Writing Tyranid POV

With so much excellent fluff out there for the grimdark of 40k, I still keep hoping for a good meaty tale from the Tyranid point of view.  The Eldar-centric Path series is a great example and as a long-time Eldar player, I've truly enjoyed it.  Turning to my latest love affair - Tyranids - the general consensus is that 'nids are too mindless, or simply not individual enough to develop a decent point of view from which to write.  This doesn't mix with the fluff though - there are several potential plotlines out there that I think could be developed relatively easily.  The brood brothers, covens, genestealer infestations all have a human side with great potential political and violent interplay driven by alpha-male predator interactions.  Taking a different tack though, writing from the perspective of a full-out invasion horde would be tough.  I still think it would be possible; below is my take on an opening.  A Ymgarl brood, bent on returning to the Hive Mind after being abandoned by a tendril of a Hive Fleet's assault:

"Lost"

Here come the vibrations again, pulsing, rumbling then staccato… time passes… and quiet.  I hear a buzzing and … footsteps.  Have they discovered us?  We detect no mind-noise, and we would have felt the Mother-of-All long before our family was close.  This may be much-needed prey.  It has been… long since last we fed, since last we were abandoned.  We will find the Mother again.  I subtly awaken the closest, dormancy shed like a husk.   Close enough to see, to hear their minds… listening for the heavy tramp of the flamebringers.  No, these are light steps.  Moving slowly like a new hatchling whose carapace has yet to harden.  These have no carapace, no smell of poison.  They carry long firespitters, but they rode in a metal beast that can take us away from here, if we are worthy.  We must find the Mother.  We will be careful; I awaken the brood.  Dormancy slides from us like the birthing pool’s slime, slow and distasteful.  It has been a long sleep.

+++++Vessel: Verdant Shores +++++

+++++Registry: Hades Subsector, Morwell+++++

++++Owner: Rogue Trader Fleet Apropos Ninth +++++

++++++ M41011.32a +++++++

++-++Comms Log ++-+++++

++++…++ +  Drexler, Scout Lead:  ..Confirm – this moon is as dead as the one by ++++!..  Just ashes, rock, and more rock.  We’re buttoning up and headed back to the Shores.  See you in a..  what was that?

Tipping the Meter

I'd come into the fall with some high hopes of the NOVA Open being only the first stop of at least a couple of east coast tournament appearances - I had my sights set on getting to the Battle for Salvation and Battle for Blobs Park at a minimum, and maybe Mechanicon or the Warstore Weekend.  For varying reasons, I ended up only making it to NOVA.  Though I've tried to keep motivated, moving my stuff into my man-cave coupled with no tournaments to look forward to has sapped the mojo a bit.  Thinking too that my repeated experiences with the slow-play aspect of Tyranids being a disappointment to my opponents is a factor, and even a general dissatisfaction with GW seems to be creeping in as well.

Scratch-Built Dominatrix!!

Rolled into the local Battle Bunker and saw this on the table - I didn't want to bother the guy who built it as he was playing a game so I only snapped one pic.  A quick interrogation of the blackshirts confirmed this big beautiful table-stomping avatar of awesomeness is apparently scratch-built.  No big plastic dinosaur or McFarland toy underneath the sculpted goodness.  Rode by a 3e tyrant; and yes, that is a genestealer on the base.  Hope I get a chance to meet the owner one of these days; I clearly need to get out more!

Also a good opportunity to share a teddy bear's lot in the grimdark:

Tyranid Library - the Fexstar

Alright gribbly horde fans, I've been promising a library article on the fexstar for a while now, so here it is.  Even better I hope, Ill get to talk about my learning experience with the fexstar from NOVA.

The classic fexstar, for the uninitiated, is two Tyranid primes plus two carnifexes with quad twin-linked devourers, also known as a 'dakkafexes'.  The main benefit of pairing two primes with a brood of two carnifexes is to take advantage of the "50% or more of the models in a unit" cover rule.  The primes, as ICs, can get cover from ordinary infantry units, and when they attach to the carnifex brood, confer this ability to the unit as they comprise "50% or more" of the models in the unit.  This means the carnifexes are no longer working under the much more vulnerable True Line of Sight (TLOS) cover rules for monstrous creatures (MCs).  The variant is the "mini-fexstar" of one prime and one 'fex; and the same cover principle still applies.  An alternate setup is to use a dakka tyrant and tyrant guard; different rules to get there, but same impact on cover.

