The Swordwind vs The Gauntlet

I’m changing my Biel Tan over to Yme Loc since my previous Swordwind is no longer legal. That, my friends, is the only true blunder in the new codex. So, I’ll be asking you all to review these two lists, and tell me which is the stronger, more interesting, and more fun to see and play against. Thanks!


Yme-Loc Swordwind

Farseer w/ Jetbike, Spear, Guide
Vyper Squadron (3) w/ 3 Scatter Lasers, 3 Shuricannons

Autarch w/ Jetbike, Lance, Mandiblasters, Fusion Gun
Shining Spears (4) w/ Exarch w/ Withdraw

-=-

Howling Banshees (10) w/ Exarch w/ Executioner
--- Wave Serpent w/ Twin Starcannons, Spirit Stones

-=-

Dire Avengers (10) w/ Exarch w/ Dual Direcats, Defend
--- Wave Serpent w/ Twin Scatter Lasers, Spirit Stones

Dire Avengers (10) w/ Exarch w/ Dual Direcats, Defend
--- Wave Serpent w/ Twin Missile Launchers, Spirit Stones

Guardian Jetbikes (4) w/ Shuricannon

Guardian Jetbikes (4) w/ Shuricannon

-=-

Falcon w/ Holofield, Spirit Stones, Shuricannon

Falcon w/ Holofield, Spirit Stones, Shuricannon

Prism w/ Holofield, Spirit Stones, Shuricannon

2250pts, 53 Models, 10 Scoring Units



Yme-Loc Gauntlet

Farseer w/ Spear, Guide, Doom, Spirit Stones, Runes of Witnessing

Avatar of Khaine w/ The Wailing Doom

-=-

Striking Scorpions (10) w/ Exarch w/ Scorpion’s Claw, Shadowstrike

Fire Dragons (5)

Fire Dragons (5)

-=-

Guardian Defenders (20) w/ Scatter Laser
1 Warlock w/ Spear, Conceal

Guardian Defenders (20) w/ Scatter Laser
1 Warlock w/ Spear, Conceal

Storm Guardians (16) w/ Dual Flamers
1 Warlock w/ Witchblade, Inhance

-=-

Warp Spiders (10) w/ Exarch w/ Dual Spinners, Powerblades, Withdraw

Warp Spiders (10) w/ Exarch w/ Dual Spinners, Powerblades, Withdraw

-=-

Wraithlord w/ Bright Lance, Missile Launcher

Wraithlord w/ Bright Lance, Star Cannon

Wraithlord w/ Bright Lance, Star Cannon

Total of 2250, 104 Models, 11 Scoring Units


I'm debating which list to bring to a tourney and am expecting to see at least one mech eldar list there, and maybe another eldar list that's more of a mixed bag of tricks.

I haven't gotten the chance to test out the groundpounders list (still converting the wraithlords), but I did play the swordwind list twice today.

First game was against another Eldar player. We had played against each other in the final deciding game of a tourney about a year ago, again Eldar on Eldar. This time was much the same. He simply did not have the mobility necessary, playing a mostly static firepower army w/ 30 (30!) swooping hawks, to keep my vehicles from coordinating firepower. In the 2nd turn of the game, all 30 Hawks and an Autarch with Wings arrived and attempted to cause some mayhem. No damage was done, but he was in pain from the moment his turn ended until the end of the game. In my second turn (he went first) the firepower of the DA's and their transports completely destroyed 2 units of hawks. The Vypers consistently tore through pathfinder units (roll enough dice...), and the Banshees took care of the Reapers he was using to try and knock out my vehicles. The game was a route.

The second game was against Dark Angels with 27 Terminators 25 Power Armoured Marines, and 10 Scouts. First turn deepstrike for 17 terminators did not turn out too well. While I lost a few bikes, the retaliation cost him 14 terminators, a scout squad, and roughly 3 Marines. The rest of the game was about the same, though he did manage to finally remove both of my HQ's in the last turn.

I'd say the list is strong enough for tourney play. I already have a challenge to face off against a highly mechanized Marine army that has to be Lazorback and predator heavy.

Go the Sword wind list. I see that as a beautiful and cunning list that is capable of moving at miraculous speeds and out manouvering the enemy at every turn. The ground Pounder list seems to me, to be incredably boring, and nothing like how I invisage the Eldar. You're a Beil-Tan player man, act like it and scratch those dratted Guardians!

