ideas of possible new dark eldar formations?

Scornspiral Edge

Units:
Succubus
1 unit of Bloodbrides
2 units of Hellions

Restrictions:
Succubus must take a WWP. All units in this formation must begin the game in DS reserve.

Special rules:
Roll 1 reserve roll for the entire formation, they enter at the same time. Non jump infantry can Run, Shoot, and Charge the turn they arrive. Jump infantry can charge the turn they arrive. Any unit from this formation that Deep Strikes within 6" of this formation's Succubus does not scatter.

Somebody please get a Mod to edit this if a great name comes to mind.

Units:
2-5 units of Mandrakes
1-3 units of Reavers

Restrictions:
Mandrakes must Infiltrate into/onto terrain/ruins. Reavers must start in Deep Strike reserves. A Reaver unit from this formation that arrives from Deep Strike reserves must arrive within 6" of a unit of Mandrakes, but does not scatter.

Special Rules:
At the beginning of turn 1, make a 4+ reserve roll for a single Reaver unit in this formation, other Reaver units (if any) in this formation roll their reserves normally. A unit of Reavers from this formation that ends their controlling player's turn within 3" of a unit of Mandrakes from this formation, that did not move in the current turn, may choose to re-enter Deep Strike reserves, but arrive automatically the next time their controlling player would roll reserves, and in accordance with the restrictions on this formation.

I've always thought the Incubi were themed as bodyguards, there at the employ of an Archon to keep them safe. WIth that in mind:

Wall of Blades
Units: 1 Archon and 1-3 units of Incubi
Restrictions: All Incubi units must remain within 12" of the Archon (or have one model within).
Special Rules: All Incubi model in this formation may Overwatch with a single close combat attack each.



Cresting Wave
Units: 1-3 units of Reaver Jetbikes.
Restrictions: The units in this Formation must be deployed in Reserves. When rolling for them to enter the battlefield, roll once for the entire Formation.
Special Rules: Outflank. Additionally, units from this Formation may charge in the turn they arrive, but do not get to make their standard attacks. They may only use their Hammer of Wrath attacks.



I'll quickly end then with something for the Mandrakes, and a little something for the Generic Kabalites. Something really, really simple.

Ghostcloak Warband
Units: 2 units of Kabalite Warriors and 2 units of Mandrakes.
Restrictions: No units in this Formation may take Dedicated Transports, nor can they be deployed with attached Independent Characters.
Each Kabalite Warrior squad must deploy with a model within 6" of a Mandrake squad.
Special Rules: As long as a Kabalite Warrior squad from this Formation has a model within 6" of a Mandrake from this formation, the Kabalite Warrior squad gains Stealth and Shrouded.

Viceroi_Corvenis wrote:

Scornspiral Edge

Units:
Succubus
1 unit of Bloodbrides
2 units of Hellions

Restrictions:
Succubus must take a WWP. All units in this formation must begin the game in DS reserve.

Special rules:
Roll 1 reserve roll for the entire formation, they enter at the same time. Non jump infantry can Run, Shoot, and Charge the turn they arrive. Jump infantry can charge the turn they arrive. Any unit from this formation that Deep Strikes within 6" of this formation's Succubus does not scatter.

I like the idea of a webway portal ambush, where one portal brings on multiple units, and this is a great way of adapting it to the current rules! I'd probably pick different units for it, though, personally.

Squidmaster wrote:

I've always thought the Incubi were themed as bodyguards, there at the employ of an Archon to keep them safe. WIth that in mind:

Wall of Blades
Units: 1 Archon and 1-3 units of Incubi
Restrictions: All Incubi units must remain within 12" of the Archon (or have one model within).
Special Rules: All Incubi model in this formation may Overwatch with a single close combat attack each.

I loooove this idea!

Now for two of my own:


An Unkindness of Scourges
The sky darkens as the Scourges swoop down from on high.
3 Units of Scourges

On the turn that a unit from this formation enters from reserves, and the opponent's next turn, the unit is treated as flying, using all of the rules for a swooping Flying Monstrous Creature (Move 12 - 24" in a straight line, choose whether to shoot with or without skyfire, hard to hit, choose to vector strike instead of firing). At the start of your next turn the unit reverts to its normal type, which it stays for the rest of the game.


