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Alright. As we all know, the Synapse system is punishing for the Tyranids. It isn't very rewarding when you have it, and it's almost untenable to not have it.

So how about a system that works something like this.

1. Simplified Instinctive Behaviour. Lurk is removed and those units are moved into Hunt. Feed units simply move as fast as possible against the nearest enemy they can hurt, running if they are outside of charge range. The other non-synapse units are basically the same, but for shooting. They move forward as far as possible towards the nearest enemy they can hurt until all of its squad members can shoot that enemy, then they try to maintain that range. This would require failing a LD test as usual.

2. All synapses grant a unique type of buff in addition to Fearless. Remember when Synapse gave EW? We could take a leaf from DoWII's book and give that to, I dunno, the Hive Tyrant's or the Swarmlord's synapse? Zoanthrope Synapse grants IWND? Warrior Synapse grants a 6+ FNP? The possibilities are many! And yes, they would stack.

This would make babysitting your units with Synapse actually reward you, instead of simply punishing you if you don't. Like BSB from old fantasy, you want to make tactical decisions about when it's good to maximise unit coverage and when it's better to keep your synapse beasts safe.

What are your thoughts on the general idea? Don't get caught up on the specific USRs here, rather on the entire concept.

I'd probably change instinctive behavior to:

"Not within synapse? That stinks, pal. Make a leadeship test to act normal. Failed that test? Start moving and running towards the closest synapse creature pronto! Oh, there isn't one on the table? Then just go to ground, buddy."

To me, this is both simpler and less punishing than current instinctive behavior.

Stackable synapse buffs based on whom you're in range of is a neat idea, but I feel that stopping to meaure whether or not your 20 different units were within range of four synapse beasties or just three could get slow and tedious. I kind of like the idea something like the following:

Units with the Tyranids faction within synapse gain Fearless. Additionally, you may select one of the following impulses at the start of each Tyranid turn. All tyranids within synapse range benefit from the impulse until the start of the next tyranid turn.

Live: The hive mind pushes its underlings to throw themselves forward and shake off even the most lethal of blows, leaving limbs and ichor in their wake as they drag themselves forward.. Affected models gain a 5+ invul save. (Thought about making this FNP, but stacking a 5+ FNP on top of a cover or armor save seemed a bit much).

Feed: The hive mind compels its forces forward with impossible, alien hunger. Affected models gain rage and counter attack.

Hunt: Affected models gain move through cover and fleet.

Measuring to make sure a unit is in synapse range of 3-5 lynchpin models won't eat up too much time as long as the rule is worded so that it affects entire units and not specific models. Maybe its active if 1/2 of the models in a unit are within range?

Formatting would be easy too. The Base rule could be Synapse (x) where x is the unique special rule that creature's version of synapse grants. Then, you only have to define Synapse once.

And then Instinctive Behavior would be a morale buff where the get +1 Ld for each Synapse creature they are in range of. So if I have a Hive tyrant and a few zoanthropes, and a unit of guants is within range of all four guys, they would be Ld 9 or something.

Or you could axe IB altogether and integrate morale into synapse so that any syanpse creature affecting other non- synapse models can take all of their Ld/ Morale tests.

I like the idea of getting more buffs as you get covered by more Synapse creatures but I think it's a lot easier just to give buffs based on how many units you have Synapse from rather than what units you have synapse to.

Maybe make the synapse bonuses be Psychic Powers, except that it affects every unit within range instead of just buffing one unit.

Or count it as a Blessing on the caster and change his Synapse rule to give an additional rule. This way we won't have people complain that Nids are OP, we can have some interesting rules, and actually tie synapse back to it's psychic roots.

This might be a slight nerf to Tyranid Psychic Phases but hey, what else is new?

I actually kind of like the idea to choose a new ability each turn. It also helps resemble the Tyranids ability to adapt to what they're facing.

Each turn you may choose one the following to apply to all units from Codex: Tyranids that are within Synapse Range, and it lasts until the start of your next turn.

1: FNP 6+

2: +1 WS

3. +1 BS

4. Counter Attack

5. Hit and Run

Ext...