New Eldar Threat on the Horizon

[nikh]

So! The new Eldar supplement is set to release on March 7th and center around Harlequins, which if I understand correctly (and I probably don't) are supposed to be very melee-heavy. A buddy of mine that plays Eldar has basically been more excited than a kid right before Christmas, so naturally, that got me terrified, since I'm trounced by Eldar every time I set up against them. I wonder if Tyranids will be able to handle the new supplement better than the original army (since more melee means less shooting) or if it just means we'll have a harder time dealing with them in a new way. Thoughts, Hive? 

Also, as an added bonus, he wants to do a game on the 8th, a day after the codex comes out (as it is now 1250 pts). Originally, he wanted to set up against my Necrons, but the way I see it, if I'm being charged, I'd prefer they charge my Tyranids rather than my spooky scary skeletons. So I'm unsure what to take. I know he'll be taking the totally-fair-and-balanced Solitaire (he read me the rules already, it's not nice) and probably Wraithguard. Part of me thought "drown him in fleshborer and devourer fire", another said "Hive Guard spam", and then a crazier part said "mass Hormagaunts, take two Dimachareons". I even entertained the idea of Raveners (for a whole two minutes) based on their melee skills and speed. But really, I'm conflicted. I don't know enough about their weaknesses, whether we can match them in melee, or whether to lay back and shoot. I believe the Harlequin assault transport is only A10, so even the most whiff-prone Hive Guard can take them out (thank you, Ignores Cover) but other than that, I dunno. Meet them in combat, where we excel? Or stand back and open fire, where we can be less than stellar? Help me, Hive! I hate losing to Eldar, but losing in CC would just be salt in the wound. 

Attachments:

[zergling15]

My advice would be to first play with the necrons and feel out this new codex. This may seem a bit cheezy, but will probably make for a much more balanced game when you do face him with your Tyranids.

Above all have fun.

[Threeshades]

The solitaire is easy to deal with. Jsut bring a lot of hormagaunts. naked. It might have all the Initiative and WS, a 3++ and be fast, but it's still only T3 with 3 wounds. Massed low strength hits are his kryptonite. Simply wrap your important units in gaunts and he has nothing to assault, or even if he finds a lane in, he will get promptly drowned in tiny claws and teeth.

The same goes for all halequin units really. They are not made to take on numbers. They have virtually no toughness and only a low invuln to protect them in combat. And their weapons are designed to mess up tough and armored opponents.

[halvar]

Don't take fliers and don't play an objective based game if you don't want your friend to weep over a bad purchase like I should be doing. But I don't get it, they were released a month ago, is there something more coming to help balance issues?

[nikh]

Mar 3, 2015 17:19:09 GMT halvar said:

Don't take fliers and don't play an objective based game if you don't want your friend to weep over a bad purchase like I should be doing. But I don't get it, they were released a month ago, is there something more coming to help balance issues?

Ohh I definitely don't wanna discourage him from them since he's so excited about the new update, I shoulda specified I just don't wanna get my face kicked in is all (especially not in CC). We're just doing annihilation to get a feel for the new units and how they work. I know they have models, but I'm pretty sure it's a hardcover codex being released on the 7th.

[nurglitch]

Go for MSU with lots of Termagants, Gargoyles, and Hormagaunts. Endless Swarm and Leviathan Detachment. Season with a Sporefield Detachment if you want, but having a vast MSU horde of mooks should make for a fun game for the both of you.

[Threeshades]

Mar 3, 2015 17:26:59 GMT nikh said:

Mar 3, 2015 17:19:09 GMT halvar said:

Don't take fliers and don't play an objective based game if you don't want your friend to weep over a bad purchase like I should be doing. But I don't get it, they were released a month ago, is there something more coming to help balance issues?

Ohh I definitely don't wanna discourage him from them since he's so excited about the new update, I shoulda specified I just don't wanna get my face kicked in is all (especially not in CC). We're just doing annihilation to get a feel for the new units and how they work. I know they have models, but I'm pretty sure it's a hardcover codex being released on the 7th.

