De'Aynes Spotters Guide to Gothic

The Dark Eldar Fleet


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Vessels of the Dark Eldar Fleet

  Cruisers
  • Torture
  Escorts
  • Corsair
 
Development of the Fleet

At the time of writing, the Dark Eldar fleet list is a little chaotic. There are currently only two vessels available for it, but around three sets of rules have been put out. (I guess that is what we get for wanting a 'transparent development process'!) Hopefully, this will be resolved soon, and a coherent set of rules will emerge. However, if you are a Dark Eldar player, do ensure that you have the latest set of rules, and that both you and your opponent are aware of the rules in effect.

At first glance, having only a choice of two vessels seems a little limiting. However these miniatures have a range of weapons and the mimic engine upgrade, allowing a number of possibilities. Both vessels are metal, one cruiser and one escort, making the Dark Eldar fleet one of the more expensive to play. I also recommend that, when assembling your Dark Eldar ships, you do a dry run before gluing, as some of the parts will not fit together in certain combinations (for example putting the large fin on the underside of the Corsair escort obscures the base pole).

Characteristics of the Fleet

Dedicated to all of the nasty things in life, the Dark Eldar fleet is the embodiment of the race and a very technologically sophisticated if very limited collection of ships.

The Dark Eldar use a very powerful basic yet flexible platform in both cruiser and escort classes consisting of the Torture class cruiser and the Corsair class escort. The sheer volume of destructive power available to the Dark Eldar coupled with the mimic engine device that allows the Dark Eldar to dictate the opening moments of most engagements creates an ideal raiding fleet.

Torture Class Cruisers – Actually an entire family of cruiser types, the Torture class is far more robust than equivalent Eldar vessels if not nearly as fast while being almost as nimble and possessing an awesome firepower. Each Torture class vessel deploys batteries equivalent to the strongest of Eldar vessels while a variable weapons configuration allows variant versions equipped with lance, torpedo, attack craft carrier bays and a massive assault module known as an Impaler. Protected by the Shadowfield, a Dark Eldar defense system similar to the holofield yet better armored, the Torture class also can deploy the mimic engine, a device that allows the vessel to initiate combat on usually favorable terms.

Corsair class Escorts – While not as distinctively powerful as the Torture class, Corsair class escorts retain the ability to deploy weapons packages in flexible and powerful configurations. Corsair class escorts all sport a solid weapons battery integral to the basic unit and are deployed in torpedo, lance and Impaler variants. The ability to place mimic engines on these vessels means that a single mixed squadron of Corsair escorts possesses the power to initiate a crippling first strike on the largest capital vessels in space if deployed correctly.

Tactics- Dark Eldar are the quintessential raiding fleet. Lacking a battleship sized capital vessel and consisting solely of very expensive yet somewhat fragile vessels, the DE must maximize their strengths; stealth and terrific first strike offensive power while avoiding situations and circumstances where prolonged exposure to battery fire or massive attack craft waves can reveal their weakness. The DE use mimic engine craft to close and engage in first turn mayhem, concentrating on mission critical objectives and enemies while using speed and agility superior to all but their Eldar cousins to avoid close range attacks. When engaging in prolonged combat, the Dark Eldar can use unique weapons such as the Leech Torpedo to slow down pursuit and allow their fleet to concentrate on enemies foolish enough to allow the Dark Eldar to concentrate on single vanguard ships. The Dark Eldar do not possess a ranged weapon with a range in excess of 30cm and must rely on ordnance for all extended range combat. While superior in performance, the high cost of Eldar ordnance usually means that the opposition deploys more launch bays and tubes and only the most cunning of Dark Eldar can hope for victory in prolonged slugging matches.

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Scribed by: CyberShadow and Bob Henderson