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You still have to consider the Imperium has the largest unified fighting force (Imperial Guard) in the galaxy. And that doesn't even include the Space Marines, The Imperial Navy, The Inquisition and its militant groups. (Sisters, Grey Knights, ect.)

The Tyranids and the Orks are probably both more numerous than the empire.

Trilobite wrote:The Tyranids and the Orks are probably both more numerous than the empire.

Yes they are but they aren't a unified force. We know the hive fleets fight each other to absorb the weaker ones bio mass(and possibly for other reasons) and orks fight each other all the time.
Imperial Guard being the largest unified fighting force in the galaxy is a direct line from the Guard codex

where are you getting that hive fleets fight amongst each other? The hive mind is one entity, the tendrils just extensions of it's will. If you punch someone with your right hand, and then go to hit them with your left, your right dosent try to attack or stop your left, does it. They fight together. just as the hive fleets will. The fluff is in the codex, no race in the 40k universe comes close to being as single minded in their intent as the Tyranids.

Trilobite wrote:where are you getting that hive fleets fight amongst each other? The hive mind is one entity, the tendrils just extensions of it's will. If you punch someone with your right hand, and then go to hit them with your left, your right dosent try to attack or stop your left, does it. They fight together. just as the hive fleets will. The fluff is in the codex, no race in the 40k universe comes close to being as single minded in their intent as the Tyranids.

I didnt say they werent one mind. I said that the hive fleets will fight each other and the winner will absorb the others bio mass. They do this to weed out the weaker one. And the IG being the most numerous unified force is a direct quote.

If it was needed, the smaller splinters would probably give themselves up for absorption into the greater mass, therefore not really losing any precious biomass.

Trilobite wrote:If it was needed, the smaller splinters would probably give themselves up for absorption into the greater mass, therefore not really losing any precious biomass.

Sigh... I didnt say it was needed. It's recycling. They're taking the weaker of the two and having the superior fleet absorb the bio mass and turn it into nids that suck less. Kinda like natural selection

I'm pretty sure they fight eachother to gain more favour with the hive mind. The hive mind is one entity, yes, but the tendrils are like it's cells. (bad example but I dun care)
They do fight eachother. And no, they don't give themselves up, they would fight to the death. Even if they fight, they lose biomass, leftover biomass would be absorbed regardless.

Golden Sabres wrote:I'm pretty sure they fight eachother to gain more favour with the hive mind. The hive mind is one entity, yes, but the tendrils are like it's cells. (bad example but I dun care)
They do fight eachother. And no, they don't give themselves up, they would fight to the death. Even if they fight, they don't lose any biomass anyways, it would all be absorbed regardless.

Thank you for reading. I would also have to say them fighting to gain favor is a good concept. From what i understand the hive mind exists in the warp so im curious if its just another warp entity that made a species in its image to fight in the real universe?

Chosen Praetorian wrote:

Golden Sabres wrote:I'm pretty sure they fight eachother to gain more favour with the hive mind. The hive mind is one entity, yes, but the tendrils are like it's cells. (bad example but I dun care)
They do fight eachother. And no, they don't give themselves up, they would fight to the death. Even if they fight, they don't lose any biomass anyways, it would all be absorbed regardless.

Thank you for reading. I would also have to say them fighting to gain favor is a good concept. From what i understand the hive mind exists in the warp so im curious if its just another warp entity that made a species in its image to fight in the real universe?

The Hive Mind does not exist in the warp (so far as I am aware), in fact I'm pretty sure the warp is limited to the Milky Way only. BTW, does anyone know the record of galaxies eaten by Nids? Or is it just the one they were created/evolved in?

I'm not so sure if it's from the warp, more like just the consciousness of a race. I would doubt that it created the race, more like the race created it (weren't warriors the first tyranids?). There is the theory that the hive mind is actually a C'tan called the outsider, as they are both describe in a subtle, yet very similar way.

Of course, it's just a theory, and until GW would probably pass it off as bollocks it stays at that.

Golden Sabres wrote:I'm not so sure if it's from the warp, more like just the consciousness of a race. I would doubt that it created the race, more like the race created it (weren't warriors the first tyranids?). There is the theory that the hive mind is actually a C'tan called the outsider, as they are both describe in a subtle, yet very similar way.

Wait, aren't Necrons the antithesis of Tyranids?

