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Since Rippers are not a competitive unit (in terms of not being a scoring unit, ineffective in combat/shooting), do any nid players use them? From Tunnel swarms, spinefist rippers, or anything in between? Sky-slashers included

Some players think the parasite is competitive.

I've had good luck with the parasite, however I need to finish my big ole blob of gargoyles to make it work properly.

Ripper Swarms are just plain not worth taking. They need to be kept on a Synapse leash or they *will* die in droves, and even then I'd much rather have a unit of Gaunts. The only time I can see them being worth it is if you want to have a tarpitting unit near your synapse creatures, or if you're running a Parasite of Mortrex list...

Or If you like small creatures that can note everything to death. They're great fun. And fluffy.

I use them :I Granted, I don't do anything Competative with them, but I've had Rippers tie up the other guy's CC unit long enough for my Stealers to steal the show.

What about sky-slashers has anyone ever fielded them?

Sky-slashers are generally considered one of the worst units in the Tyranid codex.

Really, much better options in the FA slot.

Thought so. Such a fun idea of being swarmed by jaws with wings

As much as I enjoy painting the rippers I find they work better as decorations on the bases of the bigger creatures. Kind of like the way a Remora hangs onto a big whale or a shark I know there was a point in time when if you could add the ripper unit to a MC base and it actually had an in game effect. But that is no more.

Of course some of us still use Spore mines, and they are often even more ineffective than Rippers.

The old dex ripper swarms were the shizzle.... the new dex, not so much

Zid wrote:The old dex ripper swarms were the shizzle.... the new dex, not so much

What were different about them then? I haven't really had a chance to check that one out

dalsiandon wrote:As much as I enjoy painting the rippers I find they work better as decorations on the bases of the bigger creatures. Kind of like the way a Remora hangs onto a big whale or a shark I know there was a point in time when if you could add the ripper unit to a MC base and it actually had an in game effect. But that is no more.

Of course some of us still use Spore mines, and they are often even more ineffective than Rippers.

Spore Mines, on the other hand, are actually quite decent. I run 2x3 Spore Mines at 1000pts, and they are very helpful in DOW (infiltrating stealers go right into the deployment zone, tervi sits in the middle with catalyst.

Yes, they are a liability in other missions, more of an annoyance than a threat, and god-awful against Dark Eldar (FREE PAIN TOKENS!) but I figure I'm pretty much screwed against good Dark Eldar anyway. They can be quite a bit of fun against other horde armies, as they really restrict deployment options.

Rippers, are not really worth buying in an armylist anymore, in 4th they were awesome cause they could hold down units and not be smushed in synapsis range, now not so much, since synapsis lost the eternal warrior rule they die just as fast as they used to, and they dont have the upgrades they used to neither.

If they were like five points a base or less then sure they'd be fine the way the they are. But at ten points a base, for a unit that can't score, is a poop in CC and dies out of synapse. It's just pointless for the points. Like most of the dex its over priced. I wish them and spore mines where five points cheaper!

the parasite escorted by gargoyles is alot of fun in friendly games.

he's a little bit expensive but if you can keep fists tied up with gargoyles he can make plenty of babies

Warboss Gutrip wrote:

dalsiandon wrote:As much as I enjoy painting the rippers I find they work better as decorations on the bases of the bigger creatures. Kind of like the way a Remora hangs onto a big whale or a shark I know there was a point in time when if you could add the ripper unit to a MC base and it actually had an in game effect. But that is no more.

Of course some of us still use Spore mines, and they are often even more ineffective than Rippers.

Spore Mines, on the other hand, are actually quite decent. I run 2x3 Spore Mines at 1000pts, and they are very helpful in DOW (infiltrating stealers go right into the deployment zone, tervi sits in the middle with catalyst.

Yes, they are a liability in other missions, more of an annoyance than a threat, and god-awful against Dark Eldar (FREE PAIN TOKENS!) but I figure I'm pretty much screwed against good Dark Eldar anyway. They can be quite a bit of fun against other horde armies, as they really restrict deployment options.

They're great for area denial, for some reason people get really worried about setting them off. That said, against an experienced player they shouldn't be very effective, unless you're fighting footslogging GEQ.

Andilus Greatsword wrote:

Warboss Gutrip wrote:

dalsiandon wrote:As much as I enjoy painting the rippers I find they work better as decorations on the bases of the bigger creatures. Kind of like the way a Remora hangs onto a big whale or a shark I know there was a point in time when if you could add the ripper unit to a MC base and it actually had an in game effect. But that is no more.

Of course some of us still use Spore mines, and they are often even more ineffective than Rippers.

Spore Mines, on the other hand, are actually quite decent. I run 2x3 Spore Mines at 1000pts, and they are very helpful in DOW (infiltrating stealers go right into the deployment zone, tervi sits in the middle with catalyst.

Yes, they are a liability in other missions, more of an annoyance than a threat, and god-awful against Dark Eldar (FREE PAIN TOKENS!) but I figure I'm pretty much screwed against good Dark Eldar anyway. They can be quite a bit of fun against other horde armies, as they really restrict deployment options.

They're great for area denial, for some reason people get really worried about setting them off. That said, against an experienced player they shouldn't be very effective, unless you're fighting footslogging GEQ.

Biovores seem to be a good idea for spawning Mines all over the place; even better now that they don't give up KP's.

I think a list with Parasite spawning rippers, Tervigons throwing out gaunts, and Biovores dropping da bomb would be quite fun. Imagine spawning 30 or so gaunts a turn, plus 3 mines, plus a bunch of ripper bases Would suck for KP missions, but rock objectives

Rippers were poor in the 4ed codex also. Still couldn't score, were outclassed by spinegants point for point (and considering the option to without number the gants) and counter to what was said above, they did not gain eternal warrior when in synapse. Only reason people took them in 4ed was to leave more points for masses of MCs.

