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I love the story about these things. Makes me realm sad there are no models/rules. So I'm making up my own for fun.

Here is what I have.

Brood includes 3 models and can be increased to 6

Ws5 bs - str4 t4 w2 a3 i5 l10 sv4

Jump infantry
Comes with a pair of scything talons and tail barb.

Tail bard
Weapon melee str model, ap5
Automatically wounds with instant death on a 6 spawning 1d3-1 ripper swarms that join the assault.

Anything anyone thinks should be added? Any suggestions for points cost?

The Parasite was a unique creature. As such, it should not be available as a brood.

I also thought this was a swarm, but rereading the block it should be an FMC.

erm...

maybe?


Tail biomorphs come with set str, rather than str; user, and because of the nastiness of the result (instant death, spawning) I'd compare it to the existing tail biomorphs carefully. I'd probably would give it AP 6+ at best and not better than Str 5 or 6. Should not have the text "automatically wounds" anywhere with Instant Death and Spawning.

Thought; rather than Instant Death on a 6 you give it Rampage or Rending and make Spawning something that triggers when a model dies from this attack? It would allow you to make the base attack more powerful without breaking (because you don't have Instant Death sitting at the end), but still possibly give you even more of what makes the Parasite terrifying (spawns) both because non-6 attacks that kill now spawn and a particularly vicious attack against a unit of guardsmen could spawn on several guards.
So, basically;





as for point cost; the excellent VDR rules done by Lythrandire Biehrellian (http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/634211.page) also include rules for FMCs for whatever you go with.

 Happyjew wrote:
The Parasite was a unique creature. As such, it should not be available as a brood.

I think you should reread that story. The planet was swarmed by the new bioform. I think the parasite was broods of them. Though I would also be fine with a single unique creature. A IC that could join up with shrieks and gargoyles.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

silentone2k wrote:
I also thought this was a swarm, but rereading the block it should be an FMC.

erm...

Spoiler:

WS 6, BS 1, T 6, W 3, I 6, A 2, LD 10, SV 5+
Unit Type; FMC
Weapons and Biomorphs; 2x Scything Talons, Tail Barb
SPECIAL RULES: Deep Strike, Fleet, Synapse, Shadow in the Warp, Very Bulky.

maybe?


Tail biomorphs come with set str, rather than str; user, and because of the nastiness of the result (instant death, spawning) I'd compare it to the existing tail biomorphs carefully. I'd probably would give it AP 6+ at best and not better than Str 5 or 6. Should not have the text "automatically wounds" anywhere with Instant Death and Spawning.

Thought; rather than Instant Death on a 6 you give it Rampage or Rending and make Spawning something that triggers when a model dies from this attack? It would allow you to make the base attack more powerful without breaking (because you don't have Instant Death sitting at the end), but still possibly give you even more of what makes the Parasite terrifying (spawns) both because non-6 attacks that kill now spawn and a particularly vicious attack against a unit of guardsmen could spawn on several guards.
So, basically;

Spoiler:

Tyranid Bio-Artifact
Mortrex Tail Barb; Str 5, AP 6, Melee, Rampage, Ripper Spawning
Ripper Spawning; If a wound from this weapon kills a model place a unit of 1d3-1 ripper swarms in base to base contact with that model then remove it from play. If there is another unit of rippers within 6" they join that unit immediately, even if it is in close combat, If there is not another unit of rippers in range they become a new unit of rippers. If the slain model's unit remains in close combat they immediately join that combat, but do not get a charge move.

as for point cost; the excellent VDR rules done by Lythrandire Biehrellian (http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/634211.page) also include rules for FMCs for whatever you go with.

In the descriptions they say it's a variation on the Warrior genome. So I didn't think it should be an FMC. It's more like a specialized Shriek.

The tail weapon is it's unique feature. Less that it's an actual tail biomorph and more that it's just the weapon it was breed to bring to the fight.

Lance845 wrote:

 Happyjew wrote:
The Parasite was a unique creature. As such, it should not be available as a brood.

I think you should reread that story. The planet was swarmed by the new bioform. I think the parasite was broods of them. Though I would also be fine with a single unique creature. A IC that could join up with shrieks and gargoyles.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

silentone2k wrote:
...

In the descriptions they say it's a variation on the Warrior genome. So I didn't think it should be an FMC. It's more like a specialized Shriek.

All of the references are singular and nothing references the warrior genome. Are you looking at an older codex or different story? The end of the story is a swarm of rippers, which is what threw me off. but I'm pretty sure there's only one parasite makin' babies.

Lance845 wrote:

The tail weapon is it's unique feature. Less that it's an actual tail biomorph and more that it's just the weapon it was breed to bring to the fight.

That the tail weapon is the unique feature is true. I'm not sure why you would stat that up as anything but a tail biomorph, but it was a suggestion.

