(Irondeath @ Aug. 29 2007,12:48)
QUOTE
Well, Soren, would you have fared any better in the presence of 4 T-Bolts and 4 Hydras?
Essentially, you were facing 500Pts of anti-air capability, not being able to air assault into that should be expected.
The "Shields" formation is quite brittle, they have an ugly tendency to stay broken, same as those formations of 3 Hydras that coincidentally no one is taking hereabouts as they are so easy to take out. The speed of the "Swords" formation usually has them zipping about, not necessarily taking their AA umbrella where other assets benefit from it. It?s not as easy as you make it sound.
While I agree that FS are a somewhat overpowered I caution against nerfing stats and upping costs and reducing availability all at once.
I?d also like to add that straight comparisons with the Hydra are problematic: IG can (and do!) add a Hydra to all their companies, and are also in a much better position to weather the losses when enemy aircraft strike.
Eldar can?t.
And that restriction to 0-1 in the Shields formation is the mother of all nerfs. That formation is useless, folks. It sucks as artillery and sucks as AA. I?d hate to see that one finalized.
At least T-bolts only get off 1 shot each at 30 cm WITHOUT lance and Hydras only hit at 5+.
T-Bolts are not the No Brainers like Nightwings and can be shot at by the Thawk in return (at 15cm) which is not the case for Nightwing attacks.
Yes , it?s possible to Air Assault there. (very often done against LatD and IG)
To summarize it, AA is only half of the value for IG for the same point cost. (each 500 pts) I know the bachground for Eldar forces, but at least they should get the same AA for the same points than any other army.
I also know, comparing units from lists is pretty difficult, but this case is very obvious to me.
And to be honest It is that easy. It makes me always feel like a fool even to start a game against Eldar forces with a SM list. Else my Eldar opponent is a tactical genius, or I get no glue to break this umbrella because of tactical deficits (bot cases are true I fear 
) Next time I field a Minervan Tank company, let?s have a look, maybe this works better against Eldar forces 
I think I can see how Swordwind ended up so overpowered first time around... should have payed more attention then... 