More Thoughts On Eldar Corsairs: Webway Portals

Well I am officially back in good old Lansing. My time on the path of the outcast is over and it is time to tread the path of the Seer once again. Its been a busy month and the move, although smooth, has taken up a lot of time. I have been remiss in posting and for that I do apologize. The Judge, Samsquatch Monster and I have been setting up the 40K man cave in the basement of the house. The hobby areas are set and the tables are in progress.

I promised some more thoughts on the Eldar Corsairs list. Sadly I have not gotten another game in with them as of yet. I have had some more thoughts as I mill over the list though. I have put some thought into the many forms of deployment available to the army. I had officially dismissed the Void Dreamer. The powers he offers are nice in very specific situations. Sadly they do not have a decent blanket effect, nor does he have the utility of a Farseer to warrant using the HQ slot he takes up. Many of the more observant readers of Codexes and Imperial Armor books will notice that the Void dreamer has 2 entries for a Corsair Jump Pack. This is of course a typo and if you look at the Q&A entry on the Forgeworld site there is errata correcting this. The Void Dreamer demands a second look when you find out that the second Jump Pack Entry should be a Webway Portal.

This Opens up some possibilities. All of a sudden the Void Dreamer fits into a list with multiple deployment options. Using the corsair princes ability to allow up to three units to deep strike if they did not have the ability to do so already in conjunction with a Void Dreamer equipped with a webway portal, let you deliver your army quickly and efficiently. Dual Void Dreamers also opens up the option for a hybrid Craftworld style Webway list. I have been putting together some different list options running one Corsair Prince and One Void Dreamer as well as a Dual Void Dreamer List.

The prospect of delivering Webway portals via Falcon and a decently hardy Psyker is much more appealing than Haemonculis and a group of wracks. The defensive powers and slight offensive capability of the Void Dreamer combined with a small group of Corsair veterans or even just regular corsairs armed with some nice assault weapons ensures a very stable and easily defended beachhead for the army. The Falcons can harass the enemy while the Void Dreamers and their bodyguards establish the Webway portals in good positions. The real bonus to this is that you have 3 options with a lot of the units in the army.

You can deploy the traditional way and walk onto the board edge, or outflank with scouts, deploy via deep strike with your jump pack equipped units and come through the webway portal if no viable deep strike option is available.

This second look is really expanding the possibilities. I am more apt to take a Phoenix Bomber or Nightwing with 2 Falcons on the board. You have a decent amount of fire power on the table while the rest of your army awaits in reserve to react to your opponent. The only real Achilles heel to this style of list is the same one all reserve armies suffer from. The units coming in piece meal.

I will have more on this later, I will be trying the lists out this coming week as well as a Footdar list that I am sad to say I did not come up with. OST has been pondering my Footdar after facing them a few times and seems to have come up with a list of his own that seems pretty legit. More on that later.

Until then

Blood Runs, Anger Rises, Death Wakes, War Calls!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eldar Corsairs: Thoughts After The First Game

Its good to be back in good old Lansing. The move went pretty smooth. I am basically unpacked and the construction of the 40K basement of epicness has begun. Samsquatch Monster has been cleaning and getting the mountain of Tau and Space Wolves stowed away and organized. The Judge will be moving in over the next week. The 40K cave will have 3 tables as well as our 3 individual hobby areas as well as a fume hood for priming and an Airbrush Station. It should be very very nice.

As promised I am going to give my initial thoughts after using the Eldar Corsair list from Imperial Armor 11. I was going to do a full battle report, but the details are a bit foggy as it was a week ago and the game was pretty short. We only went 3 turns. I took on CVinton and his space wolves. I don't believe in doing things halfway so if I am going to test an army list or a new codex I want a tough opponent. I went with a foot list for the Corsairs, since I have been on a Footdar kick as of late.

My initial assessment of the viability of a foot list was flawed. If you look at the army list a foot list is possible thanks to the jet packs and relentless rule it provides. The amount of fire and flexibility of the units is clear. The real issue is the lack of protection. Also a lack of an Avatar means leadership tests. Granted the higher leadership values make the units hardier, but not invulnerable. The low armor saves are akin to Kabalite Warriors. Normally this is not an issue......when they are in transports or in cover.

