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I am noticing something here that seems to have been misread all over the place.

In the data sheets that include the living artillery node for Tyranids it states

"A living artillery node includes the following units:

-1 Exrocine
-3 Biovores
-1 Tyranid Warrior Brood"

but in all of the stuff I am reading by the community and in all the list building software I have seen it looks like everyone assumes the biovores are a single brood of 3 as apposed to 3 separate broods of 1-3.

That doesn't seem right. The point of this is to bring a whole extra set of artillery power. To drop up to 9 spore mines all over the field each turn without sacrificing heavy support slots from another detachment (So throw in some fexes too).

This seems RIDICULOUS for area denial.

Correct me if I am wrong, but biovores shoot at the end of the movement phase. Which means mines get to run/charge (they are not deep striked, they are "placed"). But don't charge with them. Fire off all 3 broods of biovores each turn using the formations ability to reroll scatter to try TO scatter so that you place the mines. Use the run to spread them out right in the face of the enemy. Preferably 1 inch from their face in a big line bogging down their movement phase.

With 3 clusters of 3 mines each turn
1) cannot move past them without going AROUND them on their movement phase
2) they will have to back up to shoot them or risk getting caught in the explosion.
3) waste their shooting phase with 3 units shooting at them or having to shoot through them to get to your other units (providing cover saves that are boosted by shrouded from the venomthropes malanthropes you should be bringing).
4) profit!


Is this not as crazy awesome as I think it is? With the average terrain placements doesn't this basically allow you to control how your opponent moves each turn while letting your swarm advance with relatively unimpeded?

Thoughts?

It said 3 Biovores and not 3 units or broods of Biovores. 3 means 3. I can see an argument for 1 brood of 3 versus 3 broods of 1, but the Formation clearly only calls for 3 total Biovores.

 Kriswall wrote:
It said 3 Biovores and not 3 units or broods of Biovores. 3 means 3. I can see an argument for 1 brood of 3 versus 3 broods of 1, but the Formation clearly only calls for 3 total Biovores.

Except it says include the following "units", not models.

If it was bring 3 biovore models I would agree with you. But a "unit" of biovore is 1 biovore on it's own and can include up to 2 more biovores for 40 per model.

Alternatively, and I have seen it written this way before, it could have said "1 biovore brood" "Biovore brood must include 3 models." The formation specifies nothing about the number of biovores in the/each unit. Possibly allowing you to take them as 1 unit? Why would you ever do that?

Ah fair. Didn't realize that. In that case, yes, go crazy with your 9 Biovores.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Although technically, there is no unit called "Biovore". There is one called "Biovore Brood". I really think it's talking about 3 total Biovores and not 3 Broods.

Could it possibly mean bring 3 biovore in whatever configuration of units?

3 units of 1. 1 unit of 3. 2 units 2/1? Would that be RAW?

The unit description from Codex Tyranids is Biovore Brood. It is made up of Biovores. The formation stipulates only 3 Biovores allowed. So... Only 3 in whatever unit layout you'd like.

I just checked both the Codex and Formation sheet for the wording.

 foto69man wrote:
The unit description from Codex Tyranids is Biovore Brood. It is made up of Biovores. The formation stipulates only 3 Biovores allowed. So... Only 3 in whatever unit layout you'd like.

I just checked both the Codex and Formation sheet for the wording.

Awesome! That makes sense. Is there any reason to take them as anything but 3 individual units? If you miss you place mines ONLY on the first pie plate. So taking them as separate units is the only way to drop 9 mines a turn. Does this area denial thing work like I think it sounds like it works?

I would agree. It's like the steel host formation - it contains three "tank squadrons" (which are a unit which can be from 1-3 tanks) and one Hydra - as opposed to one Hydra Battery - meaning that you only get one flak tank.

My electronic copy says:

1 Biovore Brood

and in restrictions:

The Biovore Brood must have three models.

Which is why most sites/lists/army builders list it as a single unit.

Also no, they shoot in the Shooting Phase and it's D3 Spore Mines if the first Biovore misses (so if you miss with the 2nd/3rd Biovores, tough)

Attempted to add a picture, but I don't know how well it has worked.

Nooo.... this was going to be so beautiful T_T

 Frozocrone wrote:
My electronic copy says:

1 Biovore Brood

and in restrictions:

The Biovore Brood must have three models.

Which is why most sites/lists/army builders list it as a single unit.

Also no, they shoot in the Shooting Phase and it's D3 Spore Mines if the first Biovore misses (so if you miss with the 2nd/3rd Biovores, tough)

Attempted to add a picture, but I don't know how well it has worked.

Yeah, they stealth updated it. They also stealth updated the number of Termagants in a Endless Swarm.

I am looking at a digital edition now that does not say that part.

Just says

"Faction: Tyranids

Formation
A living Artillery Node consists of the following units:

-1 Exocrine
-3 Biovore
- 1 Tyranid Warrior Brood

Formation Restrictions
The Tyranid Warrior Brood in this Formation must include a model that has taken a weapon from the Basic Bio-cannons list.

Formation Special Rules"... etc etc...

When did they do this updating gak!? Damnit!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I did misread the Biovores firing at the end of movement. But question, does it matter? Once the mines hit the field by being "placed" can they run during the shooting phase? Anyone see any reason why they wouldn't be able to?

Yeah. They can also charge, since technically, they never entered the battlefield via a method that would restrict them from charging, such as arriving from reserves.

 Frozocrone wrote:
Yeah. They can also charge, since technically, they never entered the battlefield via a method that would restrict them from charging, such as arriving from reserves.

Yes, this.

I'd recommend not running because the might as well charge the Unit you missed with your shooting

Lance845 wrote:
I am looking at a digital edition now that does not say that part.

Just says

"Faction: Tyranids

Formation
A living Artillery Node consists of the following units:

-1 Exocrine
-3 Biovore
- 1 Tyranid Warrior Brood

Formation Restrictions
The Tyranid Warrior Brood in this Formation must include a model that has taken a weapon from the Basic Bio-cannons list.

Formation Special Rules"... etc etc...

When did they do this updating gak!? Damnit!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I did misread the Biovores firing at the end of movement. But question, does it matter? Once the mines hit the field by being "placed" can they run during the shooting phase? Anyone see any reason why they wouldn't be able to?

Probably an Epub and from before the "stealth update was done. Ibook version update automatic, epub version had to be redownloaded to get updates but neither were version marked. So there are still a bunch of the older version running around with no way to know it is an older version.



Automatically Appended Next Post:
On original post question of denial, it does not infact work as well as you would think.