40K - Tallarn Roughriders

Roughriders are back! (Technically they are "Attilan" Roughriders in the new codex - because those are the only ones GW is currently producing - which annoys me to no end... but I've complained about that enough, I'll shut up now...), so it seemed time to finish up a few of these old Tallarn Roughriders I've had sitting in a drawer for... well... a while... 

I just needed to finish up four of these to complete three "Squads" of five, making up the Fast Attack element of an entirely unmechanized Battalion Detachment! 

Four new Tallarn Roughriders. 

All the Tallarn Roughriders - in addition to painting up four more, they've all been rebased and had rifle buckets added (from Victoria Miniatures!) 

I do have a few more. Definitely enough to make two full squads of ten... but not QUITE enough to make a third... A brief look at eBay suggests it might cost me $100+ to try and finish up the third! Yikes! 

I do also have this old Suliman the Saracen model (from Warhammer Fantasy Battles 5th edition - so, a GW model) which I thought I could convert...? We shall see. I guess I should only worry about if if I actually get the first ten done and start seriously considering completing a third unit of ten. 

40K - STILL More Tallarn

As promised, the Missile Teams

Three Missile Teams - which COULD be a Heavy Weapon Squad... but there are for regular Infantry Squads. 

With these, and all the other stuff I've been working on the last week and a half, I've finished up NINE Infantry Squads, four Platoon Command Squads, three Heavy Weapon Squads, two Commissars, two Psykers, and a Ministorum Preacher... JUST ABOUT enough for an entirely non-mechanized Brigade Detachment... At this point I thought I would post pictures of ALL the finished Infantry Squads and their Platoon Commanders... but since I am SO CLOSE to finishing up the Brigade Detachment just need to paint four Roughriders and finish up the rifle buckets I've added to the others, I thought I'd wait until those were done and post the ENTIRE Brigade Detachment then! 

40K - MORE Assorted Tallarn

 As promised, here are the assorted Tallarn Missile Teams, Special Weapons gunner and an officer that I needed to finish up a few units

The latest batch. I've also finished three more Missile Launcher teams, but I need to finish up their bases, so I'll be posting them later (individual miniatres I do the basing gravel when I attatch them to the base and thus when they're done painting... theyre DONE and just need any grass or shrubs I want to add - teams, on the other hand - are temporarily attached to separate bases for painting and once the painting is done I attach them to their permanent bases and THEN to the base gravelling and painting...)  

Tallarn officer for a Platoon Command Squad

A pair of Psykers from the Adeptus Astra Telepathica - the miniatures are old Wyrdvane Psykers, which aren't a thing any more, so I thought I might use one as a Primaris Psyker and the other could be an Astropath...? Initially I thought I'd make the one with the shades the Astropath (as they have their eyes burned out in the process of becoming an Astropath)... but then decided, having eyes burned out, they'd have no particular need of shades out in the desert... and also the one with shades looks like he's actively blasting someone (more of a Primaris Psyker thing) and the other is holding his head trying to focus and concentrate on... something... which seems, to me, like something an Astropath would be doing. 

An assortment of Special Weapon Gunners (four Plasma, two Grenade Launcher). The ones in black head-coverings are destined for Platoon Command Squads and the others to regular Infantry Squads. 

Up next are the Missile Teams and possibly a unit of five Roughriders - which will finish up the last things I need for a completely non-mechanized Brigade Detachment! 

(Before I get to that, there might be an update to the Back of Beyond Campaign!) 

40K - Tallarn Mortar Teams

 Not technically part of the March 2023 Thirty Miniatures in Thirty Days Challenge - because I'd started them BEFORE the beginning of March... but done nonetheless! 

Three more Tallarn Mortar Teams forming a Heavy Weapon Squad. 

I think I started these YEARS ago - around the time I painted the first two - but didn't NEED them at the time and needed to get other things finished for the first Battleforce Recon Tournament I went to (which also happened to be the first 40K tournament I ever went to as well!?)... and that was FIVE YEARS AGO!? (Thank you Covid Time Warp for that jarring shake to my brain!?)

All Three Tallarn Mortar-Armed Heavy Weapon Squads. 

I do like mortar teams. They're very handy in that they can fire over the HORDES of infantry that take up so much space on the table and often get in each others way. can be parked behind terrain and remain relatively safe the whole game while just continuing to hammer the enemy all throughout the game. Also, if strategically located, they do a pretty good job of making it very good job of blocking deep striking units from dropping in behind your lines.

I have piles and PILES of other heavy weapon teams as well... I think I have enough for nearly three heavy weapon SQUADS armed with Heavy Bolters, Autocanons, and Lascannons. Like, each. THREE Squads of Heavy Bolters (9 teams), etc.. It's a bit ridiculous - especially considering, I think, for tournaments you can only have a maximum of three of any one type of unit (other than troops)...? So I could only ever have three Heavy Weapons Squads... Which I already have here, now... I suppose I'll eventually paint them all up - just to have them (as "options")...?

I have a few missile teams, special weapons gunners and an officer to finish up next which will finish off a few more Infantry Squads and Platoon Command Squads. 

40K - Tallarn Infantry

 Since picking up the new Astra Militarum codex last month, I've been doing a lot of rebasing and reorganizing and planning and trying to figure out how best I could potentially make use of the RIDICULOUS numbers Imperial Guard miniatures I have. This is all mental masturbations because, realistically, when am I EVER going to actually PLAY Warhammer 40k again!? 

Someday... 

Maybe.... 

So, best to BE PREPARED, right!? 

In the midst of all that, a fellow on the Saskatchewan Miniatures! Facebook Group invited members to join in a 30 Miniatures in 30 Days Challenge in March (which I thought was odd, considering March has 31 days... nevertheless...). As there were LOTS of Tallarn I was wanting to paint to finish up a few units, I thought I'd jump in on that - to help motivate me to finish up some of these Tallarn. 

Of course, the smarter thing would have been to paint up Guaiacan Commandoes, as there are fewer of those needed to be painted to COMPLETELY FINISH THAT ENTIRE FORCE, but no one ever accused me of doing things the smart way and I see no reason to start that now... 

Here is the first batch of miniatures painted for that competition. 

Nine Tallarn Infantry. 

These individuals were meant to finish for three different squads... and I was planning to include pictures of all three full squads... but then realized I also needed three Heavy Weapon Teams and one trooper with a special weapon for those squads... 

Ah, well...  

So those will be the next things I'm finishing up (along with an officer and some troopers for Platoon Command Squads) as that will finish up, not only the three Infantry Squads, but also an ENTIRE COMPANY! 

The company will consist of three platoons of three Infantry Squads and a Platoon Command Squad. I'm also very nearly finished three Mortar Teams, which will also mean I've finished up a third Heavy Weapons Squad - all armed with Mortars. 

Stay tuned for a few more of these shortly!

