Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I like all of it, not sure about it all at once though.

Probably would've preferred if the striking tail was preserved in the new Lictor kit rather than trying to keep it on the model at the same time as having flesh kilt by putting in the upper back.

Chaos leaves me aesthetically weary of random tentacles bursting from places where there ought not be tentacles though, so maybe it's just hitting that box for me

I like the occasional inexplicable thing like Tyranids in kilts. Not everything should make sense. But it is a little off putting, and I certainly don't like it enough to pay that much.

New Deathleaper model = eew. And not in a good way.

Happy I've got the old one.

Pretty cool model, if it wasnt for the skirt, and (to a lesser extent) the weird head tail.....

 Tastyfish wrote:
I think there is definitely too much base for it to be a dual kit (I'd have suggested the cape was a parachute for limited gliding or falling).

The only thing a half-chute mounted at the hip is going to achieve is that it lands face first at about the same velocity. Which gives a whole new meaning to the name Deathleaper.

Maybe it's best to just accept it as a stylistic choice and not try to explain it at all. That generally works for much of the rest of 40k.

Could also be used to cling to jaunty angles, without tying up any more limbs that absolutely necessary.

I’m just hoping 10th Ed Codexes don’t go skimping on the unit by unit background. That was my biggest disappointment with 9th.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:


I’m just hoping 10th Ed Codexes don’t go skimping on the unit by unit background. That was my biggest disappointment with 9th.

Agreed. I dream about the future where a faction book will have fluff and mini's pictures only, with rules being online thing or on separate cards.

The fleshrobe could well just be an vestigial evolutionary leftover from a previous form. Or it could be painted like active camo. Loads of options. Main thing is it looks cool, distinctive and it’s indicative the designers are playing in fun new design spaces.

I can see so many reasons for a stalking predator to have that.

- Thing expands and covers his heat signature specially if he is hanging from above
- Thing expands and works like a spider net hunter, tangles confuses prey
- Muffles sound presence
- Covers and works as partial camouflage or doubles down as moving hypnotic flashy natural camo like squids.
- Helping hand, its basically like an octopus tentacled membrane with hooks
- Poisonous membrane like poisoned dart frogs
- fully extended like a peacock for mimicking bigger size and make it a more elusive target.

I can carry on all day... the point is, this is a new window GW opened and that enriches our imagination.

All fair points.

I particularly like how the beastie looks difficult to encircle or sneak up on. Previous Lictors and Deathleapers were all Frontal Deff, the hallmark of an Assassin bug intended to be picking its fights. And that’s cool in itself.

But the other stuff here? They strike me as an evolved response to help prevent it being mobbed and pulled apart. There’s no angle of it now not defended in some fashion, even if it’s just wild tentacle flailing, making it that little bit more efficient, and more likely to survive each assassination.

 NAVARRO wrote:
I can see so many reasons for a stalking predator to have that.

- Thing expands and covers his heat signature specially if he is hanging from above
- Thing expands and works like a spider net hunter, tangles confuses prey
- Muffles sound presence
- Covers and works as partial camouflage or doubles down as moving hypnotic flashy natural camo like squids.
- Helping hand, its basically like an octopus tentacled membrane with hooks
- Poisonous membrane like poisoned dart frogs
- fully extended like a peacock for mimicking bigger size and make it a more elusive target.

I can carry on all day... the point is, this is a new window GW opened and that enriches our imagination.

Being placed like it is it would not be of use for most of mentioned above.

Interesting to see how divided opinions are about the new Deathleaper.

The model is not for me for a variety of reasons, most notably the weird skirt. There is also its hoofs looking like they have no traction on the underground, so to me the whole thing seems to somewhat levitate in the air a bit... just odd.

Having said that, there are some parts of the sculpt I really like, and I can see why other people like the whole thing. Glad some folks love it, and equally glad I held on to my old metal version!

 Shadow Walker wrote:

 NAVARRO wrote:
I can see so many reasons for a stalking predator to have that.