Champions of the Arena
These majestic and showy gladiators dismember their opponents in ways that nearby Dark Eldar find very invigorating.
0-1 Succubus
1 Unit of Bloodbrides
1-2 Units of Wyches

At any point in time in which a unit from this formation is in base to base contact with or engaged in assault  with any enemy model, all units on the battlefield with the Dark Eldar faction (whether friendly or enemy, and including itself) treat the turn as one higher for the Power from Pain rule.

Commorite Disruption Force

It is often said that to fight against a Dark Eldar army is to face a hurricane of blades.  What is far less frequently noted is that the scions of Commoragh are masters of disruptive attacks.  When the denizens of the Dark City attack a world, they never begin with a frontal engagement.  Specific targets will be struck all over the planet, crippling vital infrastructure and communications so that the enemy cannot respond effectively.  Those who are capable of offering resistance are invariably confused and focused on survival rather than achieving any strategic goals.

Formation Units
1 Archon
0-1 Court of the Archon
2-4 units of Kabalite Warriors
1 unit of Scourges
1 unit of Mandrakes
1 Ravager
1 Razorwing Jetfighter or Voidraven Bomber

Restrictions
A maximum of 2 units of Kabalite Warriors may be upgraded to Kabalite Trueborn.
The Kabalite Warriors, Kabalite Trueborn and Court of the Archon units must have dedicated Venom or Raider transports.
The Archon must be your army's Warlord.

Formation Rules
Meticulous Planning: The Archon may choose to have the "Labyrinthine Cunning" Warlord Trait from Codex: Dark Eldar instead of randomly generating their Warlord Trait.  

Terror and Confusion: While the Archon from this Formation is on the table, no units (friend or foe) count as having the Objective Secured special rule.  

Pinpoint Strikes: Any unit from this Formation which has the Deep Strike special rule may re-roll the Scatter dice when entering play from Deep Strike Reserves.  On the turn that any unit from this Formation arrives from Reserves or Deep Strike Reserves (but not Ongoing Reserves), all ranged weapons fired by that unit count as having your choice of one of the following special rules: Twin Linked, Monster Hunter, Tank Hunter, Ignores Cover.

Love the Commorite Disruption Force. I'd like to see the Strike from the Shadows RSR rule in there too to get that early cover bonus. The Terror and Confusion is great, and I agree that DE should never have ObSec but hadnt thought to extend that to the enemy too!

Great stuff

Blanking a cool names but here are a few ideas

Ravager formation of three - if they fire at the same target increase ST by +1 and per additional Ravager in the formation beyond the first

3 units of Reavers - reroll failed jink saves and HoW gain shred

Perfection of Agony formation - the fancy box set no one saw - all units can charge after running in the same turn
Wyches and Reavers have Crusader and Rending,
Raider is free if taken as a dedicated transport.
If this formation loses a unit remaining unit counts the turn as one higher for Power from Pain

2-4 Beast Packs that gain Scout & HoW

and now something crazy
1 Archon
min of 2 max 4 of the following in any combination
Trueborn
Bloodbrides
Kabailte Warriors
Wyches

0-1 Court of the Archon
0-2 Incubi

Archon must take WWP.
Formation rolls for reserve as a single unit, which may reroll if fails
When deployed, the entire formation benefits from WWP as long as all units from this formation are deployed with 12" of the archon
Incubi may charge the turn they arrive from reserves

I know this thread is to put ideas, but I just noticed a wych cult shardstorm box set. Did this come out as a formation?

Well I answered this myself. I've really been away too long. However using that as a basis, giving poison 4+ to all units i cc would help. Or make a grenade or shout to avoid over watch or make it to where wyches can assault from raiders if it moved 12".

Black Death wrote:

I know this thread is to put ideas, but I just noticed a wych cult shardstorm box set. Did this come out as a formation?

Well I answered this myself. I've really been away too long. However using that as a basis, giving poison 4+ to all units i cc would help. Or make a grenade or shout to avoid over watch or make it to where wyches can assault from raiders if it moved 12".

