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Last night, I ran out of stuff to read.

Gathering Storm II? Finished.

City of Secrets? Finished.

Dredd Mega Collection Engram and F*tish (work filter)? Finished.

So I did what any other Nerd does. Wandered over to the secondary bookcase, looking for something I've not read in a while to accompany me on a visit to the Smallest Room whilst I parked my dinner.

Shield of Baal - Leviathin.



Whatta-mistaka-to-maka....

See, that lead to me rediscovering the fleshy goodness of the latest Tyranid models. Bigger Bio-bombs! Drop Ships! MIND BULLETS!

Before I knew it, I'd wrapped up my dirty business in the cludgy, and headed to the primary bookcase (antique, glass panel doors, very nice) to dig out my by now extremely forgotten Tyranid Codex. Oh yes. The Hive Mind was most definitely calling to me, as it might call to a Genestealer Hybrid when it's also been to the smallest room only to find there's no bog roll left, necessitating assistance in retrieving a fresh one from where they're kept because keeping bog roll in the bog is apparently heresy....

I was pouring over it, having completely forgotten how really really nice looking the Tyranid range is, and how much plastic it now involves. Oh, the excitement! Re-cut Warriors with Boneswords! Non-top heavy Hive Guard! Oodles of bio-horrors, big ones, small ones, other ones in-between!

Such enthuse! Much excite! Wow! I'd even got to the point of accepting 'but you're gonna have to build and paint some Gaunts, and they're an irritatingly fiddly kit, considering how many of the sods you'll likely need'. NO MATTER! It's Nids for me.

insert audio file of vinyl record having the needle knocked out the groove.

Oh....wait. I'm....I'm remembering why I've not done this yet, mad keen as I am on the army. Not, it's not their apparently lack lustre rules. That's never stopped me before. No. It was....it was...what was it? Ah. Yes. That One.

I just cannot forge an army to match my own headcanon (not head cannon. I'm a Nid fan, not a Nid bio-construct. And if I am but don't know it, I can only imagine the Hive Mind is very disappointed in how that experiment turned out). And it's a mix of some wonky points, and a highly restrictive Force Organisation Chart.

See, I want a Black Library style Tyranid army. Lots of little guys, good selection of bigger guys, smattering and variety of biggest guys. But with things shoehorned into the FoC they way they are, with some sections massively over-subscribed, and others being 'no brainers' (look, Pyrovore. I like you. I've got plans that can involve you. And they're pretty funny. But the other girls in the club are just outright pretty, and I know for a fact her over there does REDACTED BY THE INQUISITION, so I'm afraid you've no chance love) it's just not possible.

So, what's a Nerd to do? I really, really want to play Nids. As covered, they're a visually gorgeous army, and because people might think they're an easy opponent, I look forward to pulling off some cunning plans and eating all their brains.

Lists wise, I don't think I'm missing any rules. Got the Codex. Got both parts of Shield of Baal - and got pretty much all the books (except Valedor. Is that a must-have?). Limited interest in Forgeworld stuf, but not completely adverse (nor is regular gaming group).

Help me Dakka. Give me your thoughts on how I might field Tyranids the way I think they should be played!

There are way to many potty images and references in this post.
I don't even... well, for a time, there was a saying over here that was basically "rope down an Obama" when... but let's not go there.

If no formations do what you want and no CAD does what you want... I know it is BLAM-worthy to suggest this... go unbound?
Multiple CADs?

From my understanding you want a flying hive tyrant with 2x devourers and probably some venomthropes to give cover to your guys... though tau are a thing. I've been interested in them in the past as well, however daemons seem to work out as that weird looking horde style of army a bit better.

I think Unbound here is arguably justified - as I'm not looking to field say, nothing but Zoanthropes, instead using it to desperately try to realise my vision of Nids on the table top - but given my regular opponent's tend to favour more regimented play, I'd rather avoid it where possible.

Multiple CAD is an option I suppose?

I'm very tempted by Sporocysts, because they make I laff - infiltrating shooty flesh lumps very much appeals - but again, they're competing for HS slots, which eats into available gribblies - even though the Sporocyst seems a bit of a bargain for it's points (certainly if I was playing against it, I'd want it ded ASAP)

Reckon I might play with multiple CAD. Provided I give them some kind of specific theme (so not 'I wanted twelfty Carnifex, STFU') that could work...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 n0t_u wrote:
From my understanding you want a flying hive tyrant with 2x devourers and probably some venomthropes to give cover to your guys... though tau are a thing. I've been interested in them in the past as well, however daemons seem to work out as that weird looking horde style of army a bit better.

Not sure.

