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Looking good, definitely want to see more pics as they come along.

As for what troops, you can't really go wrong with Termagants, but I prefer Hormas, just because I prefer the imagery of a horde of slashing monsters bounding across table being gunning down in droves but having so many numbers you just get overwhelmed... of course the reality is usually just that they get gunned down and that's the end of it But I still prefer them to Termagants.

Also it's always annoyed me that the Termagant models are physically large. They are bigger than Space Marines.

Thanks for the kind words. Would it be sensible to get a tervigon to spawn termagants?

Adding on to the warriors debate.

You need to build a list around them if you want them to function well.
Even then, they are not even close to amazing (shame too)

You would need venomthropes to shield them and then either 2x flyrants or exocrines / zoanthropes / guard to hunt anything capable of dropping a S8+ template, as this will wipe out a small unit with ease.

However, tyranids are quite often played as a fun army due to the units available and you can still pull off a win with them.
Its just situational.

Any unit from the book can be good depending on the situation.
However, some units work alot for efficiently in those situations.

Stealers are nice, but any gunline army gives them alot of trouble.

If you want to run a stealer heavy list, think into mawloc's, flyrants and crones as you need target saturation and something to hold units up.

Usually someone panics when a flyrant gets dragged into CC with a blob as it wont be leaving it.
However, a unit of stealers will tear through tarpits quite easily.

However, nids have always been down to play style, so its usually a case of tinkering and working out what works best for you.

I'm looking at picking up the swarm box, another carnifex or two, an exocrine, one or two venomthropes and a tervigon. I may grab some of these tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone for their advice, obviously everyone's local meta is different and it has been good to get a wide range of opinions.

Ok guys - I have a 1750 point game in 2 weeks and I'm planning on using my new Nids.

I'm hoping to have them all painted and ready to go by then, this is a massive ask for me... I'll do my best.

My list isn't amazing but I think it's reasonable given I will be using basically all the models I have (will have by then).

HQ

Winged Hive Tyrant

ELITES

Venomthrope

TROOPS

9 x Genestealer w/ Broodlord

20 x Hormagaunt

20 x Hormagaunt

30 x Termagant

Tervigon

FAST ATTACK

10 x Gargoyle

HEAVY SUPPORT

3 x Carnifex w/ 2 TL Devourers

I've painted the Hive Tyrant, 2 Carnifexes, 22 Genestealers and a Broodlord so far. The Tyrant and the Carnifexes are fully magnetised.

Here are a couple of dodgy camera phone photos of what I've done so far. Be gentle I'm no Picasso

Those are some great looking miniatures there, friend! Keep it up!

 Mumblez wrote:
Those are some great looking miniatures there, friend! Keep it up!

You're too kind!

Very nice work mate!

Nice work!

Finished my tervigon last night...

Nothing wrong with those paint jobs... Those models look tabletop ready to me. Nice work!

I like the list you are taking to your game as well, has some of our strong overall units mixed in with the less seen units like genestealers (which I love).

Just watch that Tervigon, make sure she has cover with venomthrope and screening as you are light on synapse without her, and those gribblies will eat each other.

Subscribed to this thread so I can see how your game goes and how the painting progresses

Nice looking models.

My only suggestion is that you are very light on Synapse. Basically only the Tervigon, because the Flyrant won't be tremendously effective Synapse (it has to fly 12+" each turn and can only reposition 90 degrees, so best case scenario you have it flying in a 12" box, but realistically in many games you will want to fly it out over the battlefield to get side/rear shots on enemy armour).

The Tervigon is really not that hard to kill, if you can find some terrain to hide it behind along with the Venomthrope it will get a 3+ cover save which is nice, but given it's your only synapse that isn't flying away, it just feels a bit risky to me. I'd probably invest in a couple of Zoanthropes.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Nice looking models.

My only suggestion is that you are very light on Synapse. Basically only the Tervigon, because the Flyrant won't be tremendously effective Synapse (it has to fly 12+" each turn and can only reposition 90 degrees, so best case scenario you have it flying in a 12" box, but realistically in many games you will want to fly it out over the battlefield to get side/rear shots on enemy armour).

The Tervigon is really not that hard to kill, if you can find some terrain to hide it behind along with the Venomthrope it will get a 3+ cover save which is nice, but given it's your only synapse that isn't flying away, it just feels a bit risky to me. I'd probably invest in a couple of Zoanthropes.