(Maybe I'll get to those Guaiacans in April...) 

Taking Stock of the Astra Militarum

 So... I did a thing... AGAIN....

I picked up the new 9th Edition Astra Militarum Codex. 

Am I going to be playing 40K again soon? I don't know... but I do always like to be prepared! And the Astra Militarum are one of the largest collections of minis I own. 

I went a little overboard with 40K in 8th edition. I ended up with SEVEN Codexes!? (Astra Militarum, Grey Knights, Imperial Knights, Chaos Knights, Chaos Space Marines, Chaos Daemons, Drukhari - plus the T'au, Genestealer Cult, Ork, Eldar, and Harlequin ones the kids got!? ). So far I've only picked up Aeldari and Cadian codexes and NONE of the fluff books - The Arks of Omen books look interesting... but I bought SO MANY of the Psychic Awakening books and never made much use of them and they're pretty easy to find for, like, $5-10, now... so... I'll just wait. 

Maybe if there's an Emperor's Children book, but I have a feeling that won't be for another year (and, possibly, another edition!?). Haven't even picked up the Chaos Space Marine book - which is the only other force I kind of think about working on, from time to time... 

There have been some not insignificant changes to the Astra Militarum. Some are great. Some... less so... Some have made it a little more challenging to field certain forces of Astra Militarum that I have. 

Special Weapon Squads, Wyrdvane Psykers, Veterans, Platoon Commanders, Company Commanders, Lord Commissars, and Conscripts are all just gone... Well... there are still Platoon Commanders, but they've been included in the Platoon Command Squad - which is now a Headquarters option (Yay!). 

Other stuff that used to be Elite options are no longer so. Regimental Advisors - Master of Ordinance, Officer of the Fleet, Astropaths - are all options that can be added to Platoon Command Squads instead of being individual Elite options. There are SO MANY things that used to be Elites, but are no longer, that in some of my Guard forces I might actually have a hard time coming up with Elites to field to fill that slot in a Brigade Detachment!? 

Commissars are still Elites, but you CAN field one that doesn't fill an Elite slot for every Command Squad you have (I won't ever be using that option, as in many forces Commissars are the ONLY Elites I have now and they NEED to fill those Elite slots!). Commissars also issue their own orders (like officers), which makes them far more useful! 

The [Regiment] keyword is gone. You can include stuff from any regiment in a detachment and not lose whatever Regimental Doctrine you pick. 

In addition to Ursula Creed (daughter of Lord Castellan Urarkar Creed) there are a Cadian Castellan (which KIND OF replaces the old generic Company Commander) - a higher order of officer than the one in the Platoon Command squad... I just do not get WHY they called it a "Cadian" Castellan and not just a generic "Castellan" or "Commandant" or "Company Commander" or whatever... In game terms it would be a perfect thing to represent the old Captain Al'rahem (Legengary Tallarn Commander - which I have a few of!?)... but... it's called CADIAN Castellan!? 

There are a few weirdly named things like that: CADIAN Shock Troops (why not just call them "Shock Troops"?), ATTILAN Roughriders (why not just Roughriders!?), etc... I suppose it doesn't REALLY matter, because they can all be put in a unit together... but it kind of bothers me, because there are a few units I'll probably end up using that.. well... won't be "right"!? 

I have Tallarn Roughriders... Original Games Workshop models. I brought them out to a tournament as part of a force made up entirely of Tallarn models - just after 8th edition was released and Roughriders were in the brand new Index. Everyone kept calling them Attilan Roughriders and I had to correct them and point out, NO, they are actually TALLARN Roughriders - look at the freaking models!? Now if I were to show up at an even with them, people will still call them Attilan Roughriders... and they'll be right... because that's what they unit is called ATTILAN Roughriders!? 

I know, I know... it's a stupid hang-up... but there it is... 

The deal with Cadian Shock Troops is that they're just like your bog standard Infantry Squad except that they can't have a Heavy Weapons team, but instead can have two special weapons. Because Special Weapon Squads are no longer a thing, I'll probably fold a lot of the ones I previously had into "Cadian Shock Troops" units... except that they're Tallarn or Valhallan or Catachan miniatures... 

Oh, and there are actually "CATACHAN Jungle Fighter" squads!? They're a LITTLE like the Cadian Shock Troops, in that they don't have Heavy Weapons Teams and can have two Special Weapons... except that those special weapons can only be Flamers. But they do score extra hits on sixes when fighting Melee... Why not just call the "Assault Squads"!? 

The veterans in Platoon Command Squads no longer have a Ballistic Skill of 3+. But the medi-pack in the Command Squad is AMAZING, though (every time a model in the squad would lost a wound a roll of 5+ means it doesn't!?)!! So way more incentive to put in a medic and leave the Heavy Weapons teams in the Heavy Weapons Squads. Regimental Standards now have an aura ability that every Astra Militarum Core unit within 6" re-rolls 1s when making any attacks (instead of the +1 Leadership they use to confer)! Guess I'll be painting some of those up now! 

Vanquisher cannons on Leman Russ tanks now have a 14 strength and deal d3+6 damage!? Which now makes them worth taking! Previously they had been the same strength as a regular Battle Cannon... they dealt more damage, but made only one attack. As the Astra Militarum isn't known for it's amazing Ballistic Skill I feel like it's always better to have MORE ATTACKS as at least you'll hit with SOME of them and do SOME damage! That extra strength and damage is suddenly worth the risk (of missing) to deal some serious damage to heavily armoured opponents! Though Turret Weapons in Leman Russ tanks now get a +1 to hit, so... even more worth it! 

Kasrkin are back... which is weird to me... because the Tempestus Scions that kind of replaced them a couple editions ago are still in the book... and they're pretty much THE SAME!? I honestly thought the Scions were a generic form of Kasrkins and they'd disappeared from the previous codexes as part of a move towards more generic troops - no need to rules for Specialist Cadian troopers since Cadia has been... y'know...  DESTROYED and everything...? 

I know... I know... CADIA STANDS!!! 

Sentinels now have a 12" move! It was SO IRRITATING that the Reconnaissance unit of armoured detachments moves SLOWER than the actual tanks they were supposed to be probing ahead of!?  

I'm sure there are more things, but these are a few of the key things affecting the forces that I have! 

These are not particularly useful any more... Wyrdvane Psykers. This is the only deletion that affected me in any way - not that I ever got around to painting these. I picked them up because they looked fun, but I don't think they were particularly effective units and these never really went with either the Tallarn or Guaiacan (Catachan) models of the main forces I was working on at the time. Not sure what I'll do with them now...? Maybe pass them off as Primaris Psykers for some of the forces that done HAVE dedicated Primaris Psykers (Valhallans and Tallarn?) 

So... of course I dragged out ALL THE ASTRA MILITARUM and took stock of what I had and how it could potentially be organized and what needed to be done to complete forces. 

Here's what I've got...

