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I decided to play a fun 1850 game last week pitting my old 2nd ed Tyranids VS a Wave Serpent spam list I used to run in 6th. Hope you enjoy.

The lists:

I started collecting Nids back around 1994 and have quite a few of the older sculpts. As a result I thought it would be fun to get them all together and see if I could make a viable army with them. For this I included only old metal models or 2nd ed sculpts and took them up to 1850 using standard CAD rules. I had no idea whether it would work or not.


Back in 2013 I attended some Irish tournaments with an Eldar list that I sort of stumbled upon. Originally it was Eldar with SW allies but I botched the FoC with the Wolves and had to adapt some.
As a result it actually ended up being a variation of WS spam which I actually had never seen before.
I ended up going 5-1-5 across 3 tournaments which I was fairly happy with, with SM bikers being my absolute bane (0-3).




Why the Nids might win:
The Nids have 6 x t6 creatures all of which are fairly tough to take down with 3+ saves. Most of the Eldar shooting is str6 but ap-.
25 infiltrating/outflanking Stealers is scary and they will chew through virtually everything in the Eldar army bar the Avatar.
If the WS can be popped the Biovores will have a field day.
Nids have some nice deployment options – Hive Commander, Stealers, Lictor DS.
Target saturation – the Nids have 16 different units all with varying threats, defences, abilities and will force the Eldar to choose exactly what is the biggest threat to them.
Psychic phase – will dominate here.

Why the Eldar might win:
Str6 spam. The Eldar can pour a severe amount of str6 downfield both in one turn (if all WS's pop their shields) and on a more sustained basis. This will shred the Warriors, Biovores and Stealers.
Manoeverability – the WS can move 12 and turbo 24 leaving the mainly footslogging Nids behind.
The Avatar is a good buff unit and very good in hth. Outside of the Swarmlord he will chew through units.
Experience – know how this army plays and what it needs to do.
A lot of obsec – 10 units to secure objs.
Suboptimal Nid list – it potentially will fall at the very first hurdle.

Game setup:
I roll up Dawn of War, Big Guns with 5 objs.

Tyranid psychic powers included:
Swarmlord – Dom, Horror, Warp Blast, Onslaught
Hive Tyrant – Dom, Horror, Para, Onslaught
Zoan 1 – WB, Para,
Zoan 2 – WB, Horror

Warlord traits are FnP for the Swarmlord and Night attacker for the Eldar.

Terrain setup:



Both sides have some good cover in their Dzs. I make all of the ruins fully BLoS pieces with standard saves. Craters gave a 5+ save and hedges and trees 6+.

Game deployment:
The Nids win the roll-off to deploy objs so got to place 3, the Eldar 2.
Their idea is to try and place them centrally and simply advance en mass up the board.
The Eldar placed their two on the flanks, relying on their speed to get to them.




The Nids win the roll-off to choose table sides and choose the non bunker side. Their idea is to try and infiltrate the Stealers into as many ruins and buildings as they could and deny the Eldar as much cover as possible – there wasnt much to choose in it being honest but the opposite side had the aegis line which could prove to be a nasty defensive option for the Eldar.

The Eldar win the roll-off and choose to deploy and go first.



The Eldar decide to deploy in 3 groups. Group one on their left flank comprises a Wraithlord and two Serpents with 5 man DAs in them. They would pressure the Nid objective behind the aegis line.
Their central group consists of the Avatar babysitting two DA units on foot. One DA unit would hold the backfield obj whilst the other advances with the Avatar under cover of two empty Serpents.
Their right flank includes the second Wraithlord, the WW who would hang back and cover any advance and one Serpent with DAs. They will pressure the right hand objective.
One of the Serpents would make a last turn dash to the central obj effectively giving them 4 objs in theory.

Nids:


The Nids deploy two main battle groups. Their left flank comprises the two Carnifexes backed up by a Hive Tyrant and Guard and a Zoanthrope (I made a mistake here forgetting that the Zoans were one unit). This group would advance, firing as they went and try and take the left obj near the crater.
One unit of Warriors would support them to their right.
Their central group consists of the second Zoan who would synapse babysit the Biovores, Swarmy and one Guard. They would advance centrally as fast as possible. Two units of Stealers infiltrate to the central ruin to give board control and threat range.
The rest of the Nid units would outflank having nowhere really else to deploy safely.

Nids try for night fight but fail, also failing to seize the initiative and the game begins!

Turn 1 Eldar:
With nothing really in range or LoS, two Serpents turbo boost to the Nid obj at the aegis line to claim it and potentially pressure the Biovores backfield next turn.
The Avatar and DAs shuffle around a bit.

Shooting sees the WWs, Wraithlord and Serpents fire into the Warrior group behind the trees. After several batches of hits they begin to make their saves which turn out to be damn hot, only losing two wounds on one Warrior from a torrent of fire!



Turn 1 Nids:
On the left flank all of the Nids advance barring the Zoanthrope. Being out of range both Carnis choose to run whilst the Tyrant advances managing to cast off onslaught for a run/shoot manoeuvrer on one Carnifex whilst Swarmy does the same on the Tyrant.
The Warriors advance alongside with Swarmy and his Guard.
The Stealers decide to attempt a double charge on the Wraithlord as it would give First Blood and a point from Big Guns. The move into position needing about a 7 and 9 inch charge respectively.