Because the Corsairs use a high percentage of Craftworld weaponry, my brain decided I could run the Corsairs like Craftworlders. I should have been running them Like Dark Eldar. A strait up foot army hoofing it across the table was not a good idea with the Corsairs. I totally ignored the many different deployment options.

You have whole units that can scout, deep strike, outflank and arrive via webway portal. These deployment options let you run a decently viable foot list as long as you don't come in piece meal. Cvintons Long Fangs tore my army up very quickly and the Wolf Priest lead swift claw pack hit the heart of my army and laid it to waste. The whole lynchpin of the army was the Phoenix Bomber and it was dealt with after the first turn. After that the army kind of evaporated. The bomber is a very potent vehicle. The devastating amount of fire it laid down made it a very high priority target. Despite having a 4+ save it still fell to a torrent of missile fire.

I was also not very impressed with the Void Dreamer. The protections and enhancements the Void Dreamer provides are not that great. The lack of any runes of warding means the one anti psychic power is basically useless to the rest of the army as it only protects the Void Dreamer and the unit he may be joined to.

I am going to have to step back and really take a hard look at how to run this list. It has the weapons of a Craftworld army with the speed and mobility of the Dark Eldar. You can run it many different ways as well depending on your unit selection. I am milling the idea of a Corsair Variation of the Webway list. The main difference being that only about half of the army will arrive via portal, while the other elements will be on board and arriving by deep strike. Having the portal on the board lets you keep your deep strikers safe by giving them the option of coming out of the portal if no decent or viable deep strike position is available.

So I like the army, but I am unsure how viable it is. Granted I have only gotten one game in with it. I hope to get 4 or 5 more with the new list I am building taking advantage of the many deployment options.

Next time I will have some thoughts on Necrons. I played OST this past week with both my Craftworlders and my Dark Eldar. He was using Cvintons new Necron army. I was not prepared for to fight this new codex. Although I have read it cover to cover, I was not ready for how it played and flowed on the table. I was soundly beaten in both games in only 4 turns. The sheer torrent of fire was overwhelming. Tesla is powerful, but more on that next time.

Until then................

Blood Runs, Anger Rises, Death Wakes, War Calls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!!

A New Eldar Army List: Eldar Corsairs In IA 11

Well the move back to Lansing is going slowly. Returning to the path is going to be rough. By path I mean the hobby. I have been playing, but my painting and model building has been almost non existent. Dark Eldar, Eldar and Orks are all on my plate. I even have added High Elves to the mix. I look forward to the hobby jump start after I am done moving. The FLGS will be there and of course the other Craftworld authors and the Dark Future Boys.

I digress though. I have been reading through Imperial Armour 11 and I have to say I am pretty impressed. Not only does it have every Forgeworld Eldar unit in it, it also gives us a new army list to play. The Eldar Corsair army list.

Since I have been on a Footdar kick as of late I was very excited to see this army list. It lends itself very well to foot lists. In fact I have been toying with the list making a few different foot lists and they seem to work better than my Craftworld Footdar lists. You are limited to Venoms and Falcons for transports so small units, kinda an expensive razor spam for Eldar, seem to be encouraged. Larger units are forced to g on foot, but are not handicapped by it. The one glaring omission form the list though is the Avatar. The fearless bubble is the glue that binds the Craftworld Footdar list together. This is because of my heavy use of Guardians. The Corsairs benefit form an actual squad leader with a leadership value of 9. This is a major upgrade. Throw in a BS of 4 and that you can make them jet pack infantry you have a mobile force with a nice array of weapons. Having Relentless troops with Eldar missile launchers is very nice.

Since we have better leadership values with the corsairs the Avatar is not really needed. The army really is a hybrid of Dark Eldar and Craftworld Eldar. IN fact you can take Kabalite Warriors and a single fast attack or elite choice from codex Eldar as an Elites choice.

I think the thing I love the most about the Corsairs is the Heavy and Fast Attack choices. Night Spinners and Nightwings  are a fast choice while Phoenix Bombers are heavy choices. I hope this carries over a bit in the next iteration of the Eldar codex. Dark Eldar really set a precedent with flier units in the Xenos codex’s. These Units are fast and pack some serious punch. More so than a Void Raven or Razorwing. They are even about the same points cost. The real advantage though is they both have Eldar Titan Holo fields, or I should say an equivalent rule that generates the same save.  I still with they had missiles like their dark kindred though.

