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Hello,

I would like an Autarch for my Alaitoc but I'm not 100% sure how to actually get one (the model itself, I mean). I don't think I want one with wings and a power sword, but that's the only actual Autarch model. I'm not exactly sure what the distinguishing features of the Autarch are and so I'm not precisely sure how to convert one of my own from Dire Avengers or whatever.

I want one to sit with my Dark Reapers because I think the Path of Command and rerolling on 1s is worth it over dedicating a Farseer's Guide to the unit each turn (and I can still fly by with my Farseer on turn 2/3 to scare away deep strikers).

Could I buy another Dark Reaper box and use one of them, perhaps the Exarch, as my Autarch? How could I modify it to more represent an Autarch and less represent a Dark Reaper Exarch? I'd like to give him a Reaper Launcher as well, but the box doesn't come with enough reaper launchers for the 5th model. Do people ever model the Missile Launcher and use it as a reaper launcher? Would it be good enough to just cut off the head and replace it with a Dire Avenger head?

People in my community often play with secondary objectives, one of which includes bonus points for killing units of 10+ or 20+ so I'm thinking if I take a unit of 9 Dark Reapers and make the 10th guy the Autarch it will make them a little less of a target than if they were one of the 10-man units on the field.

Autarchs vary in appearance, but almost always have 2-3 elements of an Aspect Warrior they once were. So the Winged model has Hawk Wings, Scorpion Mandiblasters, etc.
It is the only plastic Autarch. The other models are out of production

You really just need to get a model you like and say he's an Autarch. You could use the existing model without the wings, or get a Dire Avenger Exarch with some bits swaps, etc.
Old Fantasy High Elf bits are some of my favorites to use. But sure, an extra Reaper Exarch fancied up a bit would work fine

Personally, my Autarchs will always be Skyrunners because they are awesome:


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You should have one spare Reaper launcher. As long as you gave the Exarch the Tempest Launcher, (and why wouldn't you, its amazing) there should be a spare Reaper Launcher laying around somewhere.

Autarchs are super easy to customize. I use the Dire Avenger Body on mine because its a good looking model that is easy to pose. Eldar joints and arms are all pretty interchangable, so its fairly easy to slap a Reaper Launcher on a Dire Avenger Exarch Body and have a decent looking Autarch. You can even model the Glaive in the Dire Avenger Exarch bit to act as a Star Glaive which he will have in his default infantry kit!

Just have fun. Some people add flags, if your other Elves have helmets, run your Autarch bare helmeted. As long as you end up with a model that looks suitably authoritative, you'll be good to go.

 Galef wrote:
Autarchs vary in appearance, but almost always have 2-3 elements of an Aspect Warrior they once were. So the Winged model has Hawk Wings, Scorpion Mandiblasters, etc.
It is the only plastic Autarch. The other models are out of production

You really just need to get a model you like and say he's an Autarch. You could use the existing model without the wings, or get a Dire Avenger Exarch with some bits swaps, etc.

Personally, my Autarchs will always be Skyrunners because they are awesome:

Spoiler:

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Okay. I really love the idea of my Autarch being similar to the Dark Reapers because I think the Dark Reapers fit in with the Alaitoc theme very well. Perhaps the Autarch general was once a Dire Avenger after he finished being an Outcast (can Outcasts return to the Craftworld to pursue the path of command, or is the path of command and being an outcast usually separate routes?). I have no idea where to get a Dire Avenger Exarch head without buying more Dire Avengers :/


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 akaean wrote:
You should have one spare Reaper launcher. As long as you gave the Exarch the Tempest Launcher, (and why wouldn't you, its amazing) there should be a spare Reaper Launcher laying around somewhere.

Autarchs are super easy to customize. I use the Dire Avenger Body on mine because its a good looking model that is easy to pose. Eldar joints and arms are all pretty interchangable, so its fairly easy to slap a Reaper Launcher on a Dire Avenger Exarch Body and have a decent looking Autarch. You can even model the Glaive in the Dire Avenger Exarch bit to act as a Star Glaive which he will have in his default infantry kit!

Just have fun. Some people add flags, if your other Elves have helmets, run your Autarch bare helmeted. As long as you end up with a model that looks suitably authoritative, you'll be good to go.

