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.

Hello all, I've recently returned to the hobby after a decade long hiatus and now that there is such an abundance of a awesome eldar wraith units plus the iyanden book I've decided to put together an all wraith army. I do want to be within the realm of fluff so I thought this might be a good place to pose some questions.

Would it make sense for their to be wraith versions of other eldar units? Namely I'm thinking of wraith jetbikes that are effectively riderless, maybe modeled with the hood made out to look like a wraith style head? I know that the aspect warriors become the wraithguard which makes sense since they have wargear options now that can be themed to the different aspect paths. I'd also like to put together wraith piloted tanks, bypers and vaul platforms as well. Does anyone have any thoughts on these fluff wise? I've been trying to read a lot of eldar fluff and I haven't seen anything that makes me think this couldn't happen. All my seers will still be in the flesh,the idea being that they have raised this army of the dead after all their compatriots have fallen and that nearly every unit is one composed of wraith bone .

Also, while I'm using the iyanden book I dont really want my army to be iyanden (I loathe the color scheme). Does anyone know of another existing craftworker that could be adopted to fit this model? If not I think I may create my own.

Dramagod2 wrote:
Hello all, I've recently returned to the hobby after a decade long hiatus and now that there is such an abundance of a awesome eldar wraith units plus the iyanden book I've decided to put together an all wraith army. I do want to be within the realm of fluff so I thought this might be a good place to pose some questions.

Would it make sense for their to be wraith versions of other eldar units? Namely I'm thinking of wraith jetbikes that are effectively riderless, maybe modeled with the hood made out to look like a wraith style head? I know that the aspect warriors become the wraithguard which makes sense since they have wargear options now that can be themed to the different aspect paths. I'd also like to put together wraith piloted tanks, bypers and vaul platforms as well. Does anyone have any thoughts on these fluff wise? I've been trying to read a lot of eldar fluff and I haven't seen anything that makes me think this couldn't happen. All my seers will still be in the flesh,the idea being that they have raised this army of the dead after all their compatriots have fallen and that nearly every unit is one composed of wraith bone .

Also, while I'm using the iyanden book I don't really want my army to be iyanden (I loathe the color scheme). Does anyone know of another existing craftworker that could be adopted to fit this model? If not I think I may create my own.

From what I've read, most Wraith Units have only a minimal connection to the Physical Plane, and thus have trouble seeing and reacting to things that happen here. It's why the old (and thankfully gone) 'Wraithsight rule' was around. I'd think that things like Jetbikes, Fast Skimmer Tanks (almost all of our vehicles) would be... well, too fast for such a being to react too. However, I do like the idea of turning every one of your vehicles into miniature Hemlock Wraithfighters, in that they contain a mini-infinity-circuit instead of just spirit stones (and ghostwalker matrix, maybe), piloted by a Seer. If you want to, you could probably even field any squad of vehicles (Vipers comes to mind) with only one Seer, the other two controlled by Wraith units who take their cues from the Seer-Leader. Or just take that idea a step or so further and just field every third or fourth vehicle like that and claim the same fluff-wise.

As for other Craftworlds, though I'm not happy to say it: mine (Altansar). While it's not my take on the Craftworld, one of the most popular views on Altansar is that they've lost so many while in the Warp, they'd have to fight a lot like Iyanden. If that's not enough, you could do a splinter-survivor group from, oh say, Malan'tai (not the best example, but first one to come to mind) or any of the list of Dead Craftworlds, or just make up your own.

Upon re-reading the Wraithlord entry in the 6th Ed Eldar Codex, it says they exist in both the physical plane and the warp and 'never fully as individual or alert as [living eldar].' Make of this what you will: Wraith Units are one less initiative than Guardians.

Hmmm, I definitely see where the decreased initiative and lack of true real world awareness could hurt in terms of the fluff believability. I do really like the idea of expanding the role of the seers though in conjunction with the infinity circuits. Maybe I could have the pilots be seers while the guns and turrets are operated by infinity circuits. As for the jetbikes I think I may just have to bit the bullet when it comes to fluff. I really like the idea of a riderless jetbike (not even a seat or handlebars) squadrons that just stalks the field. Almost reminiscent of a Cylon raider from bsg. I think I may include a seer on a bike too just for fluff purposes just to explain that he maybe guides them in a way. Even if they all just count as normal jetbikes I think it would look convincing and add to the overall effect of the army. I think my main rule for this army would be that there should never be more living models than wraith constructs. That way even if a field an aspect unit or some guardians I can still stay true to the backstory of the army.

It occurs to me also that this particular craftworld could have an improved circuit that allows for the spirits of the fallen warriors to more completely exist in this realm. It would make sense especially if the seers dedicated themselves to the task after the destruction or decimation of their craftworld.

You could get away with saying that things have the Stones of Seers inside and these allow the dead to see reality well enough to act in a similar way to the living.

Ultimately, you can make up just about anything and so long as it's even remotely plausible it will work...

While alive, your Jetbike riders were the absolute top tier. Now that they've been 'wraithed', they're slower... now roughly on par with an average rider. I don't think anyone will call you out on that.

Or... say that the vehicles are controlled by multiple stones. One stone to watch out for targets, one to drive, etc... Kind of like how a Wraithknight has two pilots, one living and one dead.

 Farseer Morlengal wrote:
Make of this what you will: Wraith Units are one less initiative than Guardians.

Which still makes them fast as Space Marines- very capable of riding bikes and jetbikes alike.

Ashiraya wrote:

 Farseer Morlengal wrote:
Make of this what you will: Wraith Units are one less initiative than Guardians.

Which still makes them fast as Space Marines- very capable of riding bikes and jetbikes alike.

My issue there, is that, in the BRB it calls Eldar "are the undisputed masters of anti-grav technology" and I always assumed that mastery of technology along with their quick reflexes is what gave them the assault move. Now I've never played 30k, but I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that I don't think SM get that extra assault move on their jetbikes. Granted, taking a look at old Codex, when Guardians were I4, they still got that assault move, so I could just be wrong there.

 Kriswall wrote:
Ultimately, you can make up just about anything and so long as it's even remotely plausible it will work...

While alive, your Jetbike riders were the absolute top tier. Now that they've been 'wraithed', they're slower... now roughly on par with an average rider. I don't think anyone will call you out on that.

Or... say that the vehicles are controlled by multiple stones. One stone to watch out for targets, one to drive, etc... Kind of like how a Wraithknight has two pilots, one living and one dead.

pm713 wrote:
You could get away with saying that things have the Stones of Seers inside and these allow the dead to see reality well enough to act in a similar way to the living.

I like all of these ideas. When/If I ever get around to trying to writing expanded Altansar Fluff, one of the things I'm going to say is we protect ourselves with extra waystones/ soulstones. There isn't any reason you couldn't just do the same thing and claim multiple Soulstones, each specialized into an aspect of performing an action. A virtual Eldar assembly line of Death. Forgive me for seeming so negative, I'm actually for the idea of an almost all wraith army, though still a bit skeptical for the 'Wraith Aspect Warriors.' But don't let anything I say stop you, I am just playing Devil's Advocate; trying to point out plot or loop holes to be addressed, but (as said about the Jetbikes, which actually remind me of the old-models for Necron Destroyers that I've seen) you can just ignore any loopholes and do whatever you want. I'm a big fan of cherry picking your fluff to back up whatever you want to do in the WH40k universe.

Lorewise I'd suggest sticking a Warlock into every Jetbike squad and explaining the surprising functionality of the Wraithbikes as the Seer's influence. Tanks are a bit harder to explain away, seeing as they may already have soul stones hanging out on board they're half Wraith unit already.