One Spirit - One Song, One Deadly Dance

Fellow denizens!
Skari here with a new tactical journey series.

This series will document and break down the use of different forms of the eldar race. I shall be exploring the tactical uses of all the various forms of our kin.

The Commorrites
The Craftworlds
The Harlequins
The Corsairs

Each has its unique way of war. But this series will be akin to a symphony of war, each piece used in a particular way, like the various instruments of an orchestra, comming together to form beauty, dangerous beauty in the art and cacophony of war!

The aim will be to be able to mix and match each of these elements in any form and combination ! Against any potential army and in any mission!

To the point where I can draw each segment out of a hat and know the intricacies of their use.

Each miniature with a role to play and each of the sections working in unison as one.

This will be a tactical thread for the series!l, I welcome you on this journey with me, and I hope you can gain something from this series for your own hobby and game.

UPDATES- (latest update, March 2nd 2016)

Games Played-

Game 1 - One Spirit vs White Scar Bikers
Game 2 - One Spirit vs Space Wolves
Game 3 - One Spirit vs Astra Militarum Armoured Company
Game 4 - One Spirit vs Necrons (APOCALYPSE)
Game 5 - One Spirit vs RavenWing

I think there are a few more, but I am not certain.


Cheers!
Skari -out

Cool, looking forward to it!

Looking forward to seeing the combinations used.

Awesome! Cant wait for this!

I've always enjoyed ur vids skari especially the "tactics corner" at the end. I wish more bat reps had it as it gives an insight into the players thoughts that is always interesting and informative.

Sounds very Freakshow-y!

Really looking forward to this! I've really love your battle reports and the tactics discussions. As a new refugee to Commorragh your experience has been invaluable!

oh exciting time! Looking froward to this for sure!!

This is the first part of the one spirit army, the Harlequins. They are the unifying force! The travellers of the webway, defenders of the black library and the orchestrators of the defeat of chaos!

My notes on each unit and the thoughts behind it will be in Itallics like this.

Masque Detachment - 750pts

Special Rules for the detachment:

If troupe master is warlord, re roll warlord trait from Harlequins list.

Rising Crescendo - units with fleet can run and charge in same turn starting on turn 2.
I really like this rule, gives the units in the army a rather large footprint! even on foot, they are more than likely to make it into close combat with the enemy on my terms.

Elites -

Death Jester (60) Haywire Grenades (5) - 65pts
- I LOVE the death jester... the single reason I want to use this mini is because of the rule that allows me to choose the direction that the enemy will have to fall back to! I LOVE this rule and I cant wait to exploit the hell out of it... making the enemy come closer to me usually to make the charges easier etc.

Shadow Seer (60) Mastery Level 2 (25) Mask of Secrets (15) Haywire Grenades (5) - 105pts
- I have not really used psykers in 7th. I am looking forward to trying this guy in the army... some of the harlequin powers are rather good and I am wanting to try them. I am not sold on the mask yet... as the points spent there could get haywires for all my troupe masters... so we shall see!

Troops -
- Each troupe will be converted! The Dark Troupe will be mainy with dark eldar bits to make them look sombre, they are using the embraces, cheap and they represent brutality with their str 6 hammer of wrath! they will be used when I need alot of wounds put on an enemy unit also to kill some lighter tanks. The twilight troupe is my fodder... they are a bunker for the death jester really and can deal with some back end threats. But really they are just there to sit... if my warlord is a harlequin this unit will be it as well. The light troupe is the kiss troupe, to kill tough stuff or to take on elite units. They will alternate with the dark troupe to run in the transport or run with the seer to make them invisible.

Dark Troupe, 1 Troupe Master (35) 4 Players with Embraces (80) - 115pts

Twilight Troupe, 1 Troupe Master (35) 4 Players (60) - 95pts

Light Troupe, 1 Troupe Master (35) 4 Players with Kisses (80) - 115pts

Fast Attack -

2 Skyweavers (100) Haywire Cannon x 2 (10) - 110pts
- I am excited about the idea of these jetbikes... they are tough, and they will be some tank killers... the haywire cannons will strip hullpoints... the jump shoot jump will really help them stay alive and then the star bolas will be a nasty surprise to any units that get too close or deepstrike in the back field. I think the added anti tank is needed.

