Your Craftworld

[Iron Father Ferrum]

So a common question between Space Marine players -- a majority in these parts -- is why you picked your Chapter/Legion.  My question for this new section, then, is why did you pick your Craftworld?

 

Mine is that of Altansar.  The last Craftworld to depart the Empire before the Fall and survive it, the fate of Altansar was a question for thousands of years.  The only known survivor was a great and terrible warrior who would become one of Asurmen's first students: Maugan Ra, the Harvester of Souls, Phoenix Lord, and father of the Dark Reapers.

 

I started my Eldar army shortly before the Eye of Terror campaign commenced and was yet undecided as to which Craftworld I should devote my allegiance.  I did know, however, that Ra was simply the baddest-ass of the Phoenix Lord.  His model is so unlike the rest of the line, swapping smooth lines and an almost aerodynamic physique for a monstrous build (for an Eldar; seriously, he's a beefcake!) and the most awe-inspiring suit of armor I have ever seen on a 40K model.  I knew that whatever Craftworld I ended up painting my army in, Ra was going to lead it.  Then Codex: Eye of Terror dropped and we come to find out that Ra has led a strike force Ulthwé Black Guardians, backed a veritable army of Reapers, into the Eye to find his lost home and guide it back into realspace.  He does successfully, and now while the Altansarai are outcasts even among their own kind, they have thrown themselves into beating back the forces of Chaos.

 

It's a great back story.  The possibly corrupted -- we don't know, they won't unhelm in the presence of outsiders -- Eldar have returned from exile within the Great Eye.  Despite long exposure to the Warp, in the physical afterbirth of She Who Thirsts, they remain pure of heart and devoted to defeating Chaos.  Yet even their fellows of darkly-famed Ulthwé barely trust them.  It's a perfectly grimdark tale and, combined with the sheer bleeding awesomeness that is Maugan Ra, that's why I chose Craftworld Altansar.

 

So what about you?

[Brother-Chaplain Kage]

Saim-Hann. Because red jetbikes go faster, monkeigh.

[Dusktiger]

i went with Ynnari because back in 5th i did a red army (blood angels) and always sort of regretted not keeping it.  red's a favorite color of mine and i kept coming back to the idea i wanted a red army for my collection again.  And when they came out, and i saw pictures of the formations with the unifying red color scheme across the Dire Avengers (which were always shown in blue before), the Incubi, and the Wyches, that made me decide right there that i wanted to do that army.

[Slips]

If we go with cannon Craftworld, Iyanden because WRAITHS!

 

If we go DIY, Jaz'Hans because Jazz Hands.

[Jolemai]

Umm'd and arr'd over this on many an occasion. Been drawn to Biel'Tan due to owning lots of Aspect Warriors but two of my mates collect that. Then came Iyanden (I've even got some Guardians painted like that) but Wraithlists put an end to that. Ditto with Ulthwé for obvious reasons (and again, someone else collects that in my group).

 

I've got loads of Dark Reapers and Maugan Ra so I've considered Altansar and I've got a soft spot for Mymeara (but no airbrush...)

 

*Sigh*

Edited June 19, 2017 by Jolemai

[Brother-Chaplain Kage]

My previous post was a bit silly, but seriously, it's the red paint job that mostly drew me to Saim-Hann. Back in the old days of me first getting into the game, I was heavily influenced by those big army pictures you'd frequently see in White Dwarf and to me, none of the craftworlds looked as striking as Saim-Hann. Ulthwé would be a close second, but that beautiful red, white, and black paint job is practically iconic for eldar. Then I found out they're the rowdy, fight-happy rednecks of the Eldar and I liked them even more.

[Reyner]

When the Eye of Terror codex came out I was drawn in by the awesome Ulthwé Craftworld, bought a couple of Guardian squads (and some storm Guardians!), one of the heavy weapon platforms (shadow weaver maybe?) and a Wraithlord who was quite the bastard to put together for 13 year old me haha! They had a great scheme and I really liked Eldrad Ulthuan as a character but my collected never really got any larger after that. And thanks to Deathwatch: Death Masque I finally have an Eldrad model not a fan of the Harlies though.

 

As much as it pains me I am still kind of tempted to pick some Eldar up but I don't fancy the massive wraith constructs but I do really like Dark Reapers and Maugan-Ra and the Shadow Spectres from Forge World... Just need some ideas thrown at me if anyone has any suggestions?

 

edit: I just stumbled upon the Yme-Loc craftworld  their colour scheme is amazing!

