Eldar bionics

[koran]

Im trying to come up with background for an eldar army I want to make. Im thinking of making them quite radical for eldar in that they believe that the augmentation of their bodies is the way forward to guarantee the survival of their race. Im pretty sure this is against what the majority of eldar believe (as they think their bodies are sacred).

I was looking for background on eldar bionics. Im sure they have them but I cant find anything. Are they wraithbone? Are they made of some sort of metal? Are the any pictured examples? Im not really sure where to look after the basic google searches came up blank. If anyone has access to something I dont I would appreciate it.

-koran

[El_Machinae]

Huh.

I think the idea of eldar bionics is incredibly cool. But, I cannot think of any examples. Is it more likely that if the bionics were necessary, they'd grow replacement bodyparts instead?

[Denny]

Huh.

I think the idea of eldar bionics is incredibly cool. But, I cannot think of any examples. Is it more likely that if the bionics were necessary, they'd grow replacement bodyparts instead?

Hard to say . . . I haven't read any fluff on it. While they are not in the Dark Eldar's league when it comes to body modification one would assume the Craftworlders would be able to regenerate basic body parts.

If they were going to use prostehtics then wraithbone would be the obvious choice.

Is Yriel’s Eye of Wrath an actual replacement eye or just a part of his armour?

[Korraz]

There are Bionics. Yriel has one, and there are a couple of them presented in older artworks. Unfortunately, I have none of them saved here.

[Col. Tartleton]

The Eye of Wrath is an eye patch because He's A Pirate... *cue Tiesto*

[Lord Damocles]

The illustration of an Eldar pirate in the 4th ed. Rulebook had a bionic arm.

[jareddm3]

I think only Eldar pirates and corsairs would use bionics. Craftworld Eldar would have access to the technology and equipment necessary to completely repair or regrow a missing body part.

[koran]

Do you know which page that is on Lord Damocles?

[Lord Damocles]

138
Letters for the Letter God!

[koran]

Thanks for that (though urgh... I cant stand Blanch art). I also found one in the 2nd edition Imperialis book which seems to have a bionic arm on a guardian. Off to a good start.

Anyone know of anything written on the subject? Im sure I read that eldar would never intentionally remove a limb to have it replaced but cant find it anywhere. Maybe I made an assumption based on my idea of what eldar are like.

[Hendarion]

There are several of such things in Blache's drawings in the 2nd Ed Codex. Actually I never found them really much fitting. Imo Eldar bionics shouldn't be that much visible, but instead look like normal organs, just the behavior would be different. That's just my personal opinion though. If you check Blanche's drawings, you'll find weird things. Arms of scissors, finger-lasers, bionic eyes, etc.
Since there is no fluff about them as far as I can tell, you'll hardly get an answer here. Maybe you'll find them in older topics. There are actually a few iirc - the topic comes up from time to time.

[Idaan]

There are Bionics. Yriel has one, and there are a couple of them presented in older artworks. Unfortunately, I have none of them saved here.

Codex Eldar mentions that Eye of Wrath is worn over Yriel's eye.

Other than that, the sources on bionics are pretty thin on the ground. If you choose to use them, I'd refrain from using wraithbone - contrary to the popular opinion it's generally reserved for pretty special uses, like powercores of starships, Seer runes and wraith-constructs. Mundane objects are made from a variety of other psychoplastics. Although it would be pretty cool for the leading character to have a Wraithbone arm that could channel psychics and weird powers - cf. Hellboy's stone fist.

[Lord Damocles]

Alanthrasil Swiftblade has an advanced bionic right eye.

[Cthell]

Given the Eldar design philosophy, I'd imagine that any Eldar bionics would be either

a) externally indistinguishable from living tissue (in performance as well as appearance), although the internal mechanisms will be elegant and sophisticated (like all eldar creations, it's both a tool and a work of art, after all)

b) Something akin to a functioning sculpture - exquisitely sculpted forms, elegant decorations, the whole shebang. As above, the internal mechanisms will still be elegant and sophisticated.

Just my personal opinion, naturally

[Shamana]

Alanthrasil Swiftblade has an advanced bionic right eye.

Didn't the Inquisitor game have an avenger Exarch with a bionic hand or somesuch?

[El_Machinae]

Since Eldar are so psychic, I wonder if they'd 'benefit' from being heavily 'borged out. They really should have the technology to cause heavy augmentation, and so it's mostly a matter of culture. But replacing body with machine might affect their essence in a negative way.

[Gorbad Ironclaw]

Im trying to come up with background for an eldar army I want to make. Im thinking of making them quite radical for eldar in that they believe that the augmentation of their bodies is the way forward to guarantee the survival of their race. Im pretty sure this is against what the majority of eldar believe (as they think their bodies are sacred).

I don't really think there is much of anything on the subject. I'm trying to think of anything that could support the "body is scared line" and I can't really think of anything for that either. As others have said, odds are good that Elder argumentations will be all but indistinguishable from the original organic tissue.

Anyway, I was more interested in the idea behind it actually. What is it they are hoping to accomplish by replaying their bodyparts artificial parts? The plight of the Eldars have always been portrayed as being more of a psychic/soul thing than anything physically wrong with them so I'm just interested in where you would want to go with this?

[Sandlemad]

Alanthrasil Swiftblade has an advanced bionic right eye.

Could this be because as a ranger he doesn't have access to the resources of a craftworld to allow for 'normal' organic replacement of his eye?
Bionics here could be a temporary, relatively improvised solution sorted by himself or whatever group of outcasts he's running with. Just to tide him over until he next visits Biel-Tan or some Exodite world or wherever.

This might open the possibility of outcast eldar using non-eldar bionics on their travels (though probably not human stuff, that might be too much pride to swallow). DE are regularly seen using alien technology.

[Shamana]

This might open the possibility of outcast eldar using non-eldar bionics on their travels (though probably not human stuff, that might be too much pride to swallow). DE are regularly seen using alien technology.

Eh, rangers and pathfinders in particular are mentioned to mingle enough with other races, even living secretly among them as noted in Creatures Anathema, a Dark Heresy RPG supplement (not a direct GW publication, but I imagine it is valid for filling in the blank spaces). I consider it quite possible that they would sport bionics if they had to, especially if the bionics themselves were of good quality and manufacture. Of all the eldar, they are the ones most likely to adapt or even "go native." You can argue that that is what happens to pathfinders - they stop identifying with Craftworld culture and start feeling much more at ease in the wilderness or even among xenos.

[Lord Damocles]

Could this be because as a ranger he doesn't have access to the resources of a craftworld to allow for 'normal' organic replacement of his eye?
Bionics here could be a temporary, relatively improvised solution sorted by himself or whatever group of outcasts he's running with. Just to tide him over until he next visits Biel-Tan or some Exodite world or wherever.

The exact note from his background is:
'Hiriaq [pirate prince] had his crippled hand replaced by the finest of gilt bionics, just as Alanthrasil’s damaged face was covered by the most advanced of augmetic replacements.'
'Alanthrasil Swiftblade', pg.97, PDF from Specialist games site (I presume from the page number, originally in an annual)

Following Hiriaq's death, Alanthrasil becomes captain/prince, so he doesn't seem especially lacking in resources.