Regarding the vessels of pain, they are pretty handy but I'd agree that 4 may be too many. Two of them didn't do a huge amount in our game, and certainly didn't get to use their full abilities.
Given they activate on a 2+ you could probably replace them with core units that activate on a 1+ and cut down on the units that potentially need the reroll (especially as 90% of the time it's not available)

Quick report on my first game using the DE army list

1. Mandrakes teleported (no BM) & proceeded to lose an engagement against a Blitz Brigade
2. Warriors were ground attacked by the FBs and broken
3. Warriors & Vessel of Pain were air assaulted by a Landa + Mob & 2 extra boyz & grotz. Warriors & VoP wiped out

After that it was an uphill struggle for the DE with the orks having an activation advantage and continuing to overwhelm the DE.

I can see why a force with 4 VoP could be seen as overpowered if you played Marines/CSM against it all the time, but my Orks had not problems with them.

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Yeah, I ended up using them to bully smaller support formations (deth copters, solo contagion engines, 4 man defiler units, etc.)

Where the 2xTK shots make breaking them pretty reliable. By targeting those kinds of units I strip enemy activation count which compounds with my list having 13 activations.

The splinter cannons do essentially nothing (I think once one VoP sustained and got to fire them at speed freak buggies), the blast template is only BP2 and normally only fires on a double order (otherwise you'd end your move within the suicidal 30cm of infantry...) so mostly just puts a blast marker on something from disrupt. The TK is a reliable average of 1 kill (3+ becomes 4+ on the double, 2x4+ gives average 1 kill) so is handy for whittling away those tough but small formations.

Drop two of them and add in something that hits harder 'cos the list relies almost entirely on the Lord Air Assaulting in to hammer blow stuff.

My images from the event

Some gorgeous looking armies there!

A little off topic but can anyone tell me what material was used as the foot plates to put the buildings on (and woods for that matter)? I thought it may be textured vinyl tiles but I think they were more rigid. Looking to steal the idea and try and upgrade my scenery a bit.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Very nice armies and I realy like the Dark Eldar with the Shaltarii units.

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IIRC they are just hardboard

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Thanks for that. They felt a little synthetic like a mica or something, and had some texture. Meanwhile I've bought a pack of embossed marble effect vinyl floor tiles which may do nicely if I can decide how to deal with the self adhesive backing, and then see if I can airbrush them to a better colouring, and perhaps add some flocks.

Yeah i use a set of cheap stone effect floor tiles from wilkos for city stuff. My solution to the adhesive has been to never peel off that backing sheet

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Sometimes the simplest solutions.....

I have often been accused of over-thinking things

I have a ton of vinyl tiles ive been planning to use for terrain for years but am not a fan of the pattern. So I've been wondering if it would work to flock or sand onto the self adhesive backing.

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Probably, and seal with a spray varnish?

Are the results of this going to be on the championship site anytime soon?

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