Aelderi on pre-order 25/01/2025

[Widowmaker82]

Hopefully not breaking any rules here - these can all be found on the Eldar Reddit. The rest of the detachment rules (I think only the Ynnari page has been posted in this thread).

 

Spirit Conclave looks pretty good. I'm a Saim-Hann man myself, but I'm not quite sure what to make of the Windrider Host at the moment. Other than I wish the Skyrunner Autarch still existed.

[Emperor Ming]

I wonder if guardian bikes can still all have cannons, as theres only one in the box, i assumed that might have changed

Edited January 23 by Emperor Ming

[Focslain]

Liking the strats in the Spirit Host. Fact that I can Tank Shock with my wraith constructs is on brand. 

 

Little weird that we get grudge tokens as the detachment ability, but with the need of a lot of psykers I'm sure it's going to pop a few times. Need to see what the spiritseer does now, if they changed at all.

[Widowmaker82]

8 minutes ago, Emperor Ming said:

I wonder if guardian bikes can still all have cannons, as theres only one in the box, i assumed that might have changed

 

Each sprue for Windriders is enough to build one model and you get all weapon options on the sprue. The three sprues in the box are exactly the same (unlike Drukhari Reaver jetbikes that have some variety).

 

So I doubt it will change.

[Karhedron]

20 minutes ago, Emperor Ming said:

I wonder if guardian bikes can still all have cannons, as theres only one in the box, i assumed that might have changed

 

No, the Windriders box contains enough weapons to give every biker a shuricannon or scatter laser if you wish.

[Lord Marshal]

Combat Patrol:

 

[Widowmaker82]

5 minutes ago, Focslain said:

Liking the strats in the Spirit Host. Fact that I can Tank Shock with my wraith constructs is on brand. 

 

Little weird that we get grudge tokens as the detachment ability, but with the need of a lot of psykers I'm sure it's going to pop a few times. Need to see what the spiritseer does now, if they changed at all.

 

More tokens!

 

Spiritseer now gets Lone Op while within 3" of a Wraith Construct, but they aren't Leader models (which makes the wording on one of the Enhancements in Spirit Conclave a bit odd). Spirit Mark is used at start or end of the Spiritseers move and you select a Wraith unit within 6" and an enemy in LOS. That wraith unit gets [SUSTAINED HITS 1] while targeting that enemy unit (shooting and/or melee). And in command phase they select a wraith unit within 6" and it returns a destroyed model or heals D3 wounds on a model.

 

They also have stealth - bit of an odd one?

 

Not seen the full datasheet for the weapons on them yet I'm afraid.

[Indy Techwisp]

7 minutes ago, Lord Marshal said:

Combat Patrol:

 

 

GW getting the most out of the Dire Avengers before they're getting their resculpt...

[Emperor Ming]

9 minutes ago, Karhedron said:

 

No, the Windriders box contains enough weapons to give every biker a shuricannon or scatter laser if you wish.

Yes well, maybe its time i update my models

[TheArtilleryman]

33 minutes ago, Widowmaker82 said:

 

More tokens!

 

Spiritseer now gets Lone Op while within 3" of a Wraith Construct, but they aren't Leader models (which makes the wording on one of the Enhancements in Spirit Conclave a bit odd). Spirit Mark is used at start or end of the Spiritseers move and you select a Wraith unit within 6" and an enemy in LOS. That wraith unit gets [SUSTAINED HITS 1] while targeting that enemy unit (shooting and/or melee). And in command phase they select a wraith unit within 6" and it returns a destroyed model or heals D3 wounds on a model.

 

They also have stealth - bit of an odd one?

 

Not seen the full datasheet for the weapons on them yet I'm afraid.

It is a bit convoluted but it makes sense to me. It’s all because of their unwritten design rule that characters can’t join units  with different toughness and/or saves. Same reason a primaris captain can’t lead a gravis squad. It’s dumb, but that’s the way it is.

 

With the spiritseer, its whole point is to lead the Wraithguard, but that goes against the above rule. So they’ve found a way for the seer to lead the unit in all but name - if they’re close enough they can’t be targeted on their own - like a leader. And they can use their abilities to buff the unit - like a leader. But when you’re shooting at the unit, because it isn’t actually leading the unit, you don’t have to roll against different toughness and save characteristics because you can’t shoot the seer.

 

Wow that sounded complicated lol

[Wormwoods]

1 hour ago, Emperor Ming said:

I wonder if guardian bikes can still all have cannons, as theres only one in the box, i assumed that might have changed

You're thinking of Shining Spears, I think. That kit only has one cannon in it. 

