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So, I've felt bad for the tyranids. They really lack any real anti-air and well, anti air has become important.

Unlike other armies, their Flyers are decidedly underpowered, neither really capable of taking on multiple aerial units with much success.

With this in mind, I've decided to make a new Tyranid Monster. This flyer will be intended to have the capability of dealing with Flyers.

Hydra: 135 pts
Flying monster

WS4 BS4 S5 T5 (6?) W4 I? A2 Ld?
(? I'm not sure what the average is.)

Wargear:
Hydra venom cannons

Ra 36" S8 AP4 Heavy 2, Air cannon

Air Cannon A venom cannon can only be fired at an aerial target.

Reasoning:
I recognise that most aerial armour is mid-to-low level, with 13 being a fairly rare sight and 14 unheard of. As a result, I've decided on a weapon that can comfortably glance anything and penetrate most weaker fliers. I said Heavy 2 because in all likelihood, this baby isn't going to last two turns against a valkyrie army, so I felt it was a good idea to give it a chance to sink or at least weaken a single plane. I said the cannons could only be used against aerial units to justify their price

Should have some kind of close combat weapon, but it isn't entirely necessary

Special rules
The usual, Interceptor

Hydras always start the game in reserve. While they can come in normally like any other flying monster, they can also elect to be 'intercepting' an enemy flyer (one hydra per flyer).
On a 4+, they come down at the same time as their tied flyer and then cause D6 S6 hits against it. (Put them in base contact as if they had deep struck near them, outside of terrain, preferably behind the flyer) If the flyer is able to, it must fire at the Hydra for the turn it comes down if it is able to (if it can't see it, it fires normally) The Hydra counts as coming on from reserve in his following turn (so he may act normally, although he can be shot at in the previous turn).

I think the Interceptor rule may be a bit over-the-top, but at the same time it sounds like a cool idea and it makes some sense that the Tyranids would develope an organism designed for this purpose, given the coming threat that flyers pose to their ranks.

thoughts? Maybe a bit expensive?

Not expensive enough, really. Four S8/AP4/anti-air shots for 135pts is pretty good; I'd drop it to one Hydra venom cannon if I were you.

Anything else?

Maybe you could add that it's a flying organism - and as such may never move as jump infantry, but can also not be grounded?

 taudau wrote:
Maybe you could add that it's a flying organism - and as such may never move as jump infantry, but can also not be grounded?

Say it is treated as Flying Vechicle for movement, shooting and combat purposes?

Can't be Grounded and when it dies it crashes?

Scipio Africanus wrote:
So, I've felt bad for the tyranids. They really lack any real anti-air and well, anti air has become important.

Unlike other armies, their Flyers are decidedly underpowered, neither really capable of taking on multiple aerial units with much success.

With this in mind, I've decided to make a new Tyranid Monster. This flyer will be intended to have the capability of dealing with Flyers.

Hydra: 135 pts
Flying monster

WS4 BS4 S5 T5 (6?) W4 I? A2 Ld?
(? I'm not sure what the average is.)

I3 sounds adequate

Wargear:
Hydra venom cannons

Ra 36" S8 AP4 Heavy 2, Air cannon

Air Cannon A venom cannon can only be fired at an aerial target.

Just give it Skyfire, same thing really.

Reasoning:
I recognise that most aerial armour is mid-to-low level, with 13 being a fairly rare sight and 14 unheard of. As a result, I've decided on a weapon that can comfortably glance anything and penetrate most weaker fliers. I said Heavy 2 because in all likelihood, this baby isn't going to last two turns against a valkyrie army, so I felt it was a good idea to give it a chance to sink or at least weaken a single plane. I said the cannons could only be used against aerial units to justify their price

Should have some kind of close combat weapon, but it isn't entirely necessary

Special rules
The usual, Interceptor

Well what are "the usual" rules? Does it have Feed or Lurk? Synapse? Shadows?