Edited June 19, 2017 by Reyner

[Ion]

I like the 'wild' part of the wild riders of Saim Hann. More advanced than than the Exodites but less stuffy than most craftworlders, they have this sort of traditional fae feeling to them

[Jolemai]

Never taken to them sadly, but it's probably to do with the colour ;)

[Brother Sefiel]

Greetings

My craftworld is Idiria. It's a reference to a role-playing game that I used to run (as many of my 40k characters tend to be). It has some field-leaders in wraith-constructs (I used to field massive wraith-legions in apocalypse, including a load of VDRd conversions). Their colours are brown/sand, perhaps reflecting a link to a world their ancestors inhabited.

 

They drift around a couple of systems on the eastern fringe, protecting several worlds that have small colonies, and working with even smaller minor craftworlds for mutual defence. Aspect shrines tend to have a multitude of colour schemes; no squad of hawks, for example, has identical heraldry to any of the others. However, squad colours do cross aspect types, and these disparate units often form detachments which fight in a specific way, so there are all-black squads tasked with night operations, green-blue units that specialise in marine actions, a desert-coloured group for arid terrain operations (which is the most renowned) etc.

 

In recent times, most of the population has whole-heartedly turned to the Ynnari way, partly because of the direct influence of several Phoenix Lords with which they have strong ties, most notably Karandras, who, with the harlequins, helped to smooth the way to work with a small number of drukhari. Lelith Hesperax has been known to fight at their side, often in some form of alliance/rivalry with the scorpion lord. However, most are still not trusted; other than her, only a very few archons and their immediate associates are accepted, and only if they are recommended by certain harlequin masques. The craftworld has many friends among the dancers, however, foremost of which is the Masque of the White King, which utilises several wraithlords which the Idirians helped to construct.

Edited June 19, 2017 by Brother Sefiel

[Arkaniss]

Mine are Lugganath for two reasons, firstly orange is my favourite colour and their scheme is pretty bold and striking, secondly as I liked their close ties to the Harlequins. They're not big players in the fluff really so it does allow me some wriggle room in how I want to do them as not much is set in stone.

[Kua]

I always liked Iyanden fluff but not the colour scheme.

So I „invented“ my own, even wrote a bunch of story/fluff for it (long ago, maybe 15 years), without really being so much behind the idea.

Now I‘m considering actually trying to make a yellow main colour look good, but if I do, I wouldn’t know what to do with all my old Eldar looking different.

Edited June 20, 2017 by Kua

[Aqui]

When I last played them so many years ago, I played as Biel Tan, both in 40k and EPIC scale. I think it was the ethos of the Craftworld that I liked. Aggressive, even to other Craftworlds to a degree and their ultimate wish to regain all of the Maiden worlds lost in the Fall. That and at the time I played the colours are those my other armies didn't have. I did start on a new army (using modern Guardians, but metal Banshees etc) not long after I joined BnC, but because there were so few places to post about them that felt like the BnC, the project stalled, gathering dust. Also the events of Gathering Storm has left me unsure. I don't have the books about the Eldar, but I was hoping to either carry on with them, or concentrate on a DIY Craftworld, maybe even just mixing them together.

 

Once I've read a few things I'll decide

[Marshal Wolfhart]

My craftworld, Dirun-Lie, is headcanon; once i get around to dig up all the stuff i made up and write down all the stuff i have yet to make up, i will sure put out a thread :D

[Bartali]

Iyanden. One of first minis was the old metal Eldar Dreadnought, and it's great to put their modern equivalent back on the tabletop now they're decent.

[Aqui]

My craftworld, Dirun-Lie, is headcanon; once i get around to dig up all the stuff i made up and write down all the stuff i have yet to make up, i will sure put out a thread

Will look forward to seeing it in the [url=http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/forum/277-liber-xenos/Liber Xenos section

[clanfield]

mighty biel tan because rebirth of ancient days I wanted to bring the glory days of when I started playing back.

 

of course that's not so rebirth now thanks to the story but hey the sword wind will sweep my foes before it 

[CrystalSeer]

I'm running Ulthwé pretty much entirely because of death masque and GS 2. Eldrad defying fate and the craftworlds to follow the only strand of fate that doesn't lead to annihilation; and the harlequins acting out the will of the laughing god in a millennia spanning practical joke.

 

It is by far some of my favorite 40k lore.

[Sol_Invictus]

I started with Ulthwé back in 3rd with a Seer Council and some Black Guardians. Those were the days. :) I liked the black and bone color scheme and of course Eldrad was amazing. 

 

Recently, I've been thinking about Mymeara with some Corsairs or maybe just Corsair band but that may not be possible in 8th so I guess we'll see.

