History:
My Altansar list started with Maugan Ra and a full unit of Dark Reapers. The overall point was to have a running team drawing fire and a passing team for support. The Dark Reapers are great for baiting and the devastation is just remarkable. In creating an Ulthwe list around the Apocalypse formation: Ulthwe Strike Force I moved all of those models into that build. It is quite unfortunate that in my final Altansar list I had to cut the Dark Reapers, but a second Wraithlord is just far more effective. I feel a beautifully integrated list is more fun to play than forcing a unit that doesn’t work with what everyone else sees the fluff to be.
The Current Story:
This list takes place during the rescue of Altansar from the Eye of Terror. This is a expeditionary team pushing forward far from the strongholds, far from the Dark Reapers and stationary Weapon Support Teams. The weakened state of the Craftworld relies on Wraith technology and Eldrad is pushing the reserves he could muster forward to meet with Maugan Ra and the rest of his Ulthwe brethren. The war drums beat into a deafening roar, the Avatar has been awoken, and this is the last push for Altansar; the last march to salvation.
Back to Reality (and the list):
Over the months of grinding away at my list this is what my 2k build has transmogrified into:
Running Team
HQ: Avatar (Eater of Worlds)
Heavy Support: Wraithlord
(Flamer x2; Bright Lance; Missile Launcher)
Heavy Support: Wraithlord
(Flamer x2; Bright Lance; Missile Launcher)
Troops: Wraithguard
10 Wraithguard
Warlock (Enhance; Spiritseer; Witchblade)
Passing Team
Elite: Howling Banshees/Eldrad
HQ:Eldrad Ulthran
9 Howling Banshees
Howling Banshee Exarch (Executioner)
Wave Serpent (Shuriken Cannon; Bright Lance, Spirit Stones)
Troops: Dire Avengers
9 Dire Avengers
Dire Avenger Exarch (Bladestorm; Defend; Power Weapon; Shimmershield)
Wave Serpent (Shuriken Cannon; Bright Lances, Spirit Stones, Star Engines)
Troops: Dire Avengers
5 Dire Avengers
Falcon (Holo-Field; Shuriken Cannon; Scatter Laster, Spirit Stones)
Setup:
The Avatar is flanked by two Wraithlords and surrounded by Wraithguard giving cover saves and assault defense.
I tend to separate these units during deployment if I go first and use Eldrad’s Strategic Redeployment to reposition them where they need to go.
Everyone shoots at the Avatar and he runs as fast as he can with the Wraithguard trailing slightly behind him.
The Banshees and the Dire Avengers flank from either side as necessary, Eldrad spams Fortune/Guide and Eldritch Storm/Bright Lances are at vehicles. I tend to drop the Dire Avengers out and Bladestorm/assault units to give cover saves to my exposed Banshees, who are always covered in Terminator blood and out in the open.
The Falcon guards an objective and harasses whatever he can all game long.
Pictures:
These are actually quite large, click to see the full scale
To Do List:
>Highlight entire army
>Update lava bases for entire army (already purchased and primed)
>Fix the crappy Wraithlord
>paint Howling Banshee blades to look like power weapons
>Add Altansar logo all around
>Wraithguard heads should be black
>Paint all gems
>Finish Bone Singer to replace Warlock in Wraithguard unit
Those two terminators are 3rd Edition Chaplains :)
The big backpacks are Cyclone missile launchers
The guns in that back row are heavy flamers, the front one an assault cannon.
Quite a collection!
Thanks!
Those are some fugly third edition models. With the newer Terminators I have plus the Space Hulk ones the rest will prob never come out of the box.
I noticed while building my Baal Pred that a lot of the peices fit firmly enough that magnets actually aren't needed. The Flamestorm cannon and Assault Cannon both swap out easily enough with the diamond bit holding them firmly in place. The fuel cannisters for the flamestorm also attaches nicely to the back of the turret mount.
The door mounts for side sponsoons also fits in perfectly with the door slots, and swapping between weapon layouts is easy as cake. I went ahead and glued in the sponsoon doors and added magnets so that I can pop on rhino doors if I decide to take it as a Razerback or Rhino.
Also managed to jerry rig some Heavy Bolters out of the sponsoons to transform my two other rhinos into razerbacks.
Great kit.
Well your absolutely right, I could easily just leave those side sponsons alone and just pop them on and off. I think I tend to go a little magnet happy when I put new kits together. I have been thinking about picking up extra bits on ebay to give even more options and see how far this transformer can go.
Nice work so far. Keep it coming.
Thanks!
Great photo spread. I love the interior painting as well… there's nothing like having people stammer and gawk when they see interior paint jobs. :-)
If you'd try that against the tactical squad, and killed 7 marines, I'd just use combat tactics and fall back. leaving you completely exposed. and aim at your banshees. it's a nice plan, that probably works against other armies, but not against combat tactics marines, just so you know :)
Cheers,
Folkert
Your absolutely right, this was just a quick example and there are many variables that change the story based on what other squads are in range and angles of concern. I am just trying to show how I use Dire Avengers to hold troops in combat to give cover saves to more valuable units. A fat stack of Ork Boys/Nobs and Lootas would prob have been a better example.
If you used Combat Tactics I would have to Star Engine the Wave Serpent (and lose its more valuable shooting) for the cover saves and then just keep it within 6″ to walk you off the board.
Nice altansar list, i'm currently working on painting mine, nice to see a little inspiration on here.
Thanks for the comment!
Here is how this list has evolved into what I play today http://www.dzer0.com/?page_id=333
much different, and I have been swapping one of the Wraithlords for 3 Scatter Laser Wark Walkers with great success as well.
I am planning on being there as well. Just bought the last of the things I need for my Sisters of Battle army at Games Day today. Maybe see you there:-P
Absolutely!
I was looking up info on adepticon 2011 and I had to respond to your post…I just got the go ahead from my wife. Awesome when they agree. I’ve already started planning a painting strategy because I need that much time to get it done. I agree, Eldar are always fun, but SM’s are always rock steady. Hope to see you there!
Sounds like a good time. And yes, the “overrun into dragon” moment would be something to savor for years.