New Eldar Windriders & Codex Now On Games Workshop Pre-Order
April 17, 2015 by brennon
The new Eldar are now up on the Games Workshop webstore for pre-order including the new Warhammer 40,000 Eldar Craftworlds Codex, the Farseer (Limited) Edition, Datacards, Windrunner Jetbikes, Farseer/Warlock Skyrunner and new plastic Autarch...
New Jet Bikes!
The first thing to touch on is that finally the Eldar have got some new Jet Bikes! Not only do you have the new Windrunners but also the HQ based Farseer/Warlock Skyrunner which you can see below...
I think these are a nice improvement over the very old set of miniatures they've had for a while. The design is very similar but they've managed to make them look a bit sleeker and made the riders position less awkward. Simply by titling the riders forward you get a better sense of speed.
I still don't think they're as good as the Dark Eldar Jet Bikes though!
Codex Craftworlds
As well as the models there is the new Codex that comes in two flavours. There is the basic hardback Codex we've come to expect and then of course a Limited Edition version that comes with a selection of add-ons. Don't forget the all important Datacards too!
It will be interesting to see what's inside these new Codices as the focus seems to have been on making sure that the Saim-Hann Craftworld actually gets a look in this time! They have been rather forgotten for a while so it's good to see this all-flyer army back on the scene.
Autarch Attack
Last but not least is the new Autarch model for the Eldar that keeps your HQ units flying through the skies just like the Jet Bikes. I think it's a relatively simple model compared to the past iterations but it does have more motion to it.
I don't know if it was a good sacrifice but at least in plastic we're going to see it going together a lot easier and being more durable. It would have been nice to see the model come with a few more options in the set.
What do you think of the new releases?
"The design is very similar but they've managed to make them look a bit sleeker and made the riders position less awkward..."
That’s not big change compared to previous once.
The bikes look better than the previous version for sure, in fact the bikes themselves look less stiff than the warlock rider. The helmet is cool and all, but the rest of the body looks like an afterthought. Also he seems to have gotten the short legs that many of the mounted units used to have in whfb.
missed opportunity.
lackluster.
but welcome fixes to the eldar line. LOVE the jetbike jets/engines.
Autarch has zero weapon/head options… pathetic
Also they missed out on the most powerful autarch:
Jessica Biel-Tan
Pure speculation, but I’m guessing that the real purpose of this release is to tidy up the Eldar range by removing harlequins from the Eldar Codex. GW have said in the past that they don’t like the same units being in two different codices because having to ensure the consistency of the rules means that their hands are tied somewhat if they want to make changes or additions. This is the reason that Inquisition disappeared from Grey Knights after the Inquition Codex was released.
Unless I’m mistaken, these Jetbikes have been ready to release for year(s) now?
Nice models.
The prototype sculpted by Jes Goodwin has been around for years. However, at what point that was converted into an actual kit is anybody’s guess right now.
Having said that, my gut instinct is that this is old. Comparing it to recent releases, GW have been doing a much better job of packing their sprues with options of late. I do wonder if they have deliberately held this back to give them an excuse to release a new, harlequin-free codex.
Yeah it’s a bit primitive. GW have held releases back in the past, and even scrapped releases.
… you’d be amazed how long it takes for minis to be released sometimes 😛
I made stuff 18 months ago that still hasn’t gotten to the top of the release schedule yet 😛
… and then sometimes it can be a matter of just 2 months or something,
it’s quite bizarre really sometimes 😛 ha ha
but yeah, it’s often just to do with release waves and stuff for certain armies 🙂
on topic though, the new jetbikes seem like a good improvement 🙂
they have a bit of a sleeker feel which is cool 🙂
gives them a nice sense of speed and movement 😉
Can you post some of your stuff in the sculpting forum ? It’s a bit dry in there and I love to see professionals work !! 🙂
… oooh, but that would be telling 😛 ha ha ha
anyway, there’s been a few news items featuring my work this week already 😛 😛 😛
I quite like seeing the feedback when people don’t know it’s mine 😉 ha ha
but there is an article series that will show me working on a mini on beasts of war soon 😉
so hopefully that will be interesting to see how that mini progresses 🙂
it’s still very very very early days, but hopefully the final mini will work out well 🙂
I think that more to ensure you need to buy a second codex. Cynical but sadly probably true
Well, at least people will be able to buy models to represent their horribly lethal jetbike mounted seer councils without needing to employ much in the way of conversion. That must be nice for Eldar players, but probably not so much for everyone else…
I’m reminded of Johnny Rottens’ parting words…D.x
I like them, so much better than the old Easy rider bikes. They also can be equipped with Scatter lasers and now every bike in the unit can take a Scatter or a Shuriken Cannon instead of the one 1 outta 3 like before. They may have toned the serpent down with the loss of laser lock and the rumor that the s shield is only 2d6 s6 ignores cover one use only but with these bikes Eldar are still going to have a ton of cheap s6 shooting to say nothing of Wraithknight and easy access to tons of… Read more »
Can’t fault the models however they just lack that wow factor – or maybe I am just jaded.
I have a pile of the older minis… and Vypers
I am just so feed up with Games Workshop shafting us down here in New Zealand. This new codex is 35 pounds but we get charged $105 down here. Current exchange rates would put it at only $70. We cant even buy it straight from a UK site because GW has blocked that
Do a jig on a rock while you “destroy the enemy with consummate grace” lol. Good grief. Couldn’t they find an adult to write the promo fluff?
The farseer reminds me of something you might see on that old schlocky Buck Rogers TV show. The jet bikes themselves are nice enough, but there have been so many jaw-dropping jetbikes released in the last few years that these aren’t even in the middle of the pack.
To be fair, the riders don’t deserve fancy bikes! They’re not elite troops.
really lets make new bikes instead of making all the aspect warriors into plastic kits
I really liked the recent Harlequin release, but this one hasn’t done it for me, ah well some money saved!
The Autarch has literally an entire battlefield on which to land, a near infinite number of places he could have touched down and, lo and behold, he chooses a bloody rock?
at least it wasn’t a bloody skull