I've just about started to play FB now, and I've read up on what background I can, I think I'm fairly well versed for one who hasn't been playing it for a long time. Been lurking here for a couple of weeks, seems like a top notch sort of place.
So I chose Dark Elves because of how awesome they look, because of their Elf connection, and because I like a couple of the themes, in their background. Also because I could get some good trades for my 40k army.
Anyhow, so themes - I especially like the themes of falling from grace and vengeance, these are obviously the big ones, and clearly the Druchii themselves don't think they've fallen from grace per se.
I beg to differ. Lots of discussion has likely taken place, but as far as I see it, the Druchii have fallen - not to say that the Asur haven't changed either. So I'm not particularly big on the social darwinism, the murdering, the tormeting, the slavery, and the general evilness. I want the Elves on the Edge feeling, not the Elves Who've Gone off the Edge feeling, the latter of which is of course perfectly valid. So perhaps I should have waited for Wood Elves, but seeing as I want all three sometime anyway...
As such, a couple of ideas came to be for background. They're just outlines. Please bear with me and tell me whether or not my ideas fit in with the greater FB world. Of note is that all these three do burn with an urge to put Ulthuan to the sword, but they're urge to go back and live there is greater. If these were ever given the option to rule Ulthuan, they'd likely not slaughter the inhabitants first - more likely everyone would starting lving like those of Nagarythe.
Option 1):
After seeing Eltharion invade Naggaroth, a handful of other elves were inspired to do so. A young firebrand, name unknown, rallied a number to his/her cause, and was aided by a few master manipulators from Nagarythe who helped his/her rise to power from the shadows. So a smaller scale invasion was launched, perhaps not even to Naggaroth, maybe Lustria. Perhaps somewhere further north than where High Elves usually land? In any case, a relatively weak point. From here on, I need some good ideas on twists and turns to explain away why they're all now wearing Dark Elf arms and armour. This, I realised, is likely implausible. It's where I'm at with this idea so far. Any help would be nice.
Option 2):
A lieutenant of Malekith's inquisition fully believed in what s/he was doing when the CoP was being investigated on Ulthuan. The debasement of the Elves caused this Elf to lose some faith in the Gods. So, when Malekith was burned by the Flames of Asuryan, s/he shrugged it off and believed M was still a good choice for king. Raising her(oh, forget the slashes) banners for Malekith, she fought and lost the civil war alongside her king, and fled. Since then, it's all gone downhill. She thinks the Elves have lost their martial edge due to this ritualism and mysticism surrounding combat and killing, and this thirst for blind vengeance is turning the Druchii into fools who're rightfully reviled by other Elves, and this whole business with slavery and decadence and ceremony is in actuality why the Elves aren't as powerful as they used to be - they retreat into religion and leave everyone else to do the work. As far as she's concerned, the truly strong would suck it up and build a civilisation that Ulthuan would envy. She feels Malekith is no longer the king he used to be, and that perhaps the Flames of Asuryan were right after all. This, of course, is problematic, because of her dislike of the Gods. Lots of potential here. The problem, again, is explaining how she has an army that can be replenished constantly and has supply lines from it's food production centres, especially considering the Elves here do their own work so not all of them are free for war. Moreover, how do the other Dark Elves who're certainly greater in number leave her alone?
Option 3)
Very similar to two, except this rather more individualistic lass floats her Black Ark off in a new direction entirely/gets lost during the retreat, and settles on an uncharted island or somewhere in Cathay or Ind or what have you, and similar things ensue. This solves the societal issue - there's no other Druchii leaders to tell her what to do and not to do. But it exacerbates the logistics issue. I don't want to have some entirely new teeming nation of Elves popping up in Cathay fully formed; this has to be small scale, and if it is, where do they muster armies from?
Option 4) Some kind of combination of the three. I like all the ideas, but bringing them all together might be even more silly.
As for army construction, since I wound up with some 80 warriors, 10 Corsairs, 10 Knights, and 10 Executioners, among other things, and it fits in with the background, all three of these will have less specialised populations to call on. I'm thinking of perhaps using the Cult of Slaanesh list just so I can have an annointed, who will represent someone who not only does the things that other Dark Elf Lords do, but wrestles wild animals and hunts and farms in spare time rather than trying to stab rivals in the back. I'd use Corsairs for Devoted or something, they look a bit more normal than Witch Elves. SDCs will just count as things to keep them warm/absorb sweat depending on where they are. Executioners will just be used as Warriors with Great Weapons and shields. So they're loaded down with heavy armour, a shield, and this giant sword, I think that can cost them an inch. I have hard times justifying a T4 for a regular Elf unit though, and that may well be why I won't use the list. My regular opponent's a good sort about these things, he wouldn't mind if I told him beforehand.
If you've made it this far, thanks for putting up with me. And if not, thanks for trying.
