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Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

So I shelled out a LOT of money to buy enough AM miniatures to make a 750 point fluff based list for a campaign I'm planning on writing called "The Consumption of Exsteron." I'll update here with rules, background, etc. as go along, and I'll be asking for lots of advice along the way.

The story behind this campaign is that my Hive Fleet (Hive Fleet Laelaps) is consuming its first prey world: a world on the outskirts of the Imperium. The Astra Militarum don't know about the approaching flleet, because it has not been encountered until now. For the first mission, the a small set of vanguard organisms have landed on the planet near a small outpost. Their goal is to destroy the communications tower so that they can kill the local garrison without warning the main base of their arrival on the planet. The Astra Militarum's goal is to send a distress call via the communications tower to warn the base of the incoming Tyranids.

Right now I need ideas for how to make jungle terrain and an Imperial outpost. Suggestions are appreciated!
   
Made in us
Tunneling Trygon






 reptilelover1995 wrote:
So I shelled out a LOT of money to buy enough AM miniatures to make a 750 point fluff based list for a campaign I'm planning on writing called "The Consumption of Exsteron." I'll update here with rules, background, etc. as go along, and I'll be asking for lots of advice along the way.

The story behind this campaign is that my Hive Fleet (Hive Fleet Laelaps) is consuming its first prey world: a world on the outskirts of the Imperium. The Astra Militarum don't know about the approaching flleet, because it has not been encountered until now. For the first mission, the a small set of vanguard organisms have landed on the planet near a small outpost. Their goal is to destroy the communications tower so that they can kill the local garrison without warning the main base of their arrival on the planet. The Astra Militarum's goal is to send a distress call via the communications tower to warn the base of the incoming Tyranids.

Right now I need ideas for how to make jungle terrain and an Imperial outpost. Suggestions are appreciated!


For an Imperial Outpost, I'd recommend a Bastion with Comms relay up top. Maybe some cheap barricades around it, you can get some cheap wood and corks at a local craft store for ~$5 to make tank traps, which is a good look. As for forests, again look at a craft store or a local pet shop and check out Aquarium decorations, they often look like Alien forests.

Sounds like a lot of fun!


 
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Buffalo, NY

Imperial Outpost (as stated above):

Bastion with Comms Relay, a few ADLs, maybe some Tanglewire upgrades (if you have SA).

For the trees, GW used to sell Jungle Trees (though you'd probably have to look on eBay to find them anymore).

GW also recommends using plastic aquarium plants

So yeah pretty much what jifel said.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/08/07 17:45:01


Greebo had spent an irritating two minutes in that box. Technically, a cat locked in a box may be alive or it may be dead. You never know until you look. In fact, the mere act of opening the box will determine the state of the cat, although in this case there were three determinate states the cat could be in: these being Alive, Dead, and Bloody Furious.
Orks always ride in single file to hide their strength and numbers.
Gozer the Gozerian, Gozer the Destructor, Volguus Zildrohar, Gozer the Traveler, and Lord of the Sebouillia 
   
Made in us
Tunneling Trygon






Best forests are aquarium and other very fake plants in green styrofoam basing. Just press and play. No need for paint. It's best to find the separating kind that has clusters. Looks more natural than just pressing in a leaf or a branch. It really can't get easier than that and can make a decent tree line spread out well enough for any number of bugs or anything to go through. Consider everything behind the front treeline as area terrain.

Tangle wire is easy with a large wire coiled, then two smaller wires wrapped around that one. If you want particularly fancy, string one of the smaller wire around some of the large wire coils as well. I use GW tank traps as anchors. A poor man's bastion can be the card packaging used in TV or other such boxes. The shaped bits that hold the product in place. Very cheap and very simple. Not a bad 'make do' piece of terrain for an outpost.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/08/07 17:59:36


 
   
Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

Thanks, everyone! I have six reptiles so I have plenty of fake plants haha.

Here's what I've got for campaign fluff so far:

I made a planetary survey, tell me what you think and give suggestions!