CADIAN

I did a bit of a stock taking of these before (when I first heard the new Codex was coming - and heard a few of the rumours about the coming changes):

40K - CADIA STANDS!!!

I had been regretting the decision to rebase the Officers on 32mm bases when I heard they are no longer separate characters and are part of a Command Squad... But upon reading the actual rules, they ARE still considered "Character" models, so...not so regretful. 

Regimental Standards are so WORTH IT now - previously they only gave +1 leadership to any units within 6"... Now they give every unit within 6" the ability to re-roll any 1s rolled in any attack!? There is no longer stats for Colour Sergeant Kell - but I might just paint him up to include as a regimental Standard for one of the Command Squads! I have two other standard bearers I can paint up to include in the other two Command Squads (not that I'll likely ever use ALL THREE command squads)

(oh, and my Cadian medics can now have a Laspistol AND a Chainsword - as many of those old models are armed with! Previously, you could only have one of Lasgun or Laspistol or Chainsword) 

There are not stats for Lord Castellan Creed anymore... but there are stats for Castellans and I could paint up Creed to use as one of those (or just use him as a stand in for his daughter, Ursula Creed, who IS a character in the new book!?) 

So the force could be fielded as a Battalion Detachment and look like:

Headquarters (2-3)

• CREED! (using old model in place of new one) - 4PR
• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR
• (+ Astropath added to Command Squad +2PR)
• Primaris Psyker - 3 PR

Troops (3-6) 

• Cadian Shock Troops - 4PR
• Cadian Shock Troops - 4PR
• Cadian Shock Troops - 4PR
• Cadian Shock Troops - 4PR

Elites (0-6)

• Commissar - 3PR
• Commissar - 3PR
• Kasrkin - 5PR

Fast Attack (0-3)

Heavy Support (0-3)

• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR

Total: 43 Power Rating

I have other Regimental Attachés... but they're not particularly useful. Master of Ordinance buffs artillery and Officer of the Fleet buffs anything flying, and this force has none of either... The Astropath is now just a Psyker (with less wounds and attacks than the Primaris Psyker, but has a special Psyker Ability that can potentially generate a command point)

The only things I need to paint to complete this are the Kasrkin, Creed, the Standard Bearers and the Primaris Psyker - 15 models. So I imagine I will be working on those in the next week or so, just to have a COMPLETE FORCE!!!

If I were to start a Crusade Campaign with these (as there are SO MANY Crusade options in the book) I might begin with a Patrol Detachment that looks like:

Headquarters (1-2)

• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR
• (+ Astropath added to Command Squad +2PR)

Troops (1-3) 

• Cadian Shock Troops - 4PR
• Cadian Shock Troops - 4PR

Elites (0-2)

• Commissar - 3PR
• Kasrkin - 5PR

Fast Attack (0-2)

Heavy Support (0-2)

• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR

Total: 25 Power Rating

Regimental Preachers are still a thing, and I have a few of those that could be added in... along with some Inquisition troops which (I think) can be added to any Imperial detachment without losing a Regimental ability... or maybe its just an Inquiditor that can do that...? anyway, a few more things I could add in to bring it up to 50... 

VALHALLAN 

Next to none of this is done, but it's also a relatively small force (if just considering the infantry) so, could be knocked off before taking on some of the larger ones... 

I have:

• 3x Platoon Command 
• 1x Commandant ("Cadian" Commandant... but not Cadian... uggggh...) 
• 6x Infantry Squad
• 4x Heavy Weapon Squad
• 2x Commissars 
• assorted extras

With these, I should be able to put together a battalion detachment:

Headquarters (2-3)

• Castellan - 3 PR
• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR
• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR

Troops (3-6) 

• Shock Troops - 4PR
• Shock Troops - 4PR
• Shock Troops - 4PR
• Shock Troops - 4PR
• Shock Troops - 4PR
• Shock Troops - 4PR

Elites (0-6)

• Commissar - 3PR
• Commissar - 3PR

Fast Attack (0-3)

Heavy Support (0-3)

• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR
• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR
• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR
• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR

Total Power Rating: 53

I have a few other things - from an assortment of other manufacturers - that I thought I might use with the Valhallans. The AA-tank could be a stand-in for a Hydra, the other...? Maybe an Armageddon Pattern Medusa - self-propelled mortar/bombard. 

The Aerosan - vehicles on skis, propelled by giant propellers - one (the transport version) I thought might be a stand-in for a Taurox, the other two (reconnaissance) could be stand-ins for Sentinels.

The KV-2s would be stand-ins for Leman Russ tanks (I have extra barrels to replace the ones that came with the tanks). In Epic there was an Imperial Guard tank that looks a lot like a KV-2 called the Ragnarok - which is what I was going to call these... but I'll just use the Leman Russ stats. 

The BA-64s I thought could also be used as stand-ins for Sentinels.. 

If (when?) I ever got these all assembled and converted and painted, I'd be able to field a Brigade Detachment... 

Valhallan Brigade Detachment

Headquarters (3-5)

• Castellan - 3 PR
• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR
• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR
• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR
• Tank Commander (KV-2)- 10PR

Troops (6-12) 

• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR

Elites (3-8)

• Commissar - 3PR
• Commissar - 3PR
• Regimental Enginseer - 2PR

Fast Attack (3-5)

• Sentinel (BA-64 - 2) - 6PR
• Sentinel (Aerosan - 3) - 9PR

Heavy Support (3-5)

• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR
• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR
• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR
• Leman Russ Tank Troop (KV-2 - 2) - 18PR
• Wyvern or Hydra (1) - 6PR

Total Power Rating: 105 

THIS version of the force seems like it's a long way off, though (with all the assembling, converting, and painting of all the vehicles)... Maybe a retirement army...? 

  

GUAIACAN COMMANDOES 

Another Force that is almost entirely painted... but needing to be rebased. This will probably be the second priority after the Cadians... unless I get fixated on the Valhallan Infantry...? Once I finish up a few more minis to fill out a few infantry squads (absorbing Special Weapons troopers that haven't been moved into Platoon Command Squads) 

Here's what I should be able to field:

Guaiacan Brigade Detachment

Headquarters (3-5)

• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR
• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR
• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR
• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR
• Primaris Psyker - 3PR

Troops (6-12) 

• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• ("Cadian") Shock Troops - 4PR
• ("Cadian") Shock Troops - 4PR

Elites (3-8)

• Commissar - 3PR
• Commissar - 3PR
• Sly Marbo - 3PR
• Ratlings - 2PR
• Ratlings - 2PR
• Ogryn - 4PR

Fast Attack (3-5)

• Sentinel (1) - 3PR
• Sentinel (1) - 3PR
• Sentinel (1) - 3PR

Heavy Support (3-5)

• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR
• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR
• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR
• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR

Total Power Rating: 97

Tallarn Infantry

(and finished armour - basically whatever I could field NOW!) 