My Dark Reapers came with 4 Reaper Launchers, 1 Tempest Launcher, and 1 Aeldari Missile Launcher. You're saying if I buy another box it's suppose to come with 5 Reaper Launchers, 1 Tempest Launcher, and the missile launcher?

After looking at Galef's Autarch, I think I might actually buy the Autarch kit even if just for the helmet. That thing is very distinct and looks nice. I dislike painting skin and I dislike the look of miniatures without their helmets, so my squad leaders and HQ choices are always decked out with a fancy pants helmet.

I only recommended a DA Exarch because it's the only plastic option, but if you wanted to use a Reaper, that's fine too.
There just aren't plastic Reapers, so to me, the unit doesn't exist outside of conversions

And here is another Autarch of mine for inspiration:

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I'm actually not sure. Its been a while since I bought an Aspect Warrior box...

Anyway, here is an example of my most recent kit bashed Autarch, using the Dire Avenger Exarch. I use him to to represent the default winged dude. WIP currently

The point is it's a fun kit bash and can get a very unique model.

The Autarch is almost tailor made to be kit-bashed, which is why it's my favorite HQ of all time.

Do you think I could model the Autarch mini with the lifting foot resting on a rock or something so it looks more stable and then put a reaper launcher in its arms? I'm worried it'll need different arms. I think the pistol arm could be the forward arm gripping the reaper launcher, but I'm not positive that the power sword arm will be able to hold the base of the reaper launcher.

I guess I'll buy a Dark Reaper kit and an Autarch kit and do what I can, maybe hold off until I can get my hands on some DA bits. It's really disappointing that such a versatile and interesting captain has such a narrow range of options in its box. I'd gladly pay like $45 for an Autarch that came with various back pieces, helmets, and weapon load outs.

 Kharneth wrote:
It's really disappointing that such a versatile and interesting captain has such a narrow range of options in its box. I'd gladly pay like $45 for an Autarch that came with various back pieces, helmets, and weapon load outs.

While I agree, to be fair to GW, they likely scaled back on the Autarch options because it is so easy to kit bash that they weren't sell the ones they once made (which were quite varied)
Rather than remolding a kit that may or may not sell, GW took the lazy road and just let players continue kit bashing as they would still have done

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 Galef wrote:

 Kharneth wrote:
It's really disappointing that such a versatile and interesting captain has such a narrow range of options in its box. I'd gladly pay like $45 for an Autarch that came with various back pieces, helmets, and weapon load outs.

While I agree, to be fair to GW, they likely scaled back on the Autarch options because it is so easy to kit bash that they weren't sell the ones they once made (which were quite varied)
Rather than remolding a kit that may or may not sell, GW took the lazy road and just let players continue kit bashing as they would still have done

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Yeah I guess.

Just getting into Eldar so I haven't gotten bored of the regular looking minis. I have no desire to kit bash or make unique looking units. I know no one likes finecast, but at least it won't be as impossible to modify as metal would've been (referring to my Reapers).

Its actually more sinister than that. GW decided that kit bashing was getting out of hand, and only wanted us to play models they made. So they gutted the Autarch's options for implementation in the current Eldar Codex. You are still allowed to use your index options because GW issued a ruling that you are allowed to take index wargear options for codex models. But this means that if they ever discontinue the Index... a reaper launcher Autarch will become illegal. Its part of the reason I built a new Autarch. My old one was a cool dude with a Warp Jump Generator and a Fusion Gun + Power Sword which I would run as the Shard of Annaris.

I have a serious concern that the indexes will be discontinued at some point- possibly as soon as all of the armies have codex support. So that is something to consider and prepare for. I'll actually be saddest for my Chaos Marines, as I absolutely adore my Chaos Lord on a Steed of Slaanesh.

You don't even need to modify them all that much. Just slap something extra on them, like a back banner or something.
Dire Avengers have them, but so do Dark Eldar. They should be easy to find online or bits trade
Just glue it to the back. Autarch Done

 Galef wrote:
You don't even need to modify them all that much. Just slap something extra on them, like a back banner or something.
Dire Avengers have them, but so do Dark Eldar. They should be easy to find online or bits trade
Just glue it to the back. Autarch Done

Haha all right. I'm sure I can find some and worse case scenario I think a tooth pick, thick paper, and some care will do the trick.

Is it just me or do the Eldar have a little Japanese in them?