Flyrants don't really fit into my headcanon. I've no objection to them or to others using them - but I've always seen a Hive Tyrant leading from the middle, acting as a unifying force, replete with Tyrant Guard so he don't get snuffed too easily.

Defo need to have a good bit sit down with the book today.

Welcome back to the hive mind brother. I know we are less, but eventually we will be more again, simply have faith. Also, I have 13 carnifexes, and each is precious. Go ham if you want to with whatever you want. Honestly, don't listen to your head, listen to your heart. Honestly, making multiple CADS can be a pain, mostly because in your case, anything more than a single Tyrant might be considered a tax. Trust me when I say that taking single primes might work as good examples of how warriors should work. A synaptic pin assisting the leading Tyrant in directing the myriad pieces of the swarm in their jobs.

Trust the swarm. Be the swarm.

I'm not sure I'd take a Tyrant at all....kind of tempted to explore just using Primes and Warriors - make those points go a little further.

But hey, early doors. Still need to sit down and create a hypothetical list or four.

If your worried about FOC space then just run another one :p

2 HQ and 4 troops, jobs a good'un.

The current state of the book is depressing I will say, and that's from someone who has played them since the original metals. (Which all of my army still are)


However, nids look too good to just ignore IMO.
If your going down, do it in style (while drowning people in acidic blood)



Unless you plan on running them in highly competitive tournaments, they are more than usable in games.
That's a lose lose for me as a: they won't dent most tournament style lists and b: I'll end up with a hernia from carrying a bag full of metal nids lol.

Living Artillery Node is pretty good.

Tervigon spam is still a fun way to spawn a million gribblies (and have them die to synaptic backlash, but hey).

The codex is terrible. They took away our one broken unique thing (Doom of Malantai), our Drop Pods (Tyrannocytes are just waaaaay too expensive for what they do), our close combat edge (scytals bonus and the re-write on poison).

We have a warlord traits table with the stupid living woods rule WHICH ACTUALLY HURTS US TOO (oh god, the stupid, it burns) even if - if - there are any woods on the table.

It's like they had a complete brainfart over making some actual lovely nid terrain bits which would have been AMAZING (digestion pools anyone?)

Don't even get me started on the inanity which is instinctive behaviour, which basically does very little except that time your hormagaunts all eat themselves or your shooty guys decide they don't wanna.

It's just a horrid, horrid mess. A few formations (which basically allow us to spam the OP unit in the codex THANKS NOT) and some mediocre new units (WASTED OPPORTUNITY).... Such a shame, for such amazing models.

The Hive Mind is not amused

If you're into spawning fun, you can use Tervigon(s) for HQs...but the number of Termagants you'd need to paint is burnout territory. I've been on a vacation from painting Nids for a long time after I painted my 90th gant...just couldn't paint the same scheme over and over and over again.

Just now getting the itch to start building and painting more Nids.

After playing Nids for a while, I gotta be honest, Nidzilla is the funner way to go IMO. It can get tiresome pushing units of 30 around the board.

There are some very few formations released in the leviathan dataslates that are actually pretty good. Look at the living artillery node and get some biovore exocrine action.

That frees up all your heavy slots and gets you a group of warriors for some synapse at around 350ish points. A standard CAD should work for the rest of it. Elites will always be a tight slot for us. Malanthropes are by and far better then venomthropes.

Just don't expect those formations to help out too much. When you play Nids, you gotta just kinda accept that you are the Washington Generals, while just about every other army is the Harlem Globetrotters by comparison.

Or maybe a better way to put it is that Tyranids are 40K on Super Hard mode.

Don't mind the challenge myself. I've always had a knack for doing better-than-average with 'meh' lists, and usually enjoy the experience, even when I lose - and my opponents typically enjoy playing something a little different.

If I'm ever persuaded to regularly partake in organised events, I've got me mixed Mechanicus for that

Oh, and another uncanny knack of mine? When I collect an army for a maligned Codex, whatever I take tends to get really hard in the next one Of course, now I've said that I've thoroughly jinxed it!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Thoughts! Bloody ridiculous, possibly idiot thoughts!

This set is damned, damned tempting.

Couple of those (maybe three, I have no shame!) in Tyrannocytes, force my opponent to deal with them whilst vomiting forth as many Termagants as I can - supported by Sporocysts deployed nice and deep - not only do they give me some kind of ranged presence, but also look big enough to block LoS to the Tervigons.

Perhaps some Living Artillery following up.

Hmm. A theme begins to grow.

Buy the models you like. Play those.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:


This set is damned, damned tempting.

Pretty good value compared to just a Tervigon...only $2.25 more.

Damn, why'd you have to post that link! I already have 2 Tervigons...I already have 2 Tervigons...I already have 2 Tervigons...

