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I'm starting up a 'Nid battlefleet since people keep crying about my necrons(which I have not won a single game with, btw ). Thinking about this list:

Hive Ship
Prow Pyro-acid Battery, Thorax Bio-plasma spines, Port/Starboard launch bays, 2xReinforced Charapace, 2xExtra Spore Cyst, Leadership 9
350 Points

Hive Ship
Prow Pyro-acid Battery, Thorax Bio-plasma spines, Port/Starboard launch bays, 2xReinforced Charapace, 2xExtra Spore Cyst
310 Points

Tyranid Cruiser
Prow Pyro-acid battery, thorax massive claws, Reinforced Carapace
115 Points

Tyranid Cruiser
Prow Pyro-acid battery, thorax massive claws, Reinforced Carapace
115 Points

4xKraken squadron
4xPyro-acid batteries
160 Points

4xKraken squadron
4xPyro-acid batteries
160 Points

3xVanguard squadron
3xPyro-acid batteries
75 Points

3xVanguard squadron
3xPyro-acid batteries
75 Points

4xEscort squadron
2xPyro-acid batteries, 2xBio-plasma spines
70 Points

4xEscort squadron
2xPyro-acid batteries, 2xBio-plasma spines
70 Points

1500 Points

Tyranid cruisers are over-rated. More escorts or hive ships are usually better.

The cruisers have poor range, speed, armor, shields and low hits, and are not very cheap IIRC.

Other thing: You can easily end up with a fleet you aren't playing with the BFG version of "Instinctive Behavior." It can be a bit old failing some of the Command Checks to do stuff.

"Well, I wanted to flank around the enemy, but failed my Behavior. Guess I get to charge the Imperial cruiser in the nose instead!"

Typical, you turn your back for just one moment and one of those damned Rippers/Gaunts grabs a hold of the helm.

BAWTRM wrote:Typical, you turn your back for just one moment and one of those damned Rippers/Gaunts grabs a hold of the helm.

It is one of the reasons I stopped playing them. Especially in a list like the one given. As soon as you lose a Hive Ship, you probably are only controlling bout 1/3rd to half of your force.

But Ld checks were always my bane in BFG, so YMMV.

i read you don't have to take any Hive ships at all but can only then take Vanguard/Escort squadron and Zerg. Is this true

yorkskargrimironklaw wrote:i read you don't have to take any Hive ships at all but can only then take Vanguard/Escort squadron and Zerg. Is this true

Yep, but the fleet is entirely under the Instinctive Behavior. You don't have high Ld, so my guess is at least half the game you aren't actually in control of your fleet.

yorkskargrimironklaw wrote:i read you don't have to take any Hive ships at all but can only then take Vanguard/Escort squadron and Zerg. Is this true

If you like moving your entire fleet to the dictates of a flow chart and having your opponent cannily lead your ships around by the nose then yes.

MeanGreenStompa wrote:

yorkskargrimironklaw wrote:i read you don't have to take any Hive ships at all but can only then take Vanguard/Escort squadron and Zerg. Is this true

If you like moving your entire fleet to the dictates of a flow chart and having your opponent cannily lead your ships around by the nose then yes.

Actually, if you are running a Vanguard fleet (ie all Vanguards and/or Kraken) each squadron has a Ld equal to the number of ships in the squadron and each squadron may roll to override instinctive behavior each turn (with that Ld value) as if it was in range of a Hive Ship.

So, all squadrons won't necessarily be using the flow chart, especially in the early game before losses (Assuming you take large squadrons).

Other than the dropping of Ld through attrition, a Vanguard fleet's reliability vs Instinctive Behavior is just as good or better than one with a Hive Ship. After all, a failed roll for a Hive Ship stops rolls for remaining squadrons, while the Vanguard fleet allows each squadron to always get a roll, even if a previous squadron failed their roll.

I haven't played much myself, or used a Vanguard fleet yet, but I don't think it is as bad as these last 2 posts make it sound.

I'll also point out that the new FAQ prevents Tyranid evolution upgrades from being used except in a campaign setting, unfortunately <sigh>