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Just wondering, to those 'Nid vets out there (I haven't looked at their rules since the ones published inside the 3rd ed. main rulebook!), would an army of vangaurd organisms (eg// Genestealers, Lictors, Broodlord, and maybe Gargoyles?) be viable as an army in this edition?

I know they'd get slightly gimped in non-Infiltrate situations, but otherwise would they work?

the genestealers yes, however I haven't seen a gargoyle in 2 1/2 years

You mention infiltration gimping this. I'd point out that only one unit infiltrates in the new dex (broodlord and retinue). What really gimps a genestealer heavy army is a table with minimal terrain and/or mobile shooty armies.

I've seen a list like this locally (sans gargoyles) and he does alright with it I think (only faced the 1000 point version). Main strength is the sheer power of genesteelers in assault. Problem with a list like this is there's no way to deal with skimmer heavy armies that are popular at the moment. Pretty much why carnifexes are nigh mandatory in a competative nid list.

Well, I guess if you REALLY wanted an effective army that only had genestealers in it you could order the Inquisitor scale Genestealer, and just use the ruels for a carnifex.

Gargoyles are not bad..but the are still not available in plastic..to expensive for most players..

Mostly stealer armies are supposed to be okay - at one point they were considered the best option. They just really need their Gunfexes.

Posted By winterman on 03/15/2007 5:55 PM
You mention infiltration gimping this. I'd point out that only one unit infiltrates in the new dex (broodlord and retinue). What really gimps a genestealer heavy army is a table with minimal terrain and/or mobile shooty armies.

I've seen a list like this locally (sans gargoyles) and he does alright with it I think (only faced the 1000 point version). Main strength is the sheer power of genesteelers in assault. Problem with a list like this is there's no way to deal with skimmer heavy armies that are popular at the moment. Pretty much why carnifexes are nigh mandatory in a competative nid list.

Just checked the list, for 3 points/model Genestealers can have "Scuttlers" and Infiltrate (whole army can start on enemy side... in Infiltration games)

I figure swarm=good, that way even if I start at my end, I can fleet over with enough guys left to put up a fight. Besides add in a Lictor or two (basically Genestealers++ ) and a dakkafex with long-range guns, and I'm good!

Besides, cheaper than gaunt swarm army (man those are expensive!)

You need to reread the dex. Scuttlers does not give nids the infiltrate USR. It only gives them the scout USR, which gives a 6" pregame move and makes the stealers never have to be in reserve. Big difference. 

Also note that scout can be used regardless of the mission, so my original statement stands that only the broodlord would be affected by a non-infiltration mission.

Don't rely on lictor's too much. They aren't as powerful as you think.

It's easy for an opponent to spread out over a terrain feature so you can't drop there. Because they have to deepstrike into a terrain feature, lictors have lost a lot of the tactical fear they used to have.

Unless you get really lucky and roll a ton of 6s, whatever you charged will be hitting back. Since it only has a 5+ Sv, this means that it doesn't take a lot of wounds to bring it down. And if you're inside woods, theyll be hitting back regardless of what you kill.

I tried them for a while, but they just aren't strong enough to justify the 80 pts. If you're going to use them in a theme army, go for it. But don't expect anything more than tying up a unit for a turn, maybe two.

Lictors are ok if you give them feeder tendrils and keep them near large broods of little bugs, allowing them to hit on 3s.

but on there own, they will die fairly easily.

Posted By Reecius on 03/20/2007 6:25 PM
Lictors are ok if you give them feeder tendrils and keep them near large broods of little bugs, allowing them to hit on 3s.

but on there own, they will die fairly easily.

They always have feeder tendrils - no need to give them it.

I believe gargoyles would be used if they were in plastics. Current metals are horrible and to expensive fall over and are hard to transport ect. Lictors are most usefull for MC rerolls in escalation and armor hunting but seem to be to limited. I usually only see 1 Lictor at most anymore.

Gargoyles can hit hard as a shooty unit. the problem is the modeling nightmare the present. Easier to make a gaunt with wings. Lictors I would only buy 1 for the pheremone trail at 80 points and nonscoring they tend to die easy and atleast give them toughness 5 or 6 or maybe even a +4 save.

Lictors are still useful, just not in the same way. You need to be careful what you send them against.