Star Weaver - 70pts
- The transport. I love that it carries 6 minis. Its a bit bigger than a venom but I do like the double shuriken cannon weapons on it. Depending on the opponent it will carry one of the troupes to war! And the guns will help against light armour tanks like rhinos.

Heavy Support -

Void Weaver - 75pts
- This is an all rounder, there is another haywire cannon to provide some AT and then if i play the unit smart the cannon can help as well. They are like venoms, but I do need this to complete the detachment and this is bare bones.

Well! Let me know what you think.
I am currently building this small force, and I can't wait to have it all assembled and ready to rock and roll!

Cheers.

Harlequin list updated with notes in itallics.

The Dark Kin - Denizens of the Dark City

Combined Arms Detachment
- The biggest reason for this is because of the objective secured.

HQ/

Lhamean - 10pts
- very basic HQ, the reason for this one, she unlocks the FOC for minimal points, there will be other characters in the other spirit lists that will be characters! so she just sits in the back taking an objective for 10 points you cant go wrong!

Elites/

5 Mandrakes - 60pts
- The drakes have been AWESOME, I have used them in multiple games and tournaments... they allow me to use null deployment tactics... put the enemy off foot, outflank... they have decent shooting and they are not bad. They are tough to remove unless you have ignore cover options...

Troops/

5 Kabalite Warriors (40) 1 Blaster (15) - 55pts
Dedicated Venom (55) 2 x Splinter Cannon (10) - 65pts

5 Kabalite Warriors (40) 1 Blaster (15) - 55pts
Dedicated Venom (55) 2 x Splinter Cannon (10) - 65pts

- The basic Dark Eldar staple! Lots of poison, and the blasters to take care of the odd vehicle. These are awesome and worth it in every way.

Fast Attack/

Raider (55) Enhanced Sails (5) - 60pts
- This is here to assist my allies. Either a harlequin troupe... or a unit of corsairs ready to jump out at the enemy! The sails means that it can move alot faster to where it needs to go.

Razorwing Jetfighter - 130pts
- LOVE this mini. Great unit, the missiles are nasty as all hell and they WILL kill stuff. I kept the dissies on it because I also have a few ravagers in the list and some other decent AT units so this will go out and blast stuff.

Heavy Support/

Ravager (110) 3 darklances (15) - 125pts

Ravager (110) 3 darklances (15) - 125pts

- Two ravagers, pretty basic for all you dark eldar players out there! three lances on each, used to force some jinking and to crack open some transports for the other units to shoot or charge them. they are a priority for the enemy so I use that to my advantage. They also allow my ally forces to focus on some other things rather than tank killing.

Let me know what you think!
I have had a blast thinking up these lists, and of course the harlequins would fight alongside this army. What do you think of the first combination for the One Spirit series? The Harlequin force above and the dark eldar in a 1500pt game.

Cheers!

Either

Find the points for an archon with armour of misery.
Read or re-read jimsolo's Freakshow Tactica series.
Place the Archon and mask of secrets Shadow seer in the same unit.
Cast mirror of mind on anything.
Profit.

Or

Ditch your mask of secrets and spend the points elsewhere.

The two combined for a 1500pt army looks pretty good to me as an all-comers list.

You've got AT and AI on many different platforms and range bands. lots of speed, some MSU, CC elements, psychics, a little freakshow, null deployment options and some nasty shenanigans too.

But as always the proof is in the bat reps. Can't wait to see em!

I like the idea of the armour of misery, but I would put it on a succubus. I might just drop the mask... I could use the extra haywires

Ok so update!

Here is the Craftworld Eldar army that I am considering. 750pts

Combined Arms Detachment
- This is for the objective secured and its not an alied detachment so I can take the two Fast attack slots. Now, the units here are mostly chosen because of my limited collection, but this is always a great drive for me to learn how to use them rather than purchase more stuff.

HQ/

Autarch (70) Banshee Mask (5) Power Sword (15) - 90pts

- The unit is designed for two main purposes. The first is reserve manipulation this is huge with any of the Spirit armies that I am designing, and this model adds a level of tactical flexibility that is paramout to the armies use. If all else fails, he runs with the dire avengers in the wave serpent to give them a haywire grenade and some cc power. The other main use is the negation of overwatch! This is HUGE agains certain armies, especially with the corsairs and the harlequins... do not underestimate this.

