Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I made these lists because I'd already worked out what I wanted to use for 1000, 1500, and 2000 points with the models I'm currently assembling. But I'm taking an "Academy" course at the GW Battle Bunker, and this was army building week, and they gave us a calculator and tried to get us to come up with more obscure lists like 500, 750, 1250, and 1750. So I couldn't do anything at the store, came home to army builder after thinking about it the whole afternoon and drive back, and came up with this.

The lists follow, but first here's the rules:
1. Each list has to have almost 50% of cost in hormagaunts.
2. Each list must use the models I have and be WYSIWYG. So, the only upgrade that I add or drop ocassionally is "Catalyst", the Tyrant's hive mind power.
3. Each list must be in keeping with the close combat swarm idea of the army.

So here it is, from 2000 points on down!

Ritide's Nids

2000 Points: 1997
Tyrant- Wings, RC, ST, Catalyst
6 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
6 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
6 Raveners- ST x 2
3 Lictors- FT, FH, RC, ST
32 Hormagaunts
32 Hormagaunts
32 Hormagaunts

1750 Points: 1749
Tyrant- Wings, RC, ST
6 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
6 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
5 Raveners- ST x 2
2 Lictors- FT, FH, RC, ST
28 Hormagaunts
28 Hormagaunts
28 Hormagaunts

1500 Points: 1499
Tyrant- Wings, RC, ST, Catalyst
4 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
4 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
3 Raveners- ST x 2
3 Lictors- FT, FH, RC, ST
24 Hormagaunts
24 Hormagaunts
24 Hormagaunts

1250 Points: 1247
Tyrant- Wings, RC, ST
5 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
5 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
2 Lictors- FT, FH, RC, ST
30 Hormagaunts
30 Hormagaunts

1000 Points: 993
Tyrant- Wings, RC, ST, Catalyst
3 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
3 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
2 Lictors- FT, FH, RC, ST
24 Hormagaunts
24 Hormagaunts

750 Points: 749
Tyrant- Wings, RC, ST, Catalyst
3 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
4 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
18 Hormagaunts
18 Hormagaunts

500 Points: 485
Tyrant- Wings, RC, ST, Catalyst
3 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
12 Hormagaunts
12 Hormagaunts

I'm constrained in the smaller lists by the fact that my winged warriors have to count as fast attack, and so I have to take the tyrant for an HQ. I want the lists to be legal, and use the models I have, so that's just how it goes!

Which of these lists looks the weakest to you, if any? If they're all weak, you can say that too but I like the idea of this army (small, fast, with no guns at all!) and I think it will be a lot of fun to play! The main weakness is a lack of anti-armor (both personnel and vehicular, but especially vehicles), but every realistic army needs a weakness, right?

Let me know what you think

Tyrant- Wings, RC, ST, Catalyst
6 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
6 Warriors- Wings, ST x 2
6 Raveners- ST x 2
3 Lictors- FT, FH, RC, ST
32 Hormagaunts
32 Hormagaunts
32 Hormagaunts

I'd drop the lictors ,since they add little to the theme or strength of the list, for any of the following or combination there of, .

-stealers w/ feeder tendrils to follow behind the hormagaunts. This is by far the better way to get feeder tendril action into the list imho. I prefer the extended carapace variety but you have alot of screeners so more bodies is an option.
-More hormagaunts
-Leaping warriors with rending claws or toxin sacs to support the hormagaunts.
-rending on the ravs
-Toxin sacs on the flying warriors
-Warp field on the flyrant
-More ravenors
-upgrades for the hormagaunts

I'd also break down the gaunts so to fill the troop slots. More KPs but lets you screen easier and divides shooting of the opponnet -- which is worth adding a KP or 2.
HTH

I like the lictor model a lot, and like I said, this is limited to using the models I have (I've purchased all of it, and am in the process of assembling it). I'm not going for a power list, but using what I have and the rules I laid out, I would like for it to be effective and I think it will against some armies... and fall flat on its face against others! Which is kinda what I want

I don't like the genestealer model, so I didn't go with any of them. I actually didn't realize feeder tendrils were so good when I bought the lictors... a pleasant suprise

For some of the other comments- yeah, just the models I have... also, I can't take any more raveners (max squad size is 6, and I've already got 3 fast attack) even though I do have a spare model of these.

For the upgrades, see rule #2 above. I do tend to do "minimalist" lists (meaning minimal upgrades) when I said that in the GW store they said they'd never heard someone describe their army as a type of painting but I like to pack in as many models as possible, and so I tend to skim light on upgrades in favor of more bodies. I also like LARGE squad sizes... as you can tell

Any other comments? Any particular list that looks vulnerable (not enough synapse in one of them- like 1000 points- etc?) Thanks

Umm, then I wouldn't bother posting your lists. No offence, but if you aren't willing to add biomorphs, add and remove models and whatnot add 90% of the advice will be disregarded, I see little reason to discuss it further.