It was 3ed that they were a hidden gem, due to the crazy 'build a hive' rules Andy Chambers added to the dex. Rending ripper swarms were nasty.

In 5ed there's little reason to pay for them outside of composition events. You really get much more out of termagants or hormagaunts for the points.

I'd actually like to see more Spore Mines set up- if only to let Ork players use the "It's a Grot's Life" rule for getting rid of minefields.

Anvildude wrote:I'd actually like to see more Spore Mines set up- if only to let Ork players use the "It's a Grot's Life" rule for getting rid of minefields.

Win

Zid wrote:

Andilus Greatsword wrote:

Warboss Gutrip wrote:

dalsiandon wrote:As much as I enjoy painting the rippers I find they work better as decorations on the bases of the bigger creatures. Kind of like the way a Remora hangs onto a big whale or a shark I know there was a point in time when if you could add the ripper unit to a MC base and it actually had an in game effect. But that is no more.

Of course some of us still use Spore mines, and they are often even more ineffective than Rippers.

Spore Mines, on the other hand, are actually quite decent. I run 2x3 Spore Mines at 1000pts, and they are very helpful in DOW (infiltrating stealers go right into the deployment zone, tervi sits in the middle with catalyst.

Yes, they are a liability in other missions, more of an annoyance than a threat, and god-awful against Dark Eldar (FREE PAIN TOKENS!) but I figure I'm pretty much screwed against good Dark Eldar anyway. They can be quite a bit of fun against other horde armies, as they really restrict deployment options.

They're great for area denial, for some reason people get really worried about setting them off. That said, against an experienced player they shouldn't be very effective, unless you're fighting footslogging GEQ.

Biovores seem to be a good idea for spawning Mines all over the place; even better now that they don't give up KP's.

I think a list with Parasite spawning rippers, Tervigons throwing out gaunts, and Biovores dropping da bomb would be quite fun. Imagine spawning 30 or so gaunts a turn, plus 3 mines, plus a bunch of ripper bases Would suck for KP missions, but rock objectives

The issue with Biovores is the need for Synapse, but they are cheap and can do some interesting things. I do like them, even when a shot scatters it still leaves a potential threat. And the opposing player needs to decide if he is going to take someones shooting phase to get ride of it or risk it drifting into his forces.

Anvildude wrote:I'd actually like to see more Spore Mines set up- if only to let Ork players use the "It's a Grot's Life" rule for getting rid of minefields.

Spore mines don't count as a minefield, afaik. They are a living, moving creature with limited intelligence, whereas a minefield is... Well, I think its self explanitory. So I'm not sure of the "It's a Grot's Life" rule would work the same way for Spore Mines.

Thing is, Spore Mines are about the only 'mine' in the game, barring special situations that are generally house rules.

I think it works for those pre-deployed spores, at least- maybe not ones that are plunked down by biovores, though.

Grundz wrote:the parasite escorted by gargoyles is alot of fun in friendly games.

he's a little bit expensive but if you can keep fists tied up with gargoyles he can make plenty of babies

'He' makes babies? I always saw Mortie as a 'she', along with Tervigons and Broodlords.

I'd like to see Malanthropes give Ripper units Scoring capability. It'd suit the creature's fluff as an overseer of consumption perfectly, and provide a purpose for two units that suffered a massive hit between 5ed and the new Dex.

lindsay40k wrote:'He' makes babies? I always saw Mortie as a 'she', along with Tervigons and Broodlords.

yes
the space wolves are the women
if you catch my meaning

Oh my stars and garters.

lindsay40k wrote:

Grundz wrote:the parasite escorted by gargoyles is alot of fun in friendly games.

he's a little bit expensive but if you can keep fists tied up with gargoyles he can make plenty of babies

'He' makes babies? I always saw Mortie as a 'she', along with Tervigons and Broodlords.

I'd like to see Malanthropes give Ripper units Scoring capability. It'd suit the creature's fluff as an overseer of consumption perfectly, and provide a purpose for two units that suffered a massive hit between 5ed and the new Dex.

I saw it more like a guy, since it... er... inseminates its victims.

Anvildude wrote:Thing is, Spore Mines are about the only 'mine' in the game, barring special situations that are generally house rules.

I think it works for those pre-deployed spores, at least- maybe not ones that are plunked down by biovores, though.

They are both the same spore, just the biovore nurtures them within his body until firing them. The ones Pre-deployed just enter the battle field differently, but are still very much living organisms. Though I'd have to have both an Ork book and a Tyranid book to compare the rules to actually see if it would work.

Takeshishin wrote:

Anvildude wrote:Thing is, Spore Mines are about the only 'mine' in the game, barring special situations that are generally house rules.

I think it works for those pre-deployed spores, at least- maybe not ones that are plunked down by biovores, though.

They are both the same spore, just the biovore nurtures them within his body until firing them. The ones Pre-deployed just enter the battle field differently, but are still very much living organisms. Though I'd have to have both an Ork book and a Tyranid book to compare the rules to actually see if it would work.

I was at a tourny tonight, just watching a few games, and "the Grot's life" rule would not work in this situation. While some of the reasons explained were kind of odd they mostly made since. The most reasonable answers are here:

1) Spore Mines are a unit. either FA or a Biovore weapon, the fact that mine is in the name doesn't really matter.
2) Mines are pre-placed markers/tokens that are set-up for certain game types and scenarios.
3) The "it's a grot's life" rule is optional. The Ork player does not have to send the Gretchen into the field if he does not wish to.