Exsteron Planetary Survey
Segmentum: Ultima
Sector: Astreon
Subsector: Zabos
System: Mensae, 4 planets (Catune, Exsteron, Drierus, Aycrade). 1 inhabited.
Surveyed: The first recorded survey of the Mensae system was in M.37 by Rogue Trader Kage Noctula during his explorations of the outermost fringes of the galaxy.
Summary: Single hothouse world, single jungle world, single ice planet, single dense gas giant. Jungle world hosts diverse indigenous flora and fauna.
Planets:
Inner Planets: Catune - small, innermost planet. Molten surface, high levels of volcanic activity. Unsuitable for human habitation.
Exsteron – mid-size planet covered in dense forests.
Outer Planets: Drierus – iceball, no atmosphere.
Satellites: Catune – 0
Exsteron – 1
Drierus – 2
Aycrade - 8
Asteroids: One major asteroid belt lies between Drierus and Aycrade, and another exists beyond Aycrade. A survey in M.39 of the asteroid belts revealed concentrations of nonliving organic matter, but nothing of value to the Imperium.
Comets: 1 major, 4 minor.

Exsteron
Type: Research station
Orbital Radius: .98 astronomical units
Gravity: .99G
Temperature: 18 to 24°C on landmasses.
Population: 0. The Imperial surveillance post supports 2,000 personnel.
Climate Classification: Tropical – standard. Carbon-based.
Tropospheric Composition: Nitrogen 73%, Oxygen 26%, Argon 0.8023%, Carbon Dioxide 0.1955%, Neon .002%, Helium .0005%, Methane .0002%
Climate: Temperate to Tropical. Due to the high concentration of Carbon Dioxide and the large bodies of water, the climate on Exsteron is fairly consistent.

The planet’s stable orbit and the fact that most of its land is on or very close to the equator means that seasonal temperature variations are minimal. There is a wet season and dry season, although even in the dry season it is not uncommon for rainfall to occur once every two to three weeks.
Climactic Regions: Temperate Islands: Several archipelagos are present just beyond the tropical zone of the planet, and in these areas the forests are filled with conifer-like plants that can withstand the lower winter temperatures.
Jungles: In the tropical regions of the planet, thick forests cover the landscape. Massive trees can grow to heights rivaling Imperial Titans. The thick canopy formed by these tall trees prevents large amounts of light from reaching the ground; so much so that night vision aids are often required to trek safely through the denser forested areas.

However, in some areas there are not enough nutrients to support such massive plants, and in these areas shorter species of flora thrive, creating a dense carpet of green. While there are some trees sticking out amongst the brush, they do not reach heights of over 5-6m.
Flora: A diverse array of tropical plants has been recorded – from massive trees to small bushes. The abundance of water and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere promote rapid plant growth.

Fauna: Typical jungle creatures populate Exsteron. Creatures analogous to felines, snakes, and other familiar species have been recorded.
Economy: None.
Society: None. The surveillance outpost includes a garrison of Astra Militarum.
Water Supply: Water is taken from local lakes, streams, and ponds, or from the global ocean. In the case of the latter, it is filtrated to remove salts and other pollutants.
Principle Exports: None.
Exsteron Surveillance Outpost: The planet is used as an outpost to keep a close eye on the outermost fringe of our galaxy. Its close proximity to the Tau Empire allows for closer watching of the xenos in case of a planned attack against the Imperium.

Here's a picture of the planet:


I've come up with some rules for the first mission but I'll need ideas for subsequent missions and I'd love feedback on what I have so far!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/08/11 23:47:01


 
   
Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

Update: I've bought everything I need for both army lists, and have just shelled out the money for an ADL and Imperial Bastion.

Does the Imperial Bastion kit come with the comms array option or does one have to buy the "upgrade pack" to have access to it? Because of their horrific butchering of the Tyranid codex and the overall game balance, I no longer buy from Games Workshop, but aside from a single listing on eBay I was unable to find a comms array for the Imperial Bastion up for sale.

Let me know
   
Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

Well, since I'm not getting any suggestions for further missions in the campaign or feedback on my deployment and whatnot, I'm just gonna scrap the project. It's just too much MONEY to be spending on stuff that may or may not work and so far there hasn't been much interest so it just doesn't seem worth it.
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





West Chester, PA

I've got some custom missions I developed for my own group's campaign, I'll post them this evening.

"Bringer of death, speak your name, For you are my life, and the foe's death." - Litany of the Lasgun

2500 points
1500 points
1250 points
1000 points 
   
Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

Awesome - thank you! I would also like feedback on the mission I've come up with so far, and future assistance/feedback on mission ideas/modifications to other people's missions since I want anything I make to be at least somewhat my own work. Otherwise I'll end up scrapping the project.

