[GRISGIT-warboss]

Hi All,
In my recent games with Eldar, I have noticed that the way I have been playing is shares a resemblance with the Medieval castle, and I thought I would show you how it works.

The army list that I use is in a 800 point game, it is as follows:

[size=18pt]Army List[/size]

[size=15pt]HQ[/size]

[size=12pt]Farseer[/size]
- Doom
[size=8pt]- 80 points[/size]

[size=15pt]Elites[/size]

[size=12pt]6 Howling Banshees[/size]
[size=8pt]- 96 points[/size]

[size=15pt]Troops[/size]

[size=12pt]5 Pathfinders[/size]
- Pathfinders
[size=8pt]120 points[/size]

[size=12pt]5 Pathfinders[/size]
- Pathfinders
[size=8pt]120 points[/size]

[size=12pt]6 Dire Avengers[/size]
Exarch; Dual Shuriken Catapults, Bladestorm
[size=8pt]- 104 points[/size]

[size=15pt]Heavy Support[/size]

[size=12pt]Fire Prism[/size]
- Holo fields
- Spirit Stones
[size=8pt]- 160 points[/size]

[size=15pt]Other[/size]

[size=12pt]Wave Serpent[/size]
- Twin Linked Star Cannons
[size=8pt]125 points[/size]

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[size=18pt]A Definition[/size]
- The Castle: The Castle itself consists of a building, consisting of 2 to 3 levels, and granting a 4+ Cover Save.

- My Defencive Units: Being my two units of Pathfinders, and the possibility of other units, which I'll get to later (The defending men, archers, etc)

- The Farseer of the Castle: Who directs orders in a supportive role (The King of the Castle)

- Aggressive units: Who counter attack, being the Banshees, maybe the Avengers, and maybe the Two Skimmers (The Fast Cavalry)

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[size=18pt]Deployment[/size]

- I will first set up my Farseer up the top of the building, to make sure it is reached last if assault occurs.

- Next, I will place the Fire Prism behind the Castle, rather than in it, to make sure that no Lascannons can reach through the terrain. I need the Fire Prism.

- Now, I will place the Dire Avengers behind the Castle, to make sure they don't get shot at, I will move in and shooting out of cover later, or get a pick up from the Wave Serpent later.

- Next, I place the Wave Serpent behind the Castle as well, with the Banshees inside, it is critical that this Wave Serpent doesn't get shot at first turn, other wise the tactics won't work.

- Lastly, we have the Infiltrating Pathfinders..who don't infiltrate, place them as high up the Castle as possible to avoid assault.

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[size=18pt]Turn By Turn Description[/size]

[size=12pt]Turn One:[/size]
1. Farseer, sits in fortress, dooming away for support for the Pathfinders
2. Both squads of 5 Pathfinders, positioned high in Fortress, for Fortress defense.
3. 6 Howling Banshees, are inside the Serpent, being positioned.
4. Wave Serpent, carrying Banshees and Zooming behind piece of thick terrain.
5. 6 Dire Avengers are sitting behind the Fortress, waiting for the enemy to close in or a pickup from the Serpent.
6. Fire Prism, Turbo Boosting into postion for Fire Lane.

[size=12pt]Turn Two:[/size]
1. Farseer, sits in fortress, dooming away for support for the Pathfinders.
2. Both squads of 5 Pathfinders, positioned high in Fortress, for Fortress defense.
3. 6 Howling Banshees having redeployed out of the serpent and moving through terrain, staying out of harms way and readying for Turn 3 assault typically into a building, taking advantage of Masks.
4. Wave Serpent, finished with Banshees, and Turbo Boosts back to Fortress for further instructions.
5. 6 Dire Avengers are sitting behind the Fortress, waiting for the enemy to close in or get in the Serpent if needed.
6. Fire Prism, has opened fire on enemy.

