Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Thanks to a good sale at my flgs, I am now the proud owner of a Harpy box, a Toxicrene box, and a Hive Guard box?

So, if anyone is inclined to provide feedback on the following, I'd certainly appreciate it:

1. Toxicrene or Maleceptor? (I like the Maleceptor build better as a model, but the rules seem pretty weak, whereas the Toxicrene rules seem pretty good, so I am inclined to lean towards Toxicrene)

2. Harpy or Hive Crone? (I currently don't have either, and I'm leaning towards Harpy with TL Heavy Venom Cannon)

3. I have one flying Dakka Tyrant, and another Hive Tyrant kit. I know conventional wisdom is to go for another flying Dakkarant, but I am leaning towards Swarmlord with Tyrant Guard. Is this terribly foolish? (Note, I already have through trade 3 Hive Guards with Impaler Cannons, so I'm also considering using this box for 3 more Hive Guard with Shock Cannons, and if I did that, I would go the Flyrant route again, but probably not the dakka version just for variety's sake)

 jasper76 wrote:
Thanks to a good sale at my flgs, I am now the proud owner of a Harpy box, a Toxicrene box, and a Hive Guard box?

So, if anyone is inclined to provide feedback on the following, I'd certainly appreciate it:

1. Toxicrene or Maleceptor? (I like the Maleceptor build better as a model, but the rules seem pretty weak, whereas the Toxicrene rules seem pretty good, so I am inclined to lean towards Toxicrene)

2. Harpy or Hive Crone? (I currently don't have either, and I'm leaning towards Harpy with TL Heavy Venom Cannon)

3. I have one flying Dakka Tyrant, and another Hive Tyrant kit. I know conventional wisdom is to go for another flying Dakkarant, but I am leaning towards Swarmlord with Tyrant Guard. Is this terribly foolish? (Note, I already have through trade 3 Hive Guards with Impaler Cannons, so I'm also considering using this box for 3 more Hive Guard with Shock Cannons, and if I did that, I would go the Flyrant route again, but probably not the dakka version just for variety's sake)

Well...this is mostly opinion, rather than experience...but...

I like the Malecepter model, but I think the Toxicrene is more likely to be useful. (and there is a cool new Hyper-toxic Formation. ) It is a bit of a pain with the freakin tenticles though...
I think you'll get far more use from a Crone, 4 haywire shots, and an enhanced vector strike put it into the "useful" box Harpy is harder to justify...
You are not Crazy to build a Swarm Lord, but it is "sub-optimal", though it seems as though a Pod could help make Ole Swamy useful again...the juries still out... Maybe you should try a magnet project, so you can run a second Dakka'rant when called for....

You can always run the Tyrant Guard without a Tyrant you know...and with the right upgrades they could be useful....

Popular opinion is that the Maleceptor is too many points for not good enough while the Toxicrene is very adept at killing infantry. Ranks right up there with the Forge World Dimacheron and needs a Tyrannocyte just as much.

The Crone is the better option with Haywire, for Land Raiders so between that and your standard twin Flyrants, it's easy to kill a Land Raider per 2 turns.

I run a walking Tyrant in every game because of nostalgia and such and run the Tyrant Node in larger point games. Requires the three Tyrant Guard at all times and some Venomthropes, but with her as my Warlord, I haven't given up a single Slay The Warlord point. The Flyrant and Carnifex in my list take more fire than the Walking Tyrant with Heavy Venom Cannon and 18" Synapse Range, so I would go the Tyrant Guard route there to suit my own play style and self imposed limitations.

I have yet to use the Swarmlord, but if you're Tyrannocyte heavy, sure. Modifying reserve rolls is a big thing when it comes to some Nid units now.

Do you have enough Biovores? The hive guard box can be used to make a cool conversion to Biovores fairly easily there is a youtube instruction on it I think.

Toxi is by far better than the Maliceptor and a second Flyrant is just gravy.
I love the Crone and have found my exp with Harpy to be lackluster if that's any help.

Yes, all of this is helpful. I think I'd only go down the Biovore route if I had an Exocrine for that formation thing, but I don't have the Exocrine, and I have an ohtherwise crowded assembly of Heavy Support options, so its not on the radar for now.