[Widowmaker82]

7 minutes ago, TheArtilleryman said:

It is a bit convoluted but it makes sense to me. It’s all because of their unwritten design rule that characters can’t join units  with different toughness and/or saves. Same reason a primaris captain can’t lead a gravis squad. It’s dumb, but that’s the way it is.

 

With the spiritseer, its whole point is to lead the Wraithguard, but that goes against the above rule. So they’ve found a way for the seer to lead the unit in all but name - if they’re close enough they can’t be targeted on their own - like a leader. And they can use their abilities to buff the unit - like a leader. But when you’re shooting at the unit, because it isn’t actually leading the unit, you don’t have to roll against different toughness and save characteristics because you can’t shoot the seer.

 

Wow that sounded complicated lol

 

There's several examples of leaders joining units with different toughness, even though it is quite common for Leaders to share toughness with their bodyguard unit(s). There's rules to cover it all in the rulebook so it's never a problem.

 

Tyranids have at least a couple (Tyranid Prime with Wings can join Gargoyles and Neurotyrant can join Neurogaunts). Even in the Eldar codex you can join a Support Weapon to Guardian Defenders (I know that's not quite the same and there's a specific Support Weapon rule to address it).

 

The conditional Lone Op is nothing new either (e.g. Techmarines have it while near SM vehicles), and it makes sense for the role. 

 

The weird part is the wording on the Higher Duty enhancement, which mentions "the bearer's unit" in the rules despite it being Spiritseer only. It's probably just because the Spiritseer may have been a leader during playtesting (lol) and they didn't amend the wording after removing that for the conditional Lone Op.

[TheArtilleryman]

1 minute ago, Widowmaker82 said:

 

There's several examples of leaders joining units with different toughness, even though it is quite common for Leaders to share toughness with their bodyguard unit(s). There's rules to cover it all in the rulebook so it's never a problem.

 

Tyranids have at least a couple (Tyranid Prime with Wings can join Gargoyles and Neurotyrant can join Neurogaunts). Even in the Eldar codex you can join a Support Weapon to Guardian Defenders (I know that's not quite the same and there's a specific Support Weapon rule to address it).

 

The conditional Lone Op is nothing new either (e.g. Techmarines have it while near SM vehicles), and it makes sense for the role. 

 

The weird part is the wording on the Higher Duty enhancement, which mentions "the bearer's unit" in the rules despite it being Spiritseer only. It's probably just because the Spiritseer may have been a leader during playtesting (lol) and they didn't amend the wording after removing that for the conditional Lone Op.

Thanks, didn’t realise this. So now it really does make zero sense why certain leaders aren’t possible. I just thought it was how a universal thing.

[DemonGSides]

They definitely don't like mixed toughness units, even if it's done sometimes.

[Kallas]

36 minutes ago, TheArtilleryman said:

Thanks, didn’t realise this. So now it really does make zero sense why certain leaders aren’t possible. I just thought it was how a universal thing.

 

It wouldn't be GW if they're weren't consistently inconsistent!

[Trokair]

So a Wraith Host now has the LoV mechanic if you bring some cheep disposable psykers, if I read that right.

[WrathOfTheLion]

12 hours ago, Jolemai said:

No Karandras is ridiculous.

Their opinion right now is that if there's no model available at this very moment in time, then the datasheet is gone. It doesn't matter if they release a new sculpt 10 months later, or whatever, what is in the codex is simply a snapshot of the currently available models. They did that exact thing with the Chaos Lord with jump pack.

 

I definitely agree it's a poor system, but that's what I grasp of what they're doing from the few edge cases we've seen like that.

[Tokugawa]

No more idiot CP farming lone operative. Good changes. Would Eldrad become a must-buy?

[jimbo1701]

Always happy for a new book. Not surprised that illic is gone but a bit sad as I have run alaitoc for 2 decades and now their special character is presumably going to legends. More sad that of all the major craft worlds mine is the only one to not specifically get a themed detachment, despite their being a seemingly redundant one (armoured warhost) and Ulthwé getting two that could reflect it. 

[Bouargh]

Now that the full codex has leaked, and even if many pics and images are somehow quite blurry, the Ynnari situation looks like it is more or less clarified. Units allowed is limited to the ones qalreday identified previously and their rules do no change vs. the Inder Drukhari, of course within exception of factions rules that are updated and minor changes such as fantasm launcher option that is now becoming a standard Grenade keyword... The most surprising for me is that, seen the sheer shrinkage of DS for Ynnari aligned Drukharis, the decision to maintain the Reavers; they do look like they compete for  a similar role with the Harlequins jetbikes to me. ANd removing Hellions while keeping them is also puzzeling.