The Tallarn are the LARGEST force I have, by far. I could potentially field multiple detachments of Infantry and Armour (once they're all done)

Most of this needs rebasing... but what I have could ALMOST be fielded as a Brigade... I'd need one more elite - Another Commissar? Maybe a Ministorum Preacher or a Mechanicus Enginseer (I used to have the problem of TOO MANY ELITES and not enough slots!?) 

This is what I can field RIGHT NOW, fully painted (with an Enginseer or Preacher slipped in to fill an Elite slot!):

Tallarn Brigade Detachment

Headquarters (3-5)

• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR
• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR
• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR
• Tank Commander - 10PR

Troops (6-12) 

• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR
• Infantry Squad - 4PR

Elites (3-8)

• Commissar - 3PR
• Commissar - 3PR
• Enginseer? Preacher? - 2PR

Fast Attack (3-5)

• Roughriders (5)
• Roughriders (5)
• Sentinel (1)

Heavy Support (3-5)

• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR
• Heavy Weapon Squad - 3PR
• Leman Russ Tank Troop (3) - 27PR
• Leman Russ Tank (1) - 9PR

Total Power Rating: 117

(the Shadowsword would have to be in a separate Auxiliary Super-Heavy Detachment - and would add another 26 Power Rating - for a total of 141!?)

Really, I could not ever paint another Tallarn and I'd be FINE! 

But, y'know... just in case I ever had the opportunity to play some APOCALYPSE level games again... 

Tallarn Infantry TO DO

Still lots TO DO!

• ("Cadian") Castellan (Captain Al'rahem) - 3PR
• +2 more Platoon Command Squads - @4PR=9PR
• +8x Infantry Squads - @3PR=24PR
• +4x ("Attilan") Roughriders (5) - @5PR=20PR
• +10x Heavy Weapon Squads  - @3PR =30PR
• +6x Sentinels @3PR=18PR

I could potentially add up to another 104 Power Rating to the Tallarn force!? 

There is zero chance I will ever need all of these Heavy Weapon Teams/Squads... There are 32 Heavy Weapon teams making up 10 Squads - with a few left over (7x Heavy Bolters, 3x Mortars, 10x Autocannons, 12x Lascannons!?) - in addition to the two squads of Mortars I already have painted!? 

Tallarn Armour TO DO

Well this is ALL of it, really - painted and still-to-do. Initially, I planned on only having a couple tanks to attach to the Tallarn infantry as heavy support... but as I started acquiring more - through used lots that local dudes were selling off (dirt cheap!). I kind of amassed enough to field it as a purely armoured/mechanized  force!? 

I thought I might steal some of the to-be-painted Tallarn Infantry away to make a fully-mechanized force of sorts. It could be fielded as a spearhead Detachement... or Maybe a Battalion Detachment...? 

Tallarn Spearhead Detachment

Headquarters (1-2)

• Tank Commander - 10PR
• Tank Commander - 10PR

Troops (0-3)

• Infantry Squad - 3PR
• Infantry Squad - 3PR
• Infantry Squad - 3PR

Elites (0-2)

• Commissar - 3PR
• Commissar - 3PR

Fast Attack (0-2)

• Sentinels (3) - 9PR
• Sentinels (3) - 9PR 

Heavy Support (3-6) 

• Leman Russ Troop (3) - 27PR
• Leman Russ Troop (3) - 27PR 
• Leman Russ Troop (3) - 27PR 
• Basilisk - 7PR
• Basilisk - 7PR
• Manticore - 7PR

Transport 

• Chimera - 5PR
• Chimera - 5PR
• Chimera - 5PR

Total Power Rating: 170!? Sweet Jiminy!? 

OR

Tallarn Mechanized Battalion Detachment

Headquarters (2-3)

• Tank Commander - 10PR
• Tank Commander - 10PR
• Platoon Command Squad - 4PR

Troops (3-6)

• Infantry Squad - 3PR
• Infantry Squad - 3PR
• Infantry Squad - 3PR

Elites (0-6)

• Commissar - 3PR

Fast Attack (0-3)

• Sentinels (3) - 9PR 
• Sentinels (3) - 9PR 

Heavy Support (0-3) 

• Leman Russ Troop (3) - 27PR
• Leman Russ Troop (3) - 27PR
• Leman Russ Troop (3) - 27PR 

Transport (1 per Infantry)

• Chimera - 5PR
• Chimera - 5PR
• Chimera - 5PR
• Chimera - 5PR

Total Power Rating: 155

There are also "Tank Ace" skills I could potentially add up to 5 tanks at 2PR each...

These mechanized forces, like the Valhallans, are probably a LONG way off...  

I also have these two Valkyries. One I bought new, the other I got in a used lot. Not really meant to be part of any particular force. I had thought I'd do them in a generic Aeronautica Imperialis grey so they could be used with any force... But now I'm thinking I could do them in a green camo top and attach them to the Guaiacan Commandoes (I had previously thought I might use the original one in Kill Team as an objective - "Get-to-da-choppa!" extraction point, kind of thing!) 

Every so often, I get crazy, megalomaniac ideas of doing an entirely AIRMOBILE force - Infantry all mounted up in Valkyries and supported by other gunships and ground attack aircraft... but I don't think it can even be done in regular 40K anymore - as there are no Airwing Detachments and a max of 2 fliers in any other Detachments... (Also, it would be CrAzY expensive - Valkyries are now $100CAD, and the cheapest Forge World flyer is the Vulture gunship at  $150!?) 

Maybe I'll just have to get some Aeronautica Imperialis stuff painted and pick up a flight of Valkyries (and any enemy force I'd need) for that and have the air approach be "off-camera" and played out with Aeronautica Imperialis

And then there's the drawer FULL of assorted extra Astra Militarum stuff that aren't really part of any of the above forces. Most are earmarked for Kill Teams. I have Necromundan and Antari Rifles Kill teams that I'd started plus some Tempestus Scions that I got with the previous edition of Kill Team... then I got a MORE Scions and three or four more squads in a used lot I picked up... Almost enough scions to put together a patrol Detachment. 

I could probably convert the spares to other Kill Teams, and sell them off...? 

Or make a Mash-Up Regiment Detachment with squads from piles of different regiments that have all been 

WHEW!!! That was a LOT. 

Seems kind of daft, when I get it all out and take note of it all... 

40K - Tallarn Roughriders

 I have started re-basing all of my Imperial Guard/Astra Militarum in anticipation of the new 9th Edition Codex being released in the new year some time... (I had initially thought it was going to be released in December, hot on the heals of the Cadia Stands: Astra Militarum Army Set, alas...). 

Rumoured to be returning are ROUGHRIDERS!? Those daft brave soldiers of the Empire that ride into battle atop a horse - charging tanks and space marines and xenos horrors... 