The parasite was definitely meant to be a lone creature as it was a 0-1 special unit in the previous book. That said, there's precedent for making them more common in that the doom has basically become a neurothrope. Maybe the hive mind liked the results it saw on Mortrex and started mass-producing?

Rampage doesn't strike me as a bad rule, but it does seem counterintuitive in that you lose it once your brood gets big enough. Also, making it a broodable option rather than an IC makes it hard to use to my eyes. If it were an IC, you could stick it in a big squad of sky slashsers or even gargoyles so that it would be protected until it hit combat. As is, your opponent only has a few wounds to go through to take it out. If you do switch it to an IC, make a note saying the spawned rippers are treated as wargear like a crisis commander's drones or a wolf lord's fenrisian wolves.

A suggestion? Instead of ''Sarge is acting Strangely'' which never made to much sense fluffwise, the Parasite has a kind of Vector Strike? Any unit moved over takes a Str 6 AP 3 hit which spawns rippers, that would be very cool.

Making it a character in a unit of shrikes is definitely the way to go here. Same statline, add the aforementioned vector strike style ability, but that doesn't spawn swarms. The spawning should be one swarm if it killed something in melee, d3 swarms if it killed something in a challenge. 10-15 point upgrade should cover it.

To the OP: you might want to edit the title of the thread. All is makes me think of is......................... MOAR TEXAS!

I agree that the Parasite should be a FMC. From what I've read, it was described as a creature as large as if not larger than a Tyranid Warrior.

I also think that its special attack should be simple Instant Death, and any unsaved wound additionally causes Ripper bases to spawn for each wound the model had.

 TheNewBlood wrote:
To the OP: you might want to edit the title of the thread. All is makes me think of is......................... MOAR TEXAS!

I agree that the Parasite should be a FMC. From what I've read, it was described as a creature as large as if not larger than a Tyranid Warrior.

I also think that its special attack should be simple Instant Death, and any unsaved wound additionally causes Ripper bases to spawn for each wound the model had.

Fixed. I dunno about a FMC. Both the MC and flying seem wrong to me. But a IC based on the warrior that is jump infantry and can join with shrieks/gargoyles seems like a really nice fluffy fit and can turn the Gargs into extra wounds while the PoM builds ripper swarms.

Based on that idea.

90 points Fast Attack.
IC, Jump Infantry.
A stat line like... Ws5 Bs- Str4 T5 W3 I6 A4 Ld10 Sv3+

Synapse
SitW
Very Bulky
Fear

Comes with 2 pairs of scything talons (for 5 attacks/ 6 on the charge)

Tail Biomorph, Injection Barb

melee Str5, Ap2, instant death, Ripper Injection.

Any time a model suffers a unsaved wound by the Injection Barb roll 1d3-1 and place that many ripper swarms into play as part of the assault. They may attack this fight sub phase.


Considering that there are some IC shenanigans with Look Out Sir to keep it alive and the extra rippers it can spawn each round of combat the high cost for the not super survivable creature I think works.

Does that seam a reasonable creature?

Lance845 wrote:
Fixed. I dunno about a FMC. Both the MC and flying seem wrong to me. But a IC based on the warrior that is jump infantry and can join with shrieks/gargoyles seems like a really nice fluffy fit and can turn the Gargs into extra wounds while the PoM builds ripper swarms.

Based on that idea.

90 points Fast Attack.
IC, Jump Infantry.
A stat line like... Ws5 Bs- Str4 T5 W3 I6 A4 Ld10 Sv3+

Synapse
SitW
Very Bulky

Comes with 2 pairs of scything talons (for 5 attacks/ 6 on the charge)

Tail Biomorph, Injection Barb

melee Str5, Ap2, instant death, Ripper Injection.

Any time a model suffers a unsaved wound by the Injection Barb roll 1d3-1 and place that many ripper swarms into play as part of the assault. They may attack this fight sub phase.


Considering that there are some IC shenanigans with Look Out Sir to keep it alive and the extra rippers it can spawn each round of combat the high cost for the not super survivable creature I think works.

Does that seam a reasonable creature?

Seems more reasonable, on a par with the Red Terror. I still prefer my idea of having something to do with Wounds, but yours sounds fine. I just don't like the D3-1 roll; there isn't anything like it in 40k.

Also, maybe the Rippers should automatically be placed into BTB with the Parasite as part of the ongoing combat. They can then consolidate in at the Rippers' initiative. Just seems like better wording to me.

Maybe now, Shrikes can be viable! (Not that I would know, but I do hear a lot of Tyranid players' complaints)

Also, title is still a LOL. Spelled M O R T R E X

 TheNewBlood wrote:

Lance845 wrote:
Fixed. I dunno about a FMC. Both the MC and flying seem wrong to me. But a IC based on the warrior that is jump infantry and can join with shrieks/gargoyles seems like a really nice fluffy fit and can turn the Gargs into extra wounds while the PoM builds ripper swarms.