True... I'm looking to configure the best list I can with the models I have, adhering to WYSIWYG. Is that a crime?

I'm mostly looking for advice on downsizing the list to the smaller point values, how to do that most effectively- as I said in the first post.

Thanks for the feedback anyway though! Good to see another nid player on here at least mostly SM/eldar/ork lists I'm seeing...

Yeah the points I gave were all the ones I'd do regardless of points (even if the quoted list was the 2k, they are fundementally the same till 750 and 500) and I did try and include options that fit the 3 criterea as I knew them (Not psychic, dunno the models available ).

With that in mind -- at the very least I'd drop lictors and get more hormagaunts and more synapse even if it is just beefing the flying warriors or possibly dropping ravs for 3x flying warriors. I think elite warriors w/ EC and leaping are a decent combo with the hormies, (ymmv and models willing). Keep one lictor if you must but more is just not worth it IMHO. The points are better spent on your fast assaulter theme.

At 750 and 500 there's little you can do within your constraints. Not much I can add.

Also, is that rending claws on your hive tyrant? I dunno, I guess I can see it being a nice boost to anti-tank but twin talons is prolly still the way to go. I also still think warp field is worthwhile in the higher point range (and there absolutely no WYSWIG issue there).
All in all get what you have on the field and see how it runs -- but it doesn't hurt to be flexible enough to purchase some more figs or rethink your theme and model options. That is what I did for 5ed.

As an aside, there's WYSWIG and then there's obssesiveness. I have rarely met a tyranid player that had every biomorph modled on their troops -- just like you never see the grenades or bolt pistols on marines, etc etc. Alrge models, HQs, characters and model specific wargear should be clear, and if there's differences between units then something to differentiate them is useful, but most players have 0 idea what the biomorphs are, unless they play tyranids (and even then it isn't clear -- adrenal glands is a great example). All my opinion and based on the region I play in.

That's really helpful actually! I come from a marines background, and got the wysiwyg call-outs pretty often... and I really wanted to avoid it this time.

Also, perhaps some more information to explain the lack- I bought most of these models as bits through the War Store, and so I didn't get most of the biomorph pieces. From looking through the codex, I thought that most players would expect to see these things modelled.

However, that's not the imrpession I got from talking to (at least some) of the redshirts at the store, and also from a few tyranid players with beautifully painted armies.

So I'll definitely think about that... one more thing, about the adrenal glands, it's not universally accepted that they should look like the pic on page 54 of the codex?

Also- you caught me about the tyrant. He's got a rending claw because 1) it's what I think the model looks like it has (I'm converting a red terror, removing a set of talons in favor of the wings) 2) a little anti-tank boost (would hardly ever help, though, only if I rolled 2D6 for a monstrous creature and got a 6 and 1 or 6 and 2) and 3) I was tight on points in several of the lists.

Thanks again for the feedback

it's not universally accepted that they should look like the pic on page 54 of the codex?

Which one are they though? +I or +WS? Basically you will still have to explain what each unit has, even if you have proper biomorphs modeled.

You might get sticklers, as in anything everyones opinions vary. Just be consistent and clear with your opponent and the vast majority should be fine.

On units that all must be equipped the same, you can have some leeway in modelling the options (I think weapons are an exception though, should be as properly modeled as possible), as long as it isn't confusing to your opponent. This is especially true with tyranids, where the kits lack the biomorphs to fully kit the entire box WYSIWG. In units where each model can be equiped differently, then wyswig becomes important for wound allocation and the like.

Good point! Some 'splainin' to do either way

About the lictors... I heard that they were much better in pairs, which is why I've never got less then 2. I'll have to try that out and see if it's true, though!

They were the biggest bugs I could think of to put in the army that could keep up, since they'll always deep-strike. I've got no guns so they're my current best chance at taking down a tank. If I dropped them, I'd probably need something that could do the same (stealers with rending claws would have a chance, if they ever got there!). I saw a player at a large game a few weekends ago deepstrike a lictor and knock an armor point off of a baneblade... so I'm hoping they can sneak on in and do the same here.

Otherwise I'd need to add some AT guns... and that's against the "fluff rules" for the army

winterman wrote:I'd drop the lictors ,since they add little to the theme or strength of the list, for any of the following or combination there of, .

No one should leave lictors out of their army list.

Sweet I was thinking so, too!