Doom of Mymeara. A FW book review. In Parts

[DrLove42]

Reviewing this briefly as I go through it

Starting with THE FLUFF spoiler free (mostly)

DoM is a story of a massive craftworld and corair invasion on the desolate ice world of Betalis III, seemingly for no reason. The Eldar launch a huge assault on the planet, with no seeming objective as far as the Imperium can tell.The imperium recall huge armoured squadrons and a titan battalion, and eventually Bran Redmaws Great Company of Space Wolves

The story is incredibly well told, and the artwork that goes with it is stunning. Its taken me about 2 hours to read through just the fluff, and am now idling through the rules sections (that part to come later).

Eldar fans will not be dissapointed of the fluff, it depicts them mostly in a stunning way, illustrating a key understanding of the Eldar way of War.

Where it falls down, as ever is the insistance "that mahreens are teh best!", in the way that the story sees marines (and guard) doing immposible things that are never supported by the game. Examples include a Rune Priest killing a Wraithseer in less than a few seconds with his shooty ice power. A marine being hit by a Wraithguard D cannon, being sucked into the warp and coming back right as rain 2 seconds later. A damaged Warhound titan keeps up with a undamged Phantom titan its chasing.

The other thing is touched on there...the Phantom. Unmistakenly the poster boy of the book (theres 2 of him on the front cover) his sections are less than a page in total, and the sections of the story seem to suggest that a Warhound titan is a daunting task for him.

UPDATED

And now the rules.

I experienced a wonderful moment a few minutes ago. I opened the rules section and read some bits. The I read the Corsair army list. I grinned, and then threw my head back an cackled in a evil maniacal laugh

Yeah. They're that good

Interesting points to note - The named Farseer (who is a dude, sorry people looking for equal opportunities) plays with the FoC in a whole new way. If you take him....you're limited to 4 troops choices and 2 elites. But you do get 4 Heavy Support Choices. Which I think is a fair trade....and you get a one use AP2 heavy flamer with him

Shadow Spectres seem good, cant tell how different they are from the old versions we've seen before. BUT they are Fast Attack....making them a little more usable. The Cynosure power (rerolling fail to hits with the ghostlight) seems a necessary power. But it not being AP1 limits it a bit.

The Phoenix lord gives us that Invuln save on a Lord we've all been calling out for, but as with the others is very expensive and needs to be taken with the squad to be useful

Anyway...the big thing is Corsairs.

Seem to be to be a very powerful list. I'm immediatly drawn to the Void Dreamer HQ choice...they have a physic power which does D6 hits with a strength of 10-the units toughness (so against marines its S6, Guard S7...wraithlords S2) at AP2...ouch. Also has a S8 AP1 flamer....that rolls against Ld not Toughness. Inflicts an automatic pentrating hit against vehicles, but only rolls D3 on the damage table (plus 1 for AP1)

Quins are elites, and get to take Corsair Venoms (which differ from the DE ones....no poison, just shuriken cannon and catapults, and can swap the cannon out for some heavy weapons - no Flickerfields, but can take all Eldar vehicle upgrades....and start off at 45pts each)

Can take Falcons as Ded Transports...but can carry 10, not just 6

Can take Kabalite Warriors w/ transport and/or a single elite/fast choice from the Eldar codex as an elite choice.

Fast Attack now includes Night Spinners (frees up those heavy slots!) and Nightwings...Nightwings now cost only 145points!

Heavy Support consists of Warp Hunters (still very very good), Phoenix Bombers (now only 225pts....so not as ball breaking). Phoenix bombers can now upgrade their missiles. So instead of 3 shots at AP3...you get 3 blasts at AP5, pinning, no cover saves :P. Final Heavy is the Firestorm AA tank, which with the exception of being BS4 now not 3 is unchanged from its old version (AKA not very effective and WAY too expensive).