As far as biomorphs and weapons go, the 'fex is pretty straightforward.  In my opinion, the only biomorph worth consideration is frag spines to allow an I3 charge into cover to get ahead of thunder hammers and powerfists.  It's definitely possible to build a melee deathstar and keep the dual scytals on the fexes instead of devourers, but this article is focused on the dakka version.  I've seen quite a few prime variants recommended, but the prime is just such a good unit it almost doesn't matter what you give him.  Regen is probably the most common, but I've seen both AG and poison; all have their advantages and depend on your playstyle and preferences.  For weapons I prefer bonesword/lash whip; the I1 effect for models in base contact is just too good defensively as the fexstar definitely can attract opposing assaulters/deathstars; I don't upgrade to a deathspitter, but would strongly consider it for the mini-fexstar variant.

Just to recap, here's the list I took to NOVA:
Prime: BS/LW, Regen
Prime: BS/LW
3x2 HG
2x10 Genestealers w/tox, w/BL (w/scything talons) (11 models per..)
Tervigon w/TS, AG, catalyst, onslaught
Tervigon w/TS, AG, catalyst
2x 10 termagants
1x2 carnifex brood w/2x TL Devs, frag spines
1x3 biovore brood

So let's put this into the context of the NOVA scenarios and why I ultimately went with a fexstar as my core: win conditions alternate between objectives, kill points, and table quarters.  I decided to give myself as much of an advantage in two of the three as I could:  Tyranids are generally pretty decent at objective missions being an assault-oriented codex, plus the ability to park T6 MCs on objectives as troops.  Unfortunately, tervigons are also kill-point generators, and with no shortage of units that can be relatively easily taken off the table, kill points missions can be a challenge.  Table quarter missions however, are all about having more points in a quarter than the other guy: an expensive, tough unit that can torrent or assault effectively, and is best suited for the center of the board where you can pick and choose a table quarter when needed is just the ticket.  Weighing in at just under 600 points, the fexstar can and did win me table quarter battles.  I also took into heavy consideration Mike's blog article describing the tall, x-deployed terrain, and with the expected cover advantage and lanes of fire, I had a reasonable expectation of this unit both not being blown up immediately - especially with conventional wisdom placing target priority on the hive guard and tervigons - and being able to torrent down both hordes and expensive, small units like Thunderwolves and Grey Knights.

Welcome to my underground lair!

It's only taken two years..  but finally managed to get the office uh game room err underground lair built, replete with space and a desk to paint at.  Quite happy to be next to the computer while I paint so I can actually listen to podcasts and put up pictures to work from without printing them off, or do quick lookups on different techniques or models.  Also made room to put up and keep up a 72x48 table for gaming (hooray!).  The table is just a run-of-the-mill folding table with 3x 24x48 MDF boards, heavy enough not to shift with a little bump, but light enough to be relatively portable/stowable.  If only I didn't have other things to do today - surrounded by gaming goodness, and in a place where magic can definitely happen, I don't want to leave.  Things to paint, saw apart, bend, sculpt, and the room fairly begs to smell of cyanocrylate!  At any rate - just wanted to make a quick celebratory post.  What do you have in your underground lair?

Sour Grapes - a NOVA review and soapbox

It's been a while, but after the pre-NOVA frenzy, I've had to rebalance time back toward the family and other aspects of life.  As I and others have said once or twice, life is about balance, and happiness is about wanting what you already have.  My first NOVA post was all about the starry-eyed stuff, the "weekend high" and first reactions.  All of which remain spot-on.  I didn't really touch on any negative aspects, and I'll take the time to do so here to be balanced - but fair warning to the non-attending naysayers; I won't be kind to you.  Which brings me to a big theme of this post: sour grapes.

