Dawn of War Codex

I've been doing some thinking about this lately because it always seemed a little weird to me. I know that the use of 'hero' and not 'commander' is basically Relic's way to justify stuff like the Ravener Alpha and Techmarine, who aren't HQ in tabletop, leading armies. What seemed weird to me was how they used the Autarch, especially since Kayleth is pretty clearly in charge in campaign.

I like the Autarch call-in global, since it's a very nice thing with a lot of applications, so I'm not suggesting removing that as such. What I had in mind was when/if the UI mod is finished, as a fourth Eldar hero, we could add say a Senior Autarch/Warhost Autarch/*insert fluffy adjective* Autarch. My reasons:

1) Fluff, Autarchs tend to lead warhosts in fluff.
2) The Autarch's ability to use the equipment of various aspects gives a lot of scope for wargear choices.
3) The Autarch could work as a more customisable yet straightforward melee hero for the Eldar, like the FC for SM or Chaos Lord for Chaos.

Okay so image: the Autarch is a more frontline hero. While they have access to some buffs, they focus a lot on fighting at the front of the army. One of their strengths is the ability to adapt to battlefield conditions with a variety of wargear choices drawn from the many aspects they can take on, mixing and matching equipment as needed.

Starting equipment is a chainsword (36 melee DPS) and shuriken pistol (2.5 piercing DPS). Starting abilities are Fleet of Foot (as everything else) and Path of War (40 energy, The Autarch draws on their mastery of the Path of War, decreasing all received damage by 10% and increasing their damage by 10% for 10 seconds. Ability decreases received damage and increases the Autarch's damage by another 3% every two levels, going to 13%/16%/19%/22%/25% at level 2/4/6/8/10. 40 second cooldown).

Weapon Wargear:
Diresword (100 Requisition, 20 Power) (50 DPS power melee) Increases the Autarch's energy regeneration by 0.1.

Banshee Mirrorswords (125 Requisition, 20 Power, tier 2) (60 DPS power melee) The Autarch equips twin powerswords, granting the Blade Dance ability:
* Blade Dance (30 energy) The Autarch uses their mastery of the Banshee swords to its true extent, forming an impenetrable barrier of blades. Decreases received melee damage by 40% for 12 seconds.

Prism Rifle (150 Requisition, 30 Power, tier 2) (30 explosive DPS) The Autarch equips a Prism Rifle, granting the Ghostlight ability:
* Ghostlight: While active, the Autarch's Prism Rifle has increased range, but its damage is reduced to 20 DPS.

Armor Wargear:
Armor of Avenger (100 Requisition, 25 Power) The Autarch dons armor styled after the Dire Avenger aspect. Increases the Autarch's health by 100, health regeneration by 0.1 and energy regeneration by 0.1.

Armor of Fire Dragon (120 Requisition, 25 Power, tier 2) The Autarch equips Fire Dragon armor. Increases health by 150 and grants the Fire of Khaine ability.
* Fire of Khaine (40 energy) For ten seconds, models the Autarch strikes in melee and who strike the Autarch in melee take 15 flame dps.

Armor of Reaper (150 Requistion, 25 Power, tier 2) The Autarch dons the grim armor of the Dark Reapers. Increases health by 150, ranged damage by 10% and grants 10% damage resistance, but permanently disables the Fleet of Foot ability.

Accessory Wargear:
Banshee Mask (100 Requistion, 20 Power) The Autarch dons the mask of the Howling Banshee, granting the War Shriek ability:
* War Shriek (30 energy) The Autarch unleashes a terrible shriek from the Banshee Mask, reducing the damage dealt by nearby enemy units by 15% for 15 seconds.

Mandiblasters (120 Requistion, 30 Power, tier 2) The Autarch dons a helmet of the Striking Scorpion Aspect, granting the Scorpion's Sting ability:
* Scorpion's Sting (40 energy) The Autarch activates their helmet's Mandiblasters, dealing ability knockback and 30 piercing damage to targeted units (this would work like Merciless Strike).

Hawk Wings (150 Requisition, 25 Power, tier 2) The Autarch equips a pair of Swooping Hawk wings, granting the Hawk's Strike ability:
* Hawk's Strike (60 energy) The Autarch sweeps into the air and jumps to a target point. Upon landing, enemies within radius 5 take ability knockback.

I'll be the first to admit that this is still a rough concept. I was looking at codex values to try and balance this out, but I may well have made oversights. So I'd appreciate feedback.

At first I looked at your post and thought "Oh great another one like this, we already have Warlock please go home and think about it before posting", but I read your ideas, and being a fluff warrior myself liked it. Doesn't mean it is good or balanced, but you have my favour. Do Eldar need a commander like this? No, not at all.

My biggest problem is all of the buff/debuff she has that she needs a bit less of. Path of War (10% less damage taken and 10% increase) with Mirrorswords (40% reduced damage in cc), Reaper Armour (10% range damage increase and 10% received damage decrease) with Banshee Mask (15% received damage decrease). Stack it up (because a leveled Autarch could) and that is at least 10%+40%+10%+15%=75% decrease of received damage, not to mention the increase War Path resistance from levelling. Not an ideal build but really really tanky in CC, though a varriation would be with Wings not mask, then ranged damage would be nothing to her, instead she could equip the Fire Dragon armour, which itself doing 15dps to all surrounding enemies for 40 energy is ridiculously good.

I like it, but she needs a lot more consideration.

I completely forgot that Aertes had proposed the Autarch before, since most of what I remember of his suggestions was Imperial stuff. My apologies.

Yeah, I should've probably been checking how the buffs stacked on the wargear. I was trying to avoid the existing Autarch's gear, hence no Executioner/Fusion Gun/Powershield. I could probably add another ranged wargear option too to stop the Armor of Reaper being a one-trick pony with the Prism Rifle.