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I know it's been thought of a few times but I really like the idea of a Broodlord for these guys. This is just a quick write-up while I'm at work so If I miss anything obvious pleases let me know. Any help with ideas to.

The Ymgarl Genestealers, the first Tyranids to arrive in the galaxy, through adaptation over time and many generations have diverged quite far from their purist counterparts among the Hive Fleet. This is most strongly expressed in the Ymgarl Broodlords who have a number of unique adaptations as well as a form alteration that is more potent, adaptable and controlled then that the of other Ymgarl Genestealers. As their physical power has increased, so to it seems has the power of their mind as they are seemingly able to control groups of enemies nearby with their will alone.

Upgrade one Ymgarl Genestealer to Ymgarl Broodlord +136 points

W | B | S | T | W | I | A | L | Sv
7 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 3+

Weapons and Biomorphs
Bonded Exoskeleton
Rending Claws

Special Rules
Alter Form
Brood Telepathy
Dormant
Fleet
Move Through Cover
Stable Form
Regeneration
Implant Attack
Character
Psyker(ML 1)

Psychic Powers
Aura of Despair
Hypnotic Gaze
Aura of Domination

Aura of Domination(not sure if this is to much... feedback on this requested)
Aura of Domination is a Blessing that targets the psyker. Until the start of the controlling players next movement phase any enemy models in base contact with the psyker during the fight sub-phase must, during their initiative step after pile-in but before attacking, make a leadership test using the models own leadership value. If the test is passed they shrug off the psykers attempt and fight as normal. If the test is failed they succumb to the will of the psyker and any close combat attacks they make are made as if they where part of the psykers unit with a -1 WS as the victims will is still trying to reassert control. This means the controller of the psyker decides which weapons it attacks with and can use any wargear and abilities the model may have available. Members of the psykers unit may still attack the effected enemy models as normal.

Stable Form
The Ymgarl Broodlords Alter Form is more efficient, flexible and sustainable then the others. When they use Alter Form they chose from the following list and pick twice. Selections cannot be stacked but can be the same selections as last turn and do not need to match the rest of the brood.
+1 Strength
+1 Toughness
+1 Initiative
+1 Attacks
+1 Armor Save

I don't think you should be able to take the same alteration twice, a character with T7 and 3+ save for 106 points is very good, maybe change the rule so that he can take two alterations per turn, but not the same one twice and not the same pair in the following turn. The psychic power is pretty meh and I don't think I would ever use it when hypnotic gaze has a much higher chance of succeeding.

Dantioch wrote:
I don't think you should be able to take the same alteration twice, a character with T7 and 3+ save for 106 points is very good, maybe change the rule so that he can take two alterations per turn, but not the same one twice and not the same pair in the following turn. The psychic power is pretty meh and I don't think I would ever use it when hypnotic gaze has a much higher chance of succeeding.

I think your right. I'm also having a 'what was I thinking?' moment on the psychic power. Changing both.

Edit: Increased point cost as well.

What mastery level? < edited for being sleepy >

Scrap that, ymgarls can't take options...

Eldercaveman wrote:
What mastery level? < edited for being sleepy >

Scrap that, ymgarls can't take options...

Options are removed.

Edit: Mastery level 1


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Dantioch wrote:
The psychic power is pretty meh and I don't think I would ever use it when hypnotic gaze has a much higher chance of succeeding.

Changed it around a bit to effect more enemies though HG still has a better chance to effect a particular model this one can effect several and the WS zero is pretty harsh as it allows auto hits in CC.

Rolling a die for each model within two inches of the broodlord separetly is going to be a pain, how about the unit takes a leadership test on 2D6 with a -2 modifier and if they fail the whole unit is reduced to WS and BS 1? The power will be easier to use and as it effects the whole unit its effect is slightly worse

Not sure about the fluff though... broodlords were supposed to be an artificial evolution were they not?? If so Ymgarl were around LONG before the first hive fleet were even seen..
So at the very least they would lack psychic powers due to the fact that they are 'outcasts' without a 'presence' to the perception of the hivemind.. and since psychic powers are drawn from the hivemind as opposed to the warp... well therefore Ymgarl Broodlords would be freaks amongst freaks.. possible- yes.. psychic without a connection- I don't know about that

 Spazamataz wrote:
Not sure about the fluff though... broodlords were supposed to be an artificial evolution were they not?? If so Ymgarl were around LONG before the first hive fleet were even seen..
So at the very least they would lack psychic powers due to the fact that they are 'outcasts' without a 'presence' to the perception of the hivemind.. and since psychic powers are drawn from the hivemind as opposed to the warp... well therefore Ymgarl Broodlords would be freaks amongst freaks.. possible- yes.. psychic without a connection- I don't know about that

Ymgarls are said to search out the Hive Fleets, and almost 'crave' the reconnection with the fleets, so a Ymgarl Broodlord, could have a residue psychic connection with the Fleets and this is how the Ymgarls search out the fleets.

good call, didn't think of it that way..

 Spazamataz wrote:
Not sure about the fluff though... broodlords were supposed to be an artificial evolution were they not?? If so Ymgarl were around LONG before the first hive fleet were even seen..
So at the very least they would lack psychic powers due to the fact that they are 'outcasts' without a 'presence' to the perception of the hivemind.. and since psychic powers are drawn from the hivemind as opposed to the warp... well therefore Ymgarl Broodlords would be freaks amongst freaks.. possible- yes.. psychic without a connection- I don't know about that

As indicated by the regular genestealer fluff they evolve over generations so considering the length of time they have been around no artificial evolution would be required. I've always looked at genestealer psychic powers as the natural evolution of their brood telepathy that the stronger willed Broodlords can use to effect the minds of their opponents. In that case it would not need the hive mind to use it.
In any case, as far as I know they are still in touch with and controlled by the hive mind when the fleet is near, the hive simply refuses to reabsorb their biomass and have left them to evolve on their own naturally. If they ever make a new Genestealer Cult Codex I love to have them expand upon the Ymgarl.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Dantioch wrote:
Rolling a die for each model within two inches of the broodlord separetly is going to be a pain, how about the unit takes a leadership test on 2D6 with a -2 modifier and if they fail the whole unit is reduced to WS and BS 1? The power will be easier to use and as it effects the whole unit its effect is slightly worse

You know, I think your right. Thought something like this would be a good idea but it's proving to hard to easily implement. Changing to my other idea, Aura of Domination

I still think the idea of take a leadership test or something horrible happens is quite bad, as the chances of failiure is quite low especially against most CC armies, tyranids, chaos, DE, etc. The new power seems realy fun though you could probably say it works automatically as it isn't to often that you get into base-to-base contact with a CC monster. Or yuo could do it the mindshackle way with take a Ld test on 3D6.

Dantioch wrote:
I still think the idea of take a leadership test or something horrible happens is quite bad, as the chances of failiure is quite low especially against most CC armies, tyranids, chaos, DE, etc. The new power seems realy fun though you could probably say it works automatically as it isn't to often that you get into base-to-base contact with a CC monster. Or yuo could do it the mindshackle way with take a Ld test on 3D6.

Making them use the models LD negates much of this... especially for nids Hormagaunts and ternagants would not stand up to this. Most CC troops would be testing on 8s I think. Mindshackle Scarabs only effects one target if I recall correctly, this effects every model in base contact for two player turns so the lower chance of success seems correct to me.