I did come up with ideas for deployment and some special scenario rules, but I want feedback because I'd like to have it as revised as possible before playtesting.

Here's what I came up with:

The AM player selects one corner of the table. The comms array may be placed anywhere within a zone stretching 12" along either edge forming the corner.

12"
------
XX |
XX | 12"

The Xs represent where the building could go. All other outpost terrain must be placed within 12" of the comms array. Alternatively, once my ADL and Bastion arrive, I could come up with an arrangement for them and just have that preset.

All infantry platoons, the platoon command squad and the sentinel squadron are sentries, the Heavy Weapons team and Chimaera are Defenders. The Astra Militarum player may choose whether the HQ command squad and special weapons team are Sentries or Defenders. Sentries must be placed more than 12" away from the comms array and at least 6" from any outpost buildings/friendly units - they must be closer to the center of the board than any outpost buildings (so no planting them in the corner :p). Defenders must be placed WITHIN 12" of the comms array and at least 6" from any friendly units.

I'm thinking that the Astra Militarum player should have their sentry units move along nominated paths (the AM player chooses the paths) to represent them being on a routine patrol, although when they become Aware they can move normally.

To make things interesting, if an AM unit with a vox caster is caught in close combat with a Tyranid unit, they may opt to raise the alarm. To do so, the model(s) with the vox caster(s) must stay alive for a full round of assault. While doing so, the models attempting to raise the alarm may not make an attack in that combat. If they are successful, the alarm is raised and all Astra Militarum units become Aware.

For Tyranids, I'm not sure how they should deploy. Perhaps they should deploy via Infiltrate? I don't want it to be too heavily weighed in their favor, so I'm not sure that's the best idea since I don't know if 1st turn assaults would be fair.

I'm also trying to decide how the comms array should work. If it only takes one turn to send out a distres signal, I think the battle is favoring the AM since they could easily just send a Defender in as soon as they were Aware. Perhaps making it so that it needs to be one full turn (if they move to the array that turn, it won't be their victory until the end of the next turn if they still have a unit there). Also they cannot move, shoot(including overwatch) or assault during the turn they're sending the distress call.

Also, if a Tyranid unit other than the Prime does not move or Run, and they are more than 1-2" into area terrain, they count as out of LOS for purposes of taking Awareness shots.

What do you think?
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





USA

reptilelover1995 wrote:Update: I've bought everything I need for both army lists, and have just shelled out the money for an ADL and Imperial Bastion.

Does the Imperial Bastion kit come with the comms array option or does one have to buy the "upgrade pack" to have access to it? Because of their horrific butchering of the Tyranid codex and the overall game balance, I no longer buy from Games Workshop, but aside from a single listing on eBay I was unable to find a comms array for the Imperial Bastion up for sale.

Let me know


It comes withe relay as well as the pieces for an Icarus lascannon.

reptilelover1995 wrote:Well, since I'm not getting any suggestions for further missions in the campaign or feedback on my deployment and whatnot, I'm just gonna scrap the project. It's just too much MONEY to be spending on stuff that may or may not work and so far there hasn't been much interest so it just doesn't seem worth it.


Setting the bar for your campaign creation at "Dakka member's interest' level is silly and going to disappoint you. If you're going to spend money on this, do it for your enjoyment (opponents too if that's a factor).

From your last post I have no idea what the objectives are, are the 'nids trying to destroy the AM or the relays? Are the AM there on a search and destroy mission? I'm unsure what to offer as feedback.

Shadowkeepers (4000 points)
3rd Company (3000 points) 
   
Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

Part of the issue is that I don't even have an opponent - I'm basically creating it to either play against myself or find someone who doesn't have the money to buy their own army. I'm really doing it for myself, it's more an issue of needing ideas and feedback as I go along, and if I can't come up with ideas for fleshing out the campaign and whatnot I really can't do much with it.

The Tyranid vanguard organisms have just arrived on the planet, and their goal in this mission is to destroy the communications array so this little outpost will not be able to warn the main base of the threat. The Astra Militarum's objective is to send out a warning message via the comms array (obviously the unit sending the warning has to be Aware first - if they don't know there's a threat, they're not gonna warn about it).

Once I've got any special rules and deployment stuff set up for the first mission, I'll be able to start playtesting it. At the same time, though, I'd like to come up with general ideas for subsequent missions in this campaign. At least then I'll have a starting point to work from, rather than getting frustrating because I can't think of mission ideas.

