 The Hellblades were invented to make use of the current Howling Banshee miniatures. Coincidentally their rules came to resemble the Banshees also, although the Hellblades were created and tested without reference to the Banshee rules. The differences between the katana and a regular power weapon makes the Hellblades more difficult to use effectively than a standard squad, but can also lead to crushing victory in the right circumstances. [Codex Lost Souls Rules] TEMPESTS  Tempest squads were just a common sense measure - why would Dark Eldar, who naturally favour assault warfare, not equip their soldiers with close combat weapons? Naturally the changes to the basic Warrior squad makes the Tempests more useful, and hence more costly in points, but the variety in battles is worth the cost. The miniatures shown are exclusively female, but only due to my Kabal's particular nature, not for any general reason. [Codex Lost Souls Rules] REAPERS  The Reapers have been the most problematic squad to fine-tune the rules for, and some problems continue to be tested. Their unique weaponry gives them a unique role in battle, for they are only average against other troops, but lethal against large creatures and powerful characters. They must often be protected by other squads until they can close to weapon range of their target, when their abilities tend to come as quite a surprise to their opponents. [Codex Lost Souls Rules] SCOURGES  I had always used Scourges with splinter cannons only - the idea of rendering them immobile by arming them with dark lances seemed to be a waste of their abilities. Arming them with assault weapons, such as shredders and blasters, was a natural step for the squad. Blasters add a new dimension to the Scourges, as tank hunters, although there is little the shredders can do that splinter cannon can't do better. [Codex Lost Souls Rules] EXECUTIONERS  Executioners are based on Eldar Rangers, although their rifles are simpler and lack the targeting equipment used by craftworld eldar. They are one of only two squads (Maelstroms being the other) who must remain stationary on the battlefield, and are therefore a rarity among Dark Eldar. [Codex Lost Souls Rules] MAELSTROMS  The Maelstroms take over a role which used to belong to some Scourges, that of sitting still and busting tanks. I always regret that the disintegrator is not more widely available in the standard Dark Eldar army, and the weapon's inclusion in this squad was to redress that. Maelstroms are not particularly useful in armies tailored to my personal tastes, but in a firepower-based Dark Eldar army they are often valuable. [Codex Lost Souls Rules] |