Shooting sees both the Tyrant and Carni open up on the WWs but they only manage to kill one.
The Biovores then open up on the exposed DAs in the backfield, reducing both to two models per unit (a very lucky scatter clipped the second unit).

In hand to hand both Stealer units make it into the Wraithlord who manages to kill three from one unit in overwatch! However in combat the Stealers rending comes into play lethally and he is wiped. The Stealers consolidate closer to the Eldar lines trying to get cover.

The Nids earn FB and a point from Bgs.
2-0 Nids.



Turn 2 Eldar:
Eldar roll for their Warp Spider reserves and they come in. They choose to drop in behind the Nid lines successfully and pressure the backfield Biovores/Zoan.
One Serpent moves from the aegis line to pressure the Biovores too. The Avatar moves to setup a charge on the 2 man Stealer unit whilst the other Eldar units move back somewhat to continue shooting the advancing Nids and wipe out the 5 man Stealer unit.

Shooting sees the 5 man Stealer unit wiped out by a combination of a Serpent, a 5 man DA unit that disembarks and the Autarch who repositions slightly to also fire in.
The other Serpents and WWs then unload into both Carnifexes, killing both and earning 2 Big-gun points.
The Spiders shoot into the Zoanthrope just in range but it passes all of its 3+ saves.
On the left flank the last Wraithlord and Serpent fire into the Swarmlords unit but he passes all his look out sir rolls and the Guard tanks the wounds successfully.

The Avatar then makes a charge for the 2 man Stealer unit. He rolls terribly however failing the charge but using fleet to make it at a second attempt. In combat he easily wipes them out and consolidates.



Turn 2 Nids:
Nid reserve rolls see one unit of Warriors, one unit of Stealers and both Lictor dropping in.
The Lictors deploy behind the ruins on the right flank near the surviving Wraithlord. The Warriors and Stealers outflank to the aegis line to attack the Serpent there and claim that obj later.
The Tyrant continues to move up field as does the wounded Warrior unit who tuck into the central ruins to claim the obj there.
Swarmy turns to the right to go after the Wraithlord.

The psychic phase see both Zoans trying to target the Spiders and backfield Serpent respectively. Zoan1 manages to kill two Spiders who pass their break test but the other fails to hit Serpent and it survives.
The Warriors fail to glance the rear armour of the Serpent at the aegis line.
However the Tyrant manages to snipe out the Autarch who cant roll enough saves earning Slay the Warlord.
The Biovores try and snipe out the last of the DAs in the Eldar backfield and manage to kill one unit. However one still remains.
The score stands a the end of turn two: Nids 3-2 Eldar.



Turn 3 Eldar:
The backfield Serpent moves to get clear LoS on the Zoan/Biovores as the Spiders continue to pressure them too. The Avatar moves to setup a charge on the Warriors who are in the central ruins.
The Serpent that is being pressured at the aegis turboboosts back into backfield for safety.
The rest of the Eldar units shuffle about a bit.

In the shooting phase the WWs and right flank Serpents fire into the Tyrants unit but the Guard tanks all the wounds albeit losing three in the process.
The Serpent and Spiders then fire into the Biovores wiping them out completely and earning a BG point.

The Avatar makes a successful charge into the central warriors and wipes them out consolidating slightly.

Turn 3 Nids:
Nid reserve rolls sees the last 2 Stealer units arrive and it they joins their kin at the aegis line, firstly to secure it but also to try and get closer to the backfield Serpent.
Swarmy doubles back and makes a beeline for the central Avatar.
The Tyrant continues to advance up field.
Both Lictors move to setup a charge on the retreating Wraithlord.

Shooting sees the Tyrant kill another Walker and reduce the last one to 1HP.
Both Zoans again try and kill the backfield Serpent with Warp Blast but fail to cast/hit again.

In hand to hand Swarmy and his Guard reach the Avatar.



Swinging first the avatar does 3 wounds to Swarmy. The Guard hits next but fails to do any wounds.
Swarmy then attacks and does 3 wounds to the Avatar. It fails two saves and is instagibbed due to the bone Sabres!

Both Lictors then charge the Wraithlord. It makes some amazing overwatch rolls and kills off the first Lictor. The second makes it into combat and does 2 wounds taking one in return.



Turn 4 Eldar:
On the Eldar right flank, one Serpent boosts to claim the obj at the crater. The other and the surviving Walker retreat 6” to try and avoid the Tyrant.
Both Serpents on the left flank shuffle a bit to get range on the Nid units holding the aegis line.
Meanwhile the backfield Serpent again moves slightly to fire on the backfield Zoan.

Shooting sees the Serpent and Walker kill off the Tyrants Guard and put another 3 wounds onto him.
Both Serpents on the right flank fire into the aegis Nid units and manage to wipe out one unit of Stealers there.
The backfield Serpent kills off the Zoanthrope leaving that obj now unclaimed.

Hand to hand sees the Lictor take another wound VS the Wraithlord but they both hold.