Maybe it's human nature, maybe it's our 40k community - but I have to say I'm frankly disappointed in quite a few of the vocal netizens of this community after reading many threads and posts about NOVA.  More precisely - the forum discussions and comments after the review posts I think are the most disturbing.  The vast majority of the posted reviews have, and rightly so, both a "good" and a "bad" section, and kudos to all those that have posted reviews.  They are an excellent anecdotal balance for Mike's survey numbers, especially once you learn how to spot the hyperbole.  What frustrates me the most however, are the continuing underlying themes of:

1. Most tournament players are intentional WAAC cheaters;
2. Mike (and other TOs by extension) is (are) trying to hide something;
3. and most popularly, some combination of the two.

These mindsets are simply a detriment to the social aspect of this hobby, and continuing to beat these idiotic drums pushes more people to FoW, WarmaHordes, and other systems, reducing the already small community.  Pathetic not only because they are laughably unrealistic, they are in direct opposition to the "why we do this" of the hobby.  If we only ever wanted to play 40k with a few friends, it would be a typical $25-$100 boardgame.  Not something we spend thousands of dollars and thousands of hours on.  I certainly don't want to only ever face at most the few people that I know well enough to go have a beer and pretzels with, or at the bottom of the spectrum - who are too stupid or too timid to know better or confront me because I have to cheat to win.  These attitudes are nothing more than sour grapes - the result of a combo of unrealistic expectations and unrealized wishes.

New GW player ranking system announced!

Games Workshop announced a worldwide ranking system today that rewards you for entering the battlefield and defeating your foes! You earn points for every sanctioned event you join, and you earn even more for each victory. It’s easy! Just find a participating location near you and play!  Oh wait.  Nevermind.  I mistook GW for a company that's actually in touch with their players.  You know - the guys who care enough about the game to put things together like the INAT FAQ so we can do the larger-scale social activity associated with wargaming called tournaments.  Let alone the dozens of individual FAQs and formats of all the tournaments that people put on because they love the social aspect of this hobby.  If we only ever wanted to play 40k with a few friends, it would be a typical $25-$100 boardgame.  Not something I spend thousands of dollars and thousands of hours on - that's something I want to show off, and use as the social entry point for meeting new, like-minded people (AND CRUSH THEM!!!  /grin).  I certainly don't want to only ever face at most the few people that I know well enough to go have a beer and pretzels with on a vaguely routine basis.  I simply don't understand how GW continues to miss the boat here - it is 2011 after all.  With social media in all its varying forms available - not to mention the thousands of gamers who practically bleed this hobby - there simply isn't a good excuse.  The writing is on the wall and competition is scratching at the door - with a battering ram.  The cause for this post, and I keep hoping to see a headline like this for GW in the near future:  Yahoo Boss fired...over the phone ! , share prices jump 20%  In fact, I expect it, unless GW's shareholders are (or continue to be) utter twits.  So much potential for greatness, wasted.  Sorry for the short post - but then again it's a rant - and those are best done with just enough research to make them sting like a rapier going in...  oh - and the bandwagon pic is because this rant seems to be occurring elsewhere too...

PS - GW, if you're reading this: fix the Tyranid codex/FAQ please.

Back from NOVA: What a rush!

Well - lots of buildup over the past year; a lot of waffling on lists, maybe a little bit of Tyranid bravado, but the reality was a thousand times better than I could have wished.  I went 4-4 overall, 3-1 on day 1 in the random brackets, I started on table 2 and ended up the rest of the day getting all my games broadcast live, wearing a microphone, but only 2 were recorded due to technical issues.  So much for remaining silent and only being thought an idiot though - I'd say I removed all doubt!  Day 2 was less forgiving, going 1-3 in Tier 2 (just behind the championship bracket) with two of the three coming down to the last round in close matches.  I only had one loss that I would chalk up as being close to a blowout, but it came against Sean Nayden, in one of my favorite matches of the tournament.  I never dreamed I would do so well; the overall rankings should be interesting to see.  More after the jump..

For the rowers keep on rowing...

Yes the danger must be growing

For the rowers keep on rowing

And they're certainly not showing 

any signs that they are slowing.. 