Tallarn Toughriders! Recently re-based on GW oval bases (Previously, they has been on 40mm lipped bases, which I never loved the look of...) 

The plan is to eventually rebase all of the Astra Militarum onto proper 25mm plastic bases - to align with the Kill Teams... I already did the Cadians! Still have a LOT of Tallarn and Guaiacan Commandoes... and... Valhallans... 

This was kind of a test batch, to see how they look. I kind of like it... I don't know... I feel like the oval bases make them look... "Speedier"...? I have another five that are painted and just need rebasing and then another dozen or so that I could paint up for another unit or two! 

They are ABSURD... but I love them. 

Does this mean I might get back to playing 40K this year!? Maybe... I don't know... We'll see... 90% of the fun in this hobby, for ME, has always been the collecting and painting and THINKING and IMAGINING games and scenarios and possibilities. Games, especially competitive games, are almost always a little bit of a let down, compared to the fun I have imagining how they might be... 

40K - CADIA STANDS!!!

 Or... so they say... 

This past month I've started a massive re-basing project in anticipation of the new Warhammer 40,000 (9th Edition) Astra Militarum Codex. I thought it would be released hot on the heals of the new Cadia Stands box set... and I'd be posting this, the first of the forces to be rebased, with its new Organization all spelled out... but this has not been the case. Despite the box set being released - with the SPECIAL EDITION of the new Guard Codex... the regular codex has NOT been released yet nor shall it be for at least another two weeks!? 

The entire force, so far, re-based. 

This is all the old Cadian/Generic metal Guard figures I have painted so far - which is MOST of them. There have been some changes to the way the Guard is organized in the new edition - it looks like Platoon Commanders are now a headquarters option and are part of a Command Squad  - as they were in (almost) all previous editions! (Unfortunately i STARTED this rebasing BEFORE I learned that and I based all the commanders on 32mm bases - as in 8th they were independant character models and I've started basing all such on the slightly larger bases... bah... not changing it now!)

Once the codex is out I'll break down the new organization and post better pics of each unit... 

I have a handful of other items to add to this force - a small squad of Kasrkins, extra elements for Command squads (the standard bearer), Primaris Psyker, etc. (the Tallarn are for Kill Teams). HOpefully I'll have these done by the time the Codex is released so I can include them in a Complete Force post. 

I also have Lord Castellan Ursarkar E. Creed, Colour Sergeant Kell, and Commissar Yarrick models, I got in a lot of Guard a year or so ago, which I thought I might get around to painting up for use with these guys - for "historical" battles...? Defending Cadia from the Black Legion, and such. Apparently all of these characters have been dropped from the new codex! 

The plan is to rebase all of the Tallarn and Guaiacan Commandoes onto plastic bases as well (as I'd been doing with the Aeldari earlier this year).

I have been up to other hobby business - MORE re-basing (of... OTHER things) - but more on that (and what I'm PLANNING for them!?) in another post...

T'au Rocket Launcher

 I've been painting a few T'au for Finnegan, on and off, and not really getting around to FINISHING anything. 

Well, I did finish ONE thing... this little rocket pod thingie... I have no idea how it works in the game or if it's useable in Kill Team - I think they're attached to Fire Warriors...? 

T'au Rocket Pod thingie. 

Maybe I should focus on things I KNOW will be useable in Kill Team! 

Or stuff for games we might actually PLAY!? 

Horror, Harlequins, and a Vivandière - a Painting Update

  I have been painting... a little bit... 

The first two items are things I actually painted a couple months ago, but just didn't get around to posting. I was waiting for... something else...? to get finished to post along with them, but that just insn't happeneing and i want them off the workbench. 

Now that I look at them, they probably need some grass tufts to truly be finished... But that isn't done at the painting table, and I just want to get these OFF the painting table... 

Vivandière from Matchlock Miniatures

Horror from Reaper Miniatures. 

All the Harlequins and other Eldar on the workbench. I've got most of the first new troupe of Harlequins done and the other two that I have are well on the way (and the final troupe should be arriving soon!)

These three are pretty much done. 

These three... just about there... just needing a detail or highlight or two...

Ugh... Why did I think harlequins would be a good idea!? 

I Did a Thing

 In a moment of flagging impulse control...

So I guess I WILL have that 50 Power - Incursion Level Battalion Detachment of Harlequins after all... Y'know... If I EVER get them all painted!? How hard could it be!? It's 24 miniatures... 24 highly-detailed, wildly patterned miniatures... 

Bonus - there are two more than I need for a troupe of six - which means I can swap out a couple of the others I have that are bearing more esoteric weapons that the Harlequins are no longer allowed to use (like the one with a laspistol and weber...!") 

I guess I better get to work on the Harlequins (and other Eldar) that I already HAVE then! 

40K - Harlequins - Troupe of the Eternal Lament

I decided, with the new Aeldari Codex including the rules for Harlequins, it might be time to expand the Dance of the Midnight Effusion Kill Team into a full 40K Patrol Detachment - or even a Battalion!? Also, the new White Dwarf (#474) includes revised rules for Harlequin Kill Teams, so that required some reorganization. 

40K

The Current Troupe - Troupe of the Eternal Lament

(The Dance of the Midnight Effusion was the name of the Kill Team - which amounts to a single Troupe of Players. So I thought I'd keep that name for the Troupe of Players and say they are part of the larger Troupe of the Eternal Lament). 

So far, all I've done is re-base miniatures I already had. These are harlequins from the original box set that I bought back in the late 80s. I rebased all of the Character models onto 32mm bases - to differentiate them from the Harlequins of the Troupe dancers. 

Troupe Leader - Dwol'yyk'faldyl'ven'yaksak'de - the Master of Ceremonies - armed with .Shuriken Pistol and Aeldari Power Sword. AS with most of the Character Models in the force, The MAster of Ceremonies will likely be given a Pivotal Role, but I haven't selected one yet. 

Shadowseer - Vylindal'min'zyl'fadyll'wenyl - Vision of the Dark - Shuriken Pistol, Mistave, Hallucinogen Grenader Launcher (This is the biggest "counts as" - as none of the weapons this model is carrying really matches what the current Shadowseer is supposed to be carrying... Ah, well, I probably won't EVER be playing competatively with these, so hopefully no one will care!) 

(Actually, I think this is currently the ONLY "Counts As" - I do have a lot of unpainted harlequins carrying odd weapons - laspistols, WEBBERS, etc!? - Any of those with weird things, I'll just call Shuriken Pistol and Harlequin's Blade - the Standard Gear) 

Solitaire - Klin'fylindil'myrsutyl'zenob - The Lonely Loner - Solitaire's Weapons

Fun thing about the 9E Codex - Solitaires in the previous edition were armed entirely differently than this original Solitaire and so it would have been odd fielding this one, clearly armed with Harlequin’s Kiss and  a Neuro Disruptor when the standard-no-options-loadout was Harlequin’s Kiss and Harlequin’s Caress. But in THIS edition, the standard loadout with no options is "Solitaire's Weapons". I wish MORE troops has more generic sounding weapons listed.... 

