Dark eldar Harlequins, Webway Portal or Venom? List advice wanted!

[Henry R]

As the title says.

[Seth]

the venom was original made for the harlis

[canadianone]

Can you possibly give some more context? what kind of army list is it for?

[Henry R]

A general "tackle mostly any other army" list, which isn't the easiest thing to do with Dark Eldar. Regardless, I'm designing the list to open transports and stab the mush inside. I'll be posting the list here soon along with a few variations of it for handling troop heavy armies and vice versa.

[Benjamin]

If you're making a DE all-comers list, Venoms are too good to pass up.

[Henry R]

OK, here is my list (still a bit rough):

HQ
Succubus-75 points
Hydra Gauntlets
Haywire Grenades
 I like the chance for at least one more attack that the gauntlets give her, especially since they're so cheap to take.

Troops
9 Wyches on a raider with the Succubus-170
2 Wyches with Hydra gauntlets
7 with standard load out

10 Wyches on raider-180 x2
2 Wyches with Hydra Gauntlets
8 Wyches with standard load out

5 Kabalite Warriors on Venom-140 x4
1 Kabal with Shredder
1 Kabal with Dark Lance
3 Kabals with standard loadout

Elites
5 Harlequins on Venom-165 x3
2 Harlequins with Fusion Pistol
3 Harlequins with standard loadout

Fast Attack
3 Reavers-78 x2
1 Reaver with Heat Lance
2 Reavers with standard loadout

Heavy Support
Razorwing Jet Fighter-155
Splinter Cannon

This all comes to 1,981 points so I have 19 points to spend (any ideas on what?). I would send the Reavers out to flank and harry mech and the Harlequins follow after them to challenge other elite units and perhaps score a weapon destroyed or two and get side shots on transports. The Kabalites speed up the table to support the Harlequins with the can opening and take/contest far off objectives. Finally, the Wyches move behind the the Kabals to stab at anything that comes out of transports and take close to home objectives. I know that that sounds Naive but it's simple and sounds nice, so that's what I'll go with for now. Please tell me anything that will help me out, noting that I have no particular attachment to this list (though the Harlequins have always caught my eye model wise) .

[Hans]

Okay so there are a few things I've noticed about the list so far. Although it is a decent list you have a few illegal options in there. Warriors in units of 5 cant take dark lances, they can take blasters but then that will knock out the shredder option. You also appear to have 7 troop choices unless I'm reading it wrong. If you do in fact have 7 troop choices then I suggest busting down the unit of 9 wyches and replacing it with a unit of harlequins, put them in a raider with advanced aether sails, night shields, and flicker field. This way you can hold them back with -6" and shoot them up the field a potential 36" or reserve them and then shoot out a potential 36".
     Also remember that harlequins when taken with a shadowseer (don't have the book on me may be another model) has the veil of tears rule where all enemies must roll 2d6 and double it to see if they can see them. The harlequins imo should take the harlequins kiss, this brings them to 22 points but makes them very versatile as they can not only negate armor but also glance up to armor 12. I dont think they need an hq option to go with them because they are very good in hth. I would also give both wych units haemonculus to give them an automatic pain token because if they get blown out of there vehicle they're dead otherwise.
     So far I think you're on the rite track. Just remember that DE is not a tough army and one wrong turn will turn your best laid plans to ruin. Another thing to consider is unless you give that razorwing missiles its just a worse version of a ravager for a lot more points. You could easily take out the razorwing and with the reduction in points you'll make (if you use my suggestions) you could easily fit in two ravagers.

[Benjamin]

Also remember that harlequins when taken with a shadowseer (don't have the book on me may be another model) has the veil of tears rule where all enemies must roll 2d6 and double it to see if they can see them.

Yup, it is the shadowseer that can bring Veil of Tears.

Henry, if this is the Hans I believe it to be, I can vouch for his DE prowess. Don't let that "1 post newb" status throw you off.

[Seth]

i would go with webway portal if you want them in reserve but if you don't then keep them on foot. most likely they will do better that way. they shouldn't shoot at all. the veil of darkness will most likely keep anyone from shooting at them. they move, fleet, assault and finish with close combat murder. that is what they are good at. 266 points is the way to run them. 10 men harli kisses troupe master and shadowseer. if you put them on a transport you lose their close combat ability, the one thing the excel at.

[Henry R]

Right, thanks Hans, I was up a little late making this list, hence the silly mistakes. As far as The Shadowseer goes, I had been planning to include her in the list but completely forgot, again, late night list brewing isn't my thing. Harlequins kiss eh? OK, but should they keep the fusion pistols? Also, is the Troupe master really worth 20 points? Should the Harlequins be reserved and come in with a webway portal? it may be a nice mid game boost. Heamonculi and Wyches, I see what you're saying, I'll do it. Finally, I certainly see what you're saying about the Razorwing, though I like the model, the Ravagers will probably be the more competitive way to go. Thanks Hans, Ben and Seth. You've been a great help.

[Hans]

The unfortunate thing is that the razorwing model is amazing but very exspensive in game. Harlequins are tricky, if they come out of a webway they move fleet and possibly assault if the opportunity is there. In a transport you can move 12 (if still mobile) get out 2" fleet and assault. With both options it comes down to comfort, I don't use webways myself because it involves you to either take a unit with the haemo so you can drop it half way across the field then expose him and the vehicle or, to hide him on foot move him out a few inches and drop it. I don't prefer this because it presents a few issues a) you expose whomever has the webway along with an escort unit b) there is a small chance a unit will force it's way through and surround the webway rendering it useless.
     Like I said before it comes down to personal preference on webways. Try it out a few times and try out a transport, a webway can be conciderably cheaper than a transport. As far as fusion pistols go if you have some spare points try it out if not don't worry. The troop master is ify taking him wouldn't be bad as he can take a power weapon or a kiss, just depends on what you need. Lastly if you like the razorwing model use it as a voideraven bomber av11 with two s9 lances, still very exspensive but with 4 missiles it's very versatile.

[Seth]

i play eldar not dark eldar what makes it so you can assault out of a vehicle. i have read some of the codex just not the whole thing.

[JWebs]

Open topped

[Seth]

well i just figured it out that they are opened top thus able to assault out of it, but i also figured out they are dedicated and thus can not be taken by harlis. sorry. so the answer would be webway to your original question.

[Hans]

If you want to put them in a vehicle you have two options, vect in his raider or purchase a unit with a transport and on first turn you can embark them and take off.