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Hello, I have been painting miniatures for about a year now but am completely new to playing 40k. I wanted to start a small Eldar force (500-1000pts) and was wondering what models I should start with. I just want to start with basic models that I can build a more specific army around later. Any suggestions help.
Thanks

What kind of familiarity do you have with the fluff?

Eldar can field a number of different types of armies. Some of them are currently OP, and some aren't that strong, but none of them are unplayably bad.

The different armies mostly align to Cratfworlds that frequently use them.

Wraiths - Iyanden - Lots of Wraithnouns. Wraith troops, and Wraith heavy support, lead by a spiritseer or five (yes, you can field five, but you wouldn't at low points). Few models, but those models make Marines look like paper (t6 3+ for your troops). The 6E codex really seems to focus on these guys, and there is a suppliment for them.

Swordwind - Biel-Tan - Lots of (different) Aspect Warriors squads. Each squad has it's job, and does it well. I actually play this one often (although as Uthwe fluff-wise). One box of each aspect you want to field, plus more Dire Avengers for troops. Scales really well, and can do a lot of fun stuff. Each aspect is really cool on it's own, but trying to use them all together can be a lot of fun. Not the strongest army, but it's a blast. If you do go this route, I strongly suggest you keep yourself to one "box" of any given aspect aside from Avengers (you need troops, after all) at least through 1850. Makes for a much more fun army (and collection), and gives you a lot of different things to paint!

Guardians and Seers - Uthwe - Lots of Guardian-style units. Defenders, weapon platforms, etc. Farseers and warlocks for support. Possibly an Avatar if points are high enough. Basically, a very sturdy line the enemy can't push, and lots of buffing powers. Probably some War Walkers too. Don't see this much. (this doesn't include the "Seer Star")

Mechanized - (don't remember which Craftworld matches this best) - Lots of Skimmer tanks. Fire Prisms. Falcons, Serpents, and more! A couple infantry squads in the Serpents and Falcons (Falcons can't take Guardians or Wraiths, or any large squad), who wait in the tanks until the time is right! WIth Serpents being our only DT, this is kinda game-breakingly OP right now. It is fun, but it can be quite mean.

Windriders Sam-Hain - Lots of jetbikes/vipers. Guardian Jetbikes are obscenely manuverable and cheap. Farseers and Warlocks on bikes were broken in 6th edition (Seer Council), and some think they still are. Vypers are glass cannons, but can be fun. Autarchs on bikes can do some fun stuff.

I'm sure there's more, but this is what I can think of off the top of my head. They all work, but I'd avoid Mechdar until the Serpent gets nerfed. You can also mix and match what you like from each, but I've usually enjoyed the armies most when I try one of these.

I wanted to field a very psychic-y army. What would you suggest to achieve that?

Farseer, definitely.

At 500-1000 points, the next thing is probably a Guardian squad (Jetbikes or Guardians, but your first should probably be Defenders) with a Warlock.

For a second troop, Avengers, another Guardian squad (Bikes or Defenders), or Rangers. If you pick Guardians, add another Warlock, IMO.

Now, do you want to gunline it? Then weapons platforms.
Combined arms? Pick up an Aspect squad (whatever you like the look of).
Mechanized? YOu need two transports (remember, Falcons can't take Guardian squads).

Next, you could choose a second Farseer or not. Two is a lot below 1000 points.

Then, just fill with what yo ulike the idea of, until you're at the points you want. Most of the codex is good. A few units are subpar, but still fun (Banshees, Vypers, Rangers, and Storm Guardians).

Alternately, for lots of psyker goodness, you could do Spirit Seers. With the Iyanden suppliment, you can get 5 of them in one HQ slot. And they're ML2.

Whichever you do (I'd suggest the first, especially if you like painting), most of your powers will be buffs. You'll have a handful of warp charges, but you won't be swimming in them.

While you could just take 10 Warlocks for warp charges, at that point you'll need to really focus on them to keep them alive, and they practically become the bulk of your army. It gives you warp charges, but I don't like the idea myself so much.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
(also, it's worth pointing out that the Battle Box gives you a nice start on your army, but it basically means the Vyper is free, but Vypers aren't that powerful)


Automatically Appended Next Post:
(Also, my advice is less about what's effective and more about what makes a fun Eldar army.)

