in the setting (Surpassed only by arguably the Orks, from a certain point of view).

Psykers of sufficient power having longevity or granting it is not out of the boundaries of the fluff.

 asimo77 wrote:

Also Eldrad's age is silly but he's also basically a wizard amongst a race of quasi-wizards...yeah dumb explanantion but that's how I'd rationilize it.

I don't think that is a dumb explanation at all. Psykers and Warp travel have made timelines almost meaningless.

Not to forget that 1 day on 1 planet isn't always the same as 1 day on another planet. 1 day could be a Terran year or longer.