Eldar rules

[Andrew]

I saw that Tom K and Mike(?) might want to get Eldar. I propose that they use these rules in place of those printed in the books:


www.epic40k.co.uk/rules/gothic/eldarmms-v1-9.pdf


They are much fairer when playing against every other fleet, and I personally prefer them.

[Leudast1215]

Semi off topic, but are there "alternative" rules for other fleets as well that are considered fair? Like the Tyranids seems really cool, but they're even slower than I am... and that's saying something.

[Andrew]

No, the only fleet rules that really needed fixing are the Eldar. Tyranids are very strong (not Necron strong, but still) as it is. They are slow, but that ends up not mattering.

[Leudast1215]

I figured I may as well post here regarding some brainstorming I had with regards to Dark Eldar and the custom rules we play-tested from Epic40K (the same source as the custom Eldar ones):

I was thinking that of all the races, the DE are (like 40K) the least developed ones. The Epic40K rules are nice tweaks in that they actually nerf the DE from the official rules, but compensate by making them a lot more agile than probably any fleet in the game if you exclude Necrons on All Ahead Full orders.

I propose that the DE, at least for friendly play/campaigns and what not, use the Epic40K rules in addition to these supplements:

DE get a +2 modifier for boarding for the first round of combat, but only if they initiate said boarding. Otherwise, they receive the normal +1 boarding value for receiving a boarding action. In subsequent turns/phases, the DE receive a -1 to their boarding value. (This really wont matter given the strongest DE ship is 6 hit points, but I feel it's fluffy).

All DE Assault Boats work the same way as in the official BFG rules with regards to Hit and Run Attacks (they receive a +1 modifier or may choose to steal +10 victory points).

DE Impalers may be equipped in addition to any one other weapon choice normally allowed for a DE cruiser for +10 points. It must be reloaded like any other ordnance, but does not require a separate reload order if the cruiser is equipped with other Attack Craft.

Impalers may choose to take slaves (+10 VP) like Assault Boats instead of rolling 2D6 or 1D6.

Whenever a DE player takes slaves off of an enemy ship (the +10 VP modifier) the enemy ship suffers a -1 leadership modifier in the owning player's following turn. This is not cumulative, and it only lasts for the following turn unless the ship is slaved again?! in subsequent turns.

The DE player may choose to use "Grappling Hooks" (non-crippled DE cruisers only) when in base-to-base contact with a hulk, friend or foe. The DE ship may move and use special orders normally, but has its speed reduced by 1/2 if the hulk is a Cruiser and by 1/4 if the hulk is a Battleship. Reduce the DE ship's movement by the appropriate modifiers for any remaining movement left for the DE ship if it did not begin its turn in base-to-base contact with the hulk. If the DE ship reaches a board edge, it counts as disengaged and both the DE ship and the hulk are removed from the table. The DE player gains the VP for capturing a hulk; whether or not the DE player won and/or is on the field at the end of the game. The DE ship may move away and/or disengage normally, but will forfeit the effects of Grappling Hooks. (Credit goes to Andrew for helping me tweak this idea into something more practical).

DE ships receive a -1 to all Ramming attacks. If the Ramming attack is initiated by multiple escorts upon a single target, combine their total hit points together and apply a -1 modifier.

DE escorts receive their full movement from the Mimic Engines (the little pirate ships deserve to be faster than the big one).

DE receive a +1 to Teleport Attacks. They may choose to take slaves (+10 VP) instead of rolling.

I'm just brainstorming ways to make DE in BFG much more characterful and interesting, while at the same time not turning them into the original BFG Eldar.

Here's my thinking: Boarding Action power is for Orks, Tyranids and Chaos. Other races specialize in bombers, fighters, torpedoes, broadsides, etc...

DE, I feel, should specialize in Hit and Run attacks and receive the appropriate modifiers/penalties above. I came up with "Grappling Hooks" because it sounded like something space pirates would do to a crippled enemy ship.

I'd appreciate any thoughts, as if I come across some Eldar ships from the Warstore, it'll be Andrew, Rios or Ian that I'll be playing against assuming the other Tom or Mike don't get fleets too.

I don't feel that these tweaks make DE over-powered in any way, shape or form (if you use the Epic40K rules as a base) because they're subtle tweaks to Hit and Run Attacks mainly. The DE fleet is even more expensive when using Epic40K's rules, so they're still very few in #, made mostly of 4+ escorts, and will probably only ever have 3 cruisers at most in a 1500 point game due to the Archon's cost and 180 points worth of escorts required to take a single cruiser.

A lot of these tweaks are VERY situational anyway, they're more for fluff and to make you go "spiffy" or "oh shit" if the circumstances ever arise.

[Leudast1215]

Tweaked some of the rules, especially "Grappling Hooks" and fixed a few wording issues. Just because 5th edition 40K is ambiguous doesn't mean I have to follow in its example ^_^.

[tkaz84]

The new rules seem fair, make the Eldar a lot more survivable without making them invincible, and add new ship types i haven't seen before. Now to get some models...

[tkaz84]

Well I just ordered a couple of cruisers and a half-dozen escort wings, so hopefully I will get them and get them put together soon-ish.

[e1567]

Andrew Link is broken I can't read the rules

[Andrew]

Ah, sorry, it's very old. I'll find it again.

[Andrew]

Good thing I saved a copy on my computer. Found it, can email if wanted.