Feeling rather un-Dark Eldar

Subject: Feeling rather un-Dark Eldar Sat Jun 08 2013, 23:13

So I've been trying to build a decent list for a friendly catch up session with a buddy at GW-HQ, we live in different cities now so we're trying to make it a regular. When I've fought him before I've normally rolled out my Astral Claws (boo hiss), so this time I wanted to bring my Dark Eldar out for a play. Ok ok, mainly I wanted to actually use a flyer in 6th for the first time.

Now for these catch up games we've agreed on fully painted and based models only, because we both feel in adds a level of awesome and that the lovely tables at GWHQ deserve no less.

Looking through my DE collection in its semi-permanent state of refurbishment this ruling has posed me a problem. I have now just noticed I only have three raiders in a usable state. Yes, I have a 2000pt+ army with only three Raiders...

To be honest I have no idea how this has happened, or not occurred to me before. I felt compelled to confess my transgressions to my fellow city dwellers and now I'll have to hurl myself in the Khaides.

Subject: Re: Feeling rather un-Dark Eldar Sun Jun 09 2013, 00:03

All my raiders are usable, but none are finished...
So I feel your pain, and my collection is getting on for 4000 points.

Subject: Re: Feeling rather un-Dark Eldar Mon Jun 10 2013, 08:34

I can do 1500 points and have one raider. In 1000 point games I'm not even using it at the moment - it will be back though and others will join it !

I like the rule about only using painted models, I've always found it depressing to turn up for a game (in any system) to be faced with sea of bare plastic/metal.

Subject: Re: Feeling rather un-Dark Eldar Mon Jun 10 2013, 14:15

The painted model rule is great and makes the games (in our oppionion) that bit better. I know everyone enjoys different parts of the hobby and I'm not going to refuse to play someone because they haven't painted their models (although half assembled raiders and ravagers in undercoat did get confusing that one time), but it always feels a little "less". Prime example was last game, my friend and I are having a game over a nice table at HQ but we look over to one of the awesome tables and its ruined slightly by the see of bare plastic fighting across it. Oh well to each their own...

On the plus side, the painted rule is spurring me on to try and update at least one more Raider and bring it along. But as you say Skyboard Surfer it is possible to run DE without Raiders. My current proto-type list for the next game sits at a little over 2000pts and is made of two chucks. My ground force (must resist calling my Haeme Alan Titchmarsh) of two kabalite blobs, wracks, talos and Haeme and then the air force of raider mounted troops, scourges, razorwing and Archon. Now in my mind this army presents a great narrative of a Haemonculus conducting an experiment in realspace and the archon sponsoring him riding to his "rescue", or at least to see his investment doesn't get blown to bits too soon. Wink

The list may not be very competive, but thats not what our games are about, so I'm very tempted to run the list as is now and see what happens. Sorry I'm rambling as bad as a Standard Bearer colum in WD. I'd love to hear how others view these sort of "not so competitive" lists, and how you get by with one Raider surfer.

Subject: Re: Feeling rather un-Dark Eldar Thu Jun 13 2013, 00:24

Competitive or not, it's useless if you don't even know your own units. Several of our units are perfectly fine units, though they are less effective than others, they're perfectly usable. The trick to these units is knowing how to use them. Several examples: mandrakes, cronos pain engine, reavers, scourges, hellions, wyches.

If you know how to use your units, you can get away with using a friendly armylist. However these lists are somewhat less effective. The advantage the other units have: they're easier to use, cost less.

Then there's the fact that you're playing Dark Eldar. Most units with a few exceptions, even though they're good, you still need to use them well, you can play with this army like a barbarian and still hope to win, this is not a space marine army. There are certain tactics and a playstyle you need to respect.

Knowing the above, it's best to use the best lists you can to not embarass yourself, not that it really matters if you lose, but if you lose several timed without know why...it's probably because there's a good reason you can't seem to find yourself. Usually this is because of your bad armylist, wrongly used units, wrong tactics overall. This is not a forgiving army, I've seen people quit because they only lost, it's doesn't happen that often, but it does happen.

The best tactics rely on raiders, certain units simply don't work without a raider, to that extend and it is possible to make a footslogging type of list, but it will be a little bit less fast. If you go for this, you'll consciencely private yourself from one of the greatests assets of this army.
All the units that don't need a raider :
Hellions, talos, cronos, beasts, beastmasters, Razorwing jetfighter, Voidraven bomber, ravager, reaper, tantalus, scourges, reavers, harlequins, mandrakes.

HQs are ignored, since they usually join a squad, knowing this fact, it's possible to make a fair list with these units only. Harlequins and mandrakes can board a raider, they can't pick one directly, but can get one indirectly, though they don't need any help if they're used like you're supposed to use them.

One ,well actually 2 units don't per se need a transport and can work without : Kabalite warriors and trueborn. Both are shooty units, staying at a distance, they can remain in cover to get extra protection. These units are better though with a raider, it's an even better protection than cover and gives them moblity.

Wyches, wracks and grotesques, incubi all need a raider to get into cc as fast as possible. Grotesques and incubi need it for aggresive purposes, both pack quite a punch in cc, they're supposed to rush into it. Wyches and wracks don't per se need to be aggresive, the raider provides them with mobility and more important, protection they need, wyches more than wracks, since they don't have feel no pain from turn 1. Wracks can work without a raider, but it's extremely rare and they're kept in the back to campture an objective, but since they don't shoot, they serve no other purpose.

Raiders, besides giving mobility and protection, also give a free Dark Lance. This last point is the most important actually, missing this greatly reduces most armylists overall effectiveness.
Most 1500pts-2000pts have between 6 to 8 raiders. This means 6 to 8 DLs, play a raiderless lists and your points will be invested elsewhere, in most cases you'll lack anti tank. These DLs are the easy road towards tank busting, you really, but really need them, they're added next to the other DLs usually present in the list. A Long range anti tank weapon is the best way to destroy enemy tanks.

The best Dark Eldar armylists, used in tournaments, with good results, rely heavily on raiders and they're primiraly focused on the numbers of DLs. When you got DLs, you usually have enough anti infantry, and enough other anti tank means Razz

.
After you've got the perfect list, you still need to use it well. Since this army isn't easy to use, and still very fragile, you can still fail. Bringing a competitve list increases your chances of not failing. If you intend to achieve real results, get those raiders, unless you somehow enjoy losing.

It's sad, but other armies can get away with a noob list, marines are the best example.

The painting rule is good, it's a lot better to play with painted armies, even if they're not master class painted. Even if an army is badly painted, you can tell if you get did put some effort in his army, this effort is appreciated. It's a different story with people that paint entire armies in a couple of days, they usually look cheap and not much better than an unpainted army.
I also don't get why people prefer coated models to grey ones, I frankly don't see the difference. Playing vs unpainted stuff is ok, but through the years you get bored of it, play a lot of battles with painted armies, and you'll see you enjoy the game a lot more, to a point where you even might start to hate unpainted armies.

2 armies well painted on a cool table, like those in the warhammer world hall, that's just so cool. The time you spend painting those guys really makes suchs battles worthwhile.

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