Yes indeed - the danger of arriving at NOVA with a partially unpainted army looms larger every day.  Getting down to the wire, with only the eyes/teeth, dip, and basing steps to go on most of the candidate models for the big show.  Except for that big stack of 50 gants.  Bleh =) At least the stealers and gargoyle mobs are close; just need to get my Space Hulk brood lord done and I can move to the next layers.  I won't be winning any painting competitions, but I definitely don't want to show up with an unpainted army and get that big fat Zero painting score.

I did manage to finish the display board - so that's one monkey off the back.

Playtesting continues, and narrowing it down to a 1-brood of biovores variant of list 3 and a list that looks an awful lot like Hulk's list here:


Prime w/BS, LW x2
HGx3 x2
Zoanx3
10x tox stealers + broodlord w/scytals (10 models)
10x tox stealers + broodlord (10 models)
Tervigon w/AG, TS, Cat, Onslaught
Tervigon w/AG, TS, Cat
10x gants
10x gants
2x Carnifex w/dual TL Devs/Brainleech, Frag spines

Tuning the NOVA list

Painting like a madman this weekend - so much to do, and made harder because I haven't settled on my final list yet.  As I work through several different options, these are the ones I keep coming back to.  One of my private conclusions, and interestingly borne out as a result of Lyracian's work with Nikephoros' excellent 40k-Metrics series, was that Tyranids have trouble shooting infantry; we can kill vehicles pretty decently, but getting to the tasty morsels inside is often the hard part. In batrep after batrep, everything comes down to getting into close combat - and the larger Tyranid metagame indicates the way to do this is with great big broods of stealers, backed up by tervigon-powered FNP.  So the challenge has been to try and put together a list that can hurt infantry long before getting into cc, can withstand firepower and continue to take down 2-4 vehicles per turn through at least turn 3, has redundant FNP, and has 5 or 6 troops slots to deal with the NOVA conditions.  These are the variants I've put together and had varying dice-dependent success with in my at-home playtesting vs. various lists.  The fact that my losses are generally due to dice and not the inability to be effective is encouraging.

Without further ado - what are your thoughts?

List #1:

Total Roster Cost: 1999
HQ:  1 Tyranid Prime, Lash Whip & Bonesword
Heavy Support:  2 Carnifex Brood, TL Devourer w/Brainleech Worms + Frag Spines
Heavy Support:  2 Biovore Brood
Heavy Support:  2 Biovore Brood
Elite:  3 Zoanthrope Brood
Elite:  3 Hive Guard Brood,
Elite:  3 Hive Guard Brood
Troops: Tervigon, Adrenal Glands + Toxin Sacs + Catalyst
Troops: Tervigon, Adrenal Glands + Toxin Sacs + Catalyst
Troops: 10 Termagant Brood
Troops: 10 Termagant Brood
Troops: 12 Genestealer Brood, Toxin Sacs + Broodlord (+ Scything Talons)
Troops: 8 Genestealer Brood

List #2:

Total Roster Cost: 1999
HQ:  1 The Parasite of Mortrex
Fast Attack: 18 Gargoyle Brood, Adrenal Glands + Toxin Sacs
HQ:  1 Tyranid Prime,  Lash Whip & Bonesword + Regeneration
Heavy Support:  2 Carnifex Brood, TL Devourer w/Brainleech Worms x2 + Frag Spines
Elite:  2 Hive Guard Brood
Elite:  2 Hive Guard Brood
Elite:  3 Zoanthrope Brood
Troops: 1 Tervigon, Adrenal Glands + Toxin Sacs  + Catalyst
Troops: 10 Termagant Brood
Troops: 11 Genestealer Brood, Toxin Sacs + Broodlord (+ Scything Talons)
Troops: 10 Genestealer Brood, Toxin Sacs
Troops: 10 Genestealer Brood, Toxin Sacs

List #3:

Total Roster Cost: 1996
HQ:  1 The Parasite of Mortrex, 160 pts
Fast Attack:  16 Gargoyle Brood, Adrenal Glands + Toxin Sacs
Elite:  3 Zoanthrope Brood
Elite:  3 Hive Guard Brood,
Elite:  3 Hive Guard Brood
Heavy Support:  2 Biovore Brood
Heavy Support:  2 Biovore Brood
Troops: 1 Tervigon, Adrenal Glands + Toxin Sacs  + Catalyst
Troops: 1 Tervigon, Adrenal Glands + Toxin Sacs  + Catalyst
Troops: 10 Termagant Brood
Troops: 10 Termagant Brood
Troops: 15 Genestealer Brood, Toxin Sacs + Broodlord (+ Scything Talons)
Troops: 15 Genestealer Brood, Toxin Sacs

