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Hi there fellow biomass,

So, I was thinking:

New Patriarch Broodlord has stealth, right? So, he can give a unit (carnifexes?) stealth by joining them and this backed up with say, Venomthropes gives a steady 4+ cover save. Stick that unit behind Hormagaunts and start soaking up gunfire.

Plausible?
Strong?
What unit needs this?

IC's can't join a unit containing vehicles or monstrous creatures.

Right, didn't see that one coming.

Renders it pretty much useless since he is to pricy to babysit something cheap like Hormagaunts.

Conferring stealth is nice, and I'd take the Patriarch as a way to make 20 stealers better, but theyre still not good. However, Invis is the most obvious benefit to this. Taking a CAD of both psykers for both rolls on Invis (a 5/9) chance to get it) isnt bad if you have a unit that really benefits, like a Skytyrant. Sadly, most of our good units aren't able to be joined by ICs.

What if I told you that the Hive Tyrant is a Independent Character in the next Codex?

Cue Morpheus meme!

Doubtful but one can hope. New Patriarch rules got me excited for Tyranids though.

Adding stealth to Warriors might be useful - a small-ish warrior unit is likely to be babysitting gaunts (or something), and with a venomthrope nearby.....

That takes them from a 3+ cover save to a 2+ cover save. Added to their three wounds each, "shoot out the synapse" becomes much less of a viable option.

He's cheaper and more useful as a squad leader than a tyranid prime, I think....

 Frozocrone wrote:
What if I told you that the Hive Tyrant is a Independent Character in the next Codex?

Cue Morpheus meme!

Doubtful but one can hope. New Patriarch rules got me excited for Tyranids though.

The purestrain genestealers are better than the codex ones right? It would be nice if a new codex gave us purestrains as a unit with more than 2.

Better, yes. But I think they are still no where near competitive. They have like what, stealth and hit and run extra now? But they cost a point extra. Not convinced. I am however positive about the contents of DWO, my my what an amazing quality! Just opened my box .

I think while somewhat gimmicky, the genestealer cult has some great combinations. I mentioned in the Tyranid tactics thread the possibility of doing a sling shot with units like ravenors or shrikes turn one. Deploying in your own zone they have permission to charge turn one, (usually can't reach) The patriarch (and other two ICs) can infiltrate and still have permission to assault turn one. By daisy chaining them all together, it is likely that you can get a pretty powerful force into your opponent turn one. The trick is you have to build the army around and supporting that idea. Super weakness if you are going second, or have the initiative stolen.
'We will have to wait for the cult codex (and possibly new nid codex) to find out if things like if a venemthrope/malanthrope shrouding bubble effects the cult. (Currently it only effects those with the Tyranid faction, not those with genestealer cult faction.)

When basing off the genestealer cult, I think the goal is all about speed. Shrikes and Ravenors can get across the board fastest, while malanthropes help a couple of heavy anti-vehicle hitters get across as well. Mini las cannons and the stone wreckers should have some success against vehicles, while the massed rending attacks everywhere should eat any troop concentrations. No AA to speak of, but even knights would have to fear the massed rending and the two big ugglies. Once again, going second or having the initiative stolen can really wreck your day, and that makes the army more of a gimmick deal.


Genestealer cult based
1850


This I think would have a little more success potentially against all comers. When going first the stealth/shrouded infiltrating and potentially assaulting broodkin can wreak havoc on a gunline or disrupt whatever the opponent is planning. While 600 points is quite an investment, if you are devastating your opponents plans from deployment on, then you are controlling the game. Big creatures and choppy things popping in from reserves (mostly on turn 2) are now arriving just as spore field is striking and while embroiled in close combat with the cult, they potentially don't have the time or weapons available to redirect on the drop in army.

I think it's more survivable for TAC because if you are going second, or facing null deploy, you can outflank the entire cult and drop in the other guys, while leaving the spore field on the table infiltrated into the safest positions. It's very difficult to wipe out the entire spore field turn one, and none of them count for scoring needs. (This often does put you behind the eight ball where it comes to maelstroms.)


Surprise NIDS
1850