Fresh-Faced New User
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Hi all,
Here's a fun one. The Tyranid bio-titans from IA:IV are fun and all, but are really showing their age in terms of effectiveness, either being extremely over priced or under powered (depending on which way you want to look at it). Therefore, I have cooked up some fun rules to bring the Tyranid bio-titans into 2016, pushing them towards abilities more appropriate for units of their cost (rather than simply saying Hierodules are 300 points, Hierophants are 600 points etc). Also, for funzies, I've taken the Dimachaeron and a) simplified it and b) turned it into 40ks version of Indominus Rex...
I've tried to stick with the Tyranid theme, and focus on the weird nature of their titans and weapons.
Special Rules
Composite Monstrosity
Tyranid bio-titans are terrifyingly huge, agile and all but impervious to conventional weaponry. Much of this strength and resilience is a result of the composite nature of a bio-titan. All Tyranid organisms make use of symbiotes, and bio-titans are usually composed of a dozen or more separate organisms fused into a single biological engine of war. A fatal wound to one symbiote may do little to harm the remaining constituent organisms. Indeed, the bio-titan may even divert energy to regenerate a limb or organ-beast previously destroyed with little impact on its combat effectiveness. Finally, bio-titans benefit from the same adaptability as all other Tyranids, and the Hive Mind can birth a bewildering array of weapon-creatures to augment its largest and greatest shock troops.
Any Tyranid Gargantuan Creature or Flying Gargantuan Creature with the Composite Monstrosity special rule benefits from the following effects:
- No to-wound roll made against a Composite Monstrosity may be better than a 3+ (any effect which wounds automatically requires a 3+ to have any effect)
- Rolls on the Destroyer table against a Composite Monstrosity suffer a -1 modifier
- At the start of each Tyranid turn, a Composite Monstrosity regains D3 lost wounds, up to its starting total
Gargantuan Battering Ram
Tyranid bio-titans are monstrous living organisms, and have the agility to smash into their prey with unstoppable force. Men are shattered and sent flying through the air, and vehicles buckle under the impact. Incredible damage is often inflicted before the monster even brings its weaponry into play.
Any Tyranid Gargantuan Creature or Flying Gargantuan Creature with the Gargantuan Battering Ram special rule inflicts D6 Hammer of Wrath attacks, rather than the usual 1. In addition, if a Tyranid Gargantuan Creature or Flying Gargantuan Creature with the Gargantuan Battering Ram special rule Vector Strikes a Swooping Flying Monstrous Creature, Swooping Gargantuan Monstrous Creature, Zooming Flyer or Zooming Superheavy Flyer then it inflicts D6 hits instead of the usual D3. All Hammer of Wrath attacks made by a model with the Gargantuan Battering Ram special rule are resolved at AP2.
Agile
Tyranid bio-titans are terrifying fast, moving with speed and grace far at odds with their size and strength. Through a combination of Tyranid bio-engineering, symbiotic enhancements, the alien will of the Hive Mind and the raw tenacity of the creatures themselves, bio-titans can surge across a battlefield and lay waste to prey that moments ago thought itself safe.
Any Tyranid Gargantuan Creature or Flying Gargantuan Creature with the Agile special rule can either Run 4D6” in the Shooting Phase, or fire all available weapons and Run 2D6 instead. If it chooses not to Run at all, it may fire all available weapons and then Charge 3D6 in the assault phase.
Thorax Maw
A Thorax Maw is an horrific arrangement of barbed robs and muscles in the chest of the monstrous Dimachaeron organism. As the beast rampages through enemy lines the ‘jaws’ of a Thorax Maw will spring open and a razor-edged spine will be fired out to impale a hapless victim, before being dragged into the Thorax Maw itself. As the jaws snap shut the still-living prey creature will be quickly dissolved and processed into a hyper-adrenal substance used by the Dimachaeron to fuel a brief but terrifying frenzy of destruction.
A model with a Thorax Maw makes a special attack at the Initiative 10 step of the Fight Subphase. This is resolved as a single additional close combat attack that can only target a Bulky or small model, resolved at Strength 6 and AP3 with the Instant Death and Ignores Cover special rules. If an enemy model is killed by the Thorax Maw attack then the Dimachaeron gains an additional D6 attacks for the remainder of the Fight Subphase.
Chamelonic Carapace
An insidious bio-morph found most commonly on the dreaded Lictor vanguard organism, recent generations of the ferocious Dimachaeron have developed similar chameleonic properties across their armoured carapaces. While not as effective as the camouflage of the smaller Lictors, and only truly able to function at peak efficiency when the Dimachaeron remains almost motionless, this adaptation never the less renders a Dimachaeron more difficult to target with ranged weaponry. Rumours tell of individuals with even greater camouflage abilities, but these have thus far never been documented officially by the Magos Biologis.