   
Made in ca
Longtime Dakkanaut






Toronto

Micheals and other craft stores have lots of scenery and a bastion with a comms relay would be good.

Adepta Sororitas: 3,800 Points
Adeptus Custodes: 8,100 Points
Adeptus Mechanicus: 8,400 Points
Alpha Legion: 4,400 Points
Astra Militarum: 7,500 Points
Dark Angels: 16,800 Points
Imperial Knights: 12,500 Points
Legio Titanicus: 5,500 Points
Slaaneshi Daemons: 3,800 Points
 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





West Chester, PA

As promised, here are 7 missions that I designed for my local campaign. The fluff/background can be adapted to whatever your needs (obviously you don't have Eldar for Gangplank's fluff).

- Amphibious Assault
- Sabotage
- Genocide
- Gangplank
- Bridge Over the River
- Blood in the Streets
- Rumble in the Jungle

You could use these missions based on the terrain features, or you could do a linear system, say start with a bold amphibious assault to cut off enemy forces leading toward an attack on a key bridge to secure a route for reinforcements. Then Tyranids counter attack by targeting population centers with Genocide, and the two armies struggle in a brutal city fight with Blood in the Streets.

I've had people look over all of these missions except Rumble. We've only play-tested Sabotage, it's fixed in the attached file (attacker now moves from short edges not long edges). If you get the chance to play any of these I'd appreciate any feedback.
 Filename Lydia - Alternate Missions - JJC.docx [Disk] Download
 Description
 File size 216 Kbytes


"Bringer of death, speak your name, For you are my life, and the foe's death." - Litany of the Lasgun

2500 points
1500 points
1250 points
1000 points 
   
Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

Thank you very much for the missions! I will download them now.

I do still need feedback on my deployment/special rules ideas for the first mission I came up with, and if any of those missions you posted seem like a good second mission I will post which one along with any modifications I've made. Tomorrow I'll be going to Hobby Lobby to pick up some cheap fake plants to make pieces of forest terrain so then I just have to wait for the last of my minis to arrive, paint them, and I'll be ready to game!

My final objective is to have a campaign book with the same quality/format as the Imperial Armour books, although it'll be shorter since I won't be putting in any new units.

Edit: I looked at your campaign missions, and except for the Genocide one are not going to be suitable for this specific campaign. The modification I'd be making is that reinforcements are NOT going to arrive because despite the fact that they know the Tyranids are here by that point, nobody else does and so nobody knows to send a fleet to defend them. Instead of sending reinforcements, I think it should be that they're trying to send out a warning to the rest of the Imperium that will let them know a new Hive Fleet is approaching. Since I will be doing constant campaigns (after this campaign, I'll come up with another for the next planet my Hive Fleet is going to consume), I do believe these scenarios will come in handy in the future.

I think the mission between the Genocide mission and the First Contact mission should be one where the first Tyranid spores begin to fall. This world only has one surveillance post, so the scale of the battle would be small (ie not a lot of tanks for the AM, and consequently not a ton of MCs for the 'Nids). All Tyranids held in reserve would be arriving via Mycetic Assault (basically deep striking with a 5+ cover save if they stay within 3" of their arrival point that turn) for no extra points, since the AM player will have several orbital defense cannons. Every Tyranid unit must take a Grounding Check as it enters play (including those that are deployed on the first turn), to represent the orbital defense cannons firing at the incoming spores. For units with multiple models (ie a unit of 20 gants) will take hits as if they had been inside an exploding tank instead - single models will take an S9 AP2 hit as normal.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/08/15 15:16:08


 
   
Made in us
Utilizing Careful Highlighting





Augusta GA

You want cheap jungle terrain with some old ruins in it? Go to Toys R Us or the toy isle in Walmart. Look for playmobil jungle playsets. Take home. Repaint, flock and base. Voila, $15 terrain that looks great and is the perfect size for 40k.
   
Made in gb
Committed Chaos Cult Marine






 Badablack wrote:
You want cheap jungle terrain with some old ruins in it? Go to Toys R Us or the toy isle in Walmart. Look for playmobil jungle playsets. Take home. Repaint, flock and base. Voila, $15 terrain that looks great and is the perfect size for 40k.


I think Amazon and fake fish tank plants are the way forward.
   
Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

Thanks for the great ideas, everyone! I did go to Hobby Lobby but they had only a very small selection of trees, and most of them didn't look suitable for a jungle environment. I may go to PetCo to see if they have some stuff I could use.