So for the Corsair lists I am experimenting with the core units are the Corsairs themselves. In fact I have 40 Headless and Armless Guardians ready to accept the Corsair conversion kits once I get them and finish my 1000 point bike army for the Adepticon Team tournament. This is bolstered by Nightwings and Night Spinners. Leading the force is the Corsair Prince and the Corsair Void Dreamer.

The Prince is a a mix or Autarch and Archon. The prince has wargear from both as well as some of his own, topped off with a Harlequins Kiss. I am looking forward to using this guy in combat. Being able to take a shadow field, jet pack, haywire grenades, melta bombs, a sword that boosts strength to 4 is powered and rending is pretty cool. So is the one time use orbital strike. The Void dreamer is what I wish warlocks were. A good mix of 3 powers that they have access to every turn. Not just single power. When they take spirit stones you get 2 powers a turn. They have a good mix of weapons as well, including witchblades.

I will cover the Craftworld Forces next time. We have the new Aspect warriors, the Shadow Specters, a new Phoenix lord for that Aspect and a Farseer that has a bubble than makes units stubborn. We also have the Wraithseer as well as all the new super heavy goodies. I am most intrigued by the Corsairs as I have all the units already, minus the Nightwings and Phoenix bombers.

So look for a battle report soon as I whip the corsairs out and continue to rediscover Eldar and foot lists in general. Just in time for a new rules set this summer.

Until next time

Blood Runs, Anger Rises, Death Wakes, War Calls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Imperial Armour 11 Has Landed

The Doom of Mymera has landed.  Imperial Armour  11 ships tomorrow.  Sadly I have to wait for my copy.  I am really looking forward to getting my hands on it.  It looks like we have the new Craftworld of Mymeara along with corsairs and Alaitoc.  More Imperial guard are included as well as the Space Wolves Great company of Bran Redmaw.

So we will have a complete Corsairs army list as well as final stats for the Shadow Specters and the Phoenix Lord.  I would imagine there is a crazy Space Wolf Character or two as well. Once I get a copy to read, which should be soon if I know Farseer Re-Rolls, I will give a run down and my opinion on the new stuff.

Has anybody else noticed that Alaitoc seems to at the forefront of the fluff as of late.  The Path Of series Gav Thorpe is writing and now an Imperial Armour book.  Alaitoc is also cited several times in the new Necron codex as being active in hunting tomb worlds and destroying them.  I wonder if they are going to be the poster children of the Eldar for 6th edition.

I guess we shall see.  Well Next time I will have a battle report.  I broke out Da Kabal uf Da Big Teef while I was up at the FLGS and squared off against our own BigMek SkrapKlaw.  Once again he established the orky pecking order on the blog.  I am also hoping to have another post up on DFG this week.  I have had requests from several players at the shop, Vogrin included, to run the Age of the Emperor campaign I ran across, that was put out by the Tempus Fugitives.  More on that later, and probably on Dark Future Games.  I also may have a rant about Ebay and Paypal this week.  Once I calm down about my funds being held.

Until then..............

Blood Runs, Anger Rises, Death Wakes, War Calls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let There Be Light: IA 11

Just a quickie before I head to work.  Bell of Lost Souls had this up earlier.  All I have to say is the Solitaire is back kids.  2nd edition Eldar lovers rejoice.  It also looks as if IA 12 will be dedicated to the Dark Kin.  So even if we are not getting a new codex, for the Craftworlders, we have some very tasty IA stuff to keep the Mon'Keigh on their crinkled toes.  So enjoy.

IA11

Few months off yet, still finalising the fluff at the beginning. Focuses on Eldar, with some guard and a tiny smidge of Wolves. All eldar models ever made have rules in it, so no need to carry multiple books.

Also the big one...not all models in the books will have models. I asked if there were rules for any models we hadn't seen yet ( a sneaky way of asking if there were more kits for us to see yet). The reply was "Yes, a few more. Also some will have rules that were aren't planning on producing" The Phoenix lord of the spectres was then gestured to. So maybe not getting a model yet?

