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So, a while back I decided that I want a non-marine army and got a whole lot of feedback from the fine folks here on Dakka. In the end I decided I would end up doing a unit by unit approach to getting new forces together for gaming.

Around the same time I ended up in the position to get my grubby mitts on an Eldar Falcon through a trade worked out with a guy from the Mordheim campaign I had been participating in. This will go very nicely with the Striking Scorpions (the original inspiration for wanting to start a new army!) I have planned for my next major purchase ^_^. They're still a few weeks out though, as I've got a few projects in the tube that I want to finish (My empire building and Dakka Painting Challenge Entry!) before getting deep and heavy into painting them up ^_^.

So I turn my attention to getting started by figuring out a base idea to roll with when I end up starting the army. With so many color opportunities opened up by bringing in Aspect warriors to the army, I'm having trouble focusing on what colors to use for the base craftworld stuff. In fact I'm sort of torn between going skittles on my aspects or tying them to my base color scheme.

There are a few options I'm seriously considering right now:

Craftworld Colors:
+Create a GW craftworld army.
+Create my own Craftworld colors
+Use a variation on an established craftworld scheme

Aspect Colors:
++Go Skittles on the Aspects keeping their Aspect colors
++Tie the Aspects to the base colors and no worry about Aspect colors at all
++A mix using various elements from both the Aspect colors and Craftworld Colors

Craftworld Colors Thoughts:
-Going with a GW Craftworld would allow me to take the thinking and experimentation out of the equation, it's all done for me, and would allow me to paint at a faster clip.
-Creating my own allows me to explore various ideas, but seriously slows down the painting process as I approach each new unit type.
-Going with a variation on established craftworld colors gives me a little bit of play room while still keeping my ideas grounded in colors that I know already work.

Aspect Colors Thoughts:
--Skittles means a different color scheme every unit which can keep me interested
--Keeping them inline with the craftworld means a bit more of a cohesive army. But doesn't lend itself to my modeling ADD very well ^_-. Though I'm hoping the variety of models makes up for it.
--A mix would give me max chances to play with color and design of each aspect, but again, slows me down a lot.

I'm still working out the type of army I'll end up using in the end. But for now the only units I KNOW I'll have are the Falcon and the Scorpions. Past that I can't wrap my brain around the army just yet.

So, I think that's enough typing for now, what kind of ideas do folks out in the internets have?

Create your own. I did, I love that it's unique.

Aspect Colors can be 'hidden' beneath an overall theme. For example you can color banshee hair to your CW colors, so they mesh but are still skittles. It makes things easier to paint.

The way I did things was to paint the basic aspect colors (aka bone white on the banshee armor) then consulted my color scheme and put the alternative colors on.

By alternative I am referring to the color wheel triad/quad.

I did not use the 'main' color on my vehicles anywhere else, so everything had a unique look but the weapons/hair/gems/etc all had my CW color scheme tying them together.

One of the most impressive looking Eldar armies I've seen in person is painted with a unifying theme, even the aspects. What makes the aspects unique for that army is that each aspect warrior has a hand-painted (but simple) pattern over the cw colors that fits the "theme" of that aspect. It's really stunning to look at. That might be too much work for you but your painting is so impressive as is I thought I'd throw that idea out there.

Saim-Hann is catching my eye right now.



After looking more I know that I want white in my color scheme.

I've also been messing around with the DoW army painter some, as well as the GW Eldar Guardian Painter.

Here are some random things I came up with last night:



Don't mind the Iyaden guy ^_-. Though Yellow isn't 100% off the table just yet.

I kind of like the idea of a jetbike based army. But I don't know how viable they are to play with. Not that I know how viable any of the eldar units are x.x. Anyone have some insight for eldar units they'd like to share ^_^?

White with crimson undersuit is good - it gives the model more visual texture.

I concur!

I like that Idea as well (red under-suit w/white plates), but I would hate to paint it =D

I'm not sure the transition on each model would really hold up.

I'm a simple guy -- Shotguns & Planks w. Rusty Nails -- and maybe the two tone Helmet/Suit would be a good idea.

~sA

Yeah the red undersuit looks cool, but would be a drag to paint.

The armor plates on the plastic guardian models are no where nearly well defined as in the painter program.

Thanks for all of the input folks ^_^. I wasn't really looking so much for a definite choice from the above though, just sort of sharing the thought process ^_^! None of the above are anywhere close to my final choice just yet. I believe the only thing I'm sure of is that I'm going to have white in my color scheme.

Jezrael wrote:The armor plates on the plastic guardian models are no where nearly well defined as in the painter program.

This is definitely a concern as I move forward.

Another thought is that if I decide to go forward with a jetbike based army, I will want to wait out the new jetbikes. And who knows when those are going to be released!

Some more thoughts xposted from another forum as I considered some other things folks were putting forth for the project:

The guardians here are really just to help me pan out my thoughts more than pick out a final color scheme. I'm really seriously considering going all out with a set craftworld scheme right now. I've always wanted to do a set army from the universe (as I've already done a DIY with my marines!). I also want to run them by the fluff whatever army I DO end up choosing. So if I go ulthwe I'd have a seer council, saim hann would go bikes, iyaden would have wraithguard, altioc would have ranger power etc.

I love the schemes from all four of those I mentioned so far. Ulthwe for their simplicity and brooding look. Saim Hann for the racing stripes ^_-. Iyaden for the bold bright colors. Altioc for the camo/stippling.

And another big bonus is that each would play differently from what I've come accustomed to with marines.

I know so far it's all just a lot of words x.x. It's a big decision though! And I won't make it lightly!

I like Saim-Hann too. And I think the best looking Saim-Hann are those that arent pure red. Throwing in white parts in different quantities could look really good. Doesnt have to be certain plates in certain colors. Could do stripes, runes, vines or whatever pattern in white on red or vice versa.

There was one example in the eldar dex tyhat had a brown craftworls. Looked very cool and different.

ender502

Saim Hann.

Good call, though I must admit I'm a sucker for a red/white colour scheme (e.g. the cover of the C:WH. Sooooo cool! Hehe.)