I know for myself personally, I have an Alaitoc Autarch, that I didn't even do any kitbash on, I just did a counts-as model.

It's an Alaitoc Autarch, with Banshee Mask, Star Glaive and Reaper Launcher. I take the Shimmerplume (-1 to hit) and Mark of the Incomprable Hunter (shoot characters, ignoring intervening models), and use a Deathjester as the model. The Reaper Launcher and Star Glaive 'combined' as it's big ol' sniper with a blade on the end. So it's an Autarch that acts as a sneaky Sniper.

That's my lazy-but-try-to-fluff Autarch solution. Just offering a different option instead of Kitbashes, because people out there may be like me, and suck at doing kitbashing

You need to build your own.
The stock models sukimo.

Here is the the own that I built last winter:








https://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-111244-59065_Eldar%20Autarch%20Conversion.html

As for the lore, and this question:
"can Outcasts return to the Craftworld to pursue the path of command, or is the path of command and being an outcast usually separate routes?"

Absolutely. Yriel is one such example.

Outcasts return to the Craftworld all the times. Path of the Outcast is just another Path. When the walker is done with it, they discard that path and pick up another.

The only paths that preclude you from taking another are the terminal ones (such as Farseer) or the chronic ones (such as Exarchs). Because you can never walk another path again.

The Craftworlders are probably less likely to put an entire warhost under the command of some guy who just came back from rejecting their way of life, but it does happen.

That said, Autarch is a little different in that you're not supposed to walk that Path until after you've walked a couple different Aspects.

There is also contradictory fluff that Autarchs were Exarchs of multiple other Paths. While that is canon, it is incompatible with other canon fluff, and what Exarchs are both on a philosophical level (lost on the path), and on a mechanics level (the person who becomes an Exarch merges, irreversably, with all other souls that ever wore that Exarch armor). This fluff would make it impossible for an Outcast to then walk the path of Command without first walking some Aspect paths, as an Exarch cannot change paths thus cannot walk the Path of the Outcast.

Bharring wrote:

Spoiler:

As for the lore, and this question:
"can Outcasts return to the Craftworld to pursue the path of command, or is the path of command and being an outcast usually separate routes?"

Absolutely. Yriel is one such example.

Outcasts return to the Craftworld all the times. Path of the Outcast is just another Path. When the walker is done with it, they discard that path and pick up another.

The only paths that preclude you from taking another are the terminal ones (such as Farseer) or the chronic ones (such as Exarchs). Because you can never walk another path again.

The Craftworlders are probably less likely to put an entire warhost under the command of some guy who just came back from rejecting their way of life, but it does happen.

That said, Autarch is a little different in that you're not supposed to walk that Path until after you've walked a couple different Aspects.

There is also contradictory fluff that Autarchs were Exarchs of multiple other Paths. While that is canon, it is incompatible with other canon fluff, and what Exarchs are both on a philosophical level (lost on the path), and on a mechanics level (the person who becomes an Exarch merges, irreversably, with all other souls that ever wore that Exarch armor). This fluff would make it impossible for an Outcast to then walk the path of Command without first walking some Aspect paths, as an Exarch cannot change paths thus cannot walk the Path of the Outcast

.

To add to this, there isn't a set order to paths either, except that Autarchs must be Aspects first. Oh, and Warlocks also must have been an Aspect prior to the path of the Seer.
Aeldari easily live for centuries meaning they can walk multiple paths in their life. So you can have been an Outcast 200 yrs ago, but have been a Banshee and a Dark Reaper since then.
Or have been a Dire avenger 1000yrs ago, and only recently been an Outcast.

I think it is also "rude" or derogatory to mention a Craftworlders past Paths as they are no longer on that Path.

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The Autarch is a kind of new invention (in terms of 40K) and is really nothing more than a tarted up Exarch model-wise. So any model you want is fine as long as he's distinctive from normal squads and is armed with the appropriate wargear.

Minor clarification: a Warlock is on the Path of the Seer, not Path of the Warlock. Specifically, a Warlock is someone who's walked a Path of Khaine previously, and can use their memories of that Path while being a Seer. It's the only fluff I know of where an Eldar on a Path actually uses previous experiences.

Autarchs are similar in that there the only Path I know of that has another path as a prereq.

(It's also one of the reasons I'm glad most Autarch weapons are Aspect Warrior weapons, not Exarch weapons.)

