Sure, Venomthropes look bad compared to the Malanthrope, but that is because the Malantrope is too good for its points. Its hardier than a Prime with 4 wounds, and a host of special abilities equal to the Venomthropes. After the balance errata you'll see how much starting every game with either a 3+ or 2+(Ruines or Nightfight) really is. I mean Orks pay 40pts(formerly 50pts) just for a 6" 5++ bubble, a 6" Shrouding Bubble is better. Basically the Malanthrope is an undercosted Forgeworld unit that is currently outside the scope of this errata, of course the Venomthrope looked pricey compared to it.
even if not considering the Malanthrope in this errata (sad), the Venomthropes issue is that hes just standing arround waiting to be shot with his thumb up its bum (or... tentacles... insert graphic anime images here). The orks with the 5++ can at least stay in a unit which will be abblative wounds for
LOS, yes shrounding is much stronger than a 5++ but not if it just dies before everything else and then nothing gets the shrouding. there is enough ignore cover weapons out there that have no issue taking out venomthropes which are just so frail if they have no cover. even if you take a unit of 3, a single volley by the nerfed Waveserpent is likely to wipe it out. and then the rest of your army is completely unprotected.
In all the games I've seen people use Venomthropes, they always die very fast (as long as the opponent has good targeting priorities) without causing the opponent any real issues. I dont see why it would need a point increase.
I agree that the malanthrope is too good, but I would want to balance it out between the 2 so I could actually have a choice to make between one and the other, and the Malanthrope is so popular for Nids you might want to consider it in the errata cause it does need a nerf and if you dont then people could consider playing it with your rule thus nullifying the effect of your balancing.
The Prime is a bad example as he has been massively nerfed from the previous codex (45pts increase with no upgrades at all) if anything in the codex needs a point decrease its the Prime. I cant imagine him why hes over 100pts, why would anyone even consider him over a flyrant? My recommendation for him is he goes down to 100pts (25pts decrease) and starts with Regeneration. it might seem like a big upgrade but this guy needs it if he wants to compete in the
HQ slot for internal balance and I dont think that compared to other codex
HQ Beatstick he would be
OP. also he should be able to get Wings for 20pts (jump pack).
wasn't really trying to Fix the Rupture Cannon, but do see your problem with it. It probably should have AP3 or be Heavy 3. Firing at a 3+ infantry enemy is the wrong target to show its efficiency, its Long ranged S10, something that is a premium in the game. I don't think it should have both, and I would like to avoid adding any extra special rules if possible. I'll probably give it AP3 but it already has gotten a 20% decrease in cost to field it with Rupture Cannon.
I agree that the a 3+ infantry isnt the Rupture Cannon's prime target but what if your fighting space marine, nids or Eldar where that all he has on the board (you get a 200+pts which cant shoot or fight in close combat), even if you are fighting againsts what the rupture cannon is suppose to be good against (high
AV vehicule) how efficient is it really? lets see, 2 shots at Bs3 means 1 hit, 1 hit on let say AV14 mean a 0.5
HP if no cover, Invul or Jinking, and due to new damage chart even if it is a pen, it cant possibly kill it, you need an average of 8 rupture cannon Tyranofexs to kill a single Landraider in the open (1600pts of dedicated anti-heavy tank to kill a single land raider?).
So what is the gun for? not heavy vehicules, not
MC since they also have 3+ArSv or better, not heavy infantry, certainly not light infantry, maybe open topped skimmer? no cause they jink.
It litterally has no target you can be happy about shooting, like I said the issue with the gun isnt the points, its the effectiveness on the board which at the moment is null due to the expensive platform that is carrying it.
My proposal turns the gun into a something that can actually harm stuff, still far from being destroyer though so isnt
op, yet fluffy with the chain reaction ability which, with some good luck, could actually kill a Landraider in one volley, as many other guns in the warhammer universe can do.
If you want to avoid inventing rules (your
SitW..cough cough) maybe just make the shots destroyer and call it a day.