Playing Iyanden Responsibly

So I'm fealing the hate with the new Eldar book.  Still going with Iyandin.  No way I'm paying for a new army.  That said I could do to tone the list down.  So the only ranged d I'll take will be on the wraith guard.  Mainly because they are built and on the way to being painted.  The wraithknight will take a sword with no upgrades.  Wraith axes rather than d-scyths.  So the wraith host will still come in at 960 points.

I still want to run the guardian host.  No where near the power level of the scatter bikes.  Still though, will not take a d weapon for my weapon of vaul.  Building up from 1500 points I want to beef up the viper and war walker squads. 

For fun I think I will add a Phoenix lord to the mix.  Some warlocks and more wraithblades.  I would love to add a hemlock to continue with the Iyandin theme but it is too contriversial. 

Spirit Host:
Spirit Seer
8 wraith blades
2 x 5 wraithguard
Wraithlord - sword
Wraithknight - sword

Guardian Host:
Farseer
3 defender guardian squads - eml, warlock, spear
Viper - eml
Warwalker
Shadow weaver 

Banshee PL (might replace with hawk pl)

Total Points 1750

Progress on 1500 point Eldar Army

Two more boxes of guardians and I can build my 1500 point list.  I think it will be a fun army to play. 

Craftworld Iyanden

So I've digested the new codex and have put a list together that I think should be fun to play.  I'm not giving up on my Iyanden army that I was working on before the drastic changes.  That means the Wraithknight and Wraithguard stay around with all their D glory.  If it turns out these units are over the top then I'll revisit the list.  Anyway, going with the defender guardian host and wraith host as a template.  While the use of these formations really limits the scope of choice when designing a list, it amounts to an army that I was well on the way to building prior to the changes.  At bare min the guardian host costs 500 points.  As I've kitted out my wraith models the detachment will come in at 960 points.  My goal is to play at 1500 points while I get back to painting my army.  I have a consistent painting strategy that will get the army into table top condition.

The break down of units are as follows:

Guardian Battle Host:

Farseer - Spirit Stone
3 x 10 Defender Guardian squads - EML upgrades
1 Viper - EML
1 Walker - Scatter Lasers, Ghost Walk
1 Weapon of Vaul - shadow weaver

Total Points - 540

Wraith Host:

Spirit Seer
5 Wraith Blades - axes
2 x 5 Wraithguard - D guns
Wraithlord - sword
Wraith Knight - 2 D-guns (though thinking of the sword instead)

Total Points - 960

What I like about the list is that I keep my theme.  Bar the new gargantuan critter in the list I do not think it is anywhere near over the top.  EML's in guardian units for free and the 15 point EML for the viper give me a nice little anti-air option that I struggled with before in my old army.  With the new guaranteed 6" battle focus rule that all models get now I feel like the army will be a lot of fun on the table top with the reliable movement options.  The guardians and wraithguard now have a solid 24" threat range.  Its been a while since I last played so at the end of the day I have no idea how it will perform, but my local meta is filled with a bunch of good fellas to game with.

Craftworld Eldar Initial Thoughts

Just finished reading new codex.  Big changes.  Some initial thoughs in point form from my phone:

-cheaper points accross the board as seen with free aspect and exarch powers.  Free skyfire for all eldar eml's.  Banshee's reduced in points.  Crimson hunter, viper, wave serpent, night spinner, reduction in points.  Scatter lasers reduced by 5 points accross the board (no laser lock). 

-exarch's and aspects look like a lot of fun to play. 

-the bonus for taking a guardian host and formations is amazing for wraithguard.  All models in the army have guaranteed 6"run move.  Wraithguard get battle focus to boot as part of there formation.  Guardians with this rule have an effective 24 inch threat range.

-jet bikes are all sorts of cool.  Might be better to go down that road instead of guardian defenders.

-I will not feal guilty for running my iyanden army! Lol.  But I just need to pick up 2 boxes of guardians and ive got my battle host and wraith army covered. 

-but before I spend money on new models I will be playing a couple of games with a standard foc chart. 

-I love the new plastic models!  Lots of more options for me to grow my all plastic army.

-was in a malaise with the hobby after BA release.  I'm all fired up again.