Turn 4 Nids:
The surviving Tyrant moves forward again determined to kill off the last Walker for a Bg point and earn Line Breaker too.
The Swarmlord moves to attack the Eldar backfield objective whilst his Guard splits off and retreats into backfield to try and pressure the Serpent there.
The last two Stealer units split up, one going for their home obj and the other to the central ruins.

Shooting sees the tyrant kill off the last Walker earning another Bg point.
The remaining Zoan manages to strip a HP from the backfield Serpent.

In hand to hand the Lictor manages to kill off the Wraithlord earning another Bg point.



At the end of turn 4 the score now looks like:


Turn 5 Eldar:
The Serpents on the Eldar right flank shuffle about a bit to target the Tyrant in the shooting phase.
The backfield Serpent unloads its DAs and moves with them to target the oncoming Stealer unit.
Both Serpents on the left flank move to shoot the Lictor and advancing Stealers while the remaining DAs on the Eldar home obj move to the top of the ruins to try and snipe the Swarmlord.

Shooting sees the Tyrant killed off at last. The backfield DAs kill off the onrushing Stealer unit whilst their Serpent kills the last Zoanthrope.
The other two Serpents fail to wound the Lictor.

Turn 5 Nids:
The Swarmlords Guard runs and repositions into the central ruins to try and hold the obj there.
The Swarmlord setup a charge on the DAs holding the backfield obj.
The Lictor charges the empty Serpent in backfield.

Nids have no shooting this turn.

Hand to hand sees Swarmy obliterate the DAs and claim that obj. The Lictor manages to wreck the empty Wave Serpent and consolidates somewhat.



Going into the final turn the score stands:


Turn 6 Eldar:
Its do or die time for the Eldar being 8 points down at this stage.
The DAs in the Nid backfield move to claim the obj there whilst their Serpent boosts over to the aegis obj to try and contest it.
One of the right hand flank Serpents then boosts to the central ruin objective to claim it.
The surviving Serpent from the right flank boosts into the home obj to claim it.

No shooting or hand to hand this turn, Could the Eldar hold out?



Turn 6 Nids:
With all of their objectives now contested but the Eldar firmly holding one on their left flank the Nids need to wipe out all of the contesting Serpents and claim 3 of the objs to win.

The Warriors at the aegis line charge the Serpent there.
The Guard at the central ruin charges its contesting Serpent.
Swarmy and the Stealer unit then charge the Serpent a their obj.

The Warriors manage to wreck their Serpent cleanly claiming that obj.
However the Guard dosent manage to hit/pen his and that obj is now held by the Eldar.
The Swarmlord and Stealers then attack wrecking the Serpent and claiming that objective.



Or did they?
Removing the ruin after the DAs had emergency disembarked reveals they are still within 3” of the obj and contest it.



So the game ends:



Final score:


Post game thoughts:
That was quite a fun game overall. Having played the Serpentspam list quite a bit I really thought it was going to be a shooting gallery. Str6 VS t4 Warriors and Stealers indicated trouble and with so much str6 the t6 MCs could be hurt too. However they tanked wounds very well and survived more than I had expected.
I was disappointed with the Nid psychic powers, the Zoans were useless in the game, stripping a measly 2HPs from Serpents and considering the domination in the phase the Nids should have accomplished more.
The Eldar did well setting up, covering all flanks with a decent set of units and denying the Stealers anywhere to really infiltrate well. However they were sloppy with their Wraithlords, they should have been protected more and given away less BG points.
The Swarmlord/Tyrant did very well, wiping out multiple units, having a big threat radius and ultimately being unlucky not to have claimed their objs.
I felt the Stealers were disappointing overall, they were out of position a lot and ended up being fodder for the most part.
The Nids definitely lacked long range and potent shooting too – the fact that until t6 all 5 Serpents were still running kind of summed that up (only losing a few due to last turn suicide runs).
I wonder if doing a full refused flank siding on the left for the Nids would have worked better in hindsight.
Ultimately I think the Eldar manoeuvrability and firepower hurt the most and they did well to win 13-9 overall.

Thanks for reading!

For a rematch, you could translate the rules back to 2nd, so the nids have the advantage of the rules system they were collected for.

Fun read.

2nd ed Nids were insane. Completely insane.

Having free reign on the codex editions is an awesome idea, imagine using 3rd ed chaos allied with 4ed necrons.

For a rematch, you could translate the rules back to 2nd, so the nids have the advantage of the rules system they were collected for.

Fascinating idea.
Although I cant find a datasheet on Waveserpents. Did they exist back then? I could proxy in Falcons however in their place.
Also any idea how I would adapt Swarmlords and Tyrant Guard rules?

The Swarmlord would just be a tooled-up Hive Tyrant, I would think, and Tyrant Guard just Warriors with appropriate upgrades (could warriors get biomorphs in 2nd ed? I can't remember).

As for the wave serpent, Armorcast made a resin one briefly, although it looked like this:


There may be a datafax floating around the internet somewhere.

They sure could: 1 biomorph. *cough* warp field *cough* (4+ inv, +1str and chance to short out other inv saves ).

I'll dig around for those WS faxs thanks.