List #4:

Total Roster Cost: 2000
HQ:  1 Tyranid Prime,  Lash Whip & Bonesword + Regeneration
Heavy Support:  2 Carnifex Brood, TL Devourer w/Brainleech Worms x2 + Frag Spines
Heavy Support:  3 Biovore Brood
Elite:  3 Zoanthrope Brood
Elite:  3 Hive Guard Brood,
Elite:  3 Hive Guard Brood
Troops: 1 Tervigon, Adrenal Glands + Toxin Sacs  + Catalyst + Onslaught
Troops: 1 Tervigon, Adrenal Glands + Toxin Sacs  + Catalyst + Onslaught
Troops: 10 Termagant Brood
Troops: 10 Termagant Brood + Devourer
Troops: 16 Genestealer Brood, Toxin Sacs + Broodlord (+ Scything Talons)

Hive Fleet Snowbank emerges!

Slowly...  coming down to the wire for NOVA and still finalizing both list and trying to get paint onto figures.  The builds and basing are pretty much done, spent this weekend getting the display board to the 95% stage and basing/priming everything else. It's gonna be close getting the paint on; thank the Emperor for a painting class I took back at Central Command in San Antonio a few years back on how to use blended acrylics to save time on horde armies.  The guy instructing it would churn out a better than just table-ready 100-model IG army every couple months.  Been practicing it for a while and starting to get moving on my 'nids.  Wish me luck - the clock is definitely ticking.  I'll try to post pics of the finished models as I get there, but in the meantime, I wanted to share the WIP display board.

First stages - just finished painting, adding sand, and gluing down the wood bark rock embankments:

Glued and spackled the Heroscape terrain down =)

And then the nearly finished:

Question though - any thoughts on what I should use to cover the edges?  Thinking some very thin ply board of some sort... hating the gaps and pink foam showing, but don't want to add a ton of weight if I can help it.  Seen the big picture frame route, but that looks like it adds a *lot* of weight.  Spackle alone isn't gonna cut it.  Maybe poster board or foamcore?

The other cool thing I saw this weekend was a dragonfly that I'd love to copy for a hive fleet color scheme - no idea what it's called but it evokes a WWI fighter:

Hope to see some of you at NOVA.  I'll be on the volunteer staff again - and a few kind words of thanks to MVB on that count.  He was kind enough to put up a list thanking the staff from last year here - nice touch and very much appreciated.  Took my dogs a couple weeks to stop barking after last year - sooo much walking bringing the score sheets back and forth, but it was an honor just to be a part of it and to contribute to something truly great.  Can't wait till this year.

Who is bringing Tyranids to NOVA this year??

This video is a win for cheesiest evar (no rickroll, I promise) - Tyranids Rule!

Back to reality...  where Tyranids apparently don't rule.  Here we are, almost a year after this blog started and I decided to focus on the Tyranid metagame, and maybe, just maybe, learning how to build competitive lists and if I'm lucky, to play Tyranids competitively.  GW rained all the hell over that little parade, if you believe the current state of Tyranid meta as represented by the more well-read blogs and forums.  I've lost count of the negative posts and threads and comments and replies everywhere from BoK, 3++, YTTH, Dakka, and even in TheTyranidHive.  Even Synaps3, the blog I would consider hands down to be the best Tyranid blog over the past year, whose has started a GK army (/rolls eyes).  Over the past year I've had hope - but watched it diminish over time.  Hulksmash toyed with nids a bit, Purgatus has a couple lists going but still won't take them to a tournament; Brent gave them a test drive and bailed.  Several of the folks I read voraciously from in the beginning have scaled back their Tyranid play pretty drastically in favor of other armies or away from GW games entirely - AbusePuppy, Kennedy, Lyracian, GMort, Sandwyrm and more.  It would take too long to hyperlink all of the above; if you read this blog, I hope you read most of those I've listed; and if you don't - find them and subscribe.  They've all been an inspiration, a challenge, a tenuous brotherhood, and I deeply value the time they've spent putting even the negative thoughts down to help give Tyranid players a chance - even if its to recommend we not play Tyranids (/grin).

