Musings on 16-bit

I recently saw a comic relating to the Street Fighter series. I've always been more of a Mortal Kombat fan, but there is one response that I have to SF.


With that, I guess I should note that I still play too many video games. Currently, Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero (3,4,M), SSB Brawl, MadWorld and other Wii games. But I feel accomplished because I did some touch-up painting on my Eldar and Tyranids. Good stuff.

Flawless victory.

Summer

So with us moving, I don't really have much room to paint, hence the lack of updates or painted stuff. With that said, my Ibanez SR530 came in (pictures eventually) and I've been thinking over my nid list. I'm not sure what will become my primary army for 5th, Eldar or Tyranids. With eldar, I have enough stuff to pull a lot of different combinations for numerous strong lists. Tyranids, on the other hand, have MANY new options for play-style, most importantly no characters. Saves per unit now designated? Sure, gaunts are gaunts, stealers are stealers. The only unit that could be targeted differently would be the warriors. We'll see eventually.

I plan on actually playing some games soon... *Shifty eyes*

Eldar Choices...

I've talked about the numerous choices in the 4th edition Eldar Codex and how they have some decent and not so decent ones.... I stole this photo from a friend of mine, but it deserves to be spread out. : D

APOCALYPSE

Maugan Ra, Phoenix Lord of Dark Reapers: $22
Tyranid Endless Swarm: $175
Tyranid Mycetic Assault: $175
Christmas shopping done months in advance: Priceless
For everything money can't buy, that's life.
For everything else, there's Warhammer 40,000.

So that's what I just ordered online. I wanted the "Gamers-Edition Apocalypse" with full backpack and other goodies but that's not online as of now/is sold out/might be at the release parties at D.Lair and Thor'sH. later this month.
Basically, I have a decent sized tyranid army for fun/competitive play. It will round out my army with troops and heavy support/elite. I'm really looking forward to this. Maugan Ra will be used as my HQ for my Eldar for a while, seeing as how beastly he is nowadays.

Leadership 9!

So I've just had an epiphany. In the previous Eldar Codex, all basic troops [aspect warriors included] had a base leadership value of 8. The Exarch would increase this to a mighty leadership of 9. Until this wee hour of the morning, I assumed the aspect warriors still had leadership 8 base. That is, until I was skimming over the rules for a diresword and happened to glance that the aspect warriors had leadership 9 base. A past game for me could have used this base leadership 9 for when under half strength I rolled an 8 twice for a moral check. I figured that leadership 7 = no pass. Man. I've felt like my strongest craftworld warriors are pansy space elves. I know now that they're not. [I have a feeling I will get a comment yelling that they are.]
Time to look over my codex to see what else I've missed. Anyone care to point out a few misconceptions? Such as the Harlequins not being able to be targeted by ordenance or anything more than 2d6 x2 inches away?
-Rayne

Iyanden themed list

2000
Craftworld Dusjo-Katon

HQ
Farseer – Runes of Warding, Fortune 100

Troops
10 Wraithguard with Spirit Seer [Conceal] 396

10 Dire Avengers with Exarch [Duel Catapults, Bladestorm] 152

10 Dire Avengers with Exarch [Defend, Power Weapon/Shimmershield] 162

Elites
6 Harlequins with a Death Jester and Shadow Seer [5 Kisses] 168

5 Wraithguard with Warlock [Conceal] 215

Fast Attack
9 Warp Spiders with Exarch [Duel Death Spinners] 215

Vyper – 2 Shuriken Cannons 55

Heavy Support
Wraithlord – Wraithsword and Brightlance 140

3 War Walkers – 4 Scatter Lasers, 2 Star Cannons 200

Falcon – Spirit Stones, Holo-field, Starcannon, Shuriken Cannon 195

Models
Infantry: 36
Vehicles: 5
Wraith Constructs: 16

I've played an actual Iyanden list and this isn't to far away from what I used to use. When I have enough money, I should replace either the falcon or war walkers with another wraithlord. I'll write some of my tactics on an Iyanden list later today or tomorrow.

Eldar Choices

Anyone who has looked over the eldar codex has noticed at least one thing: We have a surplus of units in each catagory. In the old codex, one could avoid having such strong competition for elite or heavy support slots by using a craftworld to mess around with the force organization chart. In the new codex, the "Craftworld Eldar" codex is null and void. Which poses a slight problem for me. Especially under heavy support. I have too many eldar units to effectively build one balanced list. With 3 wraithlords, 2 falcons, one fire prism, 2 dark reaper units, and 3 war walkers, I find it hard to find a perfect harmony of heavy support to compliment the rest of my force. Sure, I have options, but it might be hard to locate that "sweet spot" for multiple units to work in PERFECT tandem. Units can always work together, now I just need a list that can compliment itself but not fall apart if one or two units are lost.

