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HQ:
Tyranid Prime - LW&BS - 95

Elites:
2 x Hive Guards - 100
2 x Zoanthropes - Myetic Spore - 160

Troops:
3 x Tyranid Warriors - LW&BS, VC - 150
8 x Broodlord + Genestealers - TS - 184
15 x Hormagaunts - AG, TS - 150
10 x Termagants - 50
10 x Termagants - 50

Fast Attack:
3 x Tyranid Shrikes - 2x BS - 135
10 x Gargoyles - 60

Heavy Support:
1 x Trygon - 200
1 x Carnifex - FS - 165

Okay so here's a rundown of my strategy, bear in mind that I've never actually played before. This is just the list I'm going to be assembling/painting towards. Also note that I have 0 interest in Tervigons even though I know they are a staple of many lists, I just don't like them from a fluff and aesthetic point of view. Not to mention I'm not quite ready to start converting things now - excepting the Tyranid Prime (who seems essential at lower points). Anyways, Termagants giving cover to Hormagaunts backed by Prime+Warriors advance up the board. Genestealers infiltrate and try to get any powerful squads/charcters. Hive Guard hit transports, Zoanthrope show up and destroy any high AV vehicles. Gargoyles provide cover to Shrikes and suicide against powerful squads (I'm not sure if I should deepstrike these two units or just run them up the board). Trygon advances up board trying to stay in cover. Carnifex is on opposite side simply to divert attention, if he gets into combat, great. My biggest concern is that I'm running a lot of suicide units and I don't think I have the troop numbers to sustain those losses. I'm also a little concerned about synapse considering the Shrikes and Zoanthropes will likely die immediately after making an attack or two. Well let me know what you think, all comments and criticism is welcome and don't worry about models as I have almost all of them so I won't need to proxy much of anything.

Hey,

Since you haven't played before, it is quite hard to come up with a really good list first time, but the thing i have found with Nids recently, is even lists that don't necessarily seem to be the best on paper (pretty much Tervigon/Hive Guard spam....) actually work surprisingly well.... (although it is a shame you don't like Tervigons, as they do win games for Nids....)

Some suggestions:

Prime is definatly the HQ you want at 1500 if your not using a Tervigon... When i have made Nid lists with him in (not played much as Nids, only used my friends army for a few games), I gave him duel boneswords and Adrenal Glands (he's going first quite often then, so doesn't really need lash whips, unless charging in with non LS squad....)

Elite is the best slot for Nids, really it would be nice to use 6-9 Hive Guard and 6-9 Zoanthropes....
In this list, i would suggest that the zoanthropes walk behind the Guants? as an extra synapse creature, you need then to be on the bored, just the prime will not allow you to effectively deploy i don't think, Your non-synapse will be all over the place probably....
I would also suggest having either 2 squads of Hive Guard or 2 Zoanthropes (and one of the other, so 4 hive, 2 zoantropes or other way around...)

With your troops and fast, i'm tempted to say there all over the place, and not going to work, which is probably true to an extent. I don't think 2 squads of 10 Termagaunts is going to work, they won't do any damage, and won't survive to capture objectives, 10 termagaunts are only taken to allow a tervigon....
Warriors and Shrikes, i have mixed opinions of, they can perform really well, or they might die turn 1/2 without doing anything....especially the shrikes, DS isn't really an option for a small assault unit, especially one as squishy as that... (5 2+ 3++ terminators could survive, but i don't think 3 shrikes will survive much....) Gargoyles are better for screening than termagaunts i think, and they are fast so can get in your opponents face quickly....

Not really sure about Fexes now, they used to be good, but don't really see a valid use for them...

If you change your list drastically, i would try and get a second genestealer squad (with or without broodlord, he is fairly expensive, but can do a decent job...), maybe 2 15+ Hormagaunt units, your warriors if you like them, 4/6 hive guard, 2 zooanthropes, 2 squads of gargoyles, and a trygon or two.... (they can be really really good if they make it into combat....)

Hope i helped (You could just ignore everything i said, i'm not a Nid expert at all...)

Thanks for the feedback, I definitely appreciate it. Even if you don't have much experience with Tyranids you still have more experience with 40K than me . Looking over the list I definitely agree with you, there was too little of everything and not enough concentration anywhere. I'd like to hear your thoughts on this revised list.

HQ:
Tyranid Prime - LW&BS - 95

Elites:
2 x Hive Guards - 100
2 x Zoanthropes - 120
2 x Hive Guards - 100

Troops:
3 x Tyranid Warriors - 90
7 x Broodlord + Genestealers - TS - 167
2 x 12 x Hormagaunts - AG, TS - 240
7 x Genestealers - 98

Fast Attack:
3 x Tyranid Shrikes - 2x BS - 135
2 x 12 x Gargoyles - 144

Heavy Support:
1 x Trygon - AG - 210

Total: 1499

I was under the impression that lash whips were rather essential for assualting into cover, I could drop them and spend the five points elsewhere I'm just not sure if its a good idea or not. Dropping the Carnifex let me add more troops everywhere. I like the Shrikes and want to try them out in combat so I decided to keep them in. I also figure that if I rush the gargoyles up the board then the Shrikes will provide the necessary synapse to keep them in check. My alternative was to get a Trygon prime and rush him up with the gargoyles (or drop the FA slot completely). If I did drop the Fast attack the excess points can be spent beefing up on other sections. I think that I might need to play a bit first (and get tabled a few times ) before I can make any definitive changes and determine a play style but does this list look more solid for the time being?