Eldar Rangers

Same five Rangers from different angles

This weekend's painting project was the last,  five Rangers for my Eldar.  For these five Rangers, I decided they would be from Craftworlds other than Aliatoc.  Saim-Hann, Ulthwe, Biel-tan, Lugganath, and Altansar each are represented.

This leaves 10 Banshees, a Shadowseer, a Deathjester, and Phoenix to complete for 1,850 pts of Eldar. I have multiple options to consider to bring it up to more than 2,000 pts - expansion of the Harelquins, adding Illic Nightspear, or a squad of Dark Reapers.  I am excited about nearing completion of the army, both for completing the project and I am getting excited about some future projects.

Codex Eldar: Craftworlds Discussion

Army for Armies on Parade

The new Codex Eldar: Craftworlds is interesting to say the least.  The armylist I have been working towards for about a year has become cheaper points wise.  I added Harlequins to fill out the list from ~1700 points (without Illic Nightspear) to 2000 points. Now, the army with the Codex Eldar: Harlequins Cast of Players formation is 1850 points!  Illic Nightspear will bring it back up to 2000 points. The list however has a not insignificant point sink in the Phoenix fighter-bomber.  All of this is a long way of saying that the new Eldar are cheaper and deadlier than before.

Second Storm, failing to match colors

Both completed, very different blues

This weekend, I decided to complete my second Landspeeder Storm for my Ultramarines Scout detachment.  It had been built and base coated months previously and was on the side waiting for completion.  However, I ran into an immediate problem.  Most of my Ultramarines were painted using the old paint range and in a very straightforward scheme.  I could not get the two to match, despite several different layer attempts.

Killer Space Fools!

Troupe leaping into the fight.

The Troupe for my Cast of Players is complete.  These models were really enjoyable to paint and practice/learn new techniques on. These were painted following the guide in Warriors of The Laughing God for the Veiled Path. I was very intimidated by the motley (the checker pattern).  I started it on small/mostly flat surfaces like the Master's coat and two knee pads.  I worked the straight leg first followed by the bent one.

More pics below.

Dystopian Wars: Kingdom of Denmark

As my local Games Workshop closes, I have been encouraged by other local gamers to look beyond the GW ranges.  The group I play with is getting heavily into both Dystopian Wars and Firestorm: Planetfall.  I asked which game they suggest starting with and they recommended Dystopian Wars (or Boats).

Looking through the list of potential fleets and what others were playing, I quickly settled on the minor-power of Denmark (surprise)!  The starting force (see picture) is roughly 1,000 pts, a good starting point.  The rules are free to download and based on watching a game of Planetfall Saturday night, the mechanics similar to Epic: Armageddon, a GW game I really enjoyed. More to come.

Assassinorum: Execution Force (Part 2)

All setup

In Part 1, I talked about the models in Execution Force and the value of the set as a whole.  After assembly, my family of three played a game.

The game's mechanics are straightforward with a little ambiguity regarding the prime target, the Chaos Sorcerer Lord Drask.  The game can be played with 1-4 players and is a cooperative effort.

Assassinorum: Execution Force (Part 1)

Assassins assembled!

On 2 May, my family and I picked up Assassinorum: Execution Force.  The first reason was to acquire the 4 new Imperial Assassins, which are all excellent models (see left).  Secondly, my son was very excited about playing the game and really wanted to play as the Vindicare assassin (big gun).  This meant I spent about an hour assembling the entire set before getting ready to play a game (review in part 2).  Overall, I am very happy with the acquisition and our first play through was fun.

Two Serpents

Pair of Wave Serpents

Late Sunday, I completed the second Wave Serpent.  The pair largely match with the main difference being the "parallel" lines versus X racing strips.  The plan is for the parallel lines Serpent to carry a squad of Dire Avengers and the X Serpent to carry a squad of Howling Banshees.

Given the new rules with Howling Banshees, I am very happy with their inclusion in the list from the beginning.  I however need to order the old metal models as the Finecast is less than useful given the slenderness of the models.

More pictures after the break...

Work on Wave Serpent 2

Based

Washed

I worked on the basing and washing the second Wave Serpent, intended to carry Banshees into combat.  It has been a nice change from the jetbikes I finished up previously.  Painting a tank is simply a different experience, minimizing the repetition found in painting an infantry/bike/light vehicle squadron.

Also I have seen the leaked new Eldar Jetbikes.  I think they are nice looking bikes, but I am a bit frustrated that Games-Workshop did not also create more plastic Aspect Warriors (which are currently only mail order Finecast).  Probably will Ebay old metal Banshees for the last four; I may even order 10 to replace the Finecast I currently have.

I am not sure if the Eldar really needed a new Codex.  They were already a solid Codex.  We will see how it impacts my existing army list probably near the end of the month.  I hope it is still viable.

Nothing after the break this time.

Completed Jebikes & a Game

Five Hexes Jetbikes swoop in.

Sunday night, I finished my Five Hexes jetbikes (played as Windrider jetbikes in my Eldar Army).  I tried to keep the scheme matching my two Vypers; I think they came out well.  Process pictures after the battle summary.

On Saturday, I got a 2,000 point game in against an Chaos Space Marine Emperor's Children army. We had to call it at the bottom of turn 3, I lost 2-1 on objectives.  The jetbikes scored my victory point, achieving Linebreaker.  A longer summary after the break.  (Sorry no pictures)

Formations in 40k

Cast of Players in progress

Formations have been around since Apoc v1 (released 2007).  However, it is only really in the past year that formations have entered into the core game of 40k and been getting smaller.  While large Apoc formations are still there (see the Grey Knights single formation), it is far more interesting to me to consider the impact of medium (<1,000 pts) and small formations (<500 pts), like Cast of Players for the new Harelquins.  These allow someone to complement an existing army with a different set of models and potentially bring something very different from their main army to the table-top.

Jetbike Progress & Harlequin purchase

In work jetbike

Progress is slow on the Jetbikes, but I have completed the basic blocking of colors on one and am assembling lining them at this point.  We will see if they get some attention this coming week or not.  Hopefully I will have them done by the weekend, when I have a game or two planned.

I also decided to pick up Codex: Harlequins, a Troupe, and the three characters.  This will allow me to either field the Cast of Players formation or The Heroes' Path formation. Together, these units will boost the total Eldar force to around 2,500 points when all completed (hopefully by the beginning of summer).

Sorry for just the brief update, but plenty still in work.

Corsair Jetbikes

Three Five Hexes Jetbikes and their Warlock on Jetbike

When I last played my Eldar, my opponent and I decided I had a definite hole in the list, namely another "infantry" unit.  Previously, the 1,500 point list had a Farseer with 10 Dire Avengers in a Wave Serpent, 10 Banshees in a Wave Serpent, 10+5 Rangers, a Crimson Hunter, 2 Vypers, and a Phoenix.   Including the Phoenix and Crimson Hunter at 1,500 points led to a significant chuck of firepower not being on the table early on and thus concentrated fire against units like the Dire Avengers and Rangers.

My solution is to move the Phoenix to the 1850-2000 point list and bring in a squad of Jetbikes with a Warlock.  This will be the Five Hexes "infantry" and deploy turn 1 alongside the Aspect Warrior.  But how to build Corsair Jetbikes.  I went with a combination of the Dark Eldar Reaver Jetbikes and Eldar Guardian parts and a healthy dose of green stuff.  For the Warlock, I picked up the new Harelquin Skyweaver kit and again mixed in parts form the Dark Eldar Reaver Jetbikes and Eldar Guardians.

More pictures follow.