[Honda]

I went with Iyanden because of the fluff, but didn't like the brighter yellows and blues, so I toned it down with a desert sand color and a desaturated turquoise.

[E_50_Panzer]

When I last played them so many years ago, I played as Biel Tan, both in 40k and EPIC scale. I think it was the ethos of the Craftworld that I liked. Aggressive, even to other Craftworlds to a degree and their ultimate wish to regain all of the Maiden worlds lost in the Fall. That and at the time I played the colours are those my other armies didn't have. I did start on a new army (using modern Guardians, but metal Banshees etc) not long after I joined BnC, but because there were so few places to post about them that felt like the BnC, the project stalled, gathering dust. Also the events of Gathering Storm has left me unsure. I don't have the books about the Eldar, but I was hoping to either carry on with them, or concentrate on a DIY Craftworld, maybe even just mixing them together.Once I've read a few things I'll decide :)

Path of the Eldar is a good read, if anything it's a break from the usual imperial novels, but I do think they leave a little bit to be desired. I think Asurmen is another good read, since it contains flashbacks from during The Fall.

 

Anyways, my Craftworld is Iyanden. I used to like Ulthwé for the striking color scheme, but Valedor, the novel, really sold me on doing Iyanden. The amount of losses and beatings they've taken almost makes them pitiable. They have whole houses and cities on the Craftworld filled with wraith guard endlessly trying to do the things they did in their lives. There is little happiness on the world ship, only death. They fit 40k's tone.

[Iron Father Ferrum]

 

When I last played them so many years ago, I played as Biel Tan, both in 40k and EPIC scale. I think it was the ethos of the Craftworld that I liked. Aggressive, even to other Craftworlds to a degree and their ultimate wish to regain all of the Maiden worlds lost in the Fall. That and at the time I played the colours are those my other armies didn't have. I did start on a new army (using modern Guardians, but metal Banshees etc) not long after I joined BnC, but because there were so few places to post about them that felt like the BnC, the project stalled, gathering dust. Also the events of Gathering Storm has left me unsure. I don't have the books about the Eldar, but I was hoping to either carry on with them, or concentrate on a DIY Craftworld, maybe even just mixing them together.Once I've read a few things I'll decide

Path of the Eldar is a good read, if anything it's a break from the usual imperial novels, but I do think they leave a little bit to be desired. I think Asurmen is another good read, since it contains flashbacks from during The Fall.

 

 

I was ambivalent about Asurmen, but I loved the Path of the Eldar novels (at least the ones about the Craftworlders.  I tried slogging through the Dark Eldar Path novels and...ugh.  Couldn't finish them, and I finished Eldar Prophecy and that was horrendous!).  I'm curious what you didn't like about them.

[E_50_Panzer]

 

I was ambivalent about Asurmen, but I loved the Path of the Eldar novels (at least the ones about the Craftworlders.  I tried slogging through the Dark Eldar Path novels and...ugh.  Couldn't finish them, and I finished Eldar Prophecy and that was horrendous!).  I'm curious what you didn't like about them.

 

 

 

I actually just ordered the Dark Eldar ones. Most people seem to find them of 'OK' quality, but never 'good.'

 

To answer your question though, I didn't like reading Path of the Seer. It felt like a chore, it just went on and on, and Thirrianna and her interactions just aren't that interesting. I thought Path of the Warrior was good, great even.

The main thing I didn't like about it was Korlandril falling so far so fast, but perhaps that's my taste.

Path of the Outcast was great. I really loved the adventure Aradryan went on.

The ending of the final battle made me scratch my head though... The Imperial Crusade gets called off because the astartes are too concerned about losses? What kind of heretical marines are they? Sorry for the long reply, it took me 15 minutes to find the spoiler button like an idiot.

[Brother Sefiel]

Hi

Iyanden. One of first minis was the old metal Eldar Dreadnought, and it's great to put their modern equivalent back on the tabletop now they're decent.

They were the first 40k models that really impressed me from a design perspective.

[Slave to Darkness]

Mine are Lugganath for two reasons, firstly orange is my favourite colour and their scheme is pretty bold and striking, secondly as I liked their close ties to the Harlequins. They're not big players in the fluff really so it does allow me some wriggle room in how I want to do them as not much is set in stone.

Fun fact. Lugganath was a Craftworld by a Golden Demon winner back in 1st ed. Ill see if I still have the WD mag with his minis in.

 

 

As for what Craftworld, I use Biel Tan but with green bodys and white helms, always fancied the reverse scheme since I saw them in a WD bat rep back in 2nd ed, shame I have lost that issue.