Anhrathe (Eldar Corsairs) in Kill Team

[Ioldanach]

No minis were ever shown for the ghostwalkers. Realistically, the only reason that players use the rangers models is for the long rifles. There's nothing in their lore that says that they wear the cloaks/jackets, though, so it would be conceivable for someone to simply convert the long rifles onto otherwise normal anhrathe (not that difficult to do with the plastic/resin rangers or the old 2nd edition sprues).

I'm now considering allowing one ghostwalker to take a void sabre. This is because the ranger models equipped with swords are clearly carrying power swords.

[Brother Tyler]

It probably wouldn't hurt to allow one Ghostwalker to take a void sabre. However...

I think that only the old Eldar Ranger model...

...is "clearly" carrying a power sword.

The other model...

...is simply carrying a weapon that could be a power sword, depending on how it's painted.

Speaking of the Blackstone Fortress character, do you have any intent to represent the Phase Crystal? (You already posted a description of its rules, as well as a link to the actual rules, here, so I'm not quoting them.)

Personally, I recommend against that addition; otherwise, you'll also have to consider whether or not to create a Corsair version of Illic Nightspear.

[Ioldanach]

Since it's International Talk Like a Pirate Day, I figured it would be appropriate to upload the latest on the Eldar Corsairs. Here's the updated version (Version 12):

(click on the images for full size versions)

The only page with any changes was page 10, specifically the ghostwalker entry (you can probably make out the big block of green text in the thumbnail - bottom row center right). Other pages with green text (the cost of the corsair jet packs) are just holdovers from the previous version pending finalization.

The changes have all been covered in previous posts, but here's a summary for easy reference:

• Ghostwalker gunner max models increased from 1 to 2. This matches the ghostwalker squads from TDoM (up to 10 models, 1 special weapon upgrade for every 5 models).
• Basic weapons/wargear for ghostwalkers/ghostwalker gunners adjusted to lasblaster and plasma grenades. This matches the eldar ranger models.
• Any ghostwalker/ghostwalker gunner may replace their lasblaster with an aeldari long rifle. This matches the eldar ranger models.
• Any ghostwalker/ghostwalker gunner may take a spar-glaive. This allows for either of the two eldar ranger models with swords to be used.
• Any ghostwalker/ghostwalker gunner may take a brace of pistols. This matches the eldar ranger models. And they're eldar corsairs, so having a brace of pistols is natural.
• Any ghostwalker gunner may take a special weapon (blaster, flamer, fusion gun, or shredder). Note that the special weapons replaced heavy weapons. This aligns the options with the ghostwalker squad as shown in TDoM.
• Ghostwalker/ghostwalker gunner specialists can take the COMBAT specialty. Since they now have pistols and melee weapons, it seems reasonable.
• One ghostwalker may take a void sabre instead of a spar-glaive. This allows either of the two eldar rangers equipped with swords to be used.

I'm still looking for feedback on the following:

• Are the costs for the corsair jet packs okay?
• Does the SWIFT RAIDERS anhrathe tactic work?

As always, feedback is appreciated.

[Brother Tyler]

Are the costs for the corsair jet packs okay?

At worst, the costs might be slightly high. With homegrown rules, though, that's not necessarily a bad thing (as long as they're really close to right). My estimates are based solely on theorycrafting, though, so playtesting will yield a better conclusion.

 

Does the SWIFT RAIDERS anhrathe tactic work?

It looks characterful to me. Since it's almost word for word from an existing faction's tactic, and since it works with the theme of the Eldar Corsairs, I think it's fine.

 

For what it's worth, I'm now considering creating a kill team using these rules. I'm looking at the Alai-Myan Alliance (I have no idea what they're like, but I like the badge they use).

[Ioldanach]

Speaking of the Blackstone Fortress character, do you have any intent to represent the Phase Crystal? (You already posted a description of its rules, as well as a link to the actual rules, here, so I'm not quoting them.)