It didn't come as a formation, but it'd be a good basis for one.  Wyches would have been a lot better if their Dodge rule applied during the entire Close Combat phase (i.e. against Overwatch, Dangerous Terrain and hits in the Fight sub-phase).  Also, given their propensity for speed, if makes sense that Wyches would be able to disembark and charge even if they're on a transport travelling at what would be an unsafe speed for any other race.

So, with that in mind...

Wych Cult Shardstorm

Requirements

1 Succubus

2 units of Wyches

1 unit of Reavers

Restrictions

The Succubus must take a Venom dedicated transport or be joined to one of the units of Wyches.
All units of Wyches must take a Venom or Raider dedicated transport.
A maximum of one unit of Wyches may be upgraded to Bloodbrides.

Formation Special Rules

Spectacle of Speed - All Reavers in this Formation may re-roll any failed cover saves.  Hammer of Wrath attacks from Reavers in this Formation have the Shred special rule.

Shards of Shadow - All Wyches and the Succubus in this Formation have a 4+ Invulnerable save against all wounds inflicted in the Combat phase.  In addition, attacks made by the Succubus or any Syren or Hekatrix model in this Formation during the Combat phase have the Rending special rule.

Storm of Slaughter - Infantry units from this Formation may disembark from a dedicated transport which has moved up to 12" during the Movement phase.  If the vehicle has moved more than 6" in that Movement phase, disembarking models must take a Dangerous Terrain test if their unit declares a charge in the same turn.

I like that. Seems viable.

Chaser Squadron

Requirements

3 squads of Wyches

1 Raider

2 Venoms

Options

Upgrade 1 squad of Wyches to Bloodbrides.

Restrictions

The Raider and Venoms must be dedicated transports to each one of the units of Wyches/Bloodbrides.

Formation Special Rules

Boarding Party - All Wyches/Bloodbrides of this formation have Haywire Grenades. When assaulting a vehicle that is an open topped transport from outside their own, each model may choose to directly attack the embarked passengers instead of the vehicle. Models attacking embarked passengers are treated as if assaulting through dangerous terrain.

It would all be great. But Gw would rather make Marines bad, than Dark Eldar good.

And Marines are never going to get bad.

Pilosocereus wrote:

It would all be great. But Gw would rather make Marines bad, than Dark Eldar good.

And Marines are never going to get bad.

Dark Eldar are not so much bad as they are outdated. Our current codex was written before giant models and formations had become a trend and when GW's main concern was that the gameplay options matched the kit contents exactly.

And the more popular an army is, the higher its priority for an update. Space Marines are always the first, for obvious reasons.

Gw does hate dark eldar. Proof=wyches, hellions and my tears

My idea of a formation would be an Archon
2-6 units of kabalite warriors.
1-3 units of true born

Being able to deepstrike turn 1, charge turn 1 (if that's your thing) and following the 6"inch webway portal idea. Maybe with re-rolls to hit (OR wound) the turn they deep-strike.

Here's an attempt at realistic balancing.
Based on the idea that someone somewhere is really unimaginative, I can see any future Formations being heavily influenced by a general formula. So here's a few Formation ideas based on the Eldar ones, basically a one for one:

Guardian Battle/Stormhost - Basic troops with fire support.
> Warrior/Wych Cohort: 2 Units of Warriors or Wyches on Raiders and one Ravager. If a Raider hits an enemy unit, the Ravager gets Twin-Linked vs that unit. (So the Raiders paint targets for the gun support on the Ravager).

Windrider Host - Bikes glorious bikes.
> Reaver Wave: 3 units of Reavers and one Archon on Reaver. Any Reaver may take a Splinter Cannon for +something.

Seer Council - Psychic leadership powerhouse.
> Archon's Elite: 1 Archon, 2 Court of the Archons. To balance out the lack of psychic, every mnodel gets Adamantine Will.

Aspect Host - Well, this is just all the good stuff.
> Wall of Blades: All we have is Incubi in terms of Aspects, so I'd refer to my earlier suggestion of 1 Archon and up to 3 Incubi units, using close combat attacks to Overwatch.

Crimson Death - Flyers with preferred Enemy.
> Razorwing Flight: Yeah, lets just nick it. 3 Razorwings with Preferred Enemy.