If I do go the Second Flying Hive Tyrant route, I'll likely build the Guard kit into Hive Guard with Shockcannons for the haywire.

There is just something that seems very, very cool to me about running a Swarmlord (if not just a walking Tyrant) with a posse of Tyrant Guards with that auto-Look Out Sir rule....and I really, really like the Swarmlord's rules (the good rules he confers on units, the +1 to Reserves for my Mawloc, Trygon Prime, and Tyranocite conversions, and the Instant Death, as opposed to Instant Death on a 6+). Don't like his cost so much, I admit.

Anyways, I'm now certainly having second thoughts about the Hive Crone. I guess those Tentaclids would indeed be nice to have for Anti-Armor and Anti-Air.

I don't suggest that you go for shock cannons on the Hive Guard. I could be wrong, but they look far less useful than Impaler Cannons to me.

 Andilus Greatsword wrote:
I don't suggest that you go for shock cannons on the Hive Guard. I could be wrong, but they look far less useful than Impaler Cannons to me.

I think that is meant to be a Pod crew. I don't think there is a consensus on them yet...(nobodies been crazy enough to try it basicly ) But Pyrovore in a Pod is looking like a viable thing, so why not "Taser Guard"?

Biovores are awesome, even outside of LAN. Hive Guard are not really that great, but if you are going to use them, the Impaler Cannon is the way to go. S8 plus Ignores Cover is very useful.

If you find the Dakka Flyrant boring, consider building a melee Flyrant and running it with the Skytyrant Swarm (the new formation from Leviathan where you have 2 gargoyle broods + Flyrant in a single unit). The gargoyles provide a lot of protection to the gliding flyrant since they can LOS!

Ref: Swarmlord and his Posse, I think I've decided. I'm going for it! Looking at this kit and the bits I have laying arounf, it really seems as if I can build the Swarmlord, and then only need about 4 bits from a bit dealer to make a second Flyrant...so WTH?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Uggg...I see now that the bits dealers are wanting more than 20 bucks for the torso + shipping. Hopefully maybe I can convert a Torso out of bits and greenstuff!

Haha...I got so many Carnifex back plates, this will be easy!

Tyrant go magrant, that is the best build then you have all the options open to you.

And personelly I find the Crone to look better than the Harpy as a Flyer, if you think you can pull off running as jump infantry the Harpy might be stronger but I just don't see it living long enough.

Afraid I don't know what magrant means.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh derp...magnetized

 jasper76 wrote:
Afraid I don't know what magrant means.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh derp...magnetized

Sorry, Magentized Tyrant. that way you can run it in which ever build GW has decide to make the power config. I have taken to magnetizing all my big beasties for this reason. I don't need more suddenly illegal Fex, or Tyrant builds. ( I miss the gunfex, and gunrant. 2x HVC,2xStranglethorn, or 1 each)

If you are going to run the Swarmlord, consider getting a Tyrannocyte, as well (possibly two, so the Guard can take one too). That will help a lot, as SL is too slow to catch anything without help. Plus, SL helps out with reserve rolls.

Finally, it seems everyone is agreement, but I'll add my two cents: the Crone is great. You can always use more haywire, and the vector strike is pretty useful against light vehicles and flyers. Not very good against troops, but that's what you've got the flamer for!

 Asmodas wrote:
Finally, it seems everyone is agreement, but I'll add my two cents: the Crone is great. You can always use more haywire, and the vector strike is pretty useful against light vehicles and flyers. Not very good against troops, but that's what you've got the flamer for!

I'm definitely sold on the Crone build at this point

 jasper76 wrote:
Ref: Swarmlord and his Posse, I think I've decided. I'm going for it! Looking at this kit and the bits I have laying arounf, it really seems as if I can build the Swarmlord, and then only need about 4 bits from a bit dealer to make a second Flyrant...so WTH?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Uggg...I see now that the bits dealers are wanting more than 20 bucks for the torso + shipping. Hopefully maybe I can convert a Torso out of bits and greenstuff!

Haha...I got so many Carnifex back plates, this will be easy!

Also $ Store Dragons make great parts for many conversions. 2-3$ gives you Wings that are the right size and Tail and torso. Ive made 3 Carnifexes out of them with extra Nid bitz and they look great. Also used the wings to convert Crones using a few Walkrants I got in trade.