 

Personally, I recommend against that addition; otherwise, you'll also have to consider whether or not to create a Corsair version of Illic Nightspear.

 

No, I don't think converting either/both of those characters would work, for the reasons you gave. If a named character is introduced, I'd rather make it (them) unique to the anhrathe. 

 

For what it's worth, I'm now considering creating a kill team using these rules. I'm looking at the Alai-Myan Alliance (I have no idea what they're like, but I like the badge they use).

 

Cool. Is there any chance we'll see an Index Xenos article for your corsairs?

[Brother Tyler]

 

For what it's worth, I'm now considering creating a kill team using these rules. I'm looking at the Alai-Myan Alliance (I have no idea what they're like, but I like the badge they use).

 

Cool. Is there any chance we'll see an Index Xenos article for your corsairs?

 

Well, I lack a painter for the Aeldari, so much will rely upon my glacial modeling/painting speed.

[Brother Tyler]

I wasn't sure about background on the Alai Mercenary Corps, Myan's Agents of Silence, or the Alai-myan Alliance (shouldn't that be the Alai-Myan Alliance?). Lexicanum doesn't show anything, but I found an old wiki site that says that the Alai Mercenary Corps and Myan's Agents of Silence merged into the Alai-Myan Alliance. I don't know what source that wiki consulted since they don't cite their references, so I'm not even sure if that information is correct. For all we know, that alliance may have been a one time thing that no longer holds true. For my purposes, though, I'm assuming that the alliance either holds true today, or it is an on again off again thing that occurs periodically. Either way, I've decided to use the Alai-Myan Alliance as the basis for my kill team.

So far, I've taken the Rogue Trader era badge:

...and turned it into:

I haven't finalized that image yet. I might tweak it a bit, with just the inverted triangle/blade being red and the handle/hilt/mini-triangle being black in order to more closely approximate the original badge.

I just whipped up an alternate badge:

What I'm looking at now is how to represent the "Agents of Silence" portion using the rules you've developed. I'm undecided as to whether or not it would be heavy on the Ghostwalkers or if it would use lots of psykers (the eye rune on the Myan's Agents of Silence banner is reminiscent of the eye rune used by Craftworld psykers). I could do both, using Void Dreamers and the Night Serpent Coterie: Shadow Walkers Coterie Specialization, with lots of Ghost Walkers in the Command Roster.

[Ioldanach]

On the rules, I'm waiting to see if FlyingScoots pops back in to give some feedback (since he was an advocate of everybody getting the corsair jet pack option). Depending on that feedback, I'm ready to pull the trigger on version 2 for the downloads.

 

I have no idea about the Alai-myan Alliance. Both badges look fine to me, so I suppose it depends upon how close you want the new badge to resemble the original (consider how much some of the other badges evolved over time) and how well the badge works with the colors you've chosen. As for rules, I think what you've chosen works. I'll probably ensure that updated rules for WH40K allow for some sort of stealth coterie and a psyker-heavy coterie, allowing players to use either option. I suppose that will be a different discussion, though, and I've been mentally preparing for that one.

[Brother Tyler]

On the rules, I'm waiting to see if FlyingScoots pops back in to give some feedback (since he was an advocate of everybody getting the corsair jet pack option). Depending on that feedback, I'm ready to pull the trigger on version 2 for the downloads.

Well, he was last on the site on 14 September, after you posted the big change to the Corsair jet packs. Judging by his chosen avatar (at right) and the fact that his sole post at the B&C [so far] is in this topic, this topic appears to have been his primary interest in registering/monitoring. I'm guessing that he's okay with the change you made (of course, he could be so disgusted with it that he just quit the discussion ). I don't presume to speak for him, but his silence on the issue, especially since you made a relatively drastic change, is telling. Even though you changed the rules/concept of the Corsair jet pack, you did follow his suggestion for everyone to have access to the upgrade. It would be reasonable to wait a short time for further input from him, but I don't think you need to wait longer than a week or so.

[Ioldanach]

I finalized the rules and posted version 2 for download here.