So here we are - on the brink of the biggest, baddest, 2k tourney on the east coast; just over a month away.  256 slots in the NOVA open - who's left?  Who is bringing Tyranids?  Who has big enough biomorphs to think they have a shot at the top tables with Tyranids - despite the braying naysaying??

I'll be there with my 'nids; I'll be content to win more than one game over the two days, given my inexperience and the caliber of players I expect to see.  I hope to do better, but we'll see what the dice gods bring.  Who else will be representing the wretched Tyranid hive of scum and villainy at NOVA this year?

List of lists! ETC 2011 Tyranid lists

A quick thanks to yermom over at The Brown Paintbrush who posted the initial links to the ETC forums for me to find this.  Note the ETC rules have a pretty heavy focus on objectives, and every list is built for taking/holding objectives.  I do find it interesting there isn't a single tyrannofex or fex-star in the list; in fact, only two lists even have a substantial Heavy Support component.  Only one tyrant to be found, and all but one have three full slots of shooty, most are HGs, in their elites.  A common theme is big 'stealer units and lots of catalyst-having tervigons - not a huge surprise there.  Will be fun to follow how the games play out.

Player: Jay Woodcock
Army Description: Tyranids

HQ1: Tervigon (160), Catalyst (15), Toxin Sacs (10) Adrenal Glands (10) Cluster Spines (0) 195
HQ2: Tervigon (160), Catalyst (15), Toxin Sacs (10) Adrenal Glands (10) Cluster Spines (0) 195
Elite 1 : 2 Hive Guards 100
Elite 2 : 2 Hive Guards 100
Elite 3 : 2 Hive Guards 100
Troop 1 : Tervigon (160), Catalyst (15), Toxin Sacs (10) Adrenal Glands (10) Cluster Spines (0) 195
Troop 2 : 10 Termagants ( 10*5 ) 50
Troop 3 : 20 Genestealers (20*14) 280
Troop 4 : 20 Genestealers (20*14) 280
Troop 5 : 10 Genestealers (10*14) 140
Fast 1 : 16 Gargoyle Brood (16*6), Adrenal Glands (16*1) 112
Total Roster Cost : 1747

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PLAYER 1: Joachim, Gossiaux, nickname Keya

ARMY DESCRIPTION : Codex Tyranids

HQ1: Tervigon (160) catalyst (15) scything talons (5) adrenal glands (10) toxin sacs (10) [200 pts]
TROOPS1: 10 termagaunts [50 pts]
TROOPS2: 10 termagaunts [50 pts]
TROOPS3: Tervigon (160) catalyst (15) scything talons (5) adrenal glands (10) toxin sacs (10) [200 pts]
TROOPS4: Tervigon (160) catalyst (15) scything talons (5) adrenal glands (10) toxin sacs (10) [200 pts]
ELITES1: 2 hive guard [100 pts]
ELITES2: 2 hive guard [100 pts]
ELITES3: 3 zoanthrope [180 pts]
HS1: Trygon prime adrenal glands (10) [250 pts]
HS2: Trygon adrenal glands (10) [210 pts]
HS3: Trygon adrenal glands (10) [210 pts]

TOTAL : [1750 pts]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PLAYER 6: NATHAN "BLOODREAPER" ROBERTS

ARMY DESCRIPTION : TYRANIDS

HQ 1: Tervigon [160], catalyst [15]= [175]
HQ 2: warrior prime [80], dual boneswords [10], scything talons [0]= [90]
ELITE 1: 3 hive guard [3*50] =[150]
ELITE 2: 3 hive guard [3*50] =[150]
ELITE 3: 3 hive guard [3*50] =[150]
TROOP 1: Tervigon [160], catalyst [15]= [175]
TROOP 2: 10 gaunts [10*5]= [50]
TROOP 3: 18 genestealers [18*14], toxin sacs [18*3]= [306]
TROOP 4: 18 genestealers [18*14]= [252]
TROOP 5: 18 genestealers [18*14]= [252]
[TOTAL = 1750pts]