I was also hit hard by the lack of Beil-Tan special rules, as I have to spend points on not so wonderful Dire Avengers before I can put points into my other much more interesting and effective aspects. However I have gone the other way and am opting to take Rangers and Pathfinders for their long ranged support of my cc troops.

I do however need point out a few things about your first list.

Why, oh why, do you have those Falcons, who's hulls will be oh so empty? Falcons are three things, 1: Really bad shots, 2: Expensive for their weapons, and 3: great transports. The weapons on the Falcons are more of a happy bonus than anything else, the true power of this vehicle coming in its ability to transport small by powerful aspect units across the battlefield and into the heat of battle where they will do the most damage. When given Holo-fields they are nigh impossible to destroy, your oponent rolling 4 and below on average on a glancing hit table. These results don't stop it from moving if given spirit stones, but they do make their pricey guns useless for the turns they're hit. What I'm getting at is that falcon guns aren;t good enough to warrant the cost of the rest of the tank unless you are transporting a unit inside. You're far better off with Fire Prisms (Which are now cheaper on average), and with more than one in the list you could hide one while another two shot, and if they get shaken they can hide for a turn while the hidden one takes his shots.

I'm also wondering about the Autarch. What does he do? Does he follow the banshees transport around and then help engage their target unit? or does he act as a one man army of his own and pick out small deffenceless units at the rear of your oponents ranks? If it is the first, than it would be cheaper to drop him off the bike and give him a pw, there is plenty of room inside the tank. There's less chance of him being picked off by a stray las cannon shot when he is just biking around alone minding his own business.

Other than those two points the list is great, and deffinately the one you should play with.

Cal

Thanks, Cal..

I'm actually thinking about trading off the Falcon for another Prism. A friend of mine really wants a Falcon for his army (Falcon/Dragon combo), and we're thinking that purchasing a Prism instead would take care of both of our concerns there.

As for the Autarch, he chills with the Spears. In one of the games, the Autarch and Spear Exarch (the only two left) destroyed 5 Deathwing Termies (including Belial) in the first turn of combat. They had some help from a squad of Banshees, but the Banshees removed only the 6th member of the squad of Termies.

In the list, the Prism, the Vypers/Farseer unit, and the Spears/Autarch unit were most feared, especially after the first game.

BTW, i've changed the Gauntlet list a bit. It now has absolutely NO skimmers and might be the closest thing to Eldar IG you can get. All shooty and counter assault. Difference is, that this Gauntlet Eldar list loses no efficiency when on the move, unlike IG, who lose the majority of their firepower when required to advance.

Ah, didn't notice the spears.

I ran the Gauntlet agaisnt a friends Ork Speed Freaks. The mission was an alpha scenario where we had to control more buildings on the table than the opponent. There were 7 buildings, and we each started with two in our deployment areas. At one point, I controlled 4. Then, the attrition begain. His looted bassie started taking apart my aspect squads (none of them survived above half) toward the end of the game. It was a massacre on both sides. I was left with one wraitlord, the Avatar, my Farseer, a full Defender squad, one Warlock, one Dragon, and 4 Spiders. He was left with the looted bassie, just under half of his Warboss's retinue in a weaponless truck, and 3 buggies. We each controlled 1 building and the game was a draw.

Would've been different, had my Avatar not rolled 1,1,1,1,1 for his melee 'to hit' rolls against those buggies in the last turn of the game...

Seems a good pitched battle eh? I am building a Corsair based/Sword Wind style army, so these mini reports with army lists help out quite a bit.

I'll try to post better reports of each battle in which my Eldar participate. Might even get in a few pics, if any of the models actually see paint.

It seems I am following you...I have recently started a game club here in sunny Norther New York..."Defenders of Sanctuary" so my time is limited but I will attempt to do the same. I have also started a Narative campaign to try and involve the local kids, something to stir it up some...I will post what I can.

Are you anywhere near Saratoga (sp?) Springs?

The Club meets at Sanctuary Comics in Watertown, NY. Kinda near Saratoga but not that near...

Rhomdruil

Just wondering... I've never been there, but my wife was born there. Watertown kinda triggered the question.