- Thing expands and covers his heat signature specially if he is hanging from above
- Thing expands and works like a spider net hunter, tangles confuses prey
- Muffles sound presence
- Covers and works as partial camouflage or doubles down as moving hypnotic flashy natural camo like squids.
- Helping hand, its basically like an octopus tentacled membrane with hooks
- Poisonous membrane like poisoned dart frogs
- fully extended like a peacock for mimicking bigger size and make it a more elusive target.

I can carry on all day... the point is, this is a new window GW opened and that enriches our imagination.

Being placed like it is it would not be of use for most of mentioned above.

Agree.

It just seems like they were looking for a reason to give the Deathleaper an edgy cloak thing. The whole model feels far too anthropomorphized.

 Shadow Walker wrote:

 NAVARRO wrote:
I can see so many reasons for a stalking predator to have that.

- Thing expands and covers his heat signature specially if he is hanging from above
- Thing expands and works like a spider net hunter, tangles confuses prey
- Muffles sound presence
- Covers and works as partial camouflage or doubles down as moving hypnotic flashy natural camo like squids.
- Helping hand, its basically like an octopus tentacled membrane with hooks
- Poisonous membrane like poisoned dart frogs
- fully extended like a peacock for mimicking bigger size and make it a more elusive target.

I can carry on all day... the point is, this is a new window GW opened and that enriches our imagination.

Being placed like it is it would not be of use for most of mentioned above.

There are a lot of people throwing out 'practical' justifications for the skirt who have apparently never watched a nature documentary.

 NAVARRO wrote:
I can see so many reasons for a stalking predator to have that.
- Thing expands and covers his heat signature specially if he is hanging from above

Enlarges the heat signature, if it's capable of muffling the heat signature then it's made from the same stuff as the rest of the nid, it wouldn't change much?

- Thing expands and works like a spider net hunter, tangles confuses prey

As long as you're stood behind/under it

- Muffles sound presence

Introduces a lovely swooshing and chaffing set of sounds as it moves

- Covers and works as partial camouflage or doubles down as moving hypnotic flashy natural camo like squids.

Possible but the entirety of lictors are covered in chameleonic scales, so not sure what it adds

- Helping hand, its basically like an octopus tentacled membrane with hooks

As long as it wants you to eat/be eaten by its ass

- Poisonous membrane like poisoned dart frogs

For it's ass

- fully extended like a peacock for mimicking bigger size and make it a more elusive target.

Bigger but more elusive is an oxymoron

I can carry on all day... the point is, this is a new window GW opened and that enriches our imagination.

It's just made me think they've been watching/reading too much cthulu/DC stuff.

 sockwithaticket wrote:


There are a lot of people throwing out 'practical' justifications for the skirt who have apparently never watched a nature documentary.

But you have so you know it's not right.

GW designers have, from time to time, used real life examples when creating some of their miniatures. Even if that's not the case doesn't mean that people can't enjoy the miniature, it isn't a design flaw. There's a lot of those in 40k but this ain't one.

 sockwithaticket wrote:

 Shadow Walker wrote:

 NAVARRO wrote:
I can see so many reasons for a stalking predator to have that.

- Thing expands and covers his heat signature specially if he is hanging from above
- Thing expands and works like a spider net hunter, tangles confuses prey
- Muffles sound presence
- Covers and works as partial camouflage or doubles down as moving hypnotic flashy natural camo like squids.
- Helping hand, its basically like an octopus tentacled membrane with hooks
- Poisonous membrane like poisoned dart frogs
- fully extended like a peacock for mimicking bigger size and make it a more elusive target.

I can carry on all day... the point is, this is a new window GW opened and that enriches our imagination.

Being placed like it is it would not be of use for most of mentioned above.

There are a lot of people throwing out 'practical' justifications for the skirt who have apparently never watched a nature documentary.

As an avid fan of nature documentaries I am eager to be enlightened what am I missing about the pseudo squid cape posed in the middle and on the back of the body.