Artwork is amazing. The pictures of the eldar squadrons stalking through the tundra, with the nights sky are simply astonishing

Shadow spectres get Phoenix Lord, didn't read the stats

Corsairs get Allied DE with craftworlds, and a few new unique units and HQ choices

Solitaire is one of those new HQ. Doesn't make quins troops, is a 0-1 no matter how big the army, not an IC and can carry a vortex grenade in Apoc for 75pts

Apoc data sheets, including one which is a 550pt Avatar, has 2D6 wounds, a 2+ armour save and his wailing doom is upgraded to a Strength D 10" template. However hes still a monstrous creature, not a gargant. He's important in the story as its the avatars last stand so he goes out in a literal blaze of glory. So at the end of the game he takes D6 wounds with no saves of any kind allowed

Phantom Titans rules are above

The Wraithseer is a HQ wraithlord, his physic powers include one which force an enemy unit to take a moral check at -1 or fall back immediatly. Another gives one wraithlord or wraithguard near him fleet (!). And the other, if a friendly wriath unit within 6" dies roll a D6. On a 6 its still alive, with one wound left. It also has a 4+ invulnerable

IA12

Dark Eldar

IA11 full Corsair army list think CA Eldar with access to DE vehicles. Several craftworlds involved Wraithseer is 175pts IIRC. BRAN Redmaw's company for the SW no SW models on show I've seen. Some great SW artwork in there. Scenarios for all the major battles in the campaign as we'll as Apocalypse formations including a very hacked off Avatar in one .

Models more pre heresy stuff. Jump packs. Pistol/CCW arms more heavy weapons. Eldar special weapons team the Wraithseer and Phantom we've seen but both are beautiful models. Astral Claw and Salamander power armour resin pads. Haywire cannon for DE Raider and a twin hull DE Raider
concept.




Here we seem a glimpse of the Phantom rules courtesy of Drlove42 on BOLS


Phantom Titan

WS 3, BS 4, 12/12/11 Init 2, Attacks 3

8 Structure Points

Don't expect it on sale till Gamesday (which is September here in Blighty).
Comes in at a hefty 2300 points. Features the Cobra cannon, the pulsar (which is 3 shots), the starcannon (3 shots instead of 2), which can be swapped for a pulse laser for free. Also has missile battery (S8 AP3 4 shots) and a AA mounted missile battery (S5 AP5 AA Mount). Usual 4+ invuln if it moved, but can chose to turn driver stunned into gunner stunned, so should only stop moving if it gets immobilised. Has the usual rules for fleeting titans as well, and weapons have a 12" minimum range. Only current other weapon is the sword seen previously. Will hasn't finished making it yet, but the sword comes with a 2nd twin linked starcannon built in. He also hasn't ruled out expanding the line of guns

The lady with the rule book (who i'm sure is an important person, i just don't know her name) said the reaction today towards the rules was mixed, so might be changing. (Personally I'm in the mind they are a little too expensive. 2000 points seems a better point...that fleeting instead of shooting rule is overated IMO)

As for magnetising and weapon swapping, the "torso" component comes with the body, the arm, the elbox joint and the hand. The "Gun" comes attatched to the forearm. So either can be magnetised at both ends, or drill through the arm and have a massive pin/rod from elbow to hand.







Looks as if the Warlock Titan is going to be in the pipe as well

I am off to work

Until next time...............




Blood Runs, Anger Rises, Death Wakes, War Calls!!!!!!!!
.

Forgworld love Continues: Corsairs and Dark Eldar

It looks as if Forgeworld kept some Edlar stuff back across the pond while I was at Adepticon.  We have some glimpses of the corsair forces and some Dark Eldar stuff as well for Imperial Armour 11.

Corsair Special weapons

It looks as if the corsairs are going to have jump infantry of some sort.  These guys looked  to be armed with fusion guns and flamers.

Raider with Haywire blaster

A Forgworld raider armed with a Haywire Blaster.  I really like the look of this so far.  I am very interested to see how different it is stat wise form a normal raider or if this is just going to be an alternative upgrade kit for a standard one.

This Raider looks awsome.  I can't wait for Imperial armor 11.  I would run this just as my normal raiders.  I am really wondering about price point.









Just a quick update.  Remember later in the week I will discuss the multi tiered mission .



Until then................




Blood Runs, Anger Rises, Death Wakes, War Calls!!!!!!!!!!

Don't Forget To Bring a Towel.