Funny you should mention that. I bought the Tervigon after putting a list together and realising that the Hive Tyrant was my only Synapse Creature! I've pushed the budget pretty hard and don't reckon I can add anything more before my first game but I will definitely look into adding more synapse (especially if my Tervigon gets killed early on and anarchy ensues).

Thanks to everyone for the praise on my painting, and cheers for all the advice so far. I'm not feeling hugely confident that I will win, however I haven't been this excited about the hobby in a while. Tyranids have definitely sparked new interest for me and I'm keen to get em on the table even if it means they're going to be wiped out


Automatically Appended Next Post:
...and then there's this happy little fellow

Nice Venomthrope.

If money is no issue you may get more mileage out of a Malanthrope which provides Shrouded and Synapse on a T5 W3 3+ with Regeneration for 85 points.

Also so you know there are new Tyranids on the way...could be exactly what they need

 Frozocrone wrote:
Also so you know there are new Tyranids on the way...could be exactly what they need

There are? When and from where? We only just got the new codex, dataslates and new models at the start of this year, I'm not expecting new nids for at least another year.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

 Frozocrone wrote:
Also so you know there are new Tyranids on the way...could be exactly what they need

There are? When and from where? We only just got the new codex, dataslates and new models at the start of this year, I'm not expecting new nids for at least another year.

They are from Forgeworld:

Model - http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Tyranids/TYRANID-MALANTHROPE.html
Rules - http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/New_Stuff/IMPERIAL_ARMOUR_VOLUME_FOUR_THE_ANPHELION_PROJECT_SECOND_EDITION.html

There's also rumours of 2 new kits, supposedly that will 'add punch'. Some blogger who may be a store owner (?) Mentioned it.

 flukezor wrote:

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

 Frozocrone wrote:
Also so you know there are new Tyranids on the way...could be exactly what they need

There are? When and from where? We only just got the new codex, dataslates and new models at the start of this year, I'm not expecting new nids for at least another year.

They are from Forgeworld:

Model - http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Tyranids/TYRANID-MALANTHROPE.html
Rules - http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/New_Stuff/IMPERIAL_ARMOUR_VOLUME_FOUR_THE_ANPHELION_PROJECT_SECOND_EDITION.html

Yeah but those are already out, I figured "on the way" meant they were not out yet.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

SBG wrote:
There's also rumours of 2 new kits, supposedly that will 'add punch'. Some blogger who may be a store owner (?) Mentioned it.

That I haven't heard, got any links? Is it a reliable rumour?

Update: Still waiting for my Swarm box to arrive in the mail. I was hoping it would arrive today as I have my work cut out getting them painted before the 26th! If my box doesn't arrive tomorrow I may look at buying another synapse creature (to replace genestealers perhaps?) Any suggestions?

I will post photos as I complete models.

 cyberjonesy wrote:
2 flyrant is a must.
crones seem good on paper but they arent that good in reality. Definately get 3 flyrants before even considering getting a single crone.
warriors are terrible, only get them if you go with the living artilery node.
You need to have cover saves vs the nasty shooting from most armies nowadays so consider venomthropes.
add some sort of tarpit as your troop choice. Personally I go with terma / devilgaunts and deep striking rippers. lots of people use hormas but I find them really underwhelming when it comes to cc. genestealers are a big waste of points btw. look at it this way, would you rather screen your army with bodies that cost 4 points or 13 points ? They WILL get shot down so its only a matter of how many points you concede per shooting phase. Take a serious look at the tarpit effect and you should be on your way

I don't want to play with you. Go to tournament where a lot of people will.

StolleMan wrote:
If my box doesn't arrive tomorrow I may look at buying another synapse creature (to replace genestealers perhaps?) Any suggestions?.

Zoanthropes are worth a look. Not crazy about the models, but the rules are pretty nice IMO. Synapse with an Invul save and some decent psychic power. Take a look at their rules in the Codex.

 jasper76 wrote:
Zoanthropes are worth a look. Not crazy about the models, but the rules are pretty nice IMO. Synapse with an Invul save and some decent psychic power. Take a look at their rules in the Codex.

They do seem pretty nifty. Do people tend to run them in broods or can they operate more efficiently solo?

It's not an issue now but a bit later down the track when I have more models to choose from that elites spot will be hotly contested.