I REGRET NOTHINGS!!!!!

*exit stage left*


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also....do you already have 2 Tervigons.....or do you only have 2 Tervigons?

Coming from a guy with about 400+ termagants and an equal amount of hormagaunts, no, you really can't have too many.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

Also....do you already have 2 Tervigons.....or do you only have 2 Tervigons?

You're not helping!

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Last night, I ran out of stuff to read.

Gathering Storm II? Finished.

City of Secrets? Finished.

Dredd Mega Collection Engram and F*tish (work filter)? Finished.

So I did what any other Nerd does. Wandered over to the secondary bookcase, looking for something I've not read in a while to accompany me on a visit to the Smallest Room whilst I parked my dinner.

Shield of Baal - Leviathin.



Whatta-mistaka-to-maka....

See, that lead to me rediscovering the fleshy goodness of the latest Tyranid models. Bigger Bio-bombs! Drop Ships! MIND BULLETS!

Before I knew it, I'd wrapped up my dirty business in the cludgy, and headed to the primary bookcase (antique, glass panel doors, very nice) to dig out my by now extremely forgotten Tyranid Codex. Oh yes. The Hive Mind was most definitely calling to me, as it might call to a Genestealer Hybrid when it's also been to the smallest room only to find there's no bog roll left, necessitating assistance in retrieving a fresh one from where they're kept because keeping bog roll in the bog is apparently heresy....

I was pouring over it, having completely forgotten how really really nice looking the Tyranid range is, and how much plastic it now involves. Oh, the excitement! Re-cut Warriors with Boneswords! Non-top heavy Hive Guard! Oodles of bio-horrors, big ones, small ones, other ones in-between!

Such enthuse! Much excite! Wow! I'd even got to the point of accepting 'but you're gonna have to build and paint some Gaunts, and they're an irritatingly fiddly kit, considering how many of the sods you'll likely need'. NO MATTER! It's Nids for me.

insert audio file of vinyl record having the needle knocked out the groove.

Oh....wait. I'm....I'm remembering why I've not done this yet, mad keen as I am on the army. Not, it's not their apparently lack lustre rules. That's never stopped me before. No. It was....it was...what was it? Ah. Yes. That One.

I just cannot forge an army to match my own headcanon (not head cannon. I'm a Nid fan, not a Nid bio-construct. And if I am but don't know it, I can only imagine the Hive Mind is very disappointed in how that experiment turned out). And it's a mix of some wonky points, and a highly restrictive Force Organisation Chart.

See, I want a Black Library style Tyranid army. Lots of little guys, good selection of bigger guys, smattering and variety of biggest guys. But with things shoehorned into the FoC they way they are, with some sections massively over-subscribed, and others being 'no brainers' (look, Pyrovore. I like you. I've got plans that can involve you. And they're pretty funny. But the other girls in the club are just outright pretty, and I know for a fact her over there does REDACTED BY THE INQUISITION, so I'm afraid you've no chance love) it's just not possible.

So, what's a Nerd to do? I really, really want to play Nids. As covered, they're a visually gorgeous army, and because people might think they're an easy opponent, I look forward to pulling off some cunning plans and eating all their brains.

Lists wise, I don't think I'm missing any rules. Got the Codex. Got both parts of Shield of Baal - and got pretty much all the books (except Valedor. Is that a must-have?). Limited interest in Forgeworld stuf, but not completely adverse (nor is regular gaming group).

Help me Dakka. Give me your thoughts on how I might field Tyranids the way I think they should be played!

Your ramblings are a joy to read but our codex is a herald of false hope.

Just a little side tidbit, in the GW codex FAQ, they made spawned termagants from any tervigon obsec so long as you take a CAD, so there is that at least.

Part of me wishes Trygons had burrow. Start one on the board, burrow, then T2 have it spring up in the enemy deployment zone, and have both ends of the tunnel be marked. Babysit a tervigon, spawn a brood of gaunts, then run them through the tunnel and across the board.

jasper76 wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:


This set is damned, damned tempting.

Pretty good value compared to just a Tervigon...only $2.25 more.

Damn, why'd you have to post that link! I already have 2 Tervigons...I already have 2 Tervigons...I already have 2 Tervigons...

But how many Tyrannofecies do you have?

Also you don't have 3 Tervigons.

 Unyielding Hunger wrote:
Coming from a guy with about 400+ termagants and an equal amount of hormagaunts, no, you really can't have too many.

Dude. You are my hero.

I had collected and built 240 Termagants, then I sold them along with the rest of the collection because I decided that I couldn't support more than one army at the time. I regret that decision often.