You….you know it’s possible not to like something, and not be a Richard about it? Certainly it’s possible to just accept it’s entirely subjective, and just spouting about why everyone else am the wrong isn’t going to change anyone’s mind? Yeah?

 Shadow Walker wrote:

 sockwithaticket wrote:

 Shadow Walker wrote:

 NAVARRO wrote:
I can see so many reasons for a stalking predator to have that.

- Thing expands and covers his heat signature specially if he is hanging from above
- Thing expands and works like a spider net hunter, tangles confuses prey
- Muffles sound presence
- Covers and works as partial camouflage or doubles down as moving hypnotic flashy natural camo like squids.
- Helping hand, its basically like an octopus tentacled membrane with hooks
- Poisonous membrane like poisoned dart frogs
- fully extended like a peacock for mimicking bigger size and make it a more elusive target.

I can carry on all day... the point is, this is a new window GW opened and that enriches our imagination.

Being placed like it is it would not be of use for most of mentioned above.

There are a lot of people throwing out 'practical' justifications for the skirt who have apparently never watched a nature documentary.

As an avid fan of nature documentaries I am eager to be enlightened what am I missing about the pseudo squid cape posed in the middle and on the back of the body.

Easy to explain:

 Destrado wrote:

 sockwithaticket wrote:


There are a lot of people throwing out 'practical' justifications for the skirt who have apparently never watched a nature documentary.

But you have so you know it's not right.

GW designers have, from time to time, used real life examples when creating some of their miniatures. Even if that's not the case doesn't mean that people can't enjoy the miniature, it isn't a design flaw. There's a lot of those in 40k but this ain't one.

I'm not arguing whether people can enjoy it, just the odd ideas as to what it's for/how it would function. GW haven't offered much of an explanation and so we have people speculating about it helping to glide or to cover up the organism. If you've ever seen any of the animals that glide ('flying' fish, squirrels, lizards) it's obvious how unsuitable the membrane is for that purpose - it's too small and doesn't start far enough up the body. It's also clearly to small to envelop the leaper and it's weirdly located if the intention is to throw it over prey.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
You….you know it’s possible not to like something, and not be a Richard about it? Certainly it’s possible to just accept it’s entirely subjective, and just spouting about why everyone else am the wrong isn’t going to change anyone’s mind? Yeah?

The opposite is the same = you can dislike it, and point why, without being corrected about being wrong because (here insert lack of imagination, knowledge of nature etc. etc. absurdities). Also, except one example, nobody is attacking anyone for liking the model but apparently disliking it is disallowed.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
All fair points.

I particularly like how the beastie looks difficult to encircle or sneak up on. Previous Lictors and Deathleapers were all Frontal Deff, the hallmark of an Assassin bug intended to be picking its fights. And that’s cool in itself.

.

Nice idea there, almost like the membrane is an enhanced sensorial thing picking all movement vibrations that approach the leaper from the back.


To the other fellow dakkaites Im really not going to debate to exhaustion every point I have put forward and will try to address more generally.

We dont know how much that skirt expands and can unfold upwards too... Im thinking it can be massive like a bat wing is when unfolds.
Peacock comparison is on point If the leaper makes his tail huge theres a good chance someone shooting it will be confused. If shot hits the tail it's little damage in comparison of hitting the body making leaper more elusive.

Guys Everyone has its own preferences I get that, its ok to like and dislike... it's better than totally ignoring it just because GW did no updates to it.

For people looking for a function of that "cloak" part: since it apparently has ground contact while the Deathleaper is walking over flat ground, said membrane could be of use to detect vibrations in the ground, which in turn would without a doubt make stalking prey easier.

The crux of the issue is that when people try to say "it's cool because it does XYZ like a real life creature" when it doesn't make sense is going to get questioned. If the statements stop at "It's cool" then that's a different conversation.

Ultimately I dislike it as the model appears to fall into style and creative modelling over function, which is the exact opposite of what nids are about.