A model with a Chameleonic Carapace has the Stealth special rule. If a model with a Chameleonic Carapace that moves less than 6” in the Movement phase and does not Run also has the Shrouded special rule (which lasts until the start of its next Movement phase).
Bio-titan weaponry
Bio-cannon
The Bio-cannon is a catch-all term used by the Magos Biologis for the long ranged anti-armour weapons often employed by Tyranid bio-titans in the most gruelling of warzones. Some of these long-barrelled weapon-symbiotes launch shells filled with molecular acids, others enormous seed-pods which shatter and explode with a cataclysmic chemical reaction upon impact. The effects, while varied in nature, are similarly devastating to all but the very heaviest of enemy armour, which suffers enormous damage as the organic ammunition spreads over a large surface area and eats through ceramite, plasteel and wraithbone with equal ease. Some heretical Magos have even voiced opinion that the Tyranids are now employing such acidic and reactive weaponry deliberately to counter large armoured formations, instead of relying on the penetrative effects of energy weapons and high-calibre shells; while a Bio-cannon may not destroy the target instantly, any direct hit will usually be fatal within a few minutes as the acids relentlessly eat through hull armour.
Range: 48”, Strength: 10, AP: 3, Assault 4, Caustic Ammunition*
*Caustic Ammunition: If a vehicle or building of any sort suffers one or more glancing or penetrating hits from a weapon with this special rule then mark that vehicle with a Caustic Counter. At the start of each Tyranid turn, each model marked with a Caustic Counter loses D3 Hull Points. If any vehicle or building with a Caustic Counter loses the full 3 Hull Points as a result of this, the Caustic Counter remains in play and will cause damage at the start of the next Tyranid turn in the same way. A model may only be afflicted by a single Caustic Counter at any one time.
Spineburst Array
The scuttling bio-titans deployed by the Hive Fleets are a priority target for enemy air support, and on numerous occasions the terrible might of a Hierophant has been laid low by a dedicated aerial assault. The Hive Fleets have been quick to adapt to this threat, and now Hierophants often employ rows of spines embedded into their carapace, each one able to pierce the light armour of an aircraft. Often it is far too late that an over-confident pilot will realise that the monster crawling across the surface of the world below is all too able to strike back with unerring precision. In recent years the smaller Hierodules have also occasionally been seen with several of their limbs replaced with massive cannon able to fire similar projectiles into the sky and dozens of additional optic organs to increase accuracy against fast-moving targets.
Range: 48”, Strength: 7, AP: 4, Assault 12, Skyfire, twin-linked
Bio-plasma Spray
Occasionally a bio-titan will be adapted to unleash great gouts of Bio-plasma to incinerate enemy infantry formations. This is particularly effective when enemy units are well entrenched; fortifications and barricades offer no defence against the roiling emerald energy as it envelopes their positions. This is most commonly seen on the Hierodule bio-form, which often houses a Bio-plasmic cannon within its carapace, though the much larger Hierophant has also been observed spewing torrents of Bio-plasma from its jaws.
Range: Hellstorm template, Strength: 7, AP: 2, Assault 1, Soulblaze
Gargantuan Talons
Tyranid weapon-beasts employ scythe-bladed limbs to hack prey apart with brutal efficiency in a flurry of slashing, whirling blades. Bio-titans are often armed with talons so massive that a single swing can dismember an entire squad of Space Marines and send their shattered remains hurtling across the battlefield.
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Range: Melee, Strength: User, AP: 2, Whirling Strikes*
*Whirling Strikes: If Tyranid Gargantuan Creature or Flying Gargantuan Creature is armed with at least one set of Gargantuan Talons then it then in addition it makes D3+1 Stomp attacks, rather than the usual D3. If a Tyranid Gargantuan Creature or Flying Gargantuan Creature is armed with two sets of Gargantuan Talons then in addition it makes D3+2 Stomp attacks, rather than the usual D3.
Razor Claws
The largest Tyranid bio-titans employ monstrous variants of the crushing pincer-claws more commonly seen on the Carnifex and Haruspex bio-forms. Claws on such a scale are able to exert incredible force, and no armour is proof against their might. Too often has the Princeps of a god-like Warlord Titan has thought himself invulnerable, only to scream in terror moments later as a bio-titan crashes through his Void Shields and his war machine is eviscerated by the frenzied Tyranid monstrosity.