Death Jesters - these are all independent Character models (i.e. each is a separate Unit), from left to right: 

• Mal'wynairfel'Zenvodnyl -- Harvester of Sorrow - Shrieker Cannon, Jesters Blade
• Reafryln'adyl'prybt - Fearless Reaper - Shrieker Cannon, Jesters Blade
• Brakyl'dylil'narfatess - Remorseless Scythe - Shrieker Cannon, Jesters Blade

Troupe - Dance of the Midnight Effusion  

• Wilk'nes'fyl'ori'nos'del'ven - The Bard - Shuriken Pistol and Harlequin's Blade 
• Me'del'wik'felyk'pard'trum - The Merchant -  Shuriken Pistol and Harlequin's Embrace
• Wilk'nes'fyl'ori'nos'del'ven - The Bard  - Shuriken Pistol and Harlequin's Blade 
• El'wisq'vi'gwith'nel'nor - The Queen - Shuriken Pistol and Harlequin's Blade 
• Dar'lyk'vel'fro'dow'nyel'zen - The Witch -  Shuriken Pistol and Harlequin's Blade 
• Vok'no'fel'pred'zyl'wen - The Prince -  Shuriken Pistol and Harlequin's Blade 
• Mya'den'freg'lad'zyp - The Maid -  Fusion Pistol and Harlequin's Kiss 

For now, I can currently field them as a Patrol Detachment:

HQ (1-2)

• Troupe Master (1) - Shuriken Pistol, Aeldari Power Sword, Plasma Grenades - 4 Power
• Shadowseer (1) - Shuriken Pistol, Mistave, Hallucinogen Grenader Launcher - 5 Power

Troops (1-2) 

• Troupe (6) - Assorted Weapons - 4 Power

Elites (0-2) 

• Death Jester (1) - Shrieker Cannon, Jesters Blade - 3 Power
• Solitaire (1) - Solitaire's Weapons - 6 Power

This is only 22 Power, but any of the character models can be given a Pivotal Role - which gives them an additional special rule (that only ONE can take in an entire force) for one extra Power Rating. So I can make it a 25PL Detachment by making three of them Pivotal Role characters. 

I do have enough minis to make three more Troupes, which would mean I could field them as a battalion detachment, if ever I got around to PAINTING them!? 

If I had the additional 18 minis painted to make 2-4 more Troupes, they could be fielded as a 40 Power Battalion Detachment:

HQ (2-3)

• Troupe Master (1) - Shuriken Pistol, Aeldari Power Sword, Plasma Grenades - 4 Power
• Shadowseer (1) - Shuriken Pistol, Mistave, Hallucinogen Grenader Launcher - 5 Power

Troops (3-6) 

• Troupe (6) - Assorted Weapons - 4 Power
• Troupe (6) - Assorted Weapons - 4 Power
• Troupe (6) - Assorted Weapons - 4 Power
• Troupe (6) - Assorted Weapons - 4 Power

Elites (0-6) 

• Death Jester (1) - Shrieker Cannon, Jesters Blade - 3 Power
• Death Jester (1) - Shrieker Cannon, Jesters Blade - 3 Power
• Death Jester (1) - Shrieker Cannon, Jesters Blade - 3 Power
• Solitaire (1) - Solitaire's Weapons - 6 Power

Again, Pivotal Roles could be given to six of them for a total of 46 Power... I guess I need ONE more group of 6 Troupe Players to make 50 Power... (I should probably worry about painting THE ONES I HAVE before seeking out any new ones, though...) 

KILL TEAM

The most recent White Dwarf included new Kill Team rules for Harlequins! So far I have only glanced at the Kill Team organization rules. So, the Dance of the Midnight Effusion Kill Team has been reorganized as follows

• Wilk'nes'fyl'ori'nos'del'ven - The Bard - Lead Player -  Shuriken Pistol and Harlequin's Blade 
• Me'del'wik'felyk'pard'trum - The Merchant - Player -   Shuriken Pistol and Harlequin's Embrace
• Wilk'nes'fyl'ori'nos'del'ven - The Bard  - Player -  Shuriken Pistol and Harlequin's Blade 
• El'wisq'vi'gwith'nel'nor - The Queen - Player -  Shuriken Pistol and Harlequin's Blade 
• Dar'lyk'vel'fro'dow'nyel'zen - The Witch - Player -   Shuriken Pistol and Harlequin's Blade 
• Vok'no'fel'pred'zyl'wen - The Prince - Player -   Shuriken Pistol and Harlequin's Blade 
• Mya'den'freg'lad'zyp - The Maid -  Player - Fusion Pistol and Harlequin's Kiss 
• Vylindal'min'zyl'fadyll'wenyl - Vision of the Dark - Shadowseer - Shuriken Pistol, Mistave, Hallucinogen Grenader Launcher
• Mal'wynairfel'Zenvodnyl - Harveter of Sorrow - Death Jester - Shrieker Cannon, Jesters Blade

Next Up? I have units of Howling Banshees and Guardian Defenders on the workbench (along with a hundred other things - but the Howling Banshees and Guardian Defenders are closest to the front and most likely to be worked on...) that I only need to finish 2-3 minitures for to complete units - and then have a complete Aeldari Force that's useable with the new Aeldari Codex. 

40K - New Aeldari Codex

 Well I did pick up the new Aeldari Codex Saturday... I've really only had the briefest of looks through it. 

(TL/DR: Eldar being reorganized, stay tuned for pictures later this week, maybe) 

There are things I like about it, so far.  

Others... well... 

I DO like that the Assuryani and Harlequins and Ynarri and Corsairs are all included in this book. And it looks like there is lots of cool new stuff for narrative Cursade Campaigns. 

There have been some changes to the troop types, however, that are going to throw a BIG OL' SPACE WRENCH into my traditional force composition!? 

A LOT of my troops have suddenly become "Elites" in the new codex. I now have a FEW TOO MANY Elites and not enough Headquarters... or... other stuff... Are least not to field proper core detachments (the ones that refund you the Command Cost of the detachment if your warlord is included in it)... 

Warlocks went from being Headquarters to Elites...

Dire Avengers went from being TROOPS to being Elites...? 

Wraithlords went from being HEAVY SUPPORT to being Elites!? 

Ugh... it's the 8th Edition Astra Militarum Codex all over again. (or was it 7th when the basic Troop element went from being an entire PLATOON to a single infantry squad and EVERYTHING ELSE in the platoon became separate Elite elements!?)  

So... for headquarters... you can now have Farseers.. Autarchs... the GIANT FREAKING AVATAR OF KHAINE... and Phoenix Lords.... In the fluff, these are all commanders of entire ARMIES!? 