 

I will also mourn the loss of the Scourges and Ravager. For the latter it is also an oddity in my view, as it makes that you cannot now use the whole Drukhari Patrol box for fielding as Ynnari. I can understand otehr specialized units such as Scourges or Mandrakes could disappear. This makes taht I have no real choice now: my 2025 hobby rooster will include a New Year/New Army project in order to complete this small Dark ELdar army I initially planned as Ynnari reinforcements, as some of the sets I bought are now excluded from the ones allowed to the followers of Ynnead... As if I needed an excuse anyway. 

 

I also noticed that there are 2 DS for Wraithknights. It means up to 6 Aeldari Knights in an army is theoretically possible. This is big. 

[HeadlessCross]

17 hours ago, DemonGSides said:

They definitely don't like mixed toughness units, even if it's done sometimes.

They wanted to make sure your poor Spiritseer avoided those pesky Precision weapons, obviously. 

[Dr. Clock]

3 hours ago, Bouargh said:

I will also mourn the loss of the Scourges and Ravager. For the latter it is also an oddity in my view, as it makes that you cannot now use the whole Drukhari Patrol box for fielding as Ynnari. I can understand otehr specialized units such as Scourges or Mandrakes could disappear. This makes taht I have no real choice now: my 2025 hobby rooster will include a New Year/New Army project in order to complete this small Dark ELdar army I initially planned as Ynnari reinforcements, as some of the sets I bought are now excluded from the ones allowed to the followers of Ynnead... As if I needed an excuse anyway. 

Exactly as GW intended lol...

 

If you look at most of the allied/soup detachments for other factions, often only a fraction of the added faction are available, or there is a hard points or units cap. 'No Coven' wasn't much of a concession to keeping that balance IMO

 

This kind of thing always seems pretty specifically targeted at tempting people across into building a whole new over time, but having somewhere to use their new units as they build up. This is no bad thing, either, as I've built a few armies this way over the years and some of them (Guard and AdMech) still basically rely on taking a few allied Inquisitorial squads to reach a reasonable 2000 points.

 

From a game perspective though, for a while it became clear that Ynarri was the best way to use some of the Drukhari units - Scourges primarily - and I think that this is something they are really trying to avoid as things move forward. Strong limitations like 'characters and Battleline only' are a good way to prevent one Codex from stepping on their cousin's toes, basically. 

 

Finally, I'll just suggest that if you really want to use 'allied armies', just talk it through with your opponent and run 2x1000pt lists, or 1200pts + 800pts or whatever you have ready... Having multiple army rules and detachments in play will make things more complex, but it could still be fun. If everyone has the same CP and enhancement budgets I don't think it'd get too far unbalanced... especially if both players are allowed to ally freely like that.

 

Personally I've always loved having an esoteric list, so I understand the desire to branch out, and I guess I'm saying that you don't need GW's permission to play the game however you and your opponent agree to.

 

Cheers,

 

The Good Doctor.

[Bouargh]

1 hour ago, Dr. Clock said:

 

Finally, I'll just suggest that if you really want to use 'allied armies', just talk it through with your opponent and run 2x1000pt lists, or 1200pts + 800pts or whatever you have ready... Having multiple army rules and detachments in play will make things more complex, but it could still be fun. If everyone has the same CP and enhancement budgets I don't think it'd get too far unbalanced... especially if both players are allowed to ally freely like that.

 

Very true. Fielding 2 1500pts detachments has always looked more attractive and efficient and sometimes creative than a single one at 3000pts... Sometimes a little bit power gaming maybe if these are from the same codex and not too differents... but very tasteful in some combo (knights and admech for example). For friendly games if agreed looks a way for greater fun.

[Chapter Master Valrak]

22 hours ago, Lord Marshal said:

Combat Patrol:

 

 

Spoiler

 

[LSM]

Question for those who've poked around the leaks:

 

During the big reveal, IIRC one of the presenters mentioned something that could have been taken as Fire Dragons being able to equip Flamers broadly. (Something like "...they can all take Flamers..." where the "they" could have been referring to "Fire Dragon Exarchs" - which would have been weird to note - or could have been "Fire Dragons".)

 

So... how'd that turn out?