Main problem right now is that I need feedback on the "crunch" part of my first mission, and I need ideas for what should happen next. I'm in a real creative slump right now, and without suggestions and feedback to help me I just can't move forward.
   
Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

Well, I got some feedback from a user on another forum, and here's what I've got for the crunch of the first mission.

First Contact
On a small island northwest of the main facility, a small contingent of Astra Militarum keep watch for any suspicious activity that might indicate an impending attack. Their daily routine consists of patrolling along predetermined tracks, surveying the dense forest landscape. Unbeknownst to them, the first spores of Laelaps have landed nearby, and the vanguard organisms are all too eager to taste their first prey…

The Wargame:
This game recreates the first confrontation between the Imperium and Hive Fleet Laelaps on Exsteron. Play the game on a 6’ x 4’ board. There should be one Imperial Bastion with a Communications array and an Aegis Defence Line to represent the Imperial Outpost. The rest of the board should be have many pieces of jungle terrain to represent the thick forests of Exsteron.

The AM player selects one corner of the table. The Comms Array may be placed anywhere within a zone stretching 12" along either edge forming the corner. All other outpost terrain must be placed within 12" of the Comms Array.

All infantry platoons, the platoon command squad and the sentinel squadron are sentries; the Heavy Weapons team and Chimaera are Defenders. The Astra Militarum player may choose whether the HQ command squad and special weapons team are Sentries or Defenders. Sentries must be placed more than 12" away from the Comms Array and at least 6" from any outpost buildings/friendly units - they must be closer to the center of the board than any outpost buildings. Defenders must be placed WITHIN 12" of the Comms Array and at least 6" from any friendly units.

Once the Astra Militarum player has deployed his or her units, the Tyranid player may deploy. Tyranid units may go anywhere on the board – including within 6” of Astra Militarum units.

Roll a dice – the player who scores highest gets the first turn. Play for 6 turns.

Objectives

The Astra Militarum player must use the Communications Array to send out a warning to the main base. The Tyranid player must either destroy the Communications Array, or prevent the Astra Militarum player from sending out a warning.

Special Rules

Vanguard Organisms: Tyranid units suffer no Initiative penalty when striking into Difficult Terrain.

Communications Array: In order to send out a warning to the main base, the Astra Militarum player must have one unit on top of the Bastion for a full turn. Note that this does not include the turn the unit enters the bastion – if they enter the Bastion in their movement phase, they must remain there through the end of that turn as well as the next. While attempting to send the distress call, the unit may not move, shoot, assault, or fire overwatch. If assaulted, the unit strikes at Weapon Skill 1.

In order to destroy the Communications Array, a Tyranid unit must enter the Bastion. Upon doing so, they are engaged in Assault. The Bastion counts as AV 10, with 3 Hull Points.

[/b]FORCES OF THE IMPERIUM[b]
Company Command Squad
A squad of 5, with a vox caster, 2 grenade launchers, 2 flamers, and a regimental banner.

Infantry Platoon:
Platoon command squad with a medic, vox caster, 2 flamers, and 2 grenade launchers.

2 squads of 20 Guardsmen, with 2 vox casters, 2 grenade launchers, and 2 flamers.

A single special weapons squad equipped with 5 plasma guns.

One heavy weapons squad with 2 heavy bolters and one lascannon.

Chimaera
Chimaera equipped with a heavy flamer.

Scout Sentinels
3 Scout sentinels.

TYRANID FORCES:
Tyranid Prime
With Bonesword, Lash Whip, and Deathspitter.

Deathleaper

Retinue of 3 Lictors

10 Genestealers
With Broodlord.

5 Genestealers
   
Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

I've kinda come up with an idea for the next mission - it involves an assault on the main base. The main Tyranid swarm has arrived, and mycetic spores are beginning to fall. I'm thinking it should be a larger scale battle, but due to the size of the AM force stationed there it shouldn't be too large. Also, since this is just a small outpost on the outermost fringes of Imperial space, the AM would not have a lot of heavy armor. Similarly, the Tyranids would not be taking a lot of MCs.

I already talked about representing the Orbital Defense turrets, but I'm thinking it might be a better idea to just leave that part out - problem is that it would make the outcome of the game rely 90% on dice rolls. I can just basically say that the Tyranid force that has landed is what survived after orbital defense cannons began firing.

