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So I've a bunch of Tyranids (mostly Hormagaunts, Termagaunts nad Genestealers) and I don't want to put them to waste. I was thinking maybe I can use them for KoW as Abyssals maybe? I was thinking a swarm of Larvae or Imps, mixed with other kits or slightly converted so they look more humanoid. What do you think?

I say go for it!

 heartserenade wrote:
So I've a bunch of Tyranids (mostly Hormagaunts, Termagaunts nad Genestealers) and I don't want to put them to waste.

If you have other sci-fi gamers around and aren't dead-set on KoW, then this.

I'm strictly playing medieval historical/fantasy games for now. Makes the terrain-making so much easier.

 heartserenade wrote:
So I've a bunch of Tyranids (mostly Hormagaunts, Termagaunts nad Genestealers) and I don't want to put them to waste. I was thinking maybe I can use them for KoW as Abyssals maybe? I was thinking a swarm of Larvae or Imps, mixed with other kits or slightly converted so they look more humanoid. What do you think?

I'd say go for it - use the Abyssals list, but come up with your own background....

Perhaps a huge meteorite smashed into the desert, and the local insects... changed. (Think 1950s monster movie....)

The Auld Grump

I think that's a really cool idea- I've always loved Tyranid models, nearly talked myself into starting armies in 40K but the rules for them were always wonky when I had spare cash.


Some of their stuff looks absolutely great though, and it would require minimal work to "de-sci-fi" them. Even just picking close combat biomorphs would go a long way.

Yeah, I think it would work amazingly. Good call.

I remember a scene in the film 'krull' where aliens with laser gunz were zzaapping medieval dudes. As a wee lad the sheer contrast was.....insane and cool.

The other day I watched predator: dark ages on youtube. Again same thing.

In short go for it!!! Especially if you make scenic bases with spore towers. You could even fluff it that your fighting on a feral planet in the imperium. A better suggestion: just do it!

Personally, the mixing of IP would irritate me, but that's just me.

 heartserenade wrote:
So I've a bunch of Tyranids (mostly Hormagaunts, Termagaunts nad Genestealers) and I don't want to put them to waste. I was thinking maybe I can use them for KoW as Abyssals maybe? I was thinking a swarm of Larvae or Imps, mixed with other kits or slightly converted so they look more humanoid. What do you think?

that sounds like an awesome idea. Have you readJim Butcher's Codex Alera series? It might prove inspirational. The first book is a bit of a slog, but then it really takes off.

A mixed IP is what Warhammer is. 40k even moreso. They're mixed together as well, through all parts of chaos and were even explicitly both part of the same universe for a long time (the Warhammer World was a feral world cut off from Imperial Space by Warp Storms, not to mention all of that about the Slann). Warhammer Siege had rules for 40k vs WHFB.

Separating the two games "universes" - if it's ever been explicitly done - was a retcon.

Thanks for all the feedback, guys and gals! I feel a bit more confident with the idea now.

I just remember something from my youth: playing Diablo Hellfire and there's a Hive filled with insect and spore-like creatures:





Think I'm onto something. Need to play this game again.

I loved the Monk!

Been thinking about using some Tyranids for Abyssal Dwarf experiments myself (as I have a bunch of Anvil Industries/Miniatues of the North Fallen Dwarfs already and would like to fill out the army with stuff from my collection).

Gaunts = Halfbreed cavalry (may also use some of the Alien Assimilation hounds here too);
Warriors = Lesser Obsidian Golems;
Carnifex = Greater Obsidian Golems;
Gargoyles = Gargoyles(!).


Good call!

I'm not planning of using them as-is. They'll get to be converted (maybe heavily for some). Still the rest of the Abyssal army is months away so I'm just planning ahead. Gotta finish my Lannister KoM and White Walker Undead armies first!

Got no probs with the idea of them as actual tyranids myself, just fluff it that they are mysterious monsters that appeared after a strange object fell from the sky and keep it slightly ambiguous

Go real old school and see if you can find some Zoats as halfbreed cav (yeah really dating myself. . Then hunt down a genestealer patriarch on throne figure for the general

I really wish I hadn't traded away my Space Zoats...

Make sure to post some pics of your converted Tyranids. Can't wait to see how they turn out!

I just realised that I've got a small, close-combat-only Tyranid force built and painted. Hm.. I might just have to use this idea. And hopefully Mantic bring the Z'zor or whatever they're called to KoW, since an Insect-based fantasy race isn't a completely alien concept as it's been done before (D&D, WoW), but it's certainly not a WHFB rip-off.

What would be good stand-in stats for Hormagaunts and Genestealers, I wonder? How about counts-as Orcs - Morax and Gore Riders?