wood elf wish list

[tmarichards]

Dryads losing skirmish would makes them pretty much worthless though

Also, losing Eagles would be a massive blow. For an army that revolves around the movement and shooting phases, losing access to our cheapest redirector and deployment drop would be a massive blow (even if Warhawk riders were reduced to minimum 2 per unit).

[amakiir]

How on earth would Dryads become 'worthless' without skirmish? WS4, S4, T4, A2, 5+ armor core unit. That is really good. Giving them the ability to actually break formations would make them one of the most powerful core units in the game. In an army surrounded by a lot of other nasty combat units.

[tmarichards]

Their greatest attribute atm is how flexible they are in the movement phase, not how good they are in combat. As soon as they rank up, they become another combat unit with no musician which is not what Wood Elves need.

[amakiir]

Flexibility in the movement phase is what warhawks and glade riders are for. When warhawks have legitimate stats and glade riders are put back into the role they had in 6th edition, you have two extremely flexible, fast, powerful units. And then the Wild Riders on top of that with their devastating charge.

[Aéquitas]

Threadomancy alert - I know it has been a while but I thought writing in this thread would be better than starting up another one.
So, I was thinking of a possible new unit type for the wood elves.

A recent idea that popped into my head was another monster option. I was thinking along the lines of GW's recent trend for big centrepieces, either monsters or warmachines, some of which provide unit buffs.
So, the idea that came to mind was an ethereal forest spirit monster that provides unit buffs. If you have seen Princess Mononoke then you'll have a clearer idea of what I'm picturing. A stag-like spirit that embodies the forest of athel loren and the forces of life an death. Potential buffs could be regeneration and regrowth (like the spells from the lore of life) to a unit within 6" (maybe 12" depending on points cost etc), or, to provide the buff to multiple units/increase the potency of the buff, it could expend one of its own wounds (of which I imagined it having 4 or 5). This could be used at the end of the movement phase. However, the creature would first have to (ie it can't choose whether to use the power or not, its powers are constantly in effect) roll a D6 to see if it grants life or death. On the roll of a 1, it deals D3 wounds, no saves allowed on any unit (friend or foe) within 6", possibly losing a wound itself. Thoughts?

PS. An already popular idea is Stag Riders (forest spirits like wild riders). As someone here said, making them rare might be a good idea as I can't imagine them being very common, although I wouldn't be averse to having them as a special choice. Wouldn't mind a rare forest dragon choice either.

If we go with this mononoke themed forest spirit I think it definately needs to go out of control when you kill it for one or maybe 2 rounds before it truely dies

[tmarichards]

That's as may be, but it's not really relevant- for all we know Warhawks may double in cost and have a single wound, what may happen to them has no real bearing on how good Dryads would/would not be without skirmish.

[mbh1127]

Dryads fought in ranks before so it wouldn't surprise me if they went back to fighting as a block unit again (much like Beastmen infantry did).

Re-introducing the old Beastmasters would add a bit more variety to the army and be popular with long-term collectors I suspect.

Yes

Dryads in ranks would work for me. I hate the fact that the current army has like only one ranked close combat infantry unit. And it's not even core. It just seems so strange to me to have a WE army with just one ranked uint. They need a few more to balance it out.

Personally, I'd like to see a return of chariots. Chariots suit elven armies quite well IMO, showing that in the warhammer world of laser carts and steam powered tanks, the elves still hark back to an older age.

ugh

No please

I really REALLY dislike the idea of a chariot driving through the forest. Too silly for me.

[Soundwave]

Well all elves have re-rolls so why not wood elves to shoot? Plus ap drop the movement rule make them hurt with high ballistic skill,longbows re-roll and armor piercing to represent the highest skill level of archery in whfb,thats what its about for wood elves yeah?Also bring back wood elf warriors in core with no spears,keep it primeative with add hand weapons great weapons and shield options. Keep glade guard with spears/glaives in spec beast masters and bears a deffinate as well as hawks and some form of giant cat!Rare maybe giant predatorial owls that scout?Think demi gryph stats with fly no rider and ld 10(for being wise)And also swarms of forest spirits 5 plus ward!(nasty pointy eared leprechauns or the like!)