New List

So here is my final and revised list. It is suited for a balanced fight and WILL NOT suffer due to reserves again. Autarch will help with that. : D
2000
Craftworld Mor-Sa-Kati

Hq:
Farseer – Runes of Warding, Spirit Stones, Doom, Guide, Fortune 165

Autarch – Jetbike, Mandiblasters, Laser Lance, Reaper Launcher 155

Troops:
10 Dire Avengers with Exarch [Defend, Power Weapon/Shimmershield] 162

10 Dire Avengers with Exarch [Duel Catapults, Bladestorm] 152

Elites:
9 Striking Scorpions with Exarch [Biting Blade, Shadow-Strike, Stalker] 186

6 Harlequins with a Death Jester and Shadow Seer [5 Kisses] 168

Fast Attack:
9 Warp Spiders with Exarch [2 Deathspinners, Surprise Assault] 225

3 Shining Spears with Exarch [Star Lance, Withdraw] 157

2 Vypers [Shuriken Cannon and Shuriken Cannon] 110

Heavy Support:
5 Dark Reapers with Exarch [EML and Fast shot] 217

Fire Prism – Holo-field 150

Fire Prism – Holo-field 150


The list taps in at just under 2k points. Can't really do much with 8 or so points left over. The only "big" change I've made is to swap the dragons for 2 vypers. However, this leaves me slightly lacking in the AT department. My concern is that my prisms might be glanced and vulnerable. The configuration as the previous list is the same, just the vypers help with the flankers now and give the opponent something else to worry about.
-Rayne

Craftworld Mor-Sa-Kati

So here is my new list that I've been toying around with.
2000 Points
Craftworld Mor-Sa-Kati

Hq:
Farseer – Runes of Warding, Spirit Stones, Doom, Guide, Fortune 165

Autarch – Jetbike, Mandiblasters, Laser Lance, Reaper Launcher 155

Troops:
10 Dire Avengers with Exarch [Defend, Power Weapon/Shimmershield] 162

10 Dire Avengers with Exarch [Duel Catapults, Bladestorm] 152

Elites:
9 Scorpions with Exarch [Biting Blade, Shadow-Strike, Stalker] 186

6 Harlequins with a Death Jester and Shadow Seer [5 Kisses] 168

6 Fire Dragons with Exarch [Crack Shot, Dragon’s Breath] 113

Fast Attack:
9 Warp Spiders with Exarch [2 Deathspinners, Surprise Assault] 225

3 Shining Spears with Exarch [Star Lance, Withdraw] 157

Heavy Support:
5 Dark Reapers with Exarch [EML and Fast shot] 217

Fire Prism – Holo-field 150

Fire Prism – Holo-field 150

Tactics

We have a few units for a few roles. Here are the buzzwords and the units that fulfill the role.

Firebase: Composed of my Heavy section. With 2 Fire Prisms to take over multiple lanes of fire, many enemies will be herded to another sector. The Reapers are there to either a) Be shot at while in cover or b) Take on another lane of fire. This is a very long range offensive firebase that so far has worked wonders.

Offensive block: Made up of my two Dire Avenger squads. These are the main hitters of my list and will be searching for fights. They work in tandem, hugging cover and giving each other support in either shooting or assault.

Fast Block: This block is of my Striking Scorpions and Warp Spiders. The Scorpions infiltrate to a prime position and are the main assault unit to be backed by the Shimmershield/Defend Avengers. The Spiders will deep-strike and be supported by the Twin Catapults/Bladestorm Avengers. These four units can QUICKLY decimate opposing squads.

Flanking Block: Utilizing the Autarch and Shining Spears, the flanking block is used to take down the command squads from hell, the monstrous creatures, greater daemons, and other big nasty stuff or just to do some quick mop up of weakened units. Very hard hitters, especially with their improved toughness conferred from the bikes.

Support Block: The Farseer and Harlequin Troupe both fulfill supporting roles by hanging out by the Reapers. The idea is to have the Harlequins have a 24” pinning zone and be very effective counter chargers, especially with their flipbelts and Dance of Death special rules. The Farseer guides the reapers [hopefully not frying herself] while dooming an enemy. Fortune is there to solidify the Harlequin’s save when they charge into close combat.

Tank Hunters: The smallest block. The Fire Dragons are there to fill in the last 113 points and be significant enough to threaten an opponent, but not worth shooting due to the low point cost and long walk towards the enemy. They will be a “surprise!” unit, taking out a tank quickly or rushing forward on the last turn of the game to claim an objective.

This list is exactly 2k points and I've used it in a three-way free for all. It actually stood its ground and seems to be an effective build.

Update

So I've not posted in a while. And, a lot has happened.
1) School's out for the summer. School's out forever...but not really. It's nice to have time to relax and do what I want whenever.
2) I've spent time with my friends, family, girlfriend, gaming group, and other peeps that I haven't had time to spend with in a while.
3) Marching season will start soon. Woo-hoo!
4) Guitar Hero II is amazing.
5) I got off my lazy ass and painted.
Here are things I've painted:
4 Harlequins
1 Death Jester [revisted - a few touch ups and whatnot]
8 Dire Avengers [squad is finished]
3 Shining Spears including Exarch [need to go back for details ad highlighting]
Autarch [He is no longer "dragging" his jetbike, rather is mounted on a Vyper]
Upper body of my third Dire Avenger Exarch [hint hint?]
Thing left to paint:
1 Shadowseer [Bought her yesterday (Saturday - it's 1:26 am Sunday)]
Autarch's Vyper
5 Pathfinders [If I REALLY need to use them again]

I'll have my new list up shortly. It's pretty nice I'll admit, and might write some tactics on the Eldar myself. Check Bell of Lost Souls for other tactics.