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So, I saw the image below, and decided that I needed to turn it up to eleven.



Anyway, I decided to create a rule set for a Tyranid Version of Rayquaza. I'm still trying to figure out the points cost, but I've got a few points.

1) It must be immune to the Long-barreled burst cannons on a Tau Manta. Because seriously, Warp take those things.

2) I want to keep the points below 750, but I'm more flexible on this one.

These are my stats so far. This is more of a dump of ideas than a coherent stat block, so don't expect the final version to include anywhere near all the stuff here.

WS 3 BS5 S8 T (Problem. 8ish, maybe) W (A bunch) I 5 A 2 Ld 10 Sv 2+ or 3+

UNIT TYPE: Flying Monstrous Creature or Flying Gargantuan Creature
UNIT COMPOSITION: 1 Nidquaza
WEAPONS AND BIOMORPHS:
• 1 Bio-Plasma Accelerator (S9-10 Assault 3)
• 8 Venom Cannons
• Mega talons (+1 Vector Strike Attack)
• Bio-Forcefield (Givens an Invulnerable Save and reduces the strength of Incoming attacks or something)

SPECIAL RULES:
• Synapse Creature?
• Eternal Warrior

Probably a better idea would be making it a vehicle somehow, but I'm not sure how to square this with the fluff. Given that what I have in mind involves the Characters discovering it in the collection of a Necron Lord, it could be infused with Necrodermis somehow, but this might mess up some other things I have in mind.

I think stats are fine, toughness 8 seems fair. I would think no Jinking, because it is hard to miss something that size and a 3+ 5++ with 8 wounds,

 Mojo1jojo wrote:
I think stats are fine, toughness 8 seems fair. I would think no Jinking, because it is hard to miss something that size and a 3+ 5++ with 8 wounds,

That seems about fair. No jinking, toughness 8, 8 wounds, 3+/5++, with a 5+++(?) FNP from being a Gargantuan creature. I guess it doesn't really need 2+, because skyfire AP2/AP1 wepons aren't all that common outside the Tau. What about cost?

Seems rather, i don't know, generic? It's shooty FMC, meh. When i imagine Nid air forces vs other air forces i imagine things like the Nidquaza ripping other things outta the sky, not taking careful aim and shooting them down. I would keep the Plasma (Large Blast Str 8 AP 2 OR a Torrent Str 6 AP 2) but drop the Venom Cannons but vastly increase it's Vector Striking abilities. D6 Str 8 AP 2 attacks over any Flier it goes over kind of thing, maybe it could choose to substitute all of them for a single Str D Vector Strike, but of course this would only work against Fliers, FMC or GFMC.

Make it unique, make it Nid-y. Rayquaza isn't well armoured, he is sleek and agile, reduce armour put give him a 4++ Dodge Save like the Assassins have. I can't see the picture, but the feel of this unit just isn't savage enough.

"I hate the Burst Cannons on the Manta." has me completely and utterly flabbergasted. Like... it's such a random statement. Do you fight Mantas often? Do you find the Burst Cannons more effective than the Destroyer Railgun or like ten Ion Cannons? I just can't wrap my head around it.

Regardless, I agree with the stuff above, it should be a big gribly, not some kind of patient hunter thing. Hashing this out:
WS5 BS5 S10 T7 W8 I5 A5 LD10 Sv3+

Gargantuan Flying Creature, Hit and Run, It Will Not Die, Rage

Wargear:
Bio-Something Plasma-Something else:
S7 AP3 Hellstorm Torrent Primary Weapon, Soul Blaze
OR
SD AP1 Torrent Primary Weapon, Soul Blaze

Big Mean Nasty Claws:
Vector Strikes are resolved at Strength D

Something Something Psychic Flight Thingie: 5+ Invulnerable Save against shooting attacks.

raverrn wrote:
"I hate the Burst Cannons on the Manta." has me completely and utterly flabbergasted. Like... it's such a random statement. Do you fight Mantas often? Do you find the Burst Cannons more effective than the Destroyer Railgun or like ten Ion Cannons? I just can't wrap my head around it..

the Manta has 96 S5 AP5 shots, a load of dakka but nothing really that hideous as they're spread out, half can't even see the other side of the Manta if you hold it at Average flyer height.

Can't see the photo. Please check the link to the photo or the photo itself. Thanks.

raverrn wrote:
"I hate the Burst Cannons on the Manta." has me completely and utterly flabbergasted. Like... it's such a random statement. Do you fight Mantas often? Do you find the Burst Cannons more effective than the Destroyer Railgun or like ten Ion Cannons? I just can't wrap my head around it.

I am following this thread purely to see the OP's response to this. It was a very bizarre statement.