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In the Tyranids Codex it says (paraphrased): "Take one of the following: Scything Talons/Crushing Claws" and gives the points cost. Now a lot of the lists out there seem to ignore this and get a cheaper Tervigon as a result. As far as I understand it, this isn't optional, and a Tervigon is at least 165pts (if you take the "hidden" cost of scything talons), but a lot of people either ignore this or think it's optional. Thoughts?

It says to take one, so I would say they have to take one. Ignoring it for a cheaper Tervi is technically cheating.

Its listed under "Options:". That by definition means those choices are optional. If something must be taken, codexes state 'must'.

As another premise, for tervigons it also says "Replace Stinger Salvo with: Cluster Spines". It doesn't say may. So with your argument no Tervigon could ever have stinger salvos. They'd have to replace them with cluster spines.

That is just one example, there are a number of similar units with similar wordings on their options (Hive Tyrants, Mycetic spores, Harpy, Carnifexes)

Agree with Winterman. If it was a required option, "must" would be included; barring that, it would be included in the base cost and wargear of the unit; it makes no sense to have an "option" that you must take.

I won't be paying the 5pt typo tax on my Tervigons unless my opponents feel that I should.

odorofdeath wrote:I won't be paying the 5pt typo tax on my Tervigons unless my opponents feel that I should.

Honestly I doubt anyone would even notice unless you gave them your list.

It's an option, as in not mandatory, and reading entries like this one otherwise will lead to ludicrous results.

I ... I may have had a lot of cough medicine today, on top of a bug in the software I use to build lists and some other things... I completely misread that rule.

Sorry for any confusion I caused.

Hmm I might have misinterpreted it as well... Interesting!

Yes and in the same instance if you looked at that wording as something you had to do hive tyrants would have to replace their whiplash and bonesword, would have to take a stranglethorn cannon or heavy venom cannon, would have to take a thorax upgrade, armoured shell or wings.

In fact, in every single entry in the tyranid codex it has that wording when giving you options. *sighs*

I think whoever thought that this meant that tervigons had to take scything talons or crushing claws got a bit of tunnel vision, or was trying to look for easter eggs (and you know what they say about those) at how the codex was screwed.

The only reason it says take one of the following is because you are not allowed more than one, as opposed to others where you can take as many as you want.