Psychic Awakening: Phoenix Rising

Theres a new page on the Community site for Psychic Awakening.

It features an interactive map of "events" whoich so far has one - an Aledari symbol and the title "Phoenix Rising".
So looks like Eldar are up first for something.

https://www.warhammer-community.com/psychic-awakening/

No actual details on what it means though. Just a title.

The blurb mentions all Eldar subfactions, so the book *might* include rules for all Aeldari armies, and not just CW.

Hopefully, among other things, it will update the rules for the Phoenix Lords, and make them more viable.

100% convinced we're getting a new Jain Zar model here. Plastic Banshees have obviously been confirmed already and there was a rumour engine pic that looked like her hair.

If the Phoenix Lords are gettings new rules, there may be hope for Drazhar.

Jain Zar is likely getting a new model, and Banshees are confirmed. Given that's the only model they've shown (and a Banshee is the artwork for the campaign), I don't think there's going to be much else in terms of model releases.

Remember, GW has been flinging out Imperial and Chaos models left and right lately. Just by practical standards, there's nothing left but crumbs of development time for everyone else.

I can't comment on rules, but if you're expecting anything more than a bare minimum release in order to sell the book, expect to be disappointed.

I wonder if its gonna be all the Phoenix lords, just Jain Zar ... or if this somehow gives GW an excuse to give the Salamander chapter a "Phoenix Lord", I really really hope its Aeldari related ... just to break the monotony of Space Marine stuff

Archon_91 wrote:

I wonder if its gonna be all the Phoenix lords, just Jain Zar ... or if this somehow gives GW an excuse to give the Salamander chapter a "Phoenix Lord", I really really hope its Aeldari related ... just to break the monotony of Space Marine stuff

There's a blurb if you click on the icon on the map:

Quote :

The ancient and proud Aeldari race is split into various factions. The stoic and noble Asuryani live their lives adrift on planet-sized Craftworlds. The depraved Drukhari venture forth from the dark metropolis of Commorragh to raid and pillage. The mysterious Harlequins travel the galaxy according to their unfathomable whims via the webway. And the newly formed Ynnari, comprised of members from all walks of Aeldari life, are united in the desire to awaken Ynnead, god of the dead.

The Aeldari are a psychically sensitive race, and the fragile balance between these disparate cultures has been disturbed by the Psychic Awakening. These factions have become embroiled in a full-scale internecine war for the future of their people.

Ancient divisions yawn ever wider, the complex fabric of alliances and uneasy truces unravels, and self-righteous leaders on all sides attempt to rally support for their causes.

Definitely Eldar related, all four of the main factions look like they're getting something. Except for Craftworlds receiving new models I wouldn't hold out hope for much more than something along the lines of a specialist detachment.

"self-righteous leaders on all sides attempt to rally support for their causes."

This ending line for me suggests we might see new Characters for all eldar factions.

Burnage wrote:

Archon_91 wrote:

I wonder if its gonna be all the Phoenix lords, just Jain Zar ... or if this somehow gives GW an excuse to give the Salamander chapter a "Phoenix Lord", I really really hope its Aeldari related ... just to break the monotony of Space Marine stuff

There's a blurb if you click on the icon on the map:

Quote :

The ancient and proud Aeldari race is split into various factions. The stoic and noble Asuryani live their lives adrift on planet-sized Craftworlds. The depraved Drukhari venture forth from the dark metropolis of Commorragh to raid and pillage. The mysterious Harlequins travel the galaxy according to their unfathomable whims via the webway. And the newly formed Ynnari, comprised of members from all walks of Aeldari life, are united in the desire to awaken Ynnead, god of the dead.

The Aeldari are a psychically sensitive race, and the fragile balance between these disparate cultures has been disturbed by the Psychic Awakening. These factions have become embroiled in a full-scale internecine war for the future of their people.

Ancient divisions yawn ever wider, the complex fabric of alliances and uneasy truces unravels, and self-righteous leaders on all sides attempt to rally support for their causes.

Definitely Eldar related, all four of the main factions look like they're getting something. Except for Craftworlds receiving new models I wouldn't hold out hope for much more than something along the lines of a specialist detachment.

yes i believe we all know deep inside that this is the only thing we will get

One thing that strikes out though... Judging from the blurb it seems that the first campaign is all out out aeldari civil war, do you think this is what they will focus on, pure aeldari things? If yes then it would be strange to no include vect is some form, he's the most raw anti-ynnari thing we got...

It better be Vect getting pissed off at Yvarine

Serpent Fly wrote:

"self-righteous leaders on all sides attempt to rally support for their causes."

This ending line for me suggests we might see new Characters for all eldar factions.

