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I'm getting a little bored with historical miniatures and am beginning to pine for 40k, dumb rules notwithstanding.    I've been out of the loop for a while, but thought that the Anphelion project thingie from Forgeworld might be just the thing to respark my interest.

Will it?

I know, I know, it's subjective.  What I mean is:

1) Is the book worth the $65?

2) Are there new rules for the Tyranids that make them more interesting?

3) Are the gargantuan creatures rules different from what existed before, perhaps making them a bit more worth their points?

4) Hows about the Red Scorpions?  Are they just a plain vanilla chapter, or do they have any unique qualities?  Do they suck, and if so, how much?

1) Is the book worth the $65?

I think so.. but then again I'm a Forgeworld Fanboy. Of all the IA books this one certainly is one of the best. That background story, Inq. Lok, D-99, etc.. worth the read.

2) Are there new rules for the Tyranids that make them more interesting?

Are you meaning the updated Tyranid Codex? Or FW rules. For the most part the FW Tyranids remain unchanged. You get some nice rules for the FW Tyranid terrian, the FW Spore Mines, and a couple of new models .. etc.. Nothing earth shattering.

3) Are the gargantuan creatures rules different from what existed before, perhaps making them a bit more worth their points?

Depending on the environment .. they are certain worth the points. Hierophant is definitely worth it's points.

4) Hows about the Red Scorpions? Are they just a plain vanilla chapter, or do they have any unique qualities? Do they suck, and if so, how much?

Drawing a blank ... as I recall some background but nothing outside of what you could build with the chapter trait system in Codex Space Marine.  Some ready made background and some special FW model goodness but for the most part standard rules.

Welcome back Bugs ..

Codex.



Can't agree on that one.

Have they changed the gargantuan creature rules?

Not really much response to this - I assume not many people here bought it or game using it?

I bought the book for use with the anphelion base that my girlfriend bought me last year. Thats about it.

Cant really comment on the tyranid rules as I dont play bugs outside of the more tame space hulk.

Its ok. Its the weakest of the bunch, to be honest. Good read though.

Instead of the high priced forgeworld models, however cool, I'll been snagging up this stuff.

http://www.dwarvenforge.com/store/home.php?cat=270


I can change it at will...

I wasnt too overly impressed with the DF stuff myself. I bought some for space hulk setting when it was $25 a set. Its nice, but since the price isnt the same anymore, not as good a deal.

Granted, its a damned sight cheaper than FW for what you get, plus its prepainted to boot.

I estimate that it will cost around $400 from DF to get enough pieces to make a space hulk board with enough options to keep ya happy. 2/3 cheaper than anphelion, and you get more.

Now if they would just release more sets for the DF sci fi, it could be a winner. Its kinda stagnate right now.

It would be magical if FW would come out with half a dozen more pieces for anphelion. Making a space hulk board with them would be exorbitant, but indeed very sexy.

Sorry, Bugs. I am not trying to derail your thread.

 

I bought IA4 and it is by far my favorite of the bunch. The story format of the book makes it a very fun read.

1) Yes, I think it is worth the $65 if you like bugs (like you do).

2) Like many things in 40k, some units are good and others are mediocre to poor. For the most part, the rules didn't change much from the trial rules published by FW when the models were first released and there aren't any big scenario or rule changes that mix up the Tyranid force. The book does include special rules for fighting inside the base, but those rules are fairly threadbare.

3) Nope, exactly the same. That said, creatures like the Trygon and malanthrope are pretty darn good for their points cost. The Heirophant is still pretty hard to make it's points back (just like all Titans).

4) The Scorpions only have very minor differences from the codex. The main thing they have that is different is that they have a whole bunch of Apothecarys (like one in every unit).

 

Their planning on more in 2007. Especially interior stuff to fill in the inside. DF kits are worth it currently even more, as their 25% off in their own store.

Plus you can change it to whatever you want, as opposed to stuck with AP from forgeworld.

I'll keep you informed when I get the stuff in Hellfury.

While I really appreciate pictures such as this: (I have made similar setups)



Dwarven Forge simply does not support the SciFi range at all. the rumoured "2007 year of scifi" is quite hopeful at best..

"March we are getting in the NEW! Medieval Building Expansion Set, and more restocks of the Cavernous River & Walls Set, the Cavernous Passage Set, 6" Cavernous Passage, 6" x 6" Floor Tiles -- and maybe one more thing. 

We anticipate another order arriving in June that will contain a few new sets -- as well as some re-stocks."