Range: Melee, Strength: D, AP: 1, Crushing Force*
*Crushing Force: Attacks made with Razor Claws have a +1 modifier when rolling on the Destroyer table.
Bio-titan bio-morphs
Brood Chambers
The largest Tyranid weapon-beasts are sometimes adapted to house pulsing brood chambers within their colossal frames. These alien incubation organs can hold a whole brood of warrior organisms held in a state of near-life, ready to be woken at the command of the Hive Mind and unleashed upon the foe as the bio-titan scuttles past.
The bio-titan gains a transport capacity of 30 models, and counts as an Open-Topped Transport. Monstrous Creatures may be transported, and count as 20 models.
Pyro-acidic Blood
The Hive Mind engineers its organisms to kill in every way possible, and often the thrill of wounding one of the hive’s mightiest servants is cut short as torrents of bubbling acids pour from the wound, enveloping the hapless attacker, melting flesh and metal with sinister ease.
If the bio-titan suffers a wound in the assault phase, place the large blast marker over the centre of the model which caused the wound. Every model under the blast marker suffers a S5 AP2 hit with the Fleshbane and Armourbane special rules.
Bio-titan Warp Field
Bio-titans are massive creatures with unheard of tenacity and resistance to damage. Never the less, some of the largest beasts have their already formidable defences further augmented by a Warp Field generated by alien mind-nodes hidden deep within their shells. While not as effective as those that surround Zoanthropes and other dedicated psyker-beasts, these walls of energy can none the less deflect incoming attacks and save the bio-titan from otherwise deadly attack.
The bio-titan has a 5+ Invulnerable save.
Ripper Tentacles
The exoskeleton of a bio-titan is often riddled with barbed spines and razor-edged hooks attached to long lengths of taught sinew, akin to the flesh hooks launched from the thorax of the Lictor organism. A powerful muscle spasm can fill the space surrounding a bio-titan with a storm of mono-molecular edged blades, slashing through flesh and armour and often simply impaling victims with meter-long blades.
Ripper Tentacles are used in the assault phase at the Initiative 1 step, and inflict an automatic Strength 4 hit with the Rending and Ignores Cover special rules on every model in base contact with the bio-titan. Ripper Tentacles may be used in addition to the model’s other attacks.
Tyranid Gargantuan Creatures
Hierophant Bio-titan
Unit: Gargantuan Creature (1)
Cost: 1000 points
WS 6
BS 4
S 10
T 9
W 10
I 5
A 10
Ld 10
Sv 2+
Special Rules: Composite Monstrosity, Gargantuan Battering Ram, Agile, Fearless, Adamantium Will
Weapons: Gargantuan Claws
Must choose one additional set of bio-weapons from the following list:
- Two Bio-cannons (+100 points)
- Gargantuan Talons (+50 points)
- Razor Claws (+75 points)
May take up to three of the following:
- Ripper Tentacles (+50 points)
- Spineburst Array (+100 points)
- Bio-plasma Spray (+75 points)
- Brood Chambers (+100 points)
- Pyro-acidic Blood (+50 points)
- Bio-titan Warp Field (+75 points)
Hierodule Bio-titan
Unit: Gargantuan Creature (1)
Cost: 400 points
WS 6
BS 4
S 10
T 8
W 6
I 5
A 6
Ld 10
Sv 2+
Special Rules: Composite Monstrosity, Gargantuan Battering Ram, Agile, Fearless, Adamantium Will
Weapons: Gargantuan Claws
Must choose one additional set of bio-weapons from the following list:
- Two Bio-cannons (+100 points)
- Gargantuan Talons (+50 points)
- Spineburst Array (+100 points)
May take up to one of the following:
- Ripper Tentacles (+50 points)
- Bio-plasma Spray (+75 points)
- Pyro-acidic Blood (+50 points)
Harridan Bio-titan
Unit: Flying Gargantuan Creature (1)
Cost: 800 points
WS 4
BS 4
S 10
T 8
W 6
I 3
A 6
Ld 10
Sv 3+
Special Rules: Composite Monstrosity, Gargantuan Battering Ram, Agile, Fearless, Adamantium Will
- Weapons: Gargantuan Claws, two Bio-cannons (+100 points)
Dimachaeron
Unit: Gargantuan Creature (1)
Cost: 350 points
WS 8
BS 0
S 10
T 6
W 6
I 8
A 8
Ld 10
Sv 3+
Special Rules: Gargantuan Battering Ram, Agile, Fearless, Adamantium Will, Rampage, Thorax Maw, Chamelonic Carapace
- Weapons: Two sets of Gargantuan Claws
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