[size=12pt]Turn Three:[/size]
1. Farseer, sits in fortress, dooming away for support for the Pathfinders.
2. Both squads of 5 Pathfinders, positioned high in Fortress, for Fortress defense.
3. Howling Banshees have begun assault, on an expensive enemy unit, to make it's points back.
4. Wave Serpent, is either turbo'ing Avengers into new position, or has joined castle defense, if the enemy lacks close range Anti Tank, the Serpent will park broadway across the face of the fortress in the case of a CC enemy wishing to assault the Fortress.
5. 6 Dire Avengers, are redeploying from Serpent and supporting Banshees away from Fortress or are in cover, and behind the Wave Serpent and Fire Prism and ready to Blade Storm any enemy's who wish to assault Fortress.
6. Fire Prism, is either continuing firing at the enemy or has turbo'd back to fortress and parked broadway opposite Serpent if the Fortress is going to be breached by CC assaulter's and there is no Close Range Anti Tank.

[size=12pt]Turn Four:[/size]
1. Farseer, sits in fortress, dooming away for support for the Pathfinders, or is starting to escape via Serpent if things are going wrong.
2. Both squads of 5 Pathfinders, positioned high in Fortress, for Fortress defense.
3. Howling Banshees, are either continuing assault or consolodating behind some cover, to make sure they aren't destroyed, this is allowed since they should have made their points back from the main assault.
4. Wave Serpent, is either aiding the Avengers in supporting the Banshees or is continuing Fortress Defence. If situation is dire, the Farseer will deploy into Serpent and be Turbo'd to safety, though this shouldn't happen.
5. 6 Dire Avengers are continuing in supporting the Banshees, or are defending the Fortress. If all is going wrong, the Dire Avengers will act as a speed bump and charge oncoming enemy's so Seer can get away in Serpent.
6. Fire Prism, is either starting to mop up enemy defenders with Avengers and Banshees or continuing in Fortress Defence.

[size=12pt]Turn Five:[/size]
1. Farseer is either continuing in supporting the Pathfinders, or is deployed in Serpent and being Turbo Boosted away from any potential threats.
2. Both squads of 5 Pathfinders, positioned high in Fortress, for Fortress defense.
3. Howling Banshees, are finishing up enemy defence or are still hiding away from threats after making their points back after main assault.
4. Wave Serpent is continuing in supporting the aggressive units (Banshees, Possibly Prism, Possibly Avengers) OR is continuing Fortress defence (parked broadway) OR has redeployed Farseer away from threats.
5. 6 Dire Avengers, are mopping up the last of the enemy's defence OR is continuing Fortress Defence OR is sacrificing themselves for the Farseer.
6. Fire Prism, is either mopping up the last of the enemy's defence with other Aggressive Units, OR continuing Castle Defence.

[size=12pt]Turn One:[/size]
1. Farseer, is finishing the supportive role for the Pathfinders and aggressive units in the army, OR is still hiding from any threats from the opposing army.
2. Both squads of 5 Pathfinders, positioned high in Fortress, for Fortress defense OR is charging oncoming enemy unit to act as a speed bump so the Farseer can get away.
3. Howling Banshees are still making themselves more Victory points by assaulting enemy units, however, this would be tough; The Farseer would have had to be Dooming their targets, instead of Pathfinders and they would have had to only charge units that won't be aided by a counter attacking unit. OR are hiding, after making their victory points back and don't want to be bolter'd/pulsed/rended to death.
4. Wave Serpent is continuing in supporting the aggressive units (Banshees, Possibly Prism, Possibly Avengers) OR is continuing Fortress defence (parked broadway) OR has finished in redeploying the Farseer away from threats and is looking for last turn Victory Points by shooting or Turbo'ing into a Table Quarter.
5. 6 Dire Avengers, are mopping up the last of the enemy's defence by Blade Storming, seeing as they can't shoot next turn anyway OR is continuing Fortress Defence OR is sacrificing themselves for the Farseer.
6. Fire Prism, is either mopping up the last of the enemy's defence with other Aggressive Units, OR continuing Castle Defence OR is making last turn Victory Points by shooting or Turbo'ing into a Table Quarter.