The codex is already out, i was standing in the local GW store today looking at it on the shelf.

[nikh]

Mar 3, 2015 17:33:36 GMT nurglitch said:

Go for MSU with lots of Termagants, Gargoyles, and Hormagaunts. Endless Swarm and Leviathan Detachment. Season with a Sporefield Detachment if you want, but having a vast MSU horde of mooks should make for a fun game for the both of you.

Sorry just need a quick refresher, what's MSU? 

[nikh]

Mar 3, 2015 17:48:52 GMT Threeshades said:

Mar 3, 2015 17:26:59 GMT nikh said:

Ohh I definitely don't wanna discourage him from them since he's so excited about the new update, I shoulda specified I just don't wanna get my face kicked in is all (especially not in CC). We're just doing annihilation to get a feel for the new units and how they work. I know they have models, but I'm pretty sure it's a hardcover codex being released on the 7th.

The codex is already out, i was standing in the local GW store today looking at it on the shelf.

Really? The site says it's pre-order and will be shipped the 7th...we don't play at a local GW store, just a locally owned store that sells GW stuff among other things, so maybe that's why we don't have it yet, but that's odd 

[mattblowers]

Mar 3, 2015 18:37:16 GMT nikh said:

Mar 3, 2015 17:33:36 GMT nurglitch said:

Go for MSU with lots of Termagants, Gargoyles, and Hormagaunts. Endless Swarm and Leviathan Detachment. Season with a Sporefield Detachment if you want, but having a vast MSU horde of mooks should make for a fun game for the both of you.

Sorry just need a quick refresher, what's MSU? 

minimum small units: 5 genestealers, 1 lictor, 1 mucolid, 10 gaunts, 3 warriors, etc.

Or Mississippi State Univeristy, Michigan State University, Montana State University

[nikh]

Mar 3, 2015 18:52:21 GMT mattblowers said:

Mar 3, 2015 18:37:16 GMT nikh said:

Sorry just need a quick refresher, what's MSU? 

minimum small units: 5 genestealers, 1 lictor, 1 mucolid, 10 gaunts, 3 warriors, etc.

Or Mississippi State Univeristy, Michigan State University, Montana State University

Ahhh I gotcha. Yeah that's a good idea, I'll make sure to take a buncha Michigan State Universities for the Endless Swarm

[cypheon]

everyone always forgets about Missouri State

as for the harlequins... yes they're awesome in close combat, but as has been pointed out... they're fragile and you can throw 30 models in a single unit for (usually) less than their warlord will cost, and even if you somehow don't obliterate the bugger.. you'll tie him in place for a very long time. harlequins have always been the super-cheese aspect of an eldar army, on paper, but in practice you can force so many armor saves per combat that their special rules won't matter.

[Threeshades]

Mar 3, 2015 18:38:38 GMT nikh said:

Mar 3, 2015 17:48:52 GMT Threeshades said:

The codex is already out, i was standing in the local GW store today looking at it on the shelf.

Really? The site says it's pre-order and will be shipped the 7th...we don't play at a local GW store, just a locally owned store that sells GW stuff among other things, so maybe that's why we don't have it yet, but that's odd 

On the website it's also available from what I can see. At least in europe. When I go to the US site it actually still says pre-order under the codex. So maybe it's a regional thing.

[mattblowers]

Mar 3, 2015 19:33:30 GMT Threeshades said:

Mar 3, 2015 18:38:38 GMT nikh said:

Really? The site says it's pre-order and will be shipped the 7th...we don't play at a local GW store, just a locally owned store that sells GW stuff among other things, so maybe that's why we don't have it yet, but that's odd 

On the website it's also available from what I can see. At least in europe. When I go to the US site it actually still says pre-order under the codex. So maybe it's a regional thing.

Yes it is. Our longshoremen in the west coast were on strike and they go hung up in port. Not sure if they've made through customs even yet, news said it could take months to clear the backlog.

[nurglitch]

Multiple Small Units.