You bring an interesting argument but the fact's are there. Autarchs have masters many paths not just the Aspect Warrior ones and they can use witchblades, doesn't say anywhere that they can't. Look at the High Admiral of the Iyanden fleet, Prince Yriel, An Autarch that sacrificed much in picking up the cursed weapon known as the Spear of Twilight which in fact is a modified version of a Singing Spear. In DoW, the Autarchs on that were all using modified versions of a Singing Spear.
Prince Yriel is on top level, you think players will have ability to choose Eldrad Ultran or Abbadon as a character? If in-game autarch will be near that level, what will be sm/hsm/orcs analogue? nobs and sergeants are exarch equivalent, isnt it?
May I just ask where exactly you got the information that the Spear of Twilight is a Singing Spear specifically? There is a crucial difference between a Power Spear/Glaive and a Singing Spear in that one is essentially a Force Weapon and requires a higher level Psyker to use effectively and the other is made more effective by an external power source.. I'm not sure that Autarchs using spears in any DoW game were in fact Singing Spears.. Though I may be wrong.. and I don't recall any Autarch ever mastering the Path of the Witch or the Path of the Seer.. Warlocks are really on the only place those Paths cross over. Autarchs generally master a few Warrior Paths and then get on the Path of Command, which is why you don't see any specifically using Psychic Powers like Warlocks or Farseers do.
They way I see weapon loads outs working for Eldar Aspects should be more inline with slowly as you gain skill and experience with each aspect and unlocking weapons that Exarchs use, each Exarch has multiple weapon options which will reflect multiple styles of combat application with in those roles, For example SS scorpions claw and chain sword (2 melee weapons the claw also has a shuriken catapult in built), or Biting blade (2 handed Chain sword), chainsabres (2 chain swords) and the standard chain sword shuriken pistol, that's 4 different close combat load outs each with a different combat application, this applies to all the Aspect Warriors as they progress up to Exarch status, As for the SS I am wondering as they are the only stealth class mentioned so far in the game will they have some kind of stealth mechanic ?
Just to echo and expand on what Angelic said. The Eldar Codex doesn't allow them to use Force weapons, by implication that is one place where it says they can't. Also the path of the Autarch is specifically referred to as an "avenue of the Path of the Warrior" in the very first line of the entry in the Eldar Codex. The fact that they (like any Eldar) may have walked and mastered many paths previous to this is irrelevant when a Guardian (an Eldar that is currently on a civilian path rather than a warrior or seer path) might have done the same! The Lexicanum entry on Guardians states this explicitly, saying that, though some Guardians were at one time on the warrior path "they cannot fully revive their previous battle skills". Logically there is no reason that they couldn't equally have been a Warlock and likewise have traded the necessary disciplines and focus to control Force weapons for the disciplines and focus needed on their new civilian path. When an Eldar leaves a path they fully LEAVE that path and immediately embark on a totally new one. By allowing that new path to completely dictate the scope of their thoughts and skills they become, for a time, fully immersed in that way of being, and though they retain memories of what it was like to be on previous paths, their minds are now turned fully upon another discipline and so they lose the particular mindset needed to make use of their old skills. This compartmentalisation of interest and hence skills is an intrinsic part of the Craftworld Eldar paths, you could even say it is the entire point, since an unbridled Eldar mind can easily fall to "She who thirsts". What makes an Autarch different is that this path, the path of Command, is a subset of the Path of Khaine and involves them deliberately preserving what they have learned on a range of different Warrior Aspects, allowing them to better understand and coordinate Eldar Warriors. What they are not is an Eldar Warrior who can mix and match from ANY path - Big difference! The Spear of Twilight is NOT a Forceweapon! Force Weapons, (such as the Singing Spear,) act as a focus allowing the mind of the wielder to destroy the victim on a psychic level. The Spear of Twilight on the other hand contains the fell energies of a dying star and uses that to destroy the target. They may both be spears, but they work in totally different ways! Nooope! The spear weapon used by Kayleth in DOW II Retribution isn't a Singing Spear or even a Force weapon, it's specifically described as an Executioner Power weapon. Power weapons come in all shapes and sizes, including fists, mauls, axes and spears as well as swords. Once again, just because it's a spear doesn't mean that it is a Singing Spear.
Ahh very good. I am wrong and you guys have corrected me. Great work. Mind you what I have quoted were directly from Wiki and Lex. Oh and before you guys go for your pitchforks again, I know I should take anything those two sites have with a grain of salt even though they are rich with 40k fluff and lore. Back to what I saying before. I do HOPE they allow for more customization when it comes to the hero units such as the Autarch. Scorpion chainsword & fusion gun are great weapons, but what about direswords and equipment like shimmershield's, Swooping Hawk Wings, Banshee Mask, Mandiblasters ( Even though it shows that they have them in the art for the Autarch ) and even a Warp Spider Jump Generator though they haven't been implemented in game, it would be cool to see what bE does with them if they have plans for them in the future.
I totally agree, customising Hero and Elite classes is something I think is super important.. what if I want my Autarch to have Swooping Hawk Wings and a Reaper Launcher? It should be allowed, shouldn't it?! The Heroes from the Rogue Trader are a different matter though.. They have their own more specialised builds because that's what they were meant for. I don't expect it'll be the case for ALL Hero Classes.. at least I hope we can get some kind of cusomtisation. Terminator for example is quite a broad class.. there's Assault Cannons, Lightning Claws, Cyclone Missile Launchers, Storm Shields, Chainfists etc. to think about.. Not to mention the multitude of gear a Farseer is meant to have access to. As for Lexicanum, it tends to put references for all it's information and point out where citations are lacking.. though i'll admit I didn't really bother checking^^.
Yeah I would have expected more from the Wiki, where they got that thing about the Spear of Twilight being a modified Singing Spear I don't know. Looking at the references they cite I suppose it might have come from the Iyanden supplement written by... surprise surprise, Matt Ward. Maybe someone else can confirm this as I refuse to have anything to do with that inept defilement of lore.
Okay, just to put this issue to rest, the Iyanden Supplement citation and both from the 6th Ed Codex say nothing about the Spear being a modified Singing Spear. One of the 6th Ed 'dex references was just a link to his Tabletop Profile... I'm not sure why that's relevant at all... As for the other Codexes they're older so I don't have access to them, but I think anything printed in them is overwritten by the newer material (unless of course it isn't overwritten at all).. Point is.. Customisation and stuff.. There's no sense getting off topic over wiki accuracy and everyone is allowed to believe whatever they wish.