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[size=18pt]How Could Have Each Unit Performed?[/size]

1. Farseer,
A: Spent the entire game sitting in the defence of the Fortress supporting all manner of aggressive units, from swinging the main assault with your Banshees with Doom, to aiding the Pathfinder units in chipping off models slowly, but surely.
B: Spent most of the game in a supportive role, however, had to get a lift away from the scene in the Serpent because of threats getting to close to the Fortress

2. Pathfinders ( 2 squads of 5 )
A: Spent the entire game supporting the aggressive unit of the force, pinning units for the advancing Banshees. Generally gets close to making points back, but I don't mind.Explained earlier.
B: Spent most of he game in a supportive role for the aggressive factions of the army, however had to sacrifice themselves for the Farseer, acting as a small speed bump.

3. Howling Banshees
A: Spent the first two turns getting into position to charge an expensive enemy unit. The charged, and made their points back early AND then fled as there are to many threats and fled behind cover, after making their points back.
B: Spent the first two turns getting into position to charge an expensive enemy unit. The charged, and made their points back early AND consolodated onto another squad to continue making their points. etc.

4. Wave Serpent
A: Spent the first turn zooming Banshees behind piece of thick terrain, then zoomed back to the fortress ready to: then take the Avengers to new position for close range support for the Banshees
B: Spent the first turn zooming Banshees behind piece of thick terrain, then zoomed back to the fortress ready to: start Castle defense.
C: Spent the first turn zooming Banshees behind piece of thick terrain, then zoomed back to the fortress ready to: defend the Castle for a couple of turns, before going off to snag some more Victory Points, through shooting or claiming Table Quarters.
D: Spent the first turn zooming Banshees behind piece of thick terrain, then zoomed back to the fortress ready to: defend the castle until the Farseer is under threat, then proceeded to zoom her away from any threats.

5. 6 Dire Avengers
A: Spent the entire game defending the castle, and Blade Storming on the last turn.
B: Hid behind cover until they got a ride from the Wave Serpent on turn to to go and help out the Banshees
C: Defended castle until the Farseer was under threat then acted as a speedbump and charged any oncoming attackers.

6. Fire Prism
A: Turbo'd into position, then proceeded to shoot at enemy units the entire game
B: Turbo'd into position then shot at enemy units until was called back for Castle Defence.
C: Turbo'd into position then shot at enemy units until was called back for Castle Defence until last turn where it went off to snag Victory Points by shooting or turbo'ing into a Table Quarter.

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[size=18pt]Overall View of the Tactic[/size]

- The tactic revolves around a main piece of terrain, which is meant to be defended at all costs, inside this terrain is 320 points, it might not sound like much, however without the support of the support units like the Pathfinders and Farseer, the aggressive units will find themselves without aid, and the army will start to crumble.

- While the supportive units are supporting, the aggressive factions of the force, are making Victory Points for the rest of the army, these two are needed or the supporting units won't have anything to support.

- So, overall, both the Supporting units and Aggressive units are needed for a victorious outcome.

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So there you have it. A step by step article on how to play the tactic of "Castle Defence". This has worked well for me, though I have only played two games with it, they have both been against experienced players and I have achieved well. The first game, I managed to wipe his army down by 5th turn, and the second game was a Solid Victory. I'll keep you all up to date on how it goes in the future.

[Dire Avenger]

Personally I think you would of been better off swapping the Prism for a falcon because you could mount the 6 avengers making a great drive by fire base unit. Cheers

[GRISGIT-warboss]

Originally Posted by Dire Avenger

Personally I think you would of been better off swapping the Prism for a falcon because you could mount the 6 avengers making a great drive by fire base unit. Cheers

Hi, if you see over in my other thread; http://forums.tauonline.org/index.php?topic=51873.0 you will see that I will be indeed swapping out for a Falcon...and one of those reasons being just that.
Cheers