Troops/

8 x Dire Avengers - 104pts
Dedicated Wave Serpent (110) TL scatter laser (5) - 115pts

- Basic troop choice for the army, NOW... I could make this unit more Eldar jetbikes about 4 more units! BUT i dont own the minis... so I will use what I have. The wave serpents provide some cool ignore cover potential to the army and some tougher targets with AV 12 and the shield to negate as much AT damage from the enemy. Used to screen the lower armour targets from the other spirit armies. Dire avengers are no chumps and they have some kick to them!

3 Windrider Jetbikes - 51pts
- No scatter lasers. These are designed to come in to the game turn 3 or 4 and start taking objectives while staying out of trouble... they are useful in a pinch if needed.

Fast Attack/

5 Warp Spiders - 95pts
- In a single word... warp spiders are AWESOME. They are so good. even 5 with no upgrades! they are going to be awesome.

Wave Serpent (110) TL Scatter laser (5)
- This is an interesting choice. It is more because of the allies to the army more than anything, the corsairs, harlies and even the dark eldar can use the transport in a pinch to get to where they need to go! it also provides supporting fire and some good anti flier firepower.


1 Vyper (40) 2 x Shuriken Cannon (10) - 50pts
- In a perfect world, this unit should be another warwalker (less the power weapon on the autarch) but its fast, can take down light tanks and capture the odd objective for a cheap cost.


Heavy Support/

War Walker (60) Scatter Laser, Bright Lance (5) - 65pts

War Walker (60) Scatter Laser, Bright Lance (5) - 65pts

- Two separate units. They are small annoying units that can deal with a variety of threats. I am considering running one with only lances and one with only scatters, OR tweak them to both have double lances to add some AT to the list... I think that is the best choice. They outflank, and they scout, and they have an invul save and they can move shoot move... great all round units.

And this is the eldar force that I have drafted! Let me know what you think about this force, not only on its own... but take a look at the other lists, the harlequins and the dark eldar so far and picture them together as a single army, the synergy that the units would have together.

Cheers!

I really like dual brightlance walkers. I too like dire avengers in wave serpants over scat bikes.

What are your thoughts of going with a farseer on bike in a unit of bikes with a warlock? Higher price but, the support of guide or other psychic powers seems solid. I know you prefer the Autarch due to reserve manipulation.

I have used the seer in the past... but really have stayed away from psykers during 7th edition, I am not a fan... it can be really good... but i prefer using my brain matter on things that I can really rely on like an autarch.

If I was to take a psyker I would take a wraithseer because it is cheaper... and because with shriek I can combine it with some leadership de buffs from the harlies or dark eldar (if I tweak the dark eldar list).

I can see taking the Autarch for the sure bet. The Farseer though with the ability to reroll a test and lower the WCs needed seem to be about as solid a platform as any and if a list doesn't revolve around controlling when reserves arrive they can do more work as a force multiplier hiding behind terrain with a 2+ jink save using the other bikes as floating wounds. This would be geared toward a more MSU style list that's trying to rush the board with one or two units in reserve as clean up or to deal with something troublesome.

Out of curiosity, do you find a Power Sword useful on the Autarch? I've never found S3 power weapons to be particularly useful - let alone for 15pts.

The power sword hasn't been effective for me. I've found the 3 point scorpion sword to work much better. It isn't amazing, but an archon isn't really built to tackle other melee monsters no matter how you try it. The scorpion sword does just fine for sergeants.

@lament -the thing is the farseer is also a bit more expensive and although he is utilitarian... I dunno I shall see!

@the shredder- just point filler I am changing it to pay for the warp spider autarch.

Update!

I have not been able to get any hobby done really with life and work. BUT I have really been thinking of my Corsair force. I used them in a battle report that will be released soon and they were quite amazing!

Awesome! I always watch your batreps too. Thanks for the good articles, Skari!

Skari, how do you exploit mandrake well? I'd like to run at least one unit for fluffy reason (I play Kabal of the Wraithkind) but there stats look not attractive yet.

P.S. Sorry for the double posting. Would you please merge them, moderator? Thanks!

Mandrakes are used as a harassment unit. They are also used as a flush unit to tackle squishy units in the backfield and they are also used as a null deployment strategy.

Had a game last night that combined dark eldar craftworld and corsairs! What a fun game. I have a really good idea of what I want my corsair list to look like and what it will mesh well with the other armies !

Sweet! Will you post the report here as well as YouTube?