I'd consider whether you actually want lots and lots of gaunts aside from being painful to paint it also turns the game in to "40k: Tedious Movement Phase Edition". The movement phase along with Tyranid's all around suckiness are two large parts of why I stopped playing with my 'nids. Some people don't seem to mind though, so YMMV.

Grah.....

Glimmering of an idea.....

Three Tyrannofex. In Tyrannocysts. Tyrannodeepstriking into enemy lines (Tyrannocysts of course having Tyrannosuperrules so they dodge terrain and units).

Three of Tyrannothose, and my opponent should have quite a lot to worry about, nice and up close. Sure, against massed grav that might be a quick way straight back to the digesting pool, but for most other armies is something nasty they want to deal with (if only the Acid Spray was AP3....then I could seriously party with those three!). At such short range, and still being MC (MC Gribblydeath? If so, who is the DJ?) reckon I might plump for the Fleshborer Hives, so I can give infantry a damned good drizzling, and rely on their Smash to wreck tanks if needs be (If the tank hasn't moved, quick mental* calculation suggests Smash is more efficient than shooting them with the big gun. Both S10, Smash AP2 and may not need to roll to hit)

And if I do do double FoC - possibly three Sporocysts to start churning out 'not-a-good-idea' zones of Spore Mine fields. Plus, all those Deathspitters are bound to kill something.



*Mental here not only meaning 'I done it my hed', but also 'I could be so out you may wonder if I need a visit to the bouncy room.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Grah.....

Glimmering of an idea.....

Three Tyrannofex. In Tyrannocysts. Tyrannodeepstriking into enemy lines (Tyrannocysts of course having Tyrannosuperrules so they dodge terrain and units).

Three of Tyrannothose, and my opponent should have quite a lot to worry about, nice and up close. Sure, against massed grav that might be a quick way straight back to the digesting pool, but for most other armies is something nasty they want to deal with (if only the Acid Spray was AP3....then I could seriously party with those three!). At such short range, and still being MC (MC Gribblydeath? If so, who is the DJ?) reckon I might plump for the Fleshborer Hives, so I can give infantry a damned good drizzling, and rely on their Smash to wreck tanks if needs be (If the tank hasn't moved, quick mental* calculation suggests Smash is more efficient than shooting them with the big gun. Both S10, Smash AP2 and may not need to roll to hit)

And if I do do double FoC - possibly three Sporocysts to start churning out 'not-a-good-idea' zones of Spore Mine fields. Plus, all those Deathspitters are bound to kill something.



*Mental here not only meaning 'I done it my hed', but also 'I could be so out you may wonder if I need a visit to the bouncy room.

Give each one Electrogrubs, Fleshborer Hives, and Regeneration. Tyrannofexes are one of a few models that can actually make good use of the 4+ regeneration at cost.

If your buying a few, paint as you go.
You don't want this staring at you on a shelf;





It's a scary prospect from a painters point of view lol.

NooB Q.....I remember Electroshock Grubs, but haven't a clue on their rules?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also - plastic Venomthropes?






Automatically Appended Next Post:

 jasper76 wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

Also....do you already have 2 Tervigons.....or do you only have 2 Tervigons?

You're not helping!

Can you tell I'm a former (very competent!) Redshirt!

Jackal wrote:If your buying a few, paint as you go.
You don't want this staring at you on a shelf;

Spoiler:

It's a scary prospect from a painters point of view lol.

I wish that was my shelf...

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:NooB Q.....I remember Electroshock Grubs, but haven't a clue on their rules?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also - plastic Venomthropes?






Automatically Appended Next Post:

 jasper76 wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

Also....do you already have 2 Tervigons.....or do you only have 2 Tervigons?

You're not helping!

Can you tell I'm a former (very competent!) Redshirt!

It's odd that in our lowest moment, we have a wealth of updated plastic kits. I'm just mad that we don't have a kit for lictors. I need to pick up some more for a list. Deathleaper, 10 lictors, and 25 genestealers all in the opponents face on T1.

Definitely once of the nicest ranges out there (but Gaunt heads in two pieces? WHY!!!!!) shame our rules aren't quite up to snuff.

They're close if you ask me - we've certainly got options. But they either need to up the AP on some weapons, or drop points - and getting us a much needed Decurion type affair would be lovely, as it'd open up our FoC restrictions somewhat.

 Unyielding Hunger wrote:
... and Regeneration. Tyrannofexes are one of a few models that can actually make good use of the 4+ regeneration at cost.

Related to this, has anyone ever played with a Nidzilla list where every single MC on the board has Regeneration. I've always wanted to run a list like this, but always whimp out due to the high points it would cost.

I think the next high-points game I play with Nids I'm going to try this, for gaks and giggles if nothing else.