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.

So I've watched quite a few battle reports with Biovores absolutely tearing things up, but I've been seeing people hiding them behind terrain like other types of artillery and not baby-sitting them with any kind of synapse.

That's why I was a little shocked when I looked closely at their rules and saw:

1) Their weapons don't say anything about not needing visibility to their targets (so they do).
2) Biovores have no immunity to Synapse anymore, which means if they're not within Synapse range they can only fire at the closest VISIBLE target.

So with those two things combined, its seems they aren't quite as amazing as I first thought (still amazing, though), because you're going to have to keep them visible to the enemy they need to shoot at. And if you can't see the enemy, you're going to have to move them, which is the -1 to hit penalty for moving and firing a heavy weapon. Worse yet, if you don't babysit them with Synapse, then they have to fire at the closest visible target...and if that target is within 1" of friendly Tyranids, then they're not firing at all.

Is this all just common knowledge that everyone knows about and I'm late to the game? Or am I missing something?

I thought it was obvious.. but then again I don't watch the videos

(also they were never immune to synapse)

I haven't watched the videos, but I was always aware of both those facts. And as was said they always needed synapse. (living artillary node was a great way to bring them.) the -1 tohit isn't a problem. placing spore mines is as good as/sometimes better than the launcher itself.