So let me know if this sounds good:
HQ: Farseer
Troops: Guardians W/ Warlock and 5 Avengers
And then two serpents for DT

Competitive or friendly?

If you want to stomp face, two Serpents. More than 1 below 1500 is mean.

If you want to still have friends, keep the Guardians on foot (with a brighlance and warlock, they make an excellent backfield camper.) Options from here:
-Falcon for the Avengers, use the Serpent for guardians - Falcons are your MBT (although Serpents are stronger right now), but can still move the Avengers if needed)
-10 Avengers in a Serpent, backfield foot Guardians, add some flavor
-10 Avengers on foot with a Shimmershield, use the Serpent for something else (like ensuring Fire Dragons make it to their target
-5 Avengers in a Serpent, backfield foot guardians, add more flavor.

'Flavor' can be nearly anything in the Codex. You want diversity, so you'll want some non-troops to flesh out the list. Our troops are good and fun, but we're an army of specialists. What do you like the look of?

Remember that Serpents can transport 12 guys, and both Warlocks and weapons platforms take up a slot.

So just as a really simple friendly list:
Farseer HQ with 5 avengers in a falcon and guardians /w warlock in a serpent?

If its a simple friendly list (the best kind), one gravtank is more than enough at those point levels, unless you really really like the idea of Mechdar. Sorry for missing that earlier.

Battle box +1 of just about anything would be a friendly start.

(Also, you can't manifest powers while in an Eldar transport)

Here are some "+1" ideas:
-Swooping Hawks. Always fun, and now they're good used right.
-Dark Reapers - this'll mostly turn you into a gunline
-Fire Dragons - mount them up in the Serpent, and they can take down just about any hard target (if you roll better than I do)
-Scorpions - A little infiltrating melee is always fun. They are quite the bullies, but won't stop most dedicated melee
-War Walkers some high-volume heavy weapons platforms

These are just a few ideas. I'd page through the codex and look at what really speaks to you.

If you're up to proxies/conversions/3rd-party models, Farseers do well on jetbikes. Warlocks do too. But there are no official models for them.
If you're wanting to go as psychic as possible, 1-2 farseers with warlocks, and troops to fit. As Warlocks go with the Guardian squads, your suggestion would work. As for DTs, you cannot cast when inside them, as Wave Serpents have no fire-points.

Or, go Wraith, and get the supplement book.
You can get lots of Spiritseers, IIRC, and Spiritseers affect how your Wraith units work. If you like WS, they can go in there, too.

All fun options.

We pay about the same per warp charge with each of our Pysker options (Hemlock and Harlie Shadowseer being exceptions), so it once again boils down to what flavor you want.

Thanks for the help everyone. I think I've got a better hold on these lists now.

I think I might give hawks a try for something fast moving. Thanks again.

Bharring wrote:
Competitive or friendly?

If you want to stomp face, two Serpents. More than 1 below 1500 is mean.

If you want to still have friends, keep the Guardians on foot (with a brighlance and warlock, they make an excellent backfield camper.) Options from here:
-Falcon for the Avengers, use the Serpent for guardians - Falcons are your MBT (although Serpents are stronger right now), but can still move the Avengers if needed)
-10 Avengers in a Serpent, backfield foot Guardians, add some flavor
-10 Avengers on foot with a Shimmershield, use the Serpent for something else (like ensuring Fire Dragons make it to their target
-5 Avengers in a Serpent, backfield foot guardians, add more flavor.

'Flavor' can be nearly anything in the Codex. You want diversity, so you'll want some non-troops to flesh out the list. Our troops are good and fun, but we're an army of specialists. What do you like the look of?

Remember that Serpents can transport 12 guys, and both Warlocks and weapons platforms take up a slot.

2 serpents at 1500 is not mean. 4 is.

I suppose it varies by meta. Around here, I cap myself at 1 in a 1500. Any more than that and most of my opponents are unhappy. Better to err on the side of caution in this regard, IMO. The serpent is, according to most, outright broken.

 Firefrog234 wrote:
So let me know if this sounds good:
HQ: Farseer
Troops: Guardians W/ Warlock and 5 Avengers
And then two serpents for DT

A very good start.