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So I am building a skyblight swarm formation which I am mainly doing for 3 flyrants, 3-4 hive crones and the gargoyles, however I need to have 2 Harpies... I am building them now - What have people found work better the S6 large blast or the S9 small blast? I would think the S9, but maybe I should be focussing on more dakka, but as the rest of the army lacks any S9, I figured it was a good way to incorporate them.. Any thoughts? Thanks

Well...I greatly prefer a big pin test causing blast....but I suspect that Venom(s) will be much better vs Imperial Knights, and the like. So based on your local meta, Venom Cannon may well be the best buy...(If you magnitize, you can use Both )

Normally the Stranglethorn Cannons are a better choice, but thanks to the Twin-linked and the large amount of anti-infantry you already have, many Skyblight Players swear by the Heavy Venom Cannon.

My advice: magnetise it.

Thanks for the advice I will try to magnetize . Hope it is easy. Thanks

I know this is a newb question (getting back into the game after a LOOOOOOONG break), but where are these dataslates located for purchase, and are they tournament legal?

Both are good, but they serve different purposes.

Stranglethorn is good against infantry
Venom is good against Vehicles.

If building a skyblight I would almost always go with Venom. Here are my reasons.
1) Twin linking ensures you a 2/3 chance of hitting exactly where you target. That means you can target a corner of a vehicle, and hit something else as well.
2) Vehicles are much easier to get first blood against.
3) You are already going to have a lot of anti-infantry firepower. The harpy spore mine launcher, the crone flame template, the flyrants.
4) Pinning isn't that great. It isn't bad, but since you are going to have most of your army flying, much of the enemy will be shooting snapshots already.
5) ID and better AP. AP:4 isn't that great, but it is better than AP:5. It won't ignore Broadside's 2+ save, but if a broadside does fail a roll it will ID it.
6) Anti-vehicle is generally hard to come by for Tyranids.

If looking for a cannon for Carnifexes, I would almost always go with Stranglethorn, because.
1) Scatter has less effect (you are still likely to hit something thanks to a larger blast).
2) Pinning is more important. You have ground targets, so the enemy will be more effected. Carnifexes are likely to charge eventually,
3) Vehicles are going to have better cover saves. Because of the eye-level.
4) Carnifexes can do anti vehicle via charges eventually.

Still, Magnetization wouldn't be a problem. I find the cannon sticks over the arm pretty firm, and I'm thinking a 2mm magnet in the hose would be enough to hold it.

KillerWabbit wrote:
I know this is a newb question (getting back into the game after a LOOOOOOONG break), but where are these dataslates located for purchase, and are they tournament legal?

They are here
http://www.blacklibrary.com/games-workshop-digital-editions/Dataslates

It depends on the tournament. Some allow them, some don't.

Thanks!

Meta plays a big part but the HVC tends to be a better "tac" choice. If we see the return of lots of blob armies... the STC could be nice but since we have AV issues the extra punch is nice.

Nova is doing formations this year.. which will be interesting. I know the west coast (LVO and such) will allow them.. it seems they are limiting sources but allowing formations.

Our local group is allowing formations, IA, LOW. With formations they take the place of an ally slot though to keep them from getting crazy

 Roci wrote:
Meta plays a big part but the HVC tends to be a better "tac" choice. If we see the return of lots of blob armies... the STC could be nice but since we have AV issues the extra punch is nice.

Nova is doing formations this year.. which will be interesting. I know the west coast (LVO and such) will allow them.. it seems they are limiting sources but allowing formations.

Everything I am seeing is allowing two "sources/detachments" per army list.

Codex + 1 ally/supplement/dataslate/formation detachment/and so on.

 Eiluj The Farseer wrote:
Thanks for the advice I will try to magnetize . Hope it is easy. Thanks

If you look, you'll see the guns on the harpy both use the same base for the arms that connect to the body. On those arms are square tabs - the tips for either of the gun variants slide very snugly onto those tabs, and stay put without the need for magnets.

Just be very careful when gluing the pieces together that you don't use too much and clog up where the gun slips onto the arm. Likewise when priming/painting -prime the pieces separately from one another so the guns don't stick to the arms.

Aside from that swapping your guns on your harpy should be piece of cake.

 ductvader wrote:

 Roci wrote:
Meta plays a big part but the HVC tends to be a better "tac" choice. If we see the return of lots of blob armies... the STC could be nice but since we have AV issues the extra punch is nice.

Nova is doing formations this year.. which will be interesting. I know the west coast (LVO and such) will allow them.. it seems they are limiting sources but allowing formations.

Everything I am seeing is allowing two "sources/detachments" per army list.

Codex + 1 ally/supplement/dataslate/formation detachment/and so on.

Yep, I am so far happy with that. I think it will at least give us the chance to see how the nids fair in the tourney meta with access to their formations. Now they just need to add a GSC supplement for a little icing.

I've been play testing various Skyblight set ups, and one of them will end up at nova this year.

 tetrisphreak wrote:

 Eiluj The Farseer wrote:
Thanks for the advice I will try to magnetize . Hope it is easy. Thanks

If you look, you'll see the guns on the harpy both use the same base for the arms that connect to the body. On those arms are square tabs - the tips for either of the gun variants slide very snugly onto those tabs, and stay put without the need for magnets.

Just be very careful when gluing the pieces together that you don't use too much and clog up where the gun slips onto the arm. Likewise when priming/painting -prime the pieces separately from one another so the guns don't stick to the arms.

Aside from that swapping your guns on your harpy should be piece of cake.

Thanks man

Yeah the new model had a really nice fitting base for both guns no need for magnets or glue. I have both options and prefer the HVC b/c not only is it better vs Vehicles but I can ID Toughness 4 Models.

that is a good point