If you want a small, up-to-platoon-sized Patrol Detachment, it's going to be a Farseer, Autarch or PHOENIX LORD leading it!?  

If you're wanting to field something between a platoon and company sized force (a "Battalion" detachment), you're going to need at least TWO of them.  

If you want a full-sized/reinforced Company sized force ("BRIGADE" Detachment) you will need at least three!? 

They really seem to want to turn the game into HIGH POWERED HEROES leading around a small host of... other things... and it'll probably come down to a throw-down between those heroes...? 

All we need is CHALLENGES to return. Remember those? Maybe it wasn't a thing in 40K, but I'm pretty sure it was a thing in Warhammer Fantasy where your general could issue a challenge to the opposing general, if they were within a certain distance and the whole battle would stop and the two would fight their own little duel and the winners army would gain a huge morale boost and the losers army would melt away... and if you didn't accept the challenge, pretty much the same thing happened anyway...? Was that Warhammer Fantasy? Am I thinking of something else...? 

I digress... 

Then there are the Dire Avengers. Aspect Warriors are the Professional Warriors of the Craftworlds, and Dire Avengers are the bog-standard, Shurican-Catapult-armed-shooty-bang-bang, foot soldier of the Aspect Warriors. These used to be TROOPS. They made up the core of the warfighting professionals. Well now they are ALSO ELITES...

Troops now have to be made up of Guardians (either Guardian Defenders or Storm Guardians), Rangers or Corsairs. Guardians have been, for the last few editions, just citizens of the craftworlds, that have taken up arms in dire times - usually to defend the craftworld itself!? Rangers are outcasts that technically don't even belong to a Craftworld anymore, wanderers, doing their own thing, but are sometimes called upon to show up on a battlefield if they happen to be in the area or have some specific knowledge and are leading the rest of the army to an objective... 

And then there are the Corsairs - Pirates, that are DEFINITELY NOT part of a craftworld (can can't even be used to fulfill the basic troops requirement, so it's really just Defenders and Rangers...) 

Finally Wraithlords... These three hard-hitting, muthafukkin' wriathbone constructs powered by souls of dead Eldar, pretty much WERE my Heavy Support (along with a single unit of three Dark Reapers) now they are Elites... and each has to be fielded as a separate until 

So... 

I went from having 4-6 units of elites (once all the minis I have are painted), depending on whether two options are fielded as two units of five or a single ten  (all being easily fit into a Battalion or Brigade Detachment). Now I will have 10-18 units when everything is painted (again, depending on whether units are fielded as multiple units of less than maximum size or a smaller number of units at their maximum size. EVEN IF they were fielded at MAXIMUM SIZE, I have TOO MANY for even a BRIGADE Detachement (the largest Core Detachment) and no longer have enough Heavy Support options to field a Brigade... 

I know... I know... WHO CARES!? I could just play Open War games with forces designed around scenarios and completely ignoring "battle-forged" force compositions... 

I do like the idea of being able to field a force that actually conforms to the current rules (but that also fits a narrative and "makes sense" fluff-wise) - just in case I actually played against... someone else outside of my home... or in a league... or if I went to a tournament again someday... 

I'm not crying or making any sort of claim that GW is just doing it to fuck over the older players and making us buy more toys... I can even kind of understand why they made some of those changes. Some having to do with changing fluff as the narrative of the 41st millenium continues to develop... Some having to do with aesthetics and style of play... Its just annoying to have to try and make the shift... I'm NOT going to have to run out any buy ANYTHING new... I just won't be using some units as much as I might have... and other units I thought would only be used in scenarios, if it fit the narrative, are now going to be staples in the army (Guardians).

So given the current situation, what CAN I do... 

Here's what I have painted (or... very nearly painted!): 

• Farseer x1 - Headquarters
• Guardian Defenders x10 (one unit of 10 with weapons platform) - Troops
• Rangers x15 (2-3 units of 5-10) - Troops
• Warlock Conclave x2 (one conclave of two) - Elites
• Dire Avengers x20 (2-4 units of 5-10) - Elites
• Howling Banshees x10 (1-2 units of 5 or 10) - Elites
• Wraithguard x5 (one unit) - Elites
• Wraithlords x 3 (3 individual units) - Elites
• Warp Spiders x10 (1-2 units of 5-10) 
• Dark Reapers x4 (one unit - need one more to make COMPLETE unit of 5) - Heavy Support

This totals about 96 Power Level. With this what can I field...? A Patrol Detachment! (like the 25-Power Level Biel-Tymm Patrol Detachment I put together last September to potentially start a .. but with a bit of a different make up) 

A Patrol Detachment includes 

• 1-2 Headquarters
• 1-3 Troops
• 0-2 Elites
• 0-2 Fast Attack
• 0-2 Heavy Support
• 0-2 Flyers
• (up to one dedicated Transport for each Infantry unit taken) 

So, I can't even put together the same Patrol, as THREE of the units in that detachment are now Elites (Warlocks, Dire Avengers, Wraithlord) and a Patrol Detachment limits Elites to two... In addition to that, the Power Ratings of a few of the units have increased and it would now be a 27 Power Level force... 

The Farseer will now be my only Headquarters. 

Currently, Rangers will fill the Troops requirement - 1-3 units of 5 or 10 - They've increased from a Power Rating of 3 per five rangers to 4. I COULD include the Guardians... but I feel like a Combat Patrol, lead by a Farseer, should be made up of professional warriors, not cooks and poets and janitors pressed into service as "Guardians" 

A maximum of two Elites could be chosen from Dire Avengers or Howling Banshees or Wraith Guard or Wraithlords (though the Wraithlord has also increased in Power Rating)... 

Warp Spiders could be taken as a Fast Attack Option

Dark Reapers could be taken as Heavy Support... but the unit is now understrength so I probably won't be taking them at all for a while until I can source one more... 

A few options for 25 Power Level Combat Patrols:

• Farseer (1) - Headquarters - PR 5
• Rangers (5) - Troops - PR4 
• Rangers (5) - Troops - PR4 
• Rangers (5) - Troops - PR4 
• Warlocks (2) - Elites - PR 3
• Warp Spiders (5) - PR5

or

• Farseer (1) - Headquarters - PR 5
• Rangers (5) - Troops - PR4 
• Dire Avengers (10) - Elites - PR6
• Wraithguard (5) - Elites - PR10

or

• Farseer (1) - Headquarters - PR 5
• Rangers (5) - Troops - PR4 
• Warlocks (2) - Elites - PR 3
• Wraithlord (1) - Elites - PR8
• Warp Spiders (5) - PR5

or

• Farseer (1) - Headquarters - PR 5
• Rangers (5) - Troops - PR4 
• Wraithlord (1) - Elites - PR8
• Wraithlord (1) - Elites - PR8

or

• Farseer (1) - Headquarters - PR 5
• Rangers (5) - Troops - PR4 
• Howling Banshees (10) - Elites - PR8
• Wraithlord (1) - Elites - PR8

(Technically, I can field THREE Warlocks for PR3, so I could paint up a third to include with the two indicated in two of the options above...) 

