Saim-Hann: 1500pts Balanced List

Here is the Saim-Hann list that I have been building. I use this as a balanced and semi-competitive force. It's got some really hard hitting elements such as the Dragons in the sooped-up Falcon, but also some more fluffy elements such as the 7 man jetbike squad - which is perhaps tactically questionable but just looks good! I think this stops the list from being accused of normal mech Eldar cheese, anybody agree?

The red notations indicate the current progress on each unit.

HQ
Farseer - Built/Converted
Jetbike, Singing Spear, Spirit Stones, Runes of Witnessing, Mind War, Doom & Fortune
193


ELITES
Fire Dragons - Work In Progress
5 Dragons
1 Exarch – Dragon’s Breath Flamer
108


TROOPS
Guardian Jetbike Squadron 1 - Done, bar Warlock
6 Jetbikes; 2 Shuriken Cannons
1 Warlock on Jetbike (Embolden Singing Spear)
205

Guardian Jetbike Squadron 2 - Done
3 Jetbikes; 1 Shuriken Cannon
1 Warlock on Jetbike (Embolden)
129

Dire Avengers - Done
9 Dire Avengers
1 Exarch – Diresword and Shuriken Pistol (Bladestorm)
157

Wave Serpent - Done
Twin-Linked Bright Lances, Shuriken Cannon, Spirit Stones
155


FAST ATTACK
Vyper - Done
2 Shuriken Cannons
60

Vyper - W.I.P
2 Shuriken Cannons
60

Shining Spears - W.I.P.
4 Shining Spears
1 Exarch – Star Lance (Withdraw)
227


HEAVY SUPPORT
Flacon - Done
Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon, Holo Field, Spirit Stones, Vectored Engines
205

Total:
1499

I've notched up 5 wins and 3 losses with this list which I think is pretty respectable. I'm trying to get as much play as possible out of them now, because as you may have noticed, 5th ed. will not be kind to my guys. I'm sure I'll get into that in another post, as well as some tactical hints & tricks that I have picked up for this army.

A quick tribute must be paid to the fantastic blog The Way of the Saim-Hann which has been a great inspiration and aid to me throughout this project. Well worth a visit!

Saim-Hann: The Host

Here are two pictures from my last project, that is finally nearing conclusion. I present some Wild Riders and Dire Avengers of the Saim-Hann craftworld:

There will hopefully be more pictures to follow soon.

I started making a 1500pts Saim-Hann list at Christmas time last year, when I returned to the world of 40k after a long hiatus. I had made the mistake of selling all but one of my old 40k armies when I stopped playing and figured that if I was to start playing again a new project was in order. Luckily the Saim-Hann (or more accurately the Windwider Host Apoc boxed set) convinced me that red and stripy was the way forward and have been working on them pretty solidly since then, the army being about 85% completed.

I chose the Saim-Hann for a number of reasons:

1. Style of Play: The one army I had kept a hold of was my faithful Imperial Guard, my first and most enduring 40k army. The Saim-Hann offer a totally different (and really, really challenging) style of play, where speed was key. I can still feel the Commissar inside recoiling in shock at the speed of Turbo-Boosting Jetbikes! Its a really precise style that I am still struggling to master.
   
   
2. The Eldar were one of the few armies I had never got round to collecting in the past. This is despite the fact that I find their fluff among the most compelling, especially when they were returned to their original character of arrogant, self-serving & superior point eared fellows, as opposed to their 2nd/3rd Ed. 'Good' guy image. I have White Dwarf 127 when a lot of the original Eldar concepts were first aired - anybody interested in the Eldar's story and development, find it and read it!
   
   
3. The choice to start Saim-Hann also harked back my roots in the hobby. The first White Dwarf I ever bought was No. 207, which featured the release of the Eldar Vyper and a battle report between the Saim-Hann and the Ultramarines. I knew once I'd read it that I would be collecting one of these two armies. In the end I was swayed by the Marines, I think because I really liked the assault marine models. This in turn lead to a string of loyalist armies (including over a company of the ultrasmurfs at one point) and my love of the Guard. So it seemed fitting to go back to that starting point and choose the Saim-Hann.
   
   
4. The Saim-Hann are just cool. Enough said.

Deathwing: Lion El'Jonson's Chosen

Well, lets get the ball rolling...

These are the first two completed models in my newest project, a Deathwing force for the upcoming 5th Edition of 40k. I'll expand on my plans for this army later, but here are some pictures for now:

Though far from great quality I would consider them 'table-top' worth. I have been really pleased with the way they have worked out, given my painting history. The tutorial I have been following suggested a layer of highlighting on top of this, however I've got to admit I've never been a fan of that method, despite its popularity. I just don't like the way it looks more 'untidy' up close. I may try it eventually, but I want to get more of the Deathwing done before that - these two models have taken the best part of a week, believe it or not.

Comments & criticism from the floor are welcome, though be gentle - you will see worse when I start showing some of my past efforts!

The Astronomican calls...

Well, he we are then.

This is the first step in an idea I have been considering for some time, namely to emulate some of the great 40k blogs out there that map the growing love of this hobby. This, hopefully, will be a record of my adventures in the 40k universe.

First off I should say that this will not be somewhere that leads the way - my painting, modeling & gaming are by my own admission average. That said, I have seen a dramatic improvement in my abilities in the last year, mainly because of blogs, and I will try to collect any useful points/hints/tutorials/links here as I come across them. Mainly though I imagine I will just use this blog as a record for myself & to motivate my painting. I've pretty much been inspired by the other great blogs out there, which I will have to list at some point!

So anyway, I hope that anybody that stumbles across these pages will get something out of them; I'm going to ramble on regardless!