Wraithhost - Strong, possibly D wielding unit of Wraithguard, Lord and Wraith. Yikes.
> Shadow Host: So lets make Mandrakes our Wraiths. 3-5 Mandrake units, can only be Snapped against in turn one. Free Nightfiends.

I like the wall of blades idea!

Squidmaster wrote:

Here's an attempt at realistic balancing.
Based on the idea that someone somewhere is really unimaginative, I can see any future Formations being heavily influenced by a general formula. So here's a few Formation ideas based on the Eldar ones, basically a one for one:

Guardian Battle/Stormhost - Basic troops with fire support.
> Warrior/Wych Cohort: 2 Units of Warriors or Wyches on Raiders and one Ravager. If a Raider hits an enemy unit, the Ravager gets Twin-Linked vs that unit. (So the Raiders paint targets for the gun support on the Ravager).

Windrider Host - Bikes glorious bikes.
> Reaver Wave: 3 units of Reavers and one Archon on Reaver. Any Reaver may take a Splinter Cannon for +something.

Seer Council - Psychic leadership powerhouse.
> Archon's Elite: 1 Archon, 2 Court of the Archons. To balance out the lack of psychic, every mnodel gets Adamantine Will.

Aspect Host - Well, this is just all the good stuff.
> Wall of Blades: All we have is Incubi in terms of Aspects, so I'd refer to my earlier suggestion of 1 Archon and up to 3 Incubi units, using close combat attacks to Overwatch.

Crimson Death - Flyers with preferred Enemy.
> Razorwing Flight: Yeah, lets just nick it. 3 Razorwings with Preferred Enemy.

Wraithhost - Strong, possibly D wielding unit of Wraithguard, Lord and Wraith. Yikes.
> Shadow Host: So lets make Mandrakes our Wraiths. 3-5 Mandrake units, can only be Snapped against in turn one. Free Nightfiends.

Dark Eldar aren't just Craftworld Eldar with spikey armor and poisoned weapons, mind you. They have never played the same.
You wouldn't give the Orks formations based on those of the Imperial Guard, or the Sisters of Battle ones based on those of Space Marines, would you?

Squidmaster wrote:

Windrider Host - Bikes glorious bikes.
> Reaver Wave: 3 units of Reavers and one Archon on Reaver. Any Reaver may take a Splinter Cannon for +something.

In the corsairs list splinter cannons are +5 points per bike if that's any sort of reference.

The base corsair bike is more expensive by 2 points and has better gear, including the weapon you're replacing, so it's hard to be exact.

These aren't so much an attempt at balancing per se, but just fun fluffy thought exercises.

Eternal Rivalries
Composition:
2-3 Succubi

All models in this formation have the Healthy Competition special rule.

Healthy Competition: When a Succubus from this unit is engaged in combat, during the fight sub-phase, if there is at least one other Succubus engaged in combat, she may re-roll all failed To Wound rolls.

Notes: Based this off the fact that Wych Cults are typically led by a triumvarate of Succubi, constantly trying to outdo each other. Maybe not the most playable, but fluffy. Might work if it referred to units of Bloodbrides/Wyches, instead of Succubi.

Shaimeshi Corruption
Composition:
1 Court of the Archon
1 Kabalite Warriors

Restrictions:
The Court of the Archon must contain at least one Lhamaean. One Lhamaean has the Independent Character and Death Dealer special rule (she may start the game joined to another unit in this formation).

Death Dealer: All models in a unit with a Lhamaean with this special rule count their Poisoned weapons as being Poisoned (3+).

Notes: A throwback to Duke Sliscus's The Serpent's Venom rule

Cruel and Aloof

Composition:
1 Archon
1 Kabalite Trueborn
1 Raider

Restrictions:
The Archon must begin the game as part of the Trueborn unit and may not leave it. The Trueborn unit must begin the game embarked on the Raider from this formation and may disembark unless it is destroyed.

The Archon's and Trueborn's ranged weapons count as Master-Crafted.

Notes: A formation tailored to the Blaster Archon. I loved the idea of an Archon and his highest-ranking cronies yukking it up and blowing away the enemy from on high.