One thing i'd also like to have for the 'nids in this mission is a focus on CC biomorphs. I think that with the extremely dense jungles of Exsteron, creatures with large bio-cannons would have a hard time pushing their way through the foliage. On the other hand, things like hormagaunts could easily cut through the underbrush. Thus, there would be very little ranged firepower on the 'nids side. I'm thinking that most of the troops would be hormagaunts (maybe one or two termagant units), there'd be a walking hive Tyrant with CC weapons (BS & LW, and I'm not sure what the other one would be), a few warrior units (BS, LW, rending claws, that sorta thing), etc.

I need some advice for what points level the second mission should be, what I should have for the lists (I know nothing about AM so I don't know how to build a fluffy list), and ideas for specific objectives. Additionally, I need ideas for what kind of things to use for the actual surveillance outpost buildings. I've seen Imperial ruins and stuff from cities, but I've never really seen an imperium surveillance outpost. I really need some ideas!

Thanks
   
Made in au
Brainy Zoanthrope





Newcastle, Australia

 reptilelover1995 wrote:

TYRANID FORCES:
Tyranid Prime
With Bonesword, Lash Whip, and Deathspitter.

Deathleaper

Retinue of 3 Lictors

10 Genestealers
With Broodlord.

5 Genestealers


I dont have much knowledge of AM, but to me the Nid force here looks good with one exception. That Prime seems out of place in this list. I think it would work a bit better with maybe another genestealer squad instead potentially. Or something to that effect. Deathleaper is already included in the force so he can be the warlord, no real need for the Prime i feel.

Otherwise it all seems really cool, I like the idea quite a bit.

For the second mission, maybe you could also look into a squad of raveners with rending claws and spinefists? I feel spinefists fit nicely with a CC oriented army for Nids, and they work off attack profile so that makes it even more evident they are for CC builds to me.

So flanking the Hormi squads with a Termi squad with spinefists could be a cool way to do it?

But in terms of a slightly larger Tyranid invasion force, I might not move to the tyrant yet, I'd put him with a more MC force, maybe more mid sized Nids. So a warrior based army. Maybe even include a pyrovore as they kinda fit the close range theme.

In terms of an AM fluffy list, i think it should be fairly easy, pick a theme for them, Tanks, Infantry, Cavilry, Heavy Weapons, Conscripts, Elites. Then just fill the list with as much of that as you can. If you are attacking the main base though they would likely have most of that stuff unless your AM force has in their Fluff that they are known and revered for their use of elite soldies in their army, Or something like that. What is the Fluff you have behind the AM force?

Thanks for sharing.

6000 - Hive Fleet Limax
4000 - Sons of Horus
5500 - Ultramarine's
1000 - Blood Raven's
3000 - Skaven 
   
Made in us
Sneaky Lictor





Chicago, IL

Maybe look into using the Lictor Forest Brood formation from Leviathan Rising I for the Nid player - it would be very fluffy in this sort of environment, and would give the Lictors the extra survivability they need in order to be effective.

I also think the Prime makes a fine warlord for this mission. Hormagaunts and Gargoyles would also make fine additions to the list. 5 Genestealers is not enough to really make a difference for the Nid player, and will probably get wiped out easily before making combat. Make that 20 Genestealers with attached Broodlord and it will work much better. Or just change them all to Horms and give the Nid team a warrior brood with Deathspitters to give synapse support (looking at these lists I see only 1 synapse creature - the prime - which will not work if you are going to be adding creatures with IB).

This looks like a fun project - keep it up!
   
Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

Thanks for the helpful replies so far, everyone!

The reason I included the prime in this mission was because in my homebrew nid dex the Deathleaper is an Elites choice - still can only take one per army, but also can be attached to a brood of Lictors such that it doesn't take up an additional slot. I could change it so that someone can choose whether or not to use him as an HQ or elites (or attach him to a brood of Lictors to not take up a slot). Plus to be honest, by having the prime, I eliminate the need to buy more genestealers which is one less thing I need to spend money on

The idea for this AM fluff is that it's a small force on a world towards the outer rim of Imperium space. The world is a surveillance outpost, and doesn't see any real action (it isn't in any sort of highly contested war zone), so there's not going to be a ton of heavy tanks and whatnot. I'm thinking that this planet is something like the equivalent of Tyran in that sense. There might be a few tanks/vehicles (I have a chimaera and 3 scout sentinels), but nothing like what might be seen on a Hive world or something like that. The main base itself wouldn't be super huge - after all, the entire planet only supports 2,000 personnel. However, it would be bigger than what the tiny outpost in the first mission, perhaps with a few defense batteries since the planet would have at least some degree of preparedness for any potential threat.

