Ah well. I guess I can use the Mandrakes from BC and give them some talents from this book. 

BTW, are Mandrakes still cannibalistic warp-ninjas in the new codex? I've only seen the new models, I have no idea what their new rules are.

Ferau said:

Add a side-order of "savage shadow-monsters" to the "cannibalistic warp-ninjas" thing, and you're pretty much on the mark.

Mandrakes are monstrous beings, believed to be Eldar who once delved into pacts with nightmarish entities. Their flesh is as inky shadow, seeming to absorb light rather than reflect it, and they are wreathed in a miasma of darkness and unnatural chill. Other Dark Eldar dread their presence, and fear the shadows that may conceal a pack of Mandrakes on the hunt, but powerful Archons are often willing to bargain with them. Some of these bargains involve the trade of slaves, but others are more esoteric, with the Mandrakes demaning more ephemeral things such as a true name, a heartbeat, or a voice. Few dare to renege on these deals, for Mandrakes are clad in the patchwork skins of those who have betrayed them. Aside from being to hide within and walk through shadows - most notorious is their ability to emerge from the shadows of their prey - is the ability to turn the energies stolen from their prey into screaming bursts of numbing cold (in game terms, they gain a shooting attack after gaining Pain Tokens).

 How come Klaives aren't in this?

Also; what's the point of starting with Jaded if they can't gain Insanity?

Plushy said:

Speaking of Mandrakes……..

Kabalite Warrior + Shadow Kin and Corrosive Bile mutations would be a decent way to make a PC Mandrake.

Samasboy said:

Dark Eldar (possibly all Eldar) don't respond to Corruption the same way humans do. They don't appear to suffer from mutations.

HappyDaze said:

You could buy that package of Mutations as traits, though,

Would wings be something you buy for XP though, or something you have to actually track down a Haemonculi for? And if so, just what kind of availability would that have?

(know it's not in the book, just an idle musing, since it's going to come up for someone at some point)

Blood Pact said:

I would have it be an acquisition that also costs xp like an Elite Advance, with it modifying Agility and functioning like a jump pack at the cost of maybe some Toughness.

I haven't seen the actual rules yet, as there is no local gamestore selling WH40K stuff, and there is no purchasable pdf out, to my knowledge, but in regards to this being treated as a jump pack, aren't Scourges capable of actual flight?

I am fairly sure they are.

What are you thinking, Plushy, like +5 Agi -5 T and Jump Pack rules? Seems fair enough.

HappyDaze said:

They don't - the touch of the Warp wreaks a spiritual toll upon the Dark Eldar, representing the long-term effects of having their souls slowly devoured by Slaanesh. Corruption increases the number of Pain Tokens a Dark Eldar character must accumulate to gain additional Fate Points, and potentially worsens the consequences of going without Pain Tokens for a protracted period. They don't gain the normal penalties for accumulated Corruption, though they do still take Malignancy Tests as normal (just with a different outcome for failure), so they do benefit from the Dark Soul Talent.

The Corruption rules are meant to tie into the Power From Pain rules. I'm not sure how I'd work them for Craftworld Eldar, though I would still have them subject to Corruption (though with ready access to Armour of Contempt rather than Dark Soul - a small but fitting distinction). My initial inclination is to give Craftworlders (and similar - Corsairs and Exodites) rules for Soulstones in place of Power From Pain - in essence, a rule to represent their metaphysical nature. Not sure what at this point.

Seeten said:

I'd say give it rules like an integrated Jump Pack with the Flyer trait to some level, and then maybe cost them a permanent Wound.

There are currently two sets of stats for the Splinter Cannon. In most ways they are identical, but there are some differences:

The Splinter Cannon from Hostile Acquisitions lacks Tearing, weighs 10kg, includes the Auto-Stabilised Trait, and is Near Unique.

The Splinter Cannon from The Soul Reaver has Tearing*, weighs 15kg, and is Rare (or Very Rare if it includes the Auto-Stabilised Trait).

In almost every way (except weight), the Splinter Cannon from The Soul Reaver is superior. Is this an intentional upgrading of the Splinter Cannon?

* In addition to the main weapon listing, the Venom vehicle lists a mounted Splinter Cannon and it has Tearing as well, so I don't believe that inclusion of Tearing is an error.

OK, after seeing the Availability modifiers for getting Dark Eldar gear  outside of their enclaves, I do note that the Splinter Cannon from The Soul Reaver becomes Unique (without the Auto-Stabilised Trait) - if available at all - in most situations. This means that the one from Hostile Acquisitions must be the "cheap export model" - although it having the Auto-Stabilised Trait as standard is a bit odd.

Oddly enough, since that doesn't seem to work backwards, the Kabalite Warrior's starting Power Sword is harder to obtain in a DE settlement than an Agoniser would be… At least he starts with the Talent to use the Power Sword but not the Agoniser or we'd really have to question his shopping habits.

HappyDaze said:

Not odd at all, actually! Kabalite splinter cannons have a funny fluid core that basically uses some physics shenanigans to make them easy to port around.