They're meant to be hyper evolving into the most efficient form they can manage, what about that skirt makes it the best death leaper it can be? It can't use it to glide, maybe use it to swim, hard to use as a weapon, questionable use for stealth. Or did they just put it on the model because "omg cool caped crusader look", in which case, that's not very Tyranids.

Dudeface wrote:
The crux of the issue is that when people try to say "it's cool because it does XYZ like a real life creature" when it doesn't make sense is going to get questioned. If the statements stop at "It's cool" then that's a different conversation.

Ultimately I dislike it as the model appears to fall into style and creative modelling over function, which is the exact opposite of what nids are about.

They're meant to be hyper evolving into the most efficient form they can manage, what about that skirt makes it the best death leaper it can be? It can't use it to glide, maybe use it to swim, hard to use as a weapon, questionable use for stealth. Or did they just put it on the model because "omg cool caped crusader look", in which case, that's not very Tyranids.

This!

Dudeface wrote:
The crux of the issue is that when people try to say "it's cool because it does XYZ like a real life creature" when it doesn't make sense is going to get questioned. If the statements stop at "It's cool" then that's a different conversation.

Ultimately I dislike it as the model appears to fall into style and creative modelling over function, which is the exact opposite of what nids are about.

They're meant to be hyper evolving into the most efficient form they can manage, what about that skirt makes it the best death leaper it can be? It can't use it to glide, maybe use it to swim, hard to use as a weapon, questionable use for stealth. Or did they just put it on the model because "omg cool caped crusader look", in which case, that's not very Tyranids.

Does not make sense and fails on your point of view because you have your own ideas based on your personal knowledge. The world is bigger than that and guess what people should not stop debating on a public forum if they wish to. Besides you can refute all you want cant you?

 Darnok wrote:
For people looking for a function of that "cloak" part: since it apparently has ground contact while the Deathleaper is walking over flat ground, said membrane could be of use to detect vibrations in the ground, which in turn would without a doubt make stalking prey easier.

Would it not be more efficient to have such detecting ground vibration sensors on the legs/foot area?

 NAVARRO wrote:

Dudeface wrote:
The crux of the issue is that when people try to say "it's cool because it does XYZ like a real life creature" when it doesn't make sense is going to get questioned. If the statements stop at "It's cool" then that's a different conversation.

Ultimately I dislike it as the model appears to fall into style and creative modelling over function, which is the exact opposite of what nids are about.

They're meant to be hyper evolving into the most efficient form they can manage, what about that skirt makes it the best death leaper it can be? It can't use it to glide, maybe use it to swim, hard to use as a weapon, questionable use for stealth. Or did they just put it on the model because "omg cool caped crusader look", in which case, that's not very Tyranids.

Does not make sense and fails on your point of view because you have your own ideas based on your personal knowledge. The world is bigger than that and guess what people should not stop debating on a public forum if they wish to. Besides you can refute all you want cant you?

And I never suggested people shouldn't debate anything. My point stands that people look at this highly evolved creature designed for a specific purpose to the nth degree can look at it and go "wtf is that about" suggests the design isn't immediately practical. It's a cool mini by all accounts, but doesn't seem very Tyranids to me in the design.

Plus lets be honest, do you honestly think the designer was wanting to create that skirt for a natural predatory reason or because they thought it looked cool?

 NAVARRO wrote:


We dont know how much that skirt expands and can unfold upwards too... Im thinking it can be massive like a bat wing is when unfolds.

We have the rear view and can see how much, or how little, bunched material there is to expand and the location means the centre of gravity is too low for wings to be useful.

 Darnok wrote:
For people looking for a function of that "cloak" part: since it apparently has ground contact while the Deathleaper is walking over flat ground, said membrane could be of use to detect vibrations in the ground, which in turn would without a doubt make stalking prey easier.

Now that is actually a plausible suggestion.

Can we please stop arguing over whether something makes sense or not? The conversation keeps going in a loop and we don’t have any real information outside idle speculation

It’s tyranids. And 40k. Practicality doesn’t always make sense. Why do tyranids have hooves when other feet would be stealthier or more effective? You can make the same arguments over other design features too