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http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Astronomican

At the bottom, it says that the Tyranids get attracted to it, meaning that the Astronomican is the only reason why they are moving in 40k. What do they want with that thing?

They're drawn to it in the same way that any predator is drawn to their prey. The Astronomican is humanity yelling out very loudly "look, we're over here!"

Not specified. It's a vast Psychic beacon, they're drawn to it like a Moth to a light-bulb.

The Astronomican contains cookies.

ah, the cookies explain everything..

The genestealers do more than just provide infiltrating forces for the Tyranids. They also provide a psychic beacon for the hive fleet. The more stealers, the stronger the beacon. Tragically for humanity, the Astronomican does the same thing. And it is a really big beacon. As far as the hive mind is concerned, there are a crap load of stealers on Earth ringing a huge dinner bell.

but its alll ok, because earth has Spess Mahreens and the Imperial meat shield

Ah, well. They will save the day

Fairfeldia wrote:but its alll ok, because earth has Spess Mahreens and the Imperial meat shield

By Earth you mean Terra? Terra actually has very few space marines (in the less than 100 range).

yes i meant terra, some body said earth higher up i think


and i think that i think if some body high and mighty notices a total Gak storm of Nids coming, they might ask the Spessies to come home to defend

Well, not some... Most chapters..

Hive Mind isn't stupid or mindless, my guess is it's figured out the point of the Astronomican already and knows it will be the death blow to the Imperium, if it decides to assault anyway (which would require a huge amount of resources, doubt the Tyrandis are up to that yet).

The other option is that the Hive Mind has figured out what it's all about and therefore knows the closer it gets too it, the denser amount of heavily populated planets there will be to consume.

Moths to a flame.

It's the galactic equivalent of a bug-light.

It's the big glowing neon sign above the galactic buffet.

Psychic means life, life means bio-mass. It's that simple.

BluntmanDC wrote:

Fairfeldia wrote:but its alll ok, because earth has Spess Mahreens and the Imperial meat shield

By Earth you mean Terra? Terra actually has very few space marines (in the less than 100 range).

Did you forget the Custodes? There are like 10.000 of them.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Jimsolo wrote:The genestealers do more than just provide infiltrating forces for the Tyranids. They also provide a psychic beacon for the hive fleet. The more stealers, the stronger the beacon. Tragically for humanity, the Astronomican does the same thing. And it is a really big beacon. As far as the hive mind is concerned, there are a crap load of stealers on Earth ringing a huge dinner bell.

They can come if they want, we have lot of bolt shells and bombs to feed them with

It references a page in the Tyranid codex that also claims there are no more Tyranids after Leviathan. If that's so, the Tyranid threat is over after just a few hundred years. That makes them less a threat than Tau. So much for the "Great" Devourer.

So believe that page at your own risk.

They probably just want to go see what it is.

It shiny. Animals like shiny.

Galactic Bug light,

but when they get fairly close they will suddenly see the EoT.


then they change course and head right in the Cadian Gate just as Abbaddon comes out with the 14th Black Crusade.

"CREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!!!!"

I wonder what would happen if the tyranids "Shadow of the warp" meets the eye of terror.

It is the most beautiful light in all the galaxy, the Tyranids are helpless to resist its majesty.

Malivon wrote:I wonder what would happen if the tyranids "Shadow of the warp" meets the eye of terror.

Then many worlds wont be able to see the astronomicon AKA mass panic imperium would fall apart depending on how long the shadow remains in front of Terra.

we really can't tell if the Astronomican will be blocked so close to its source.


the Nids are just on the eastern fringe of the galaxy where the Astronomican is fairly weak.


close to Terra the SitW might simply make it weaker, but it would still shine.

Grey Templar wrote:
the Nids are just on the eastern fringe of the galaxy where the Astronomican is fairly weak.

Hive Fleet Leviathan, the last of the hive fleets, is much, much closer.

DarknessEternal wrote:

Grey Templar wrote:
the Nids are just on the eastern fringe of the galaxy where the Astronomican is fairly weak.

Hive Fleet Leviathan, the last of the hive fleets, is much, much closer.

Don't discount Leviathans size

DarknessEternal wrote:It references a page in the Tyranid codex that also claims there are no more Tyranids after Leviathan. If that's so, the Tyranid threat is over after just a few hundred years. That makes them less a threat than Tau. So much for the "Great" Devourer.

So believe that page at your own risk.

In the same book that says the current Hive Fleets are only the tip of the iceberg? Well done Mr Cruddance, another way you fethed up my first ever armies codex.

Maybe the Hive Mind likes the musical sound of the astronomicon and is trying to get concert tickets. Just trying to get tickets by munching planet after planet.
Terra is the Woodstock of the 41st millenium it seems