All other Eldar FW kits (Vampires, Super Heavies etc are unchanged)

Carrying on the new FW tradition models for regular 40K are stamped "approved" and the rest stamped "apoc"

ONly problem i see is troops choices are poor. Can have guardians (effectivly anyway) which only have a S3 shuriken catapult...with double range though, Wasp walkers (but can't hold objectives and need more corsair squads than wasps) or Jetbikes

And just a side note...sorry guard and Wolves players....all you get is a new Imp Guard commander (who does let you re-roll initiative seizing and comes with 4 free Veterans), the Praeor, Crassus and Infernus. Wolves get even less, with just Bran Redmaw (human and Wulfen)

Update 2- Campaign Missions + Apoc Data Sheets

Campaign missions are standard fare. Skirmish, bigger mission, armour only mission...usual stuff from FW.

Apoc data sheets are nice. One Eldar one needs a lot of Wraith, but gives them Flank March and everything in 12" fearless.
Another is 3-9 hornets....but allows you to deepstrike a webway portal onto the board
Only other one is a Wolf one requires lot of Land Raiders, but gives Grey Hunters furious charge, and rage if 12" from an enemy

CONCLUSION

Everything i'd hoped for in a book. Genuinly. If your an Eldar player you need this book. If not, then still consider it, its a fantastic read and the rules presented are fun looking.

Solid 9/10 from me...now to make a FW order for all the new bits I want. I feel a corsair army calling me....

[Defenestratus]

Well I'm sad to see that the phantom is presented as challenged to blow away a warhound. Taking out two warhounds in a single round is not unheard of for my Phantom, and reavers can barely withstand a full barrage.

The rules sound decent enough - perhaps some indications of things to come for Eldar with nighttwings in the FA slot and 10 count falcons as Dedicated transports.

I guess I can't help but continue to be disappointed by the Vampire - the Hunter specifically. I realize that Str D on a flyer is an exclusive club, however the ridiculous cost of the flyer, combined at AV10 means that it usually doesn't survive past the third round.

[DrLove42]

Updated and finished

Well I'm sad to see that the phantom is presented as challenged to blow away a warhound. Taking out two warhounds in a single round is not unheard of for my Phantom, and reavers can barely withstand a full barrage.

The rules sound decent enough - perhaps some indications of things to come for Eldar with nighttwings in the FA slot and 10 count falcons as Dedicated transports.

I guess I can't help but continue to be disappointed by the Vampire - the Hunter specifically. I realize that Str D on a flyer is an exclusive club, however the ridiculous cost of the flyer, combined at AV10 means that it usually doesn't survive past the third round.

Its not so much its a challenge...but it takes 2 "rounds" of shooting at a Warhound to do anything to it, and then gets in a running battle with a second and does basically nothing to that. At the same time the detonation of the first does more damage to a Reaver than he does. Also the Reaver manages to destroy its whole arm and weapon in one apoc missile battery shot.

I was dissapointed by the Vampire....be nice to not be twinlinked frankly. Seems like a good opportuniy missed to update them

[Defenestratus]

I was dissapointed by the Vampire....be nice to not be twinlinked frankly. Seems like a good opportuniy missed to update them

Thats precisely how you fix them. Also make the missile launchers either shoot more volume or higher str/lower AP.

[energongoodie]

Can I ask if there is any Elysian news? Any changes to the previous Drop Troop list?
I'm gagging for some new Elysian models.

[DrLove42]

Elysians get a brief mention in the story and a few pages of glossy pics, but no hobby or gaming love im afraid

[TheStrategist]

To the OP: Would it be possible to get a quick run-down of the units in the Corsair Army List? Nothing over-blown, but a decent synopsis would be wonderful...

Thanks in advance.

[lattd]

I may have to buy this but have no money , would be interesting if any of these options appear in the new eldar codex.

[BigGrim]

I feel a corsair army calling me....

This is what I feared! I figured they'd give me another excuse to expand my Eldar forces.

[wittdooley]

So just to be clear: Redmaw is the only SW character/new unit in the book, correct?