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With the advent of our new codex, the old FAQ has been rendered obsolete. And there have been many suggestions about using fortifications.
I wanted to have an area to discuss the tactics involving the use of the three most used fortifications: The Skyshield, The Bastion and The Aegis as it relates to Tyranids ( increased Venomthrope shrouded, our unique situation with synapse, etc)

Further, I personally do not own any of these fortifications as I only own a Tyranid army. I'm sure buying a fortification is a shaky investment at best, as our next FAQ may end up taking them away again. But if I do decide to buy one, hopefully this thread can help me narrow it down a bit.

I'd also like to discuss point cost. While our units have gotten cheaper, I'm unsure as to what a 'safe' point total would be for a fortification.

A tyranid player playing defensively is a Tyranid player doomed to defeat.

 Kain wrote:
A tyranid player playing defensively is a Tyranid player doomed to defeat.

My last game against orks disagrees

Was it against a battlewagon heavy ork list?
Could you give a bit more details to the anecdote. What type of Ork list, how did you play defensively, and how it helped you.

I think a Venomthrope, min unit of Warriors with a Barbed Strangler and a unit of 3 Biovores (or perhaps multiple units) sitting behind an Aegis, on an objective, is one of the best ways to go, as far as fortifications are concerned. Stick a comms relay on that Aegis to get your Flyrant and reserve-friends in Turn 2 as well.

Aegis is great, i echo this. If you use a Veno you now get 2+ cover.

A bastion also works well. Veno inside you would measure six inches from any point of the bastion. Same logic goes for a Synapse bubble.

I think some of the artillery/long range shooty types on a skyshield pad could be handy. Some of the flying types starting the game on one could have a head start in case you dont get first turn as well.

Take a Bastion, put a Venomthrope in it.

I like the redoubt because it eliminates the need for dual flyrants. In our last codex, I never fielded flyrants after the firestorm redoubt came out. I liked putting biovores in it but now a venomthrope with an attached prime with a norn crown sounds loverly.

Buildings in general are good places to hide synapse or venom thropes, the kind of building depends on how many points you have to spare. The aegis is much less useful because so much stuff gets ignore cover that venom thropes and other key models can easily get killed by the removes cover shooting.

There's no reason Nids can't play defensively. True they'll lose a shoot out to Tau in purge the Alien, but if you put a Bastion in the middle of the board and jump a Venomthrope into it turn one, no problems. You now control 6" from the center of the board, which will be at least half of the objectives, often more. Then your threat range forces the opponent to back into his zone. A stationary army can't claim objectives.

Megamanrocks wrote:
Further, I personally do not own any of these fortifications as I only own a Tyranid army. I'm sure buying a fortification is a shaky investment at best, as our next FAQ may end up taking them away again.

Why in the world do people think this? I can't tell if it's just "internet echo chamber" or what...

From the old FAQ:

Q: Are Tyranid units inside buildings (i.e. the Bastion) subject to
instinctive behaviour tests? Furthermore, are they able to manual fire
emplaced weapons or weapon emplacements?
A: No to both questions.

So, Tyranids could take fortifications before, and just couldn't fire the weapons, right? I haven't seen anyone planning to fire a weapon emplacement with the new Nids, but people are thinking of taking fortifications, which is completely reasonable and in line with the previous FAQ.

Unless I'm missing something?

I'm still thinking a landing pad would be perfect for holding your long range guys giving them a 4+ invulnerable save. If your opponent gets first turn, deploy your flyrant and gargoyles onto it with them in order to get the 4+ invulnerable save on the opponents initial salvo.
This would also, give your long range shooty guys a better LOS.and make them unassaultable except from flyers, jump packers and so forth.

Firestorm redoubt or the big turret things (do they have skyfire/interceptor?) as those would also give you some long range AA shots.and the redoubt would also provide protection and a better LOS/cover for guys deployed on top.