StolleMan wrote:

 jasper76 wrote:
Zoanthropes are worth a look. Not crazy about the models, but the rules are pretty nice IMO. Synapse with an Invul save and some decent psychic power. Take a look at their rules in the Codex.

They do seem pretty nifty. Do people tend to run them in broods or can they operate more efficiently solo?

It's not an issue now but a bit later down the track when I have more models to choose from that elites spot will be hotly contested.

I believe Tyranid players usually tend to run them in squads of 2 or 3. If you put only 1 out there, and you're relying on him for synapse, and he gets popped, you'd be SOL (not to mention a unit of 1 Zoanthrope is an easy VP for your opponent). Hopefully, some more experienced Nid players can chime in here. I have never run less than 3 in a unit, myself.

People seem to use them singly for warp charge batteries, but I like to run them in broods of 3 - when I run them. I'm by no means competitive, however.

Mostly used for Synapse for me!

Yeah, it will be partially determined by your local "meta". If you run Broods of one, you scam off of the fact that each Brood is a Lvl 2 psycher. But volume of fire will toast your brain bug in a hurry. A second reason to run multiples is that each Brood gets a shot per Zoey with Warp Lance, so that greatly increases the chance that Warp Lance will do something useful. I tend to run them in Broods of x2, that saves a few points, but still adds a fair bit. When points are scarce (ie all the time ) I run one Brood of x2, and one Brood of a solo Zoey. I just make sure to keep the solo Zoey as well hid as possible.

The third slot is for Venomthrope...I like to run them as x2 as well, for durability.

 jasper76 wrote:

StolleMan wrote:

 jasper76 wrote:
Zoanthropes are worth a look. Not crazy about the models, but the rules are pretty nice IMO. Synapse with an Invul save and some decent psychic power. Take a look at their rules in the Codex.

They do seem pretty nifty. Do people tend to run them in broods or can they operate more efficiently solo?

It's not an issue now but a bit later down the track when I have more models to choose from that elites spot will be hotly contested.

I believe Tyranid players usually tend to run them in squads of 2 or 3. If you put only 1 out there, and you're relying on him for synapse, and he gets popped, you'd be SOL (not to mention a unit of 1 Zoanthrope is an easy VP for your opponent). Hopefully, some more experienced Nid players can chime in here. I have never run less than 3 in a unit, myself.

Actually us nid players tend to run them solo as warpcharge batteries and for better powers chances. Being Brotherhood/Brood of Psychers they work better that way since you lose some functionality when taken in broods of 2 or 3. And lets face it, nids are always going to be on wrong end of kill points.

barnowl wrote:

 jasper76 wrote:

StolleMan wrote:

 jasper76 wrote:
Zoanthropes are worth a look. Not crazy about the models, but the rules are pretty nice IMO. Synapse with an Invul save and some decent psychic power. Take a look at their rules in the Codex.

They do seem pretty nifty. Do people tend to run them in broods or can they operate more efficiently solo?

It's not an issue now but a bit later down the track when I have more models to choose from that elites spot will be hotly contested.

I believe Tyranid players usually tend to run them in squads of 2 or 3. If you put only 1 out there, and you're relying on him for synapse, and he gets popped, you'd be SOL (not to mention a unit of 1 Zoanthrope is an easy VP for your opponent). Hopefully, some more experienced Nid players can chime in here. I have never run less than 3 in a unit, myself.

Actually us nid players tend to run them solo as warpcharge batteries and for better powers chances. Being Brotherhood/Brood of Psychers they work better that way since you lose some functionality when taken in broods of 2 or 3. And lets face it, nids are always going to be on wrong end of kill points.

Seconded. When I played Nids I always did this, the extra chance to get Onslaught or Catalyst for my Carnifexen almost always paid off.

Those dice are also useful for getting Catalyst off on your Flyrants, two more dice could mean the difference between FNP or not.

I will see how my first game goes but I'm considering getting 2. At $41 each they are quite an investment.

Yeah they're insanely priced. I bought all mine off ebay and 2nd hand shops for less than half the retail price (got some metal ones and some resin ones).

If your using a Zoanthrope for backstop synapse I'd run a single model and try hide it behind LOS blocking terrain. They are tall and skinny, so watch they don't pop out over the top of their cover

Then if/when your Tervigon gets mulched and those gribblies start running backwards the zoanthrope can try to catch them all.