Topic: Craftworlds Traits and How to Tell Who is Who?

[papagumdrop]

So while I do like the flavor the Craftworld Traits add, the ways to properly inform my opponent as to what trait each detachment has is a small issue. I have played with quite a few people that don't clearly mark things or explain them and its always a pain in the ass when I attack something not knowing its a clear counter to my unit and a waste of time. I don't have time to read and memorize everyone's codex so I like to give my opponents a crash course on my army. I hate to be that guy who tries to get an advantage from my opponents lack of knowledge on the army, its not real war right?

Anyways what seems to be the most accepted method in everyone's experience both tournament  (local store or regional) and casual level play. I would prefer to paint my entire collection as Iyanden as it is my favorite craftworld and would look much more cohesive on my shelf or other display. On the other hand I would hate to give up some valuable traits and handicap myself. Here are the most common ones I have read or seen, which do you think will be most acceptable?

1. Suck it up and paint them by craftworld so there is no confusion?
2. Colored base rims denoting detachment?
3. Give the opponent a clear army sheet with reference photos and let them ask if they have questions?

Thanks in advance.

[SeekingOne]

In the context of the Eldar army, colour schemes provide no good answer to that.

Thing is, unlike Space Marines, which usually have all units in a chapter wearing uniform colours, Eldar have Aspect Warriors that often have colour schemes independent of their Craftworld. Unless you're prepared to paint your Aspects in Craftworld colours (which I for instance would never do - too boring), colour schemes wouldn't help.

Different base rim colours are also highly detrimental to the overall cohesiveness of the army's look. For an Eldar force, which may have units wearing multiple different colour schemes, having all bases modelled and painted in the same style is particularly important.

A printed list with reference photos is a nice idea actually Putting myself in my opponent's shoes, I don't see it being really helpful though. Personally, I'm prepared to remind my opponent of what my units are capable of as many times during the game as he needs it, and CW attributes are not too different from all other rules here (which are numerous and cannot all be remembered by a non-CWE player anyway).

[Fenris]

Couldn't you use runes from each craftworld that could be attached to one model in each unit, preferably with magnets?

[The Mattler]

Couldn't you use runes from each craftworld that could be attached to one model in each unit, preferably with magnets?

It would be easier to just paint some bases with the craftworld colours and rune, then place them beside the appropriate units.  I like the idea of the magnetic attribute customization, but it might be tricky to implement on small models.  The higher the visibity, the lower the chances of negative play experiences.

[Cavalier]

No universal answer for everyone, beyond painting the rims of the bases different but that could look hideous. You could also have a little banner on a base (like the DE Raider or Venom banners) with the appropriate Craftworld symbol (and color) and just place it next to each unit so your opponent can see which unit belongs to witch detachment.

But in my honest opinion the only way to really do it justice is to have two different forces, painted in different paint schemes. I sort of lucked into it, because its something I've been working on since the beginning of 7th edition. I would really care if those two different forces are used as different armies every time you play.

My brother who hardly even plays just up and bought a huge mess of Catachan stuff to seperate the look of his two different detachments.

I know right off the hop, I'm gonna get frustrated playing against opponents where everything is painted uniform and I gotta ask every time I target a unit "Which detachment/regiment etc. Does this belong to?"

I would just accept it as a hobby challenge and go for it. I think its something that would be a pain in the short term, but really rewarding in the long term. Embrace the hobby challenge! 

[faitherun (Fay-ith-er-run)]

I am planning on having different colored soul stones, and trying to use that to denote. Still more a conceptual idea I came up with yesterday

[Tweedz]

I am planning on having different colored soup stones, and trying to use that to denote. Still more a conceptual idea I came up with yesterday

I think that is a fantastic idea! I personally have a ton of colored mancala stones that could serve the purpose. They would certainly fit on the bases of larger models or beside the units for smaller models.

[magenb]

If you are taking multiple craftworlds, then just pop a marker/token next to the smaller craftworld units to denote they are different.


If you want to be fluffy, then one guy in each squad can be a flag bearer, and just pop the craftworld flag on its base with a magnet. Just use a nail (cut the tip off) for the pole and you could print out the flag.

[Blazinghand]

Easily the most important thing, imo, is that it should be noticeable at a glance which units are part of which craftworld. If your opponent is trying to plan out his moving and shooting, he shouldn't need to consult with you every time he look at a unit to figure out whether it's Ulthwé or Saim-Hann. It should be obvious from a casual view of the board. This is the friendly thing to do to make it fun for everyone. This is easy for vehicles, guardians etc. For aspect warriors it is trickier, but whatever you use, whether it's flags, different colored bases, or some other solution, the most important thing is that it is simple and easy for the other player.

[SeekingOne]

It would be easier to just paint some bases with the craftworld colours and rune, then place them beside the appropriate units. 

This is actually a great idea, very practical and fairly easy to implement. Never thought of this myself, thanks for sharing!
Post Merge: November  7, 2017, 02:36:01 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.

If you want to be fluffy, then one guy in each squad can be a flag bearer, and just pop the craftworld flag on its base with a magnet. Just use a nail (cut the tip off) for the pole and you could print out the flag.

This is a brilliant idea too - photo-printers can produce great banners. In the case of certain units, like Dire Avengers, you can even implement magnetised interchangeable back banners on an Exarch model.

[Irisado]

Also note that using banners on Eldar units is neither new nor unusual.  Every member of an Aspect Warrior squad used to have the banner of their Aspect (Shrine) attached to them during the Rogue Trader era, as 'Eavy Metal articles in White Dwarf and old army pictures from that time show.  I think that it would be a very effective way of solving the current dilemma for anyone who encounters this problem.

[papagumdrop]

Thanks for all the ideas everyone. I think I like the craftworld rune counters or the flags the best. I think they would be the most obvious. More obvious than say a properly painted force of alaitoc and iyanden, both blue and yellow, so not the easiest to someone who doesn't play Eldar.