I do think a warrior-based list would be fun to do - I think perhaps 1500-1850 would be a good points level for the main base invasion. I currently have five raveners with rending claws assembled, but I'd probably forgo the spinefists simply because I like to avoid proxying when I can (especially for narrative type stuff, I feel in these cases, too much proxying can take away from the story). If I do use raveners though they won't be burrowing - I feel like in the dense forests of Exsteron they'd be more likely to simply slither through the foliage towards their prey. I'll definitely be using hormagaunts as the bulk of my troops, although I think having exclusively hormagaunts would be a bad idea. I've got three Pyrovores so using those wouldn't be an issue.

Hopefully I can get this whole thing figured out so I can start playtesting (once I finish making the terrain, painting the last few models I need, and find a willing opponent)
   
Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

Still need to flesh out ideas for my next mission - I've got the general idea but I want to make sure I have a clear set points level and two fluffy lists before I continue. I made an order for some custom jungle terrain because I feel like I didn't do a great job on the pieces I made myself, and I will likely order custom terrain to represent the main surveillance outpost as well since i have no idea what to do with that.

I know I want to do a mostly mid-size nid list, and there won't be any heavy armor on the AM list either. Any help is appreciated.
   
Made in us
Dakka Veteran




http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=107 WAY cheaper tanglewire
   
Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

Thanks - I may use that link in the future. Still need ideas for second mission, as well as army lists.
   
Made in us
Death-Dealing Devastator





Seattle Area

I think you are going to need to develop two different follow on mission to reflect whether or not your communications outpost gets their call out or not.

Something along the lines of if they don't get there call out than the second mission can be similar to the first except that the tyranids should have a larger point force than the AM given that they have been able to absorb more bio matter to grow their force while at the same time the AM have received no real warning if the threat.

However if the signal is sent the next battle should be considerably more balanced and either be a solid defence of an imperial stronghold or it should be an imperial counter assault to relieve the communications center.

Hope this helps.

Carcharodon Astra, by the Emporer it is willed.  
   
Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

Thanks. What level of points should I do though, and what should my list for the Astra Militarum look like? I think for a points boost on the 'nids side, it'd have to be proportional to the amount of points each army would otherwise get (a 250 pt advantage is far more significant at 750 points than at 2000 points). I don't really enjoy reading fluff centered around the Astra Militarum, so I really don't know much about how a fluffy build should be given this scenario. I have some general ideas for a 'nid force, but I need to know a points level before I start working on it.
   
Made in us
Death-Dealing Devastator





Seattle Area

If you are doing a scenario where the bugs have an advantage I would say go for a 25% markup over the AM. If the distress beacon got through then I recommend equal points but if the AM are going to be hunkering down and preparing for the eventual assault give then improved fortifications and either artillery or tanks for heavy support.

Carcharodon Astra, by the Emporer it is willed.  
   
Made in us
Rough Rider with Boomstick





Georgia, US

 reptilelover1995 wrote:
Well, since I'm not getting any suggestions for further missions in the campaign or feedback on my deployment and whatnot, I'm just gonna scrap the project. It's just too much MONEY to be spending on stuff that may or may not work and so far there hasn't been much interest so it just doesn't seem worth it.


This is just my opinion. You shouldn't be doing this campaign for us on DakkaDakka. We have enough of them as it is. I'm not discouraging you from updating us as you go, but it should be for yourself.

My blog!
 cincydooley wrote:
It don't want none unless you got buns, hon.
1,500 Points II 1,500 Points II 125
Have a nice day. 
   
Made in us
Courageous Skink Brave




Kansas

As I've said before, doing this at all is because I want to, but I need ideas and feedback if I am to make any progress. The reason I was considering stopping is because I had no ideas for what to do next.

I like the idea of a few more fortifications, and maybe one or two tanks (simply because even if they have time to prepare the planet still doesn't have a lot of heavy armor around). Once I know what the default points level should be and someone can give me an idea for a fluffy AM list based on what I've said so far about what I'm looking for (I know nothing about AM fluff since I find them boring and don't enjoy reading any of their fluff), I should be able to write up an official entry for the scenario.
   
 
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