Emperors Faithful wrote:

Golden Sabres wrote:I'm not so sure if it's from the warp, more like just the consciousness of a race. I would doubt that it created the race, more like the race created it (weren't warriors the first tyranids?). There is the theory that the hive mind is actually a C'tan called the outsider, as they are both describe in a subtle, yet very similar way.

Wait, aren't Necrons the antithesis of Tyranids?

Why yes they are. In the sense of organic and non-organic. But never the less, they do have something in common. They are both soulless. Now, therefore, if the tyranids are indeed soulless, but the creatures they consume do have souls, those souls must have been consumed yes?

40kwiki wrote: Since the the recent invasion of the galaxy by the Hive Fleets of the Tyranids, it has been speculated by some in the Inquisition that the Outsider is behind the Tyranids' arrival in the Milky Way. He may be the driving force behind the unified Tyranid Hive Mind, as he seeks to destroy the galaxy's defenders with the living weapon that is the Tyranid species. If he is the Tyranids' ultimate master, then there may be no stopping the Tyranids from consuming the Imperium of Man and all who would oppose the C'tan. The Necrons will fully awaken and shall once more harvest all life in the galaxy.

Retrieved from "http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/The_Outsider"

Souls, most likely consumed by the outsider.

Course, this is all irrelevant as the space elves will rise again and pwn them all anywayz!

Golden Sabres wrote:I'm pretty sure they fight eachother to gain more favour with the hive mind. The hive mind is one entity, yes, but the tendrils are like it's cells. (bad example but I dun care)
They do fight eachother. And no, they don't give themselves up, they would fight to the death. Even if they fight, they don't lose any biomass anyways, it would all be absorbed regardless.

Actually, yes they would lose biomass.

A large amount of energy is consumed while fighting, and many chemical reactions-- such as the kind needed to break bodies down-- take energy as well. It's pretty much impossible to get 100% of chemical reactants to, well, react. Even with a very efficient system, they're still going to lose some energy due to heat loss.

What are you talking about? I never said they would'nt lose biomass (re-read my post).

....<.<
....>.>

*flees while everyone re-reads his post... *phew**

If it was a C'Tan i dont see how it would cast a shadow in the warp with their inability to be psychic. I might be wrong. And i figured it had to exist in the warp to be so psychically powerful.

Golden Sabres wrote:

Emperors Faithful wrote:
Wait, aren't Necrons the antithesis of Tyranids?

Why yes they are. In the sense of organic and non-organic. But never the less, they do have something in common. They are both soulless. Now, therefore, if the tyranids are indeed soulless, but the creatures they consume do have souls, those souls must have been consumed yes?

1) Necrons aren't souless. They are trapped souls of Necrontyr.

2) The souls is unlikely to be consumed along with the biological corpse when dead. Even by 40k spiritual standards it doesn't work that way.

Chosen Praetorian wrote:If it was a C'Tan i dont see how it would cast a shadow in the warp with their inability to be psychic. I might be wrong. And i figured it had to exist in the warp to be so psychically powerful.

If you were scared shitless of the warp, would you try and place a barrier between yourself and the warp?
And wait a minute, I thought they just had insane mental abilities. I mean, if you look at the nightbringer you go insane and try and kill yourself don't you?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Emperors Faithful wrote:

Golden Sabres wrote:

Emperors Faithful wrote:
Wait, aren't Necrons the antithesis of Tyranids?

Why yes they are. In the sense of organic and non-organic. But never the less, they do have something in common. They are both soulless. Now, therefore, if the tyranids are indeed soulless, but the creatures they consume do have souls, those souls must have been consumed yes?

1) Necrons aren't souless. They are trapped souls of Necrontyr.

2) The souls is unlikely to be consumed along with the biological corpse when dead. Even by 40k spiritual standards it doesn't work that way.

I stand corrected... I just realised I have contradicted my self...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Golden Sabres wrote:

4M2A wrote:Even if the necrons do get damaged to the point they can't heal or are killed so many times they become useless they is no reason to think the C'tan can't just make some more, there are lots of races out there that would love "imortality".

Aye, that be true. But they won't be Necrons then. The Necrons are the souls of the Necrontyr and if they are completely destroyed, so will their souls. Sure, the C'tan can find new servants, but eventually every Necron will die in a war of Attrition. (And then the race will be called pariahs lol)

Oh how I contradict myself.