Oh please no more sodding special characters.

Who needs generic HQs anyway....

I'm trying to figure out what the Dark Eldar would get in an event all about psychics, given that we can't have psychic powers. Will they come up with some kind of "technically-not-psychic" supernatural or webway abilities, maybe some new Haemonculus powers, or new super-drugs, or will they just give us some anti-psyker or psychic-null stuff? It would be great if they gave us some special rules that apply to mercenaries like Incubi, Scourges, and Mandrakes. Or at least let them benefit from Kabal, Cult, or Coven bonuses. Speaking of Incubi and Mandrakes, maybe with plastic Banshees on the way, we'll finally get plastic versions for our old resin models too.

If the Craftworlds are getting updated Phoenix Lords, maybe we'll get our characters back. A new Vect would be cool (though probably more for modelling purposes rather than playability), but I think I'm even more excited about the prospect of The Duke, The Baron, and Lady Malys coming back!

What would the Harlequins get? Maybe a special model for Sylandri Veilwalker since she's been such an influential figure since The Gathering Storm? Maybe models for a Great Harlequin or High Avatar? Harlequin Warlocks and High Warlocks? Mimes and Master Mimes? I know we've got the Starweaver now, but it'd be cool if they gave us rules to use Venoms with Harlequins, to give them some more variety.

If ALL Eldar factions are getting new stuff, maybe we'll get to see some original Ynnari models or at least better rules than the last White Dwarf nerf.

I'd really love to see new Corsairs or at least Corsair models for Ynnari, though that's probably the longest shot out of any of these hopes. lol

I'm personally not counting on much being released for Eldar factions outside of resin becoming plastic and centerpiece heroes being added. So I don't really expect anything outside, Jain Zarr for the Craftworlders (maybe down the road we will get the other Phoenix Lords, the name is Phoenix Rising so I'm not counting on much or maybe I'm reading to much into the singular part of Phoenix along with the Howling Banshees being announced in plastic), Vect for Dark Eldar (If they go full out Eldar on Eldar War then he would make the most sense, otherwise I would go with Malys for her connection to multiple factions), and Sylandri Veilwalker for Harlequins as Characters go.

Rather than see this Sylandri character get a model, or if they are generous enough to give Eldar factions more than just the minimum, I would love to see the return of the Great Harlequin. Can't really have the Harlequins without their god, it has bugged me since the 7th edition's Codex that the one playing their own god does not have rules for the table top.

As for Corsairs, if we see anything for them I think it will remain Forgeworld releases not be brought into the mainline. I still hope to see the Corsairs make a return akin to how they were in 7th Edition and I would like to even see a return of some Exodites like their Dragon Warriors but with official models. I am of course of the belief this will not happen with this release or in the near future; after all the information given so far ignores the existence of the Exodites and Corsairs as faction. The interactive map only says, Craftworld, Dark Eldar, Harlequins, and Ynarri.

The pessimist in me also says that GW will never give us back options on our HQs such as Skyboards and Jetbikes. And I highly doubt GW notices Dark Eldar enough to give us back the rest of our named HQs. Personally I think 8th edition has become to focused on named characters. I understand they are pushing forward the story, that is fine as big names would be in play but I have always liked to play my Archon and his kabal not named x and his men.

True, most named characters don't get used much, but The Duke and The Baron were some of the rare exceptions. They were both really popular in lists and conversions. I hadn't even considered our Jetbikes, but that would be really awesome. Craftworlds have so many jetbike HQ options, with Autarchs, Farseers, and Warlocks, plus the Skyrunner Conclave... An Archon on a jetbike would be cool, but can you imagine an entire Skyreaver Court of the Archon? Now I really want to model a Sslyth on a jetbike just for fun... two arms to steer, plus two arms holding weapons... would his tail be inside a compartment in the bike, or wrapped around it? Muthafuckin' snake-men on muthafuckin' jetbikes! Sorry, got a bit carried away, there. XD

Vael Galizur wrote:

True, most named characters don't get used much, but The Duke and The Baron were some of the rare exceptions. They were both really popular in lists and conversions. I hadn't even considered our Jetbikes, but that would be really awesome.

I suspect that I'm in the minority on this, but the mobility option I'd most want for my HQs would be Scourge Wings.

I know that mechanically they're the weakest option, as they're slower than Jetbikes and don't get the extra toughness or the extra ranged weapons on Jetbikes/Skyboards. However, I just love the aesthetics and flavour so much more.