One thing that always bugged my in prior editions was that Warlocks (LD8), despite having previously been Aspect warriors, had a lower LD than Aspects (LD9). Walking the Path of the Seer must be scarier than throwing yourself into battle.
I guess it makes sense with Daemons constantly trying to eat your soul.

Warlocks used to be bad-asses...then they became really really subpar awful buff-machines instead of competent warrior-psykers. Absolutely neutered to hell in the 2nd-3rd transition (as were Exarchs, Farseers, the Avatar, etc.).

 Galef wrote:
One thing that always bugged my in prior editions was that Warlocks (LD8), despite having previously been Aspect warriors, had a lower LD than Aspects (LD9). Walking the Path of the Seer must be scarier than throwing yourself into battle.

Why wouldn't it be? With Eldar medical arts and armour, as long as your side wins the battle, you'll probably survive even worst physical injuries. You can't grow a new soul however.

Unless those "worst physical injuries" are a lasgun to the face, or a Lascannon to the toe.

I'd imagine most Eldar casualties in battle are actually mortalities, not just woundings. They aren't significantly more durable than stock humans in that regard - no redundant organs or reinforced skulls.

Dying and being trapped in a Soulstone isn't as scary as having your soul eaten, but it's still considered death to the Eldar.

As for risking the soul - a lascannon to the soulstone - or if it's destroyed in any other way, your soul gets eaten. Sure, the Seer faces their soul getting eaten without getting shot at by heavy weapons, but any CWE Eldar on the battlefield faces that possibility.

A Warlock has been an Aspect Warrior, but is not currently one. So they know how to fight like a, for example, Fire Dragon. A Fire Dragon has a very specific kit and a very specific role. A Warlock has a much wider array of capabilities, with very different risks. And their role isn't nearly as well defined. A Fire Dragon is responsible for living up to the ideals of their Shrine. Only that. A Warlock is responsible for living up to the ideals of the Path of the Seer, responsible for deciding what to do, responsible for leading others, responsible for deciding when and how much of the Warp should be manifested, and responsible for doing the actual manifestation. The Fire Dragon has some very clear training that covers what to do in almost all scenarios. A Warlock had the same training, but must adapt it to what they can do. A Fire Dragon can have certainty about their part in the battle, due to it's specialization. A Warlock does not have that luxury.

Aspect Warriors should be LD9, so should Exarchs. Warlocks should be standard CWE LD8, because they lack the specialization/limited scope.

Still, it would have been nice for Warlocks in prior editions to have given their Guardian units the LD buff. It would have been an easy fix to make Warlock worth adding to units. It's not really an issue in 8th though

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 Kharneth wrote:

Is it just me or do the Eldar have a little Japanese in them?

I always thought the vibe was a bit more Indian, particularly in past editions?

 Galef wrote:
Still, it would have been nice for Warlocks in prior editions to have given their Guardian units the LD buff. It would have been an easy fix to make Warlock worth adding to units. It's not really an issue in 8th though

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eh, I started playing Eldar in 5th edition, and I actually *did* use Warlocks primarily as leadership bunkers. I used to run small blocks of Jetbikes to fill out my troops, and I would put in a Warlock with a Singing Spear and Embolden as the squad leader. This was back when Warlocks weren't proper psychers but their "powers" were inbuilt wargear. Embolden gave the squad a re-roll for failed leadership checks. So my little Warlock gave the squad a 4th member, added to their 12 inch shooting with his Spear to potentially threaten vehicles, and he importantly made them far more reliable at holding objectives by greatly increasing their chances to not fail leadership checks and route. Leadership 8 wasn't the most reliable thing in the world, and they would take checks often due to their small size.

The only other power I would ever really take was Destructor (basically an eldar heavy flamer), and I only did that on Jetbikes in really low point games (like 500 points where every heavy weapon counts), or when the Warlock was accompanying a Mechanized Storm Guardian Squad. Back in the good ol' days when all Guardians hit on a 4+, but 2 Flamers on the Squad and Destructor on the Warlock was a decent bit of firepower that didn't need to roll to hit. There were few things more satisfying than a Tank Shock with your Wave Serpent to bunch up the enemy troops, then hopping out the back and placing 3 templates over them with the Guardians- possibly with doom support. I never really used the other powers because I didn't run the 5th edition Seer Council.