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2021/05/30 20:57:43
Subject: Help with matched lists for 9th: Firstborn Ultras vs. Classic Nids
Hi all! I'm flying out to see an old friend in a couple of weeks and he'd like an intro to 9th. I've played only a couple of games, and I think I can run some tutorial games, but his armies are 1) old and 2) unfamiliar to me. Could anyone help me rough out some balanced lists?
He has huge collections of classic Tyranids and firstborn Ultramarines, but hasn't played since 7th ed. What would I want to put in a list for each faction to cover all the key battlefield roles? Obviously we'll want some aura-HQs, some ObSec troops, some shooty, some choppy, some fast, and some big/tough. What would you nominate for 500 or 1000? I can do the actual points with BattleScribe and scrounge up some basic strats and datasheets somewhere, but I'd appreciate some guidance on building for balance. Thanks!
Unfortunately I haven't played 9th yet, so couldn't really be specific about any list advice, but normally I play firstborn UM successors as well as Nids soo. . .
I think the biggest thing to consider is the fact that the Nid codex is from early 8th ed, while the Marine book is updated for 9th, and some balance issues could stem from that.
Honestly though, I'd just start off by using a variety of units for each army and see how they play. Focus on fun models and feeling out the game rather than trying for competetive balance.
I have only played 20 games of 9th so far and I haven't started teaching it yet. I am probably going to start teaching in a couple of weeks, but I did teach a lot of 8th. A UM and a Kraken Patrol, both 500 points. If you like them then I can prepare a couple of 1k lists, but I strongly advise you start with 500 points. Make sure that your opponent reads the core rules before the game. I have had to teach several people over again because their first teacher didn't have them read the rules and just did things for them.
my only suggestion with Victs' two lists here is I do not think the Razorback is a particularly great piece for this matchup and it doesnt seem like the nids have very much to answer it with, and I doubt that two old-school players are going to enjoy 3x biovores either. I would replace the razorback with something like an assault squad with jump packs.
If you wanted to go more for the classic 'swarm nids' setup I would go for something like this:
And for the space marines I'd take Victs list but substitute the Razorback with a 6-man jump pack assault squad with a Flamer.
"Got you, Yugi! Your Rubric Marines can't fall back because I have declared the tertiary kaptaris ka'tah stance two, after the secondary dacatarai ka'tah last turn!"
"So you think, Kaiba! I declared my Thousand Sons the cult of Duplicity, which means all my psykers have access to the Sorcerous Facade power! Furthermore I will spend 8 Cabal Points to invoke Cabbalistic Focus, causing the rubrics to appear behind your custodes! The Vengeance for the Wronged and Sorcerous Fullisade stratagems along with the Malefic Maelstrom infernal pact evoked earlier in the command phase allows me to double their firepower, letting me wound on 2s and 3s!"
"you think it is you who has gotten me, yugi, but it is I who have gotten you! I declare the ever-vigilant stratagem to attack your rubrics with my custodes' ranged weapons, which with the new codex are now DAMAGE 2!!"
"...which leads you straight into my trap, Kaiba, you see I now declare the stratagem Implacable Automata, reducing all damage from your attacks by 1 and triggering my All is Dust special rule!"