[Soundwave]

Also pump up the movement and initiative values to 6 for standard glade guard and warriors!

[theunwantedbeing]

Their greatest attribute atm is how flexible they are in the movement phase, not how good they are in combat.

Despite being just about the best combat unit available for wood elves?
I think not.

They're a combat unit, skirmish is nice but you no longer get a 360 degree charge arc so all you do is hurt their combat abilities but making them skirmish.

[Balerion]

I dunno tmarichards, it kind of seems like you're missing the point re: ranked Dryads.

They have topnotch stats for Core troops. If they went ranked they wouldn't need the flexible movement, because they would be well-served by just heading straight at most things.

ugh

No please

I really REALLY dislike the idea of a chariot driving through the forest. Too silly for me.

Two things:

1) Horses can't navigate dense forests at speed either, yet they're in the list, and nobody complains.

2) Athel Loren cannot be imagined as wall-to-wall vegetation unless you're looking at it with a childlike perspective. There have to be cleared areas for settlement, agriculture, economy, etc. for the race to actually work as an army worthy of armybook representation, as opposed to an insignificant tribe.

Have you ever played a game on a board that was declared 100% woods, from edge-to-edge? If your answer is no, then you're never played on a board where chariots would have been silly.

[cyberspite]

I've got nothing against ranked dryads or chariots really but neither feels quite right.

Dryads fill a useful role in the army already, having access to relatively cheap disposable trouble shooters that can clear out chaff or hold up larger units is really useful, sure they could do that ranked up, but I just feel improving eternal guard or adding a cheap core elf unit would be a better fit for ranked infantry. Hopefully when the new book comes around we won't need ranked-up dryads.

Chariots can easily be explained in a wood elf army, but to me chariots are a status symbol used by more 'civilised' races. I just can't see wood elves bothering to make one, they don't make any other type of warmachine, and any self respecting highborn would surely much rather ride some fearsome forest beast anyway. Also, and more importantly imo, anything that brings them more into line with high and dark elves should be avoided.

But anyway, like I said, they're not game breakers for me, I would happily accept both in exchange for beastmasters

[Athlan na Dyr]

Well all elves have re-rolls so why not wood elves to shoot? Plus ap drop the movement rule make them hurt with high ballistic skill,longbows re-roll and armor piercing to represent the highest skill level of archery in whfb,thats what its about for wood elves yeah?Also bring back wood elf warriors in core with no spears,keep it primeative with add hand weapons great weapons and shield options. Keep glade guard with spears/glaives in spec beast masters and bears a deffinate as well as hawks and some form of giant cat!Rare maybe giant predatorial owls that scout?Think demi gryph stats with fly no rider and ld 10(for being wise)And also swarms of forest spirits 5 plus ward!(nasty pointy eared leprechauns or the like!)

To be honest I'm hoping that elves do not suddenly become the 're-roll races'. Glade Guard longbows as standard with the current no movement penalties rule would keep them as a powerful and mobile shooting force.

For core elf warriors I'd prefer if they just cut back the Eternal Guard a bit and use them, with an upgraded special version (I'm thinking Forest Spirits, similar to what Wild Riders are to Glade Riders, yet on foot).

The other ideas sound very nice, though I personally would prefer if they played up the spiritual and 'things that go bump in the woods' angle and introduced mystical creatures rather than the more mundane Woodland critters.

I've got nothing against ranked dryads or chariots really but neither feels quite right.

Dryads fill a useful role in the army already, having access to relatively cheap disposable trouble shooters that can clear out chaff or hold up larger units is really useful, sure they could do that ranked up, but I just feel improving eternal guard or adding a cheap core elf unit would be a better fit for ranked infantry. Hopefully when the new book comes around we won't need ranked-up dryads.

Eh, the thing is that if the Wood Elf army had a decent combat unit with ranks, much of the other elements of the army would slot into place as they would finally have something to actually support. While yes, Eternal Guard that are reasonably priced and competent at combat would fill in this role, ranked Dryads would add more options and enable a Forest Spirit army. That said, the option to skirmish should be there at the very least.