I like the first option, as it's basically the Ranger Element of Maesenir's Rangers Kill Team, with a Farseer, Warlocks and a handful of Warpsider. Narratively, it could be seen as Maesenir finding something needing to be dealt with and calling upon the Biel-Tymm Fleet for a little bit of back-up and Farseer Thymiltelyir shows up with his Warlock entourage and a rapid reaction team of Warp Spiders... Yeah. I think that might be the one I use... 

To field ANY larger force, I would now have to finish up the other Farseer that I have (and/or the model I'm hoping I can pass off an Autarch). With that, however, I could instantly field a Battalion Detachment, which increases the number of Elites I can field to six... which, could be MOST of the ones I currently have painted... but not all. Even fielded at their maximum sizes, I'd have EIGHT Elite units: Warlocks (2), 2x Dire Avengers (10), 1x Howling Banshees (10), 1x Wraith Guard (5), 3x Wraithlords (1) 

Incursion Level (Power Level 50) Battalions could look like:

• Farseer (1) - Headquarters - PR 5
• Farseer (1) - Headquarters - PR 5
• Rangers (5) - Troops - PR4 
• Rangers (5) - Troops - PR4 
• Rangers (5) - Troops - PR4 
• Warlock (1) - Elites - PR 2
• Wraithguard (5) - Elites - PR10
• Wraithlord (1) - Elites - PR8
• Wraithlord (1) - Elites - PR8

or

• Farseer (1) - Headquarters - PR 5
• Farseer (1) - Headquarters - PR 5
• Guardian Defenders (10 + Weapons Platform) - Troops - PR5
• Rangers (5) - Troops - PR4 
• Rangers (5) - Troops - PR4 
• Rangers (5) - Troops - PR4 
• Warlocks (2) - Elites - PR 3
• Dire Avengers (10) - Elites - PR6
• Dire Avengers (10) - Elites - PR6
• Howling Banshees (10) - Elites - PR8

STRIKE FORCE (Power Level 100) would require deciding which Elites to take, which to leave behind, and require a few more NOT-ELITE units to be finished up... but could look like... 

• Farseer (1) - Headquarters - PR 5
• Farseer (1) - Headquarters - PR 5
• Guardian Defenders (10 + Weapons Platform) - Troops - PR5
• Rangers (10) - Troops - PR8 
• Rangers (10) - Troops - PR8 
• Rangers (10) - Troops - PR8
• Warlocks (5) - Elites - PR 5
• Howling Banshees (10) - Elites - PR8
• Wraithguard (5) - Elites - PR10
• Wraithlord (1) - Elites - PR8
• Wraithlord (1) - Elites - PR8
• Warp Spiders (10) - PR10
• Swooping Hawks (5) - PR4

(This would require painting 15 Rangers, 3 Warlocks, 5 Swooping Hawks) 

(Y'know, instead of just using the Dire Avengers and a third Wraithlord That i COULD have in the previous edition...) 

The Rangers above COULD also be fielded four units of five and one unit of ten

I COULD have fielded a Brigade Detachment in the past - once everything was painted (or even just a few more units were painted) but now I'm going to have a hard time making up that minimum three Heavy support requirements... I'd need second unit of Dark Reapers or another War Walker - if I'm wanting to keep it all METAL... 

Maybe I'll just stick to big battalions and be limited to six Elites - three of whom will be Wraithlords. 

What I WILL have when all the stuff I currently have squirrelled away is painted... 

• Farseer x2 - Headquarters
• Autarch x 1 - Headquarters
• Jain Zar (Phoenix Lord) - Headquarters
• Fuegan (Phoenix Lord) - Headquarters
• Baharroth (Phoenix Lord) - Headquarters
• Karandras (Phoenix Lord) - Headquarters
• Guardian Defenders x20 (two units of 10) - Troops
• Rangers x30 (3-6 units of 5-10) - Troops
• Warlocks x5 (one conclave of up to five) - Elites
• Dire Avengers x20 (2-4 units of 5-10) - Elites
• Howling Banshees x10 (1-2 units of 5 or 10) - Elites
• Striking Scorpions x 10 (1-2 units of 5 or 10) - Elites
• Fire Dragons x 5 (1 unit of five - unless I find three more) - Elites
• Wraithguard x5 (one unit) - Elites
• Wraithlords x 3 (3 individual units) - Elites
• Warp Spiders x20 (1-4 units of 5-10) - Fast Attack
• Swooping Hawks x5 (1 unit of five - unless I find one or two more I need to make 10) - Elites
• Dark Reapers x4 (one unit - need one more to make COMPLETE unit of 5) - Heavy Support
• War Walker x1 (on unit) - Heavy Support

All of this adds up to about 188 Power Level.. (which is about 3600 points...?) The LARGEST games are "Onslaught" which are played at 150 Power/3000 points. I think most tournaments are built around Strike Forces which are 100 Power/2000 Points? So I have LOADS to play around with... 

The ONLY thing I'm even considering trying to track down would be ONE metal Dark Reaper to finish up a unit of five.  

It doesn't even include the Wraith Knight (another 23 Power Rating) it is a plastic model... buuuuuut, I'd be okay using it (or tanks, if ever I got some) with this force. 

It also doesn't even include my Harlequins - which are included in this book. I haven't read far enough to determine if they have to be included in separate detachments... 

ALSO, I have a SECOND Aeldari force I'm kind of working on... in a large lot that Keiran and I bought off a local guy (for some metal stuff to finish up units) I ended up with a bunch of plastic stuff and a resin Eldrad Ulthran. So I thought I'd try to put together a separate Ulthwe Patrol Detachment, lead by the Big Elf himself! (If ever the Corsairs Ill be getting in the Kill Team box are used in 40K, they will probably show up in THIS detachement!) 

• Eldrad Ulthran - Headquarters - 8 PR
• Guardian Defenders (10 + weapons platform) - Troops - 5 PR 
• Guardian Defenders (10) - Troops - 4 PR 
• Corsair Voidscarred (10) - Elites - 8 PR

I also have an extra Warlock I could paint as Ulthwe I could add to this... If ever I got all these done and wanted SOME kind of additional options, I might pick up some of those sweet new Storm Guardians! 

Hopefully in the next week, I'll finish up the few final minis I need to finish up the Howling Banshees and Guardian Defenders - as well as the second Farseer, that I apparently now need - and post some pictures of these complete forces... 

Then I need to come up with some opponents - either my own guard, or maybe help Finnegan reorganize/finish up some of his T'au or Orks or Deathwatch... and THEN we can actually try these theoretical options out!? 

(I suppose I should read through the Harlequin options and finish rebasing those, too, at some point!)