Physical Differences between Dark Eldar/Eldar

The title explains my question, I've been looking at model pictures and artwork of Dark Eldar and Eldar and one of the things I notice is the schlera or 'whites' of Dark Eldar's eyes are black. What are some of the other physical differences between them and their Craftworld cousins?

According to Codex, we are higher and more muscular than Space Elves.

Also, no psychic power. Well, less psychic power due to lack of training and... "excluding" those with psychic potential.

I also believe they are quite similar, kinda like Eskimo, Native Americans and other "separated" cultures.

Local_Ork wrote:

According to Codex, we are higher and more muscular than Space Elves.

Also, no psychic power. Well, less psychic power due to lack of training and... "excluding" those with psychic potential.

I also believe they are quite similar, kinda like Eskimo, Native Americans and other "separated" cultures.

There's not much more I can add to this. Dark Eldar also tend to outlive Eldar, from what I've gathered across the books and codices, as far as "natural" lifespan goes.

Xelkireth wrote:

There's not much more I can add to this. Dark Eldar also tend to outlive Eldar, from what I've gathered across the books and codices, as far as "natural" lifespan goes.

Since they feed upon souls its kinda "natural" I remember there was no significant diffrence in aperance....we had that DE scorpion guy in Path of Warrior and we wasnt much diffrent than other Eldars.

Personally, I don't see there as being much of a difference. Sure, the DE's psychic potential has stunted, but is still partially there, and they're more fit most of the time, but that's due mostly to lifestyle rather than any inherent trait. Even the eyes would be largely similar, with the DE having no visible white simply due to their location making the pupil expand, rather than evolution actually removing it.

To me, the only 'real' difference is psychological, with the DE choosing to explore their entirety of existance, rather than limiting themselves. The Craftworlders are terrified of what they are, and thus utilise the Path to "de-Eldar-ise" themselves, whereas the Commorrites see no excuse to change what they are. They are the inheritors of the galaxy, beholden to nothing, and no "god" will dictate how they live their lives.

Some pictures show the eldar with black schlera, and a few show dark eldar with white (lelith's eyes are easiest to tell, besides cover of old codex). The high elves in fantasy are also shown with completely black eyes in most pictures in there army book. Maybe eldar eyes turn black when they lose control of emotions? Lelith is just to cold blooded to lose control, so her eyes don't turn? or some artists missed memo on eye colour. I think the most likely answer is the eldar all have the same eyes, but the dark eldar are in darker areas, so the pupils have expanded to entire visible portion of eye.

Zehra wrote:

The title explains my question, I've been looking at model pictures and artwork of Dark Eldar and Eldar and one of the things I notice is the schlera or 'whites' of Dark Eldar's eyes are black. What are some of the other physical differences between them and their Craftworld cousins?

I have noticed that as well, but I recently realized the importance of the lines about the Haemonculus being called upon for body modification in the Codex.

There aren't any major differences between any Eldar. The Dark Eldar just feel more free to, for instance, tattoo the schlera of their eyes black, dye their hair down to the follicles, or have additional muscle/nerves grafted on.

It's a pretty clever way of allowing whatever paint scheme DE players can think of to be justified.

Spanna uv Komor-AAAGH! wrote:

Zehra wrote:

The title explains my question, I've been looking at model pictures and artwork of Dark Eldar and Eldar and one of the things I notice is the schlera or 'whites' of Dark Eldar's eyes are black. What are some of the other physical differences between them and their Craftworld cousins?

I have noticed that as well, but I recently realized the importance of the lines about the Haemonculus being called upon for body modification in the Codex.

There aren't any major differences between any Eldar. The Dark Eldar just feel more free to, for instance, tattoo the schlera of their eyes black, dye their hair down to the follicles, or have additional muscle/nerves grafted on.

It's a pretty clever way of allowing whatever paint scheme DE players can think of to be justified.

Hey, you're right!!! That would explain a lot of differences as being the result of the Haemonculi practicing their 'art' of fleshsculpting....

Considering the (implicated) heavy use of steroids among Kabalites and Wyches, not all such differences need be surgical. This sort of substance abuse may result in physical abnormalities in offspring as well, though what the effect over multiple generations may be is anyone's guess.

Local_Ork wrote:

According to Codex, we are higher and more muscular than Space Elves.

That's not because of natural progression though, it's because they have to be tougher to survive.

Some Eldar may never fight, so wouldn't be as strong. A Striking Scorpion, on the other hand, would probably be even stronger than most Dark Eldar, due to his intense training and heavy armour and weaponry.

Raneth wrote:

Considering the (implicated) heavy use of steroids among Kabalites and Wyches, not all such differences need be surgical. This sort of substance abuse may result in physical abnormalities in offspring as well, though what the effect over multiple generations may be is anyone's guess.

Well, with true born at least. Regular Commorite Eldar are grown in tubes. you could have a fully grown eldar in about 5-6 years... maybe true born have a wider pupil and regular dont? or vise versa?

Although, fluff wise, you would think the dark eldar bigger than the eldar, model wise (for now) its not the case.

That shot in the codex of the Howling banshee's clashing with Lelith and wyches, shows the normally elegant eldar to clook chunky and encumbered....