Chariots can easily be explained in a wood elf army, but to me chariots are a status symbol used by more 'civilised' races. I just can't see wood elves bothering to make one, they don't make any other type of warmachine, and any self respecting highborn would surely much rather ride some fearsome forest beast anyway. Also, and more importantly imo, anything that brings them more into line with high and dark elves should be avoided.

But anyway, like I said, they're not game breakers for me, I would happily accept both in exchange for beastmasters

I do agree with this

[Balerion]

Civilized races like Orcs and Goblins?

[Charistoph]

I've got nothing against ranked dryads or chariots really but neither feels quite right.

Dryads fill a useful role in the army already, having access to relatively cheap disposable trouble shooters that can clear out chaff or hold up larger units is really useful, sure they could do that ranked up, but I just feel improving eternal guard or adding a cheap core elf unit would be a better fit for ranked infantry. Hopefully when the new book comes around we won't need ranked-up dryads.

Chariots can easily be explained in a wood elf army, but to me chariots are a status symbol used by more 'civilised' races. I just can't see wood elves bothering to make one, they don't make any other type of warmachine, and any self respecting highborn would surely much rather ride some fearsome forest beast anyway. Also, and more importantly imo, anything that brings them more into line with high and dark elves should be avoided.

But anyway, like I said, they're not game breakers for me, I would happily accept both in exchange for beastmasters

Civilized races like Orcs and Goblins?

Or Beastmen? Heck, if a bunch of build nothings can ramshackle a cart together and hook up to mean pigs or one REALLY mean pig and run them through forests, I'm pretty sure a more mentally balance race like the Asrai can manage it.

[amakiir]

Eh, the thing is that if the Wood Elf army had a decent combat unit with ranks, much of the other elements of the army would slot into place as they would finally have something to actually support.

Exactly. If you look at the other things I listed there, specifically bringing back medium cavalry Glade Riders and making Warhawk Riders monstrous infantry with essentially Ogre stats, you instantly have a much more flexible army. Warhawk riders become your absurdly fast, hard hitting skirmishing unit. Glade Riders become your flankers. Dryads, Treekin, and Treemen are all anvils. The army gains balance by making Dryads a ranked unit and warhawks and glade riders legitimate combat units. Legitimate being a key point. Not this gimmicky, more special rules than you can count nonsense. Real combat units. Just good stats at a reasonable price.

I don't think bows should be considered when dolling out point costs for wood elves, either. They should be free for characters, and not even factored in with units (other than archers). Warhawk riders shouldn't cost as much a a chaos knight because they carry around a bow they may use twice throughout the whole game. Glade riders shouldn't be 10 points over priced because they are carrying around a bow. The bow should be free. This is the wood elves. They shoot some arrows to knock off a few guys, then multicharge into combat. The bow is more fluff than anything else. The charging into combat part is where price consideration needs to come into play. And the rules should encourage people to actually do this.

I wouldn't be opposed to a simple rule negating rank bonus if 2 or more wood elf units charge it in the same movement phase, regardless of whether or not those units could otherwise remove ranks. That would be pretty neat.

[Plexi]

My wishlist consists of GW holding off on releasing the book until 2014. More specifically 2 months after the release of 9th edition. Quite frankly any book that is released after x-mas this year is getting shafted on edition playability, and just once I'd like to get a full edition cycle out of my woodies.

[Balerion]

My wishlist consists of GW holding off on releasing the book until 2014. More specifically 2 months after the release of 9th edition. Quite frankly any book that is released after x-mas this year is getting shafted on edition playability, and just once I'd like to get a full edition cycle out of my woodies.

Weren't WoC, Lizardmen and Skaven (three currently strong books) all released within an analogous span to the release of 8th?

[amakiir]

Weren't WoC, Lizardmen and Skaven (three currently strong books) all released within an analogous span to the release of 8th?

To be honest, I can't think of a single point in time when skaven weren't horribly broken and over powered.

[Balerion]

What made them powerful in 7th (during the period where they still used their 6th edition book, iirc)?

I was under the impression that they kind of sucked then.