Based on that idea.

90 points Fast Attack.
IC, Jump Infantry.
A stat line like... Ws5 Bs- Str4 T5 W3 I6 A4 Ld10 Sv3+

Synapse
SitW
Very Bulky

Comes with 2 pairs of scything talons (for 5 attacks/ 6 on the charge)

Tail Biomorph, Injection Barb

melee Str5, Ap2, instant death, Ripper Injection.

Any time a model suffers a unsaved wound by the Injection Barb roll 1d3-1 and place that many ripper swarms into play as part of the assault. They may attack this fight sub phase.


Considering that there are some IC shenanigans with Look Out Sir to keep it alive and the extra rippers it can spawn each round of combat the high cost for the not super survivable creature I think works.

Does that seam a reasonable creature?

Seems more reasonable, on a par with the Red Terror. I still prefer my idea of having something to do with Wounds, but yours sounds fine. I just don't like the D3-1 roll; there isn't anything like it in 40k.

Also, maybe the Rippers should automatically be placed into BTB with the Parasite as part of the ongoing combat. They can then consolidate in at the Rippers' initiative. Just seems like better wording to me.

Maybe now, Shrikes can be viable! (Not that I would know, but I do hear a lot of Tyranid players' complaints)

Also, title is still a LOL. Spelled M O R T R E X

NOW its fixed.

So, I didn't want to write base to base because it opens the door for arguments from people that when the rippers cannot fit in base to base that they cannot be placed at all and thus never spawn. There are already so many arguments about what counts and doesn't count best to just avoid it. I figured making the rule to place them in the assault so they can be placed on the outer ring of the assault blob. This is doubly important if as a ic the pom is in a mass of gargoyles.

The 1d3-1 seemed the most balanced. A attack near guaranteed to wound that automatically spawns a ripper swarm but could equally spawn 2-3. That's just broken no matter what.

Reducing it to 0-2 is much more reasonable. I mean I guess I could make it a chart. On a 1 spawn 0. 2-5 spawn 1. 6 spawn 2. But its easier to just write it out the other way.

I do really like the idea of a vector strike also. Maybe call it... Diving strike. If the pom passes over an enemy model in the movement phase it can make a single attack with it's tail biomorph.

This was a character in the last 'Nids codex and there was a reason it was removed. It could wipe a unit out in a single turn and gained a wound for each model it killed. 10 Guardsmen? Thats usually 10 Guardsmen dead and the beast now on an extra 10 wounds. If your opponent was an idiot then you could shoot it but most times it was thrown in drop pod spores and hurled into your lines.

 master of ordinance wrote:
This was a character in the last 'Nids codex and there was a reason it was removed. It could wipe a unit out in a single turn and gained a wound for each model it killed. 10 Guardsmen? Thats usually 10 Guardsmen dead and the beast now on an extra 10 wounds. If your opponent was an idiot then you could shoot it but most times it was thrown in drop pod spores and hurled into your lines.

You're thinking the Doom of Malan'tai. Who's Wounds capped at 10.

 master of ordinance wrote:
This was a character in the last 'Nids codex and there was a reason it was removed. It could wipe a unit out in a single turn and gained a wound for each model it killed. 10 Guardsmen? Thats usually 10 Guardsmen dead and the beast now on an extra 10 wounds. If your opponent was an idiot then you could shoot it but most times it was thrown in drop pod spores and hurled into your lines.

Firstly; Wrong guy, that'd be the Doom of Malan'tai. This is the parasite of mortrex, which is basically a somewhat beefed up melee shrike that makes ripper bases for each kill.
Secondly; the reason they got rid of it was because it had no model, it came back later as the "Neurothrope".
Thirdly; In most games the Doom of Malan'tai ate S8+ to the face and died on entry.

I'm throwing my support behind Kain. He does have it sum'd up accurately on that.

That being said, I think you guys are looking in the wrong direction towards stats. Do not give a winged jump infantry model T5 and a +3 save. I know, you want it to be good, but lets be realistic. T4 and a 4+ save are probably all that it should have.

 Unyielding Hunger wrote:
I'm throwing my support behind Kain. He does have it sum'd up accurately on that.

That being said, I think you guys are looking in the wrong direction towards stats. Do not give a winged jump infantry model T5 and a +3 save. I know, you want it to be good, but lets be realistic. T4 and a 4+ save are probably all that it should have.

It's a IC that, in the fluff, is based on the Warrior Genome. Warriors are 3+.

I figure if it's loosing the ability to shoot all together giving it an extra t is a pretty fair trade off.

Though I have been thinking that it might be more appropriate to make the tail weapon rending instead of ap2. It seems more fair. Maybe ap3 + rending? Or maybe ap4 at the worst?