@magenb
HQ - 66
Troops - 297 (Assuming Exarch makes a 6th model in each squad)
Elites - 420
Fast Attack - 90
Total 873
Actually it is:
HQ - 66
Troops - 306 (Assuming units of 5 models one of which is upgraded to Exarch)
Elites - 460
Fast Attack - 105
Total 937
Post Merge: June 22, 2017, 03:24:43 AM
In the future, please use the modify button. Double posting is against the forum rules, and for that reason, the system merged your posts.
@flatworldsedge
Using the 8E Index to rebuild this list I get to 918 pts with just the following units! Have things really gotten that much more expensive, or am I misreading their notes on adding points for all wargear (which nearly doubles the cost of Dire Avengers, for instance).
As I wrote above, it's actually 937 points (assuming DA squads are 5-strong).
Sorry to say it this straight, but part of the reason for the point cost jump is that you happened to build your list of almost all most badly overpriced units from the current Index.
If this is costed correctly, it doesn't really feel like a viable list anymore - with so many cuts. In fact I'd sketched this list as a 500 point core, and then found it near double when I did the maths.
You're absolutely right - as a 500 pts core this list would've been great, but at 1000 pts it doesn't feel that good at all.
Spiritseer
Imho, this guy is a bit too expensive for what he does - his only meaningful advantage over a Warlock is that he casts full-powered Smite. It's a good thing, but I doubt it's worth +29 pts. Still, you'll be perfectly fine if you paint this guy up - if at some point you find that he doesn't pull his weight, you can easily start fielding him as an ordinary Warlock. And the model is really nice.
5x Wraithblades with axe/shield
5x Wraithguard with wraithcannon
Wraithguard with wraithcannons are a solid choice. Wraithaxes however... On paper they look just way too crazy expensive for the output.
IF their axes didn't have that -1 to hit penalty, they would've been quite good, but the way they are - the unit is durable, sure, but the damage output would be sub-par I'm afraid.
I strongly recommend you to magnetise your Wraithblades - so that you can switch them between axes and swords, to try out both variants. It's easy to do - you need to magnetise left arm at a shoulder and right arm at a wrist. There are tutorials on the web, for example this one:
How to Magnetise Eldar Wraithguard/Wraithblades - YouTube. If you do this, then you're perfectly safe - because even though Wraithblades with axes seem questionable value for points, Wraithblades with swords are really solid, so if you keep both options open, one of them is definitely going to work for you
3x Windriders (jetbikes) with scatterlasers
These guys, while also overpriced, are still playable - BUT scatter laser feels like a decisively inferior weapon option now compared to shuriken cannon.
Thing is, a shuricannon and a scatter laser have roughly equal base damage output - shuricannon is slightly better vs armoured targets due to Bladestorm rule, while scatter is slightly better vs targets with saves of 4+ or worse due to higher number of shots. However, the key advantage of shuricannon is that it is an Assault weapon while scatter is Heavy. This means that shuricannon bike can move and even Advance and still fire without any penalty, which gives it an effective move of 22", while scatter bike will suffer -1 to hit penalty as soon as it moves, and won't be able to shoot at all after advancing. And, naturally, the damage output of a scatter laser firing at -1 to hit is way smaller than that of a shuricannon firing at full BS.
Again, if you're building these guys anew, I'd strongly recommend to magnetise their weapons, so that you have all options safely available to you.
5x Dire Avengers, Exarch with shimmershield/powerglaive
5x Dire Avengers, Exarch with shimmershield/powerglaive
5x Dire Avengers, Exarch with shimmershield/powerglaive
Well.... Sadly, I can't say anything good about these units. They've taken by far the biggest hit in the new Index, for no apparent reason too - it's not like they ever were OP or anything like that. Their stats are the same as they always were, and they would've been alright at 11-12 pts per model, 13 at the most - but their current point cost is effectively about 1.5 times higher than it should be.
I'm still hoping against hope that GW designers recognise this situation as an oversight or a typo and FAQ it out soon - otherwise the unit could just as well have been removed from the codex.
Of course there's nothing to stop you from including them for fluff reasons, but effectiveness-wise by taking them you're shooting yourself in the foot. They are also expensive money-wise, now that you get just 5 models per box - so at this point I'd recommend to stay away from them completely. However, if you already have the models, and really want to use them, I'd suggest to get 5 more models and field them as 2 squads of 10 Guardian Defenders.
Fluff wise I'm framing this as a force that might explore tombs, space hulks, etc. in the hunt for lost relics, craftworlds and ancient conspiracies. Hence infantry and psy to explore and small vehicle component only, being scouts or overwatch for an entry point to whatever ancient ruins are being investigated.
If that is your army's background - I'd say that fluff-wise Wraiths are units which would be the least likely to appear in such force. Just think of it: as a leader of a scouting mission, you'd certainly want every available pair of eyes to be alert, aware and on a sharp lookout - so why would you want to have Wraiths with you, who are, while mighty in combat, ponderous, slow and psychically detached from the mortal world? Storm/Defender Guardians, Rangers, Windriders, Striking Scorpions - that sounds more like it...