I also like the body-modification aspect. With a Jetbike or Skyboard, the Archon is basically just choosing a smaller personal transport. But with wings he's actually had his body permanently altered to grant himself flight. I guess it appeals to me because the whole 'Archons paying Haemonculi for all manner of strange augmentations' is supposed to be a thing in Commorragh, and yet basically doesn't exist at all in the game. They can't even take drugs anymore.

Soulless Samurai wrote:

Vael Galizur wrote:

True, most named characters don't get used much, but The Duke and The Baron were some of the rare exceptions. They were both really popular in lists and conversions. I hadn't even considered our Jetbikes, but that would be really awesome.

I suspect that I'm in the minority on this, but the mobility option I'd most want for my HQs would be Scourge Wings.

I know that mechanically they're the weakest option, as they're slower than Jetbikes and don't get the extra toughness or the extra ranged weapons on Jetbikes/Skyboards. However, I just love the aesthetics and flavour so much more.

I also like the body-modification aspect. With a Jetbike or Skyboard, the Archon is basically just choosing a smaller personal transport. But with wings he's actually had his body permanently altered to grant himself flight. I guess it appeals to me because the whole 'Archons paying Haemonculi for all manner of strange augmentations' is supposed to be a thing in Commorragh, and yet basically doesn't exist at all in the game. They can't even take drugs anymore.

I would absolutely love to see Scourge Archons as well, I don't see why a particularly cunning Scourge couldn't rise up and create or take over a Kabal to become an Archon. I only mentioned the Jetbikes and Skyboard because they were actual options back in 3rd edition and it would be GW returning the option to us, additional customization are more than welcome for me.

Scourge Archons would be aaawesome. And a Scourge Court! Ur-Ghuls with wings makes much more sense than Ur-Ghuls on jetbikes. lol

Mechanics wise, if we got either a skyboard or wings options for characters, you could easily just run say a winged archon if skyboards are the option we get. Same movement value so there's not much of a difference, and you could say count the skyboard's splinter pods as a super splinter pistol, or even give your archon a splinter carbine and count that as the pods which would be cool. Jetbike is a little more difficult, but I wouldn't complain if we ever got any mobility option at all.

That all being said, I am somewhat optimistic each Eldar faction will get a model out of this upcoming first phase of psychic awakening considering it's quite clear all of the factions are involved. Could just be a single character or special character, but hey I'll take it, it's been ages since we got something new. DE certainly don't need psykers to be involved in some large scale conflict among eldar, and it would be really dope if we got some sort of anti-psyker assassin/unit.

Lord Asvaldir wrote:

Mechanics wise, if we got either a skyboard or wings options for characters, you could easily just run say a winged archon if skyboards are the option we get. Same movement value so there's not much of a difference, and you could say count the skyboard's splinter pods as a super splinter pistol, or even give your archon a splinter carbine and count that as the pods which would be cool. Jetbike is a little more difficult, but I wouldn't complain if we ever got any mobility option at all.

That all being said, I am somewhat optimistic each Eldar faction will get a model out of this upcoming first phase of psychic awakening considering it's quite clear all of the factions are involved. Could just be a single character or special character, but hey I'll take it, it's been ages since we got something new. DE certainly don't need psykers to be involved in some large scale conflict among eldar, and it would be really dope if we got some sort of anti-psyker assassin/unit.

ok lets be honest here... Skyboard, wings and jetbikes would be amazing but the chances of us geting those options are close to zero... Realistically speaking the most logical choice here IF we DO get a model all things considered (fluf, taking into account the blurb which mentions "self-righteous LEADERS") is Vect and i know im in the minority here but i would cry tears of joy if this happens ^_^

Guys.

I know it's cool to have an event dedicated to us, but I think we need to temper our expectations. We're probably not getting any new models. We're almost certainly not getting Vect or any of our wishlisted characters.

If we do get some new models, then great! But let's work under the assumption that this will be about equivalent to the Vigilus books, where we get some bonus rules that apply to existing models and not much else outside of fluff.

yes i know but... hooooope :/

Burnage wrote:

I know it's cool to have an event dedicated to us, but I think we need to temper our expectations.

Don't worry.

After 8 years of GW crapping on us I am expecting no new models and no rules of any value whatsoever.

At best there might be a new Eldar/Harlequin unit we get to use as an ally.

Soulless Samurai wrote:

Burnage wrote:

I know it's cool to have an event dedicated to us, but I think we need to temper our expectations.

Don't worry.

After 8 years of GW crapping on us I am expecting no new models and no rules of any value whatsoever.

At best there might be a new Eldar/Harlequin unit we get to use as an ally.

Even then I would be more inclined to believe GW will invent a Ynarri specific unit before they give the "traditional" Eldar factions anything new.

Edit: To be clear about what I mean by new, something original, not something pulled from a previous codex such as a named character.