Well I made it two games into the GT before my temper started to show itself.  I managed to keep it professional and all together for my 2nd and now final game.  With a tie in round one and a massive loss for round two I have no chance to place or qualify for Sunday.  So even though I know I will get some flak I have withdrawn from the GT.  I want to have fun and I am starting to feel tired and rather ill tempered.  I think its best as I want to enjoy the convention.
The rest of the group is doing well though.  Vogrin has posted two victories and OST is tearing it up in Killzone.  The Phantom Titan is large and in charge as well as dead sexy.  I also have to get a pick up of the Warlock Wraithlord Forgeworld has here in their display case.  Looks like Imperial Armor 11, which according to the Forgeworld staff will drop in August, has some nice surprises in store for us.

So even though I will probably regret dropping I want to enjoy the rest of my weekend.  Stay tuned for more updates as the weekend progresses.


Until then........


Blood Runs, Anger Rises, Death Wakes, War Calls!!!!!!!!!!!

More U.K Games Day Goodness

Well I thought I would tempt your taste buds with some of the concept models for IA 11 which should drop some time in second or third quarter 2011.  Besides the Phantom Titan we will be seeing a new Aspect shrine and some new tanks and vehicles.

 This new tank called the Lynx looks to be a lighter version of the scorpion with a fixed Pulsar.  Should be interesting.

 Of course the Phantom Titan needs no introduction.  I am curious to see what this bad boy is armed with.  It is sporting a close combat weapon so I am wondering if he will be packing a distortion cannon or pulsar.  I am hoping we have multiple weapon options.

 This is called a Hornet and looks to be a new tank sporting some bright lances or possibly pulse cannons

So here we see the new Aspect warrior temple the Shadow Specters.  Looks as if they are jump infantry of some sort sporting some heavy weapons.  Bright lances or some are speculating mini prism cannons.








So there ya go kids wet your whistle on these tidbits. I am really looking forward to this book.  I better start saving as it looks like Forge world may own my soul this summer.

until then.......



Blood Runs, Anger Rises, Death Wakes, War Calls!!!!!!!!!!!!

Run Archon Run: Campaign Game 4

Well The Judge and I squared off in game 4 of our bi-weekly campaign on Wednesday.  This mission was 1500 points and basically all I had to do was run the hell off the board.  The Judge came loaded for bear with lots of attack bikes and land speeders.  Brother Overkill, Chaplin Stonewall and Sgt Badass and his sushine kids were all present to try and stop my Archon from doing what he does best.  Run Away.
Setup had be in the center 3rd of the table.  Exactly 24 inches from the edge I had to escape from.  If I had had first turn I would have had all my forces, except my two ravagers as heavies had to be kept in reserve, off the table turn two.  The Judge had first turn though and scored a kill on a Raider and forced another to stay put.  My turn one sees warriors form the downed Raider covering the escape of the three that did make it to the board edge and the Raider that could not move tried to down a land speeder.  The Judge dished out some melta love on the Raider That could not move in the previous turn and it exploded taking 3 warriors with it.  The Attack bikes finished them off in close combat.  My turn two saw the Archon and his retinue along with two Raider Squads escape, which gave me 4 "Kill Points".  The Raiders turned to fire after the squads disembarked as they dedicated transports did not count as kill points for the Judge.  The onslaught continued as Brother overkill and Chaplin Stonewall, with 5 terminators in a land raider, came in and squished the rear guard warrior squad left.  The Ravagers came out one at a time in turn 3 and 4 and were promptly downed by lascannon fire.  So with the two squads and two Ravagers down for The Judge we had a tie game.
I should have taken Reaver bikes instead of the Ravagers.  I could have had them on the table and escaped very quickly.  Plus if I had them in back the loss of one or two would be ok as long as the squad itself made it off the board.  Lesson Learned.

I was also disappointed by a blurb on BOLS about when we are going to see the Phantom Titan.  Apparently we are getting the Badab War in Imperial Armor 9 and 10 then Some Space Wolves and Imp Guard Versus Eldar in Imperial Armor 11.  Needless to say I want a bigger Titan.  Oh well Guess that means I can buy a second Revenant Titan, this time with Sonic Lances.  Maybe some Fighters.
Well next time perhaps some more tactics.  I know I need to do the next session of Rogue Trader as well.  So many topics so little time for me to write.

  Until Next time.......

Blood Runs, Anger Rises, Death Wakes, War Calls!!!!!!!!!!!!