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Player 3 Player Name: Pádraic Ó Confhaola Army Tyranids

HQ1: Tervigon (160), Catalyst (15), Cluster Spines (0) 175 
Elite 1: 3 Hive Guards (150): [150] 
Elite 2: 3 Hive Guards (150): [150]
Elite 3: 3 Hive Guards (150): [150]
Troop 1: Tervigon (160), Catalyst (15), Cluster Spines (0):[175] 
Troop 2:1 0 Termagants (10*5 ) 50 
Troop 3: 20 Genestealers (20*14) 280 
Troop 4: 20 Genestealers (20*14) 280 
Troop 5: 20 Genestealers (20*14), toxin sacs ( 20*3) 340
Total 1750

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PLAYER 1: Filippo 'Saryn' Cipriani

ARMY DESCRIPTION : Tyranids 
HQ : Tervigon (160) adrenal glands (10) toxin sacs (10) catalyst (15) [195]
Elite1 : 3 Hiveguard (150) [150]
Elite2 : 3 Hiveguard (150) [150]
Elite3 : 3 Hiveguard (150) [150]
Troop1 : Tervigon (160) adrenal glands (10) toxin sacs (10) catalyst (15) [195]
Troop2 : Termagant grood, Termagant x 12 (60) [60]
Troop3 :Genestealer Brood, Genestealers x 16 (224) Toxin sacs (48) [272]
Troop4 : Genestealer Brood, Genestealers x 16 (224) Broodlord (60) Scything talons (2) [286]
Troop5 : Genestealer Brood, Genestealers x 10 (140) [140]
Troop6 : Hormagaunt Brood, hormagaunts x 19 (114) adrenal glands (38) [152] 
Total [1750pts]

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PLAYER 1: Markus 'Jokaero' Liechti

ARMY DESCRIPTION : Tyranids

HQ1 : Tervigon, 1 Tervigon (160) with Adrenal glands (10), Toxin sacs (10), Cluster Spines (0) and Catalyst (15) [195 pts]
HQ2 : Tervigon, 1 Tervigon (160) with Adrenal glands (10), Toxin sacs (10), Cluster Spines (0) and Catalyst (15) [195 pts]
Elite1 : Hive Guard Brood, 3 Hive Guard (3*50=150) [150 pts]
Elite2 : Hive Guard Brood, 3 Hive Guard (3*50=150) [150 pts]
Elite3 : Hive Guard Brood, 2 Hive Guard (2*50=100) [100 pts]
Troop1 : Genestealer Brood, 19 Genestealers (19*14=266) [266 pts]
Troop2 : Genestealer Brood, 19 Genestealers (19*14=266) [266 pts]
Troop3 : Genestealer Brood, 7 Genestealers (7*14=98) [98 pts]
Troop4 : Termagant Brood, 10 Termagants (10*5=50) [50 pts]
Troop5 : Tervigon, 1 Tervigon (160), Cluster Spines (0) Catalyst (15) [175 pts]
FA1: Spore Mine Cluster, 3 Spore Mines (3*10=30) [30 pts]
FA2: Spore Mine Cluster, 3 Spore Mines (3*10=30) [30 pts]
HS1: Biovore Brood, 1 Biovore (45) [45pts]
TOTAL [1750 pts]

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PLAYER 3: Thor "Tordenpik" Madsen

ARMY DESCRIPTION : Codex Tyranids. 

HQ1 : Tervigon (160), Cluster Spines (0), Catalyst (15) [175 pts] 
HQ2 : Tervigon (160), Cluster Spines (0), Catalyst (15) [175 pts] 
Elite1 : Hive Guard Brood, 3 Hive Guards (150) [150 pts]
Elite2 : Hive Guard Brood, 3 Hive Guards (150) [150 pts] 
Elite3 : Hive Guard Brood, 3 Hive Guards (150) [150 pts] 
Troop 1 : Tervigon (160), Cluster Spines (0), Catalyst (15), Adrenal Grands (10) [