But Im confused. The shadow in the warp exist in the warp and they have psychic abilities which seems to me says they have the ability to access the warp which is something the C'tan could never do IIRC

Chosen Praetorian wrote:But Im confused. The shadow in the warp exist in the warp and they have psychic abilities which seems to me says they have the ability to access the warp which is something the C'tan could never do IIRC

I always just thought that it was a barrier in between the warp like the webway... (as in between the material plane and the immaterium.)
Coz IIRC they C'tan were always constantly trying to seal off the warp from the material plane.

P.S.
We need one of dem flufynuts bos!

lexicanum wrote: It is as if the Tyranids have blocked out the connection to the warp, making any psychic abilities very difficult to accomplish, affecting psychic races like the Eldar most heavily. It does however have the added benefit of keeping the denizens of the warp in the warp.

Please interpret that...

Lol sounds like a parental control blocker on warp users

C'tan plan for galactic domination:

1. Break necrodermis shell so they are giant gaseous energy thingies
2. Go to Sol
3. eat Sol
4. Terra has no sun, humans lose->chaos has no followers left, nids have way less food
5. ?????????
6. Profit!

I would think the Deciever is smart enough for this then again the C'tan don't seem so interested in winning, just having a good time and eating tasty snacks.

asimo77 wrote:C'tan plan for galactic domination:

1. Break necrodermis shell so they are giant gaseous energy thingies
2. Go to Sol
3. eat Sol
4. Terra has no sun, humans lose->chaos has no followers left, nids have way less food
5. ?????????
6. Profit!

I would think the Deciever is smart enough for this then again the C'tan don't seem so interested in winning, just having a good time and eating tasty snacks.

The nightbringer necrodermis is already destroyed..... Kaela Mensha Khaine gave him an ass whoopin' and shattered his shell. That is why we know him as the ESSENCE of the nightbringer. Also, the deciever seems like the kind of guy that would love to rule an empire...

1. Go to Terra.
2. Eat emperor.
3. Become emperor.
4. Tell humanity to like it or lump it.
5. Start up the best farm in existence.
6. Profit! And an eternity of snacks of course.

I'm pretty sure that the Nightbringer reformed, some of the shards even went into Khaine which is how the dark reapers started or something. I've also never heard this essence thing, I always assumed he's just the plain ole Nightbringer. Besides, there's a few references in the codex that states the necrodermis shell reforms with no problem.

D'oh! Yeah, he did reform. And the shard stabbed into him tainting him the aspect of the reaper.

Golden Sabres wrote:What are you talking about? I never said they would'nt lose biomass (re-read my post).

I did. But no system is perfectly closed, which means some energy will escape, and therefor it will lose energy from the process, becoming weaker, not stronger. Even if it is nothing but heat energy (unlikely), that's still energy that's always being lost over time.

Melissia wrote:

Golden Sabres wrote:What are you talking about? I never said they would'nt lose biomass (re-read my post).

I did. But no system is perfectly closed, which means some energy will escape, and therefor it will lose energy from the process, becoming weaker, not stronger. Even if it is nothing but heat energy (unlikely), that's still energy that's always being lost over time.

Lol. I know that, I meant re-read the part where I mentioned biomass. I updated it to say they lose biomass lol.

I have no idea of where you are getting the idea that Tyranid fleets fight each other, i've never come across this before.

The only instance I can recall of anything remotely happening like this is the instance with the Zoats back in 3rd Ed.

If this is the case then why would they even bother to split up in to different fleets if one is only going to eat the other? I understand what you are saying that it's to increase biomass but it's counter productive as the victor would still suffer heavy losses and might not recover what it lost.

I think that the Shadow in the Warp is basically a psychic null blanket that's caused by the Hive Fleet and its synapse creatures and their connection to the Hive Mind. I guess its does the same sort of thing as a pariah does to a psyker.

Not sure if I agree with the points stating that the Imperium is united. On paper maybe but look what happened when the poop hit the fan in the Heresy? If things really went boobies up you would have the same thing happen all over again. The Imperium is to widespread to be fully coherent with each other and each planet still has their own laws and beliefs.

The victors, should this really happen, would either be the Necrons, Orks or Tyranids as each have a singular goal. Death to all life for the Necrons, Om nom nom for the Tyranids and a big scrap for the Orks.

You forgot eldar! They are really just faking their fall and deaths like a mouse or rat sneaking into your fridge when it's caught...

Hey, does anyone know approximately how many eldar are left?

Golden Sabres wrote:You forgot eldar! They are really just faking their fall and deaths like a mouse or rat sneaking into your fridge when it's caught...

Hey, does anyone know approximately how many eldar are left?

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