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So here's a different list based on lowering toughness and shooting people all to hell:

Sorceress: Lvl4, Shadow: Sacrificial Dagger, Ironcurse icon 250

Sorceress: Lvl1, Dark: Scroll 110

20 Dark shards: Shields, Full Command 270
20 Dark shards: Shields, Full Command 270
10 Dark shards: 120
10 Dark shards: 120
5 Dark Riders: crossbows, musician 105
5 Dark Riders: crossbows, musician 105
5 Dark Riders: crossbows, musician 105

Coldone Chariot: 115
Scourge Runner: 150
Scourge Runner: 150
4 Reapter Bolt Throwers: 280

Doomfire Warlocks 125
Doomfire Warlocks 125

So I nerf your toughness left right and centre and then plow shots into you until you go away. Using 5 fast cav and 3 chariots to redirect and block as necessary. Giving me a fairly whopping 13 drops too

Having tried to assemble the Darkshard crossbows, I can say, if you do build this list, DO NOT do it when you've had a bad day.

But do you think it would work? I know you could play the last book like this when Dark shards were 9 points each. But then you didn't have doomfire warlocks...

I think I'd prefer to play the Executioner star but this build would be very different to other lists I play.

I'd go with more Bolt.
2x Beastmasters, mounted in the bolt thrower chariots
6x5 dark riders, all with shields and repeaters, 3 units with standards
4 Repeater Bolt Throwers
3 Bolt Thrower Chariots
3x8 Shades
5 Warlocks

30 vanguard crossbows, 24 scout crossbows, 4 bolt throwers and 5 S7 chariot bolt throwers.
You could swap the 30 fast cav for 50 infantry repeaters, but I think I'd rather have the cav.

NINE bolt throwers really goes a long ways in dealing with targets that repeater crossbows don't kill.

-Matt

 HawaiiMatt wrote:
I'd go with more Bolt.
2x Beastmasters, mounted in the bolt thrower chariots
6x5 dark riders, all with shields and repeaters, 3 units with standards
4 Repeater Bolt Throwers
3 Bolt Thrower Chariots
3x8 Shades
5 Warlocks

30 vanguard crossbows, 24 scout crossbows, 4 bolt throwers and 5 S7 chariot bolt throwers.
You could swap the 30 fast cav for 50 infantry repeaters, but I think I'd rather have the cav.

NINE bolt throwers really goes a long ways in dealing with targets that repeater crossbows don't kill.

-Matt

Especially at Str 7... unless that was just a rumor (do not have the book!)

I apologise for my random pointless comment, I was tired and had just tried assembling my Darkshards. ((They're now Bleakswords/Dreadspears.))

The list has potential to do well, but will struggle vs something like Warriors.

Matt's list has a way to deal with that, but not enough to stop a list with multiple units of stuff like skullcrushers getting into combat. 9 Bolt Throwers is a very good way of dealing with a Demon Prince though.

 thedarkavenger wrote:
I apologise for my random pointless comment, I was tired and had just tried assembling my Darkshards. ((They're now Bleakswords/Dreadspears.))

The list has potential to do well, but will struggle vs something like Warriors.

Matt's list has a way to deal with that, but not enough to stop a list with multiple units of stuff like skullcrushers getting into combat. 9 Bolt Throwers is a very good way of dealing with a Demon Prince though.

I disagree, Matts list would be extremely frustrating for any army to face, because there is little you can do outside of OutSHooting it) If you can get the first turn and killa couple of chariots a turn, you could win, otherwise, he dictates the tempo of the game. DE can outshooteveryone except maybe HE with a list like this.
If they are regular bolt throwers, on the chariot, then the increased mobility will allow for multiple flank shots. Skullcrushers will die, the more the opponent has, the better. First turn, take out chimera, characters, second turn, whittle down blocks and big cav and position for fleeing. Keep feeding him small fastcav units until units are gone, or small enough to engage. By this time you'll be in position to have your way with them (ie. flank and rear charges)

I like Matt's list I just am far from convinced by the 2 Beast master Chariots. 300 points for 1 S7 shots seem an inordinate amount.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
So how about this using Matt's ideas:

Master:BsB: HA, SDC, DS, great weapon, Banner of Eternal flame 129
Sorceress: Dark: Tome, DS 115
Sorceress: Death: Scroll, DS 115

5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115

3 Scourge Runners 450
10 Shades: great weapons, full command 210
5 Shades 80
5 Shades 80
4 Repeater Bolt Throwers 280

5 Doomfire Warlocks 125
5 Doomfire Warlocks 125

That's 8 fast cav units, hopefully a sniping spell from death. 7 Bolt Throwers 3 at S7 and a hitty Shade unit to pick off targets late game. Plus a black horror down the flank of your army turn 1 That's a pretty tasty combo for just 115 points. Plus 2 doombolts and 2 soulblights to help with the shooting damage a flaming banner in there to strip regent from a unit. The standards are for the fortitude mission.

