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2022/05/13 06:58:50
Subject: In-universe explanation for sublight propulsion on Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Swimming Broods?
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Imperial Recruit in Training
Texas
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Was always curious about this. What's the fluff on how Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Broods/Attack craft move about in space at sublight speeds? I know the Narvhal is used for creating compressed space to move fleets across vast stellar distances in lieu of FTL travel. But I've never seen the explanation for how Tyranids fleet ships maneuver in battle in the vacuum of space. Never played the BFG tabletop game but played Armada and Armada II and can't recall an explanation. Can't find much info on this specific subject on Youtube, Lexicanum or 40K Fandom either. Even cracked a couple old Nids codexes and not much to be had. Anyone know what it is and if there's a source for it? I know 40K has gaps but usually there's fluff for explaining most things, even the more outlandish stuff. Genuinely curious because I've never heard or seen the lore behind this specific thing though.
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2022/05/13 07:55:06
Subject: Re:In-universe explanation for sublight propulsion on Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Swimming Broods?
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Longtime Dakkanaut
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Reaction thrusters. What they use for reaction mass? What do you think they do with all their metabolic wastes?
One of the BFG upgrades for Tyranids basically was a speed upgrade and was given as something like solar vanes, suggesting they were gathering energy from solar radiation via something like photosynthesis (since the amount of actual acceleration gained from light pressure would be virtually insignificant for a multi-kilometer long Tyranid ship). I would rationalize it as that extra solar input is used to power stronger muscle contractions for more forceful expulsion of reaction mass.
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/05/13 14:37:13
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2022/05/13 13:59:41
Subject: In-universe explanation for sublight propulsion on Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Swimming Broods?
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Elite Tyranid Warrior
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Hive crones are apparently also space flight capable and all they have is wings. I don't think GW's put too much thought into it, unfortunately.
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2022/05/13 14:03:22
Subject: Re:In-universe explanation for sublight propulsion on Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Swimming Broods?
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Decrepit Dakkanaut
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Iracundus wrote:Reaction thrusters. What they use for reaction mass? What do you think they do with all their metabolic wastes?
Glad someone else pointed out fart thrusters before I could.
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2022/05/13 14:45:20
Subject: Re:In-universe explanation for sublight propulsion on Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Swimming Broods?
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Longtime Dakkanaut
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"We're going in through its anus," Biff whooped boisterously.
Indeed. Indeed.
What else could that puckered sphincter be, in the white bony hull of the vast, gastropoidal alien vessel?
The leviathan that loomed ahead seemed a cross between a nautilus and an omnivorous, space-faring snail. It was the length of a four-K asteroid, and almost as high where its shell spiralled upward in a circuit of increasingly small osseous chambers.The shell was bleached chalky by aeons of radiation.
Even as the armoured Fists, tightly packed into a stretched boarding torpedo, stared at the forward viewscreen in its mount of bronze bones, that sphincter pulsed.
It expelled a quick milky cloud, which the torpedo's sensors assayed as consisting of bitter liquid dregs, foul gas, and ashy debris-the fart of a leviathan...
p. 202, Space Marine, by Ian Watson
K= 1/2 mv^2
Imperial ships use expel plasma at high velocity. Tyranid ships seem to expel more mass at a lower velocity. BFG Tyranid ships are generally slower than comparable Imperial ones. Tyranid ships harvest atmospheres as well and these harvested gases could also be used as reaction mass.
However using waste that is not worthwhile to reprocess/recycle any further as reaction mass is a final way to wring some usefulness out of it, while disposing of it at the same time.
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This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2022/05/13 15:29:49
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2022/05/13 17:25:46
Subject: In-universe explanation for sublight propulsion on Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Swimming Broods?
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Humming Great Unclean One of Nurgle
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shortymcnostrill wrote:Hive crones are apparently also space flight capable and all they have is wings. I don't think GW's put too much thought into it, unfortunately.
The method of space propulsion discussed wouldn't work* within a planet's atmosphere, so the wings would be necessary for that.
*Effectively enough to be viable.
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/05/13 17:26:23
Road to Renown! It's like classic Path to Glory, but repaired, remastered, expanded! https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/778170.page
I chose an avatar I feel best represents the quality of my post history.
I try to view Warhammer as more of a toolbox with examples than fully complete games. |
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2022/05/13 17:53:07
Subject: In-universe explanation for sublight propulsion on Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Swimming Broods?
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Elite Tyranid Warrior
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NinthMusketeer wrote:shortymcnostrill wrote:Hive crones are apparently also space flight capable and all they have is wings. I don't think GW's put too much thought into it, unfortunately.
The method of space propulsion discussed wouldn't work* within a planet's atmosphere, so the wings would be necessary for that.
*Effectively enough to be viable.
Heh, I know, it's more that the model doesn't have anything looking like the required type of "rear exhaust port" afaik.
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2022/05/13 20:29:45
Subject: Re:In-universe explanation for sublight propulsion on Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Swimming Broods?
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Stabbin' Skarboy
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Could always model them for space travel, I’ve heard of someone who put erm “waste ports” onto some cyber wolves.
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"Us Blood Axes hav lernt' a lot from da humies. How best ta kill 'em, fer example."
— Korporal Snagbrat of the Dreadblade Kommandos |
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2022/05/13 21:17:29
Subject: In-universe explanation for sublight propulsion on Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Swimming Broods?
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Ultramarine Chaplain with Hate to Spare
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shortymcnostrill wrote: NinthMusketeer wrote:shortymcnostrill wrote:Hive crones are apparently also space flight capable and all they have is wings. I don't think GW's put too much thought into it, unfortunately.
The method of space propulsion discussed wouldn't work* within a planet's atmosphere, so the wings would be necessary for that.
*Effectively enough to be viable.
Heh, I know, it's more that the model doesn't have anything looking like the required type of "rear exhaust port" afaik.
There's two little clawed sphincter looking things towards the rear of the model, actually. They're small, but they're something.
Honestly I'd also be fine with the idea that some of the Tyranid ships supplement any "thrusters" with a form of telekinesis, they are such a psychic-capable race.
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2022/05/16 19:53:50
Subject: In-universe explanation for sublight propulsion on Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Swimming Broods?
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Battlefield Tourist
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It'd have to work by emitting gas and conservation of momentum moving the ship in the opposite direction. It'd be slow and costly in gas, but perhaps that's what they use the inert gases of the planet atmospheres they strip for. If they had them under very high pressure, it'd potentially work well enough.
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2022/05/16 22:17:06
Subject: In-universe explanation for sublight propulsion on Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Swimming Broods?
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Ultramarine Chaplain with Hate to Spare
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I guess I don't see an issue with Nids being able to generate and combust rocket fuel with their biology. They can fire projectiles of plasma out of their face, so why not their a$$?
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2022/05/18 07:59:48
Subject: In-universe explanation for sublight propulsion on Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Swimming Broods?
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Battlefield Tourist
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Yeah that's a fair cop. We are talking about a species that can apparently generate plasma inside their bodies, so they'd probably be capable of some pretty robust rocket propulsion.
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2022/05/18 15:03:48
Subject: In-universe explanation for sublight propulsion on Tyranid Hive Ships and Ether Swimming Broods?
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Librarian with Freaky Familiar
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Nid fart gas.
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To many unpainted models to count. |
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