It states in the WE army book that the Eternal Guard have a 5+ armor save. Is this save used vs. missile fire also? If you read the paragraph it seems to me they're granting the armor save mainly for close combat reasons. Just want to clarify to ward of any future rules shysters.

i concur on the idea that it is due to the fact of their fighting style, but it also says thart their armor save is 5+. So i see it as being their save is 5+, their fighting style take into consideration shooting (if they use staves they swirl them overhead to stop missiles a la Hero style [starring Jet Li]).

Just consider it a 5+ armor save for all intent and purposes

Also this should be in the rules forum.

+++ MOVED +++

It's not their fighting style that gives them that armour save. If you check the actual models, most of them have light armour on. Some of them use shields also. Because of this, eternal guard have a 5+ save nomatter what, not because they swirl their weapons to block attacks.

I agree that the eternal guard have an armour save of 5+, even against shooting. The rules in the army book doesn't state that the 5+ armour save can't be used against shooting.

~ Lindsay ~

well foxy, i was using the swirling blades and staves as a possibility, because as you so eloquently put it, they are wearing light armor which would allow them to have a 6+ save. That extra save has to come from somewhere right? Whether they swirl the stick, use a shield or hop out of the way of the missile is inconsequential in the end. The fact of the matter is they have a 5+ save. Period.

I HAVE THE ANSWER!!!!!
Have you noticed they have light armour, yes so 6+
BUT they also have a HELM, so 5+
YAY!!!! i know this makes almost little sense, and is going to get picked apart by every living mortal, but YAY

Hehe... I liked the Hero-explanation better, definitely looks better anyway ;)

I have actually not considered using Eternal Guard before but with an armour save of 5+ and their Eternal Guard Fighting Style they should be worth it... Hmm... more pondering to do...

Guys look at it this way, dont buy eternal guard for damage, you want the stuborness, stuborness=victory for wood elves.

Yes, stubbornness is perfect if you need a unit to take a charge somewhere to be able to flank charge the enemy the following turn, especially if you include a battle standard bearer (although I doubt many people would fit one in their force - you could make the noble that's in the unit one).

actually just to wrap this up, eternal guard can be armed with the traditional sword and shield variety (well sumthing like that), and they have the 5+ armour save thus the other version of weaponry must have the 5+ armour save to, or just look at splits post, for the more logical version