Scifi sets might be somewhere in that mix, but after waiting for two years on anything for scifi, I have completely given up. I am pretty sure if anything scifi was in the line up for 2007, they would have said as much. Too many people waiting for those, for DF to not atleast hint at it.

4) The Scorpions only have very minor differences from the codex. The main thing they have that is different is that they have a whole bunch of Apothecarys (like one in every unit).

Thats a big advantage, are they cannon for games outside of specific vs nid sceanrios (ala War of the Beard). Multiple Apothecaries mean safe plasma and they are cheap enough they make their points back quickly.

Glad I checked back -- some useful info here.

I got a PM saying that Godzilla Nid armies are all the rage now. True? If so, why?

My guess is: easy to produce.

Easy to build and paint. And works quite well.

But bloody expensive!

6 fexes, 2 hive tyrants, and some rippers for what, 1500? You're already looking at $360, plus dex, plus rippers from somplace.

Posted By bugswarm on 01/29/2007 8:04 AM
Glad I checked back -- some useful info here.

I got a PM saying that Godzilla Nid armies are all the rage now. True? If so, why?

Godzilla builds are the premium Tournament Tyranid build right now for a few reasons:

 

1) Relatively few models means that it's an easy army to finish painting (and easily transported).

 

2) Large models tend to show off good paint jobs (and you can spend more time painting them because there are so few models in the army).

 

3) Godzilla lists are the only Tyranid list that can actually win primarily through shooting the enemy to death. 3 "Dakkafexes" (two pairs of Twin-linked Devourers), 3 "Gunfexes" (Barbed Strangler and Venom Cannon), a Walking Tyrant with Venom Cannon/TL Devourer (and 3 Tyrant Guards) and a flying Tyrant with x2 TL Devourers makes for a pretty potent amount of shooting. Add into the fact that all of those creatures are pretty darn durable and you have a winning combination.

Unlike other shooty armies, there simply isn't any weak unit to quickly destroy that will reduce the army's firepower. The Gunfexes can continue to shake (and possibly destroy) enemy vehicles while the Dakkafexes can put the hurt on nearly any infantry unit in the game with the sheer amount of wounds they cause. Back up this firebase with a few close combat counter assualt units (like stealers or Raveners) that hide behind the MCs, and enemy armies fail if they try to stop the MC shooting through assualt.

All-in-all it is the best Tyranid force for tournament play IMO.

 

Was there some kind of clarification on these from GW? Because IMO they are illegal under the codex, at least as written.

It's fairly ambiguous in the RAW. The current FAQ vaguely answers the question indirectly (in favor of 2 independent sets of TL Devs).

If you take into account that this configuration was shown on the official GW site, then the intent becomes more clear. (That of course does not effect RAW.)

Every argument I've seen on Nid TL ends in a stalemate.

Posted By bugswarm on 02/07/2007 1:13 PM

Was there some kind of clarification on these from GW? Because IMO they are illegal under the codex, at least as written.

As Blue Loki pointed out, the GW online FAQ makes it perfectly clear that a MC with two twin-linked weapons can fire them seperately.

The mere fact that the question says a MC can have two of the same twin-linked weapon lets you know GW thinks it's okay.

What is the backstory to Anphelion, in a nutshell?

Is it another ho-hum nid invasion, or an Ordo Xenos experimental station, where the bugs gert free aka Alien4/Jurassic Park. Or something else.

Adeptus Mechanicus Departmento Biologis Expirimental Station where the bugs get free Alien4/Jurrasic Park style.

The adeptus was growing Trygons? Why? Are they mad? Scratch the last question, its the Imperium.

Actually, they weren't growing Trygons or any big beasties. Before the bugs got free, they started to evolve wings(which Anphelion fluff states was a first). When they broke out, to the Imperials surprise, large bugs(Trygons, Harridans, Heirodules, Heirophants) started showing up, leading them to conjecture that, even if cut off from a hive fleet, Tyranids somehow have a way of developing Brood Nests of large enough size to grow such creatures.

I suppose this makes sense in a round about way.

By the time big nids are walking a planet it is doomed anyway, unless the planet has a large Imperial fleet above it. Nids on planet = hive fleet in rbit. Hive fleet in orbit = planet lunch. No amount of lascannon is going to stop that.

So they have to have a way of having nid armies divorced from nid fleets, other than lictors or stealer cults.

OK.

FAQs -- oy vey. This is what is keeping me from really getting back into this game system after all. It's just so many special rules. So MANY special rules. Knowing how to play the game has less to do with how well you know the core rules and understand the tactics that they require, and more that this particular bell is good against that particular whistle. Ugh.