HE chariot bolt-thrower is only S5, the fact that scroungerunners are S7 and pull their target D6" towards them makes them really nice.

Can they volley fire?

BronzeJon wrote:
HE chariot bolt-thrower is only S5, the fact that scroungerunners are S7 and pull their target D6" towards them makes them really nice.

Can they volley fire?

Pulls "monsters", and possibly does another wound in the process. S7 is good, but is also has a 24" range, which is bad.
Massed bolt throwers IMO is the way to go.

buckero0 wrote:

 thedarkavenger wrote:
I apologise for my random pointless comment, I was tired and had just tried assembling my Darkshards. ((They're now Bleakswords/Dreadspears.))

The list has potential to do well, but will struggle vs something like Warriors.

Matt's list has a way to deal with that, but not enough to stop a list with multiple units of stuff like skullcrushers getting into combat. 9 Bolt Throwers is a very good way of dealing with a Demon Prince though.

I disagree, Matts list would be extremely frustrating for any army to face, because there is little you can do outside of OutSHooting it) If you can get the first turn and killa couple of chariots a turn, you could win, otherwise, he dictates the tempo of the game. DE can outshooteveryone except maybe HE with a list like this.
If they are regular bolt throwers, on the chariot, then the increased mobility will allow for multiple flank shots. Skullcrushers will die, the more the opponent has, the better. First turn, take out chimera, characters, second turn, whittle down blocks and big cav and position for fleeing. Keep feeding him small fastcav units until units are gone, or small enough to engage. By this time you'll be in position to have your way with them (ie. flank and rear charges)

The list would be frustrating, but when you come up against a high Armour army, you're relying solely on the bolt throwers to punch through armour. And they don't have enough shots to deal with the models. Regular warriors will be tough for this list, due to the armour too.

Perhaps chuck some lore of metal in the help with that match up?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
So something like this:

Master:BsB: HA, SDC, DS, great weapon, Banner of Eternal flame 129
Sorceress: Dark lvl2: Tome, Dragonbane Gem, DS 155
Sorceress: Metal lvl2: Scroll, Ironcurse Icon, DS 155

5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115

2 Scourge Runners 300
10 Shades: great weapons, standard 190
5 Shades: xhw 90
5 Shades: xhw 90
5 Repeater Bolt Throwers 350

5 Doomfire Warlocks 125
5 Doomfire Warlocks 125

[quote=thedarkavenger 556313 6127695 37c7d1abb00448dd90b1fcafa03e7a33.jpg
The list would be frustrating, but when you come up against a high Armour army, you're relying solely on the bolt throwers to punch through armour. And they don't have enough shots to deal with the models. Regular warriors will be tough for this list, due to the armour too.

 thedarkavenger wrote:

The list would be frustrating, but when you come up against a high Armour army, you're relying solely on the bolt throwers to punch through armour. And they don't have enough shots to deal with the models. Regular warriors will be tough for this list, due to the armour too.

Having run a shooty dark elf army for years, my best match up was warriors of chaos. The expensive models means fewer on the table.
Long range it throws out ~16-20 warrior kills a turn. Short range, another ~6 kills. Cast a soul blight, and focus your fire, you'll kill a whole unit.

3 turns of shooting dropping 48-60 chaos warriors is a huge dent in most chaos armies. Take a look at WoC armies posted, and how few wounds they have in them. 9 bolt throwers should worry the current meta of WoC players.

Minor thing - how do you get 5 Bolt throwers

p94 of the new book - you can only have upto 4 in a single army unless its a Grand Army - and I think thats 3000pts +?

Sorry thought it was 2 per choice like HE ones hence thinking you could have 6...


Automatically Appended Next Post:
So hopefully this is legal...

Master:BsB: HA, SDC, DS, great weapon, Banner of Eternal flame 129
Sorceress: Dark lvl2: Tome, DS 150
Sorceress: Metal lvl2: Scroll, Ironcurse Icon, DS 155

5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115
5 Dark Riders: Xbows music, standard 115

2 Scourge Runners 300
10 Shades: great weapons, standard 190
7 Shades: xhw 126
7 Shades: xhw 126
4 Repeater Bolt Throwers 280

5 Doomfire Warlocks 125
5 Doomfire Warlocks 125

Down to 6 Bolt Throwers but that should still worry monsters and Monstrous Cav. 24 Shades now Silly ABH trick wizard, 8 fast cav units. So still pretty annoying to play against.