Hydras always start the game in reserve. While they can come in normally like any other flying monster, they can also elect to be 'intercepting' an enemy flyer (one hydra per flyer).
On a 4+, they come down at the same time as their tied flyer and then cause D6 S6 hits against it. (Put them in base contact as if they had deep struck near them, outside of terrain, preferably behind the flyer) If the flyer is able to, it must fire at the Hydra for the turn it comes down if it is able to (if it can't see it, it fires normally) The Hydra counts as coming on from reserve in his following turn (so he may act normally, although he can be shot at in the previous turn).

Needs rephrasing, quite awkward how a unit can be "shot at in the previous turn"

I think the Interceptor rule may be a bit over-the-top, but at the same time it sounds like a cool idea and it makes some sense that the Tyranids would develope an organism designed for this purpose, given the coming threat that flyers pose to their ranks.

thoughts? Maybe a bit expensive?

Probably better to just rework some more AA options into the Harpy than design a completly new creature just for this role.

Scipio Africanus wrote:


Hydra: 135 pts
Flying monster

WS4 BS4 S5 T6 W4 I2 A2 Ld8


Wargear:
Hydra venom cannons

Ra 36" S8 AP4 Heavy 2, Air cannon

Air Cannon: A venom cannon can only be fired at an aerial target.

Special rules
The usual, Interceptor

Ok, lets see what we can do with this.


Points Cost: 160 pts

Statline, I think its mostly ok. Make it WS3, BS3, T6, and Ld8.

Unit Type: FMC

Wargear: 1 Hydra Venom Cannon, 1 pair of Scything Talons, Wings, Armored Carapace,

Hydra Venom Cannon: Range: 36", Str7, AP4, Heavy 4 Skyfire Interceptor


Options: May replace Hydra Venom Cannon with a pair of Fleshborer Hives for 20 pts.

Special Rules: Airborne, Legless,

Airborne: A Hydra may only choose to Swoop in the movement phase, it may NEVER choose to Glide.

Legless: Hydras have no legs, as such they are easy targets in melee. Models attacking the Hydra in CC may reroll failed rolls to hit

 Grey Templar wrote:

Scipio Africanus wrote:


Hydra: 135 pts
Flying monster

WS4 BS4 S5 T6 W4 I2 A2 Ld8


Wargear:
Hydra venom cannons

Ra 36" S8 AP4 Heavy 2, Air cannon

Air Cannon: A venom cannon can only be fired at an aerial target.

Special rules
The usual, Interceptor

Ok, lets see what we can do with this.


Points Cost: 160 pts

Statline, I think its mostly ok. Make it WS3, BS3, T6, and Ld8.

Unit Type: FMC

Wargear: 1 Hydra Venom Cannon, 1 pair of Scything Talons, Wings, Armored Carapace,

Hydra Venom Cannon: Range: 36", Str7, AP4, Heavy 4 Skyfire Interceptor

This still needs a rule i think, to state it can only be shot at Skimmers, Jetbikes, Flyers and Flying MC's. The Zooming and Swooping Sort respectively.


Options: May replace Hydra Venom Cannon with a pair of Fleshborer Hives for 20 pts.

Special Rules: Airborne, Legless,

Airborne: A Hydra may only choose to Swoop in the movement phase, it may NEVER choose to Glide.

I'd still say treat it as a Zooming Flyer, in which should it take a hit, it just takes a hit. If it loses all it wounds, then it crashed just like a zooming Flyer. It Makes more sense for a beast of this variety and Flyer-y-ness

Legless: Hydras have no legs, as such they are easy targets in melee. Models attacking the Hydra in CC may reroll failed rolls to hit.

I think this is a bit OP for it really... Just giving it Poor WS, A and I would show how bad it is in combat rather than letting any charging unit reroll its hits?

Main question I have is what all do you want it to be capable of?

With that I think we can better help you come up with a points cost and stats. Because if you want it to be specialized at purely anti-air with little anti-ground capabilities we can do that. But if you want it to be mostly anti-air with some decent anti-ground we can do that too.

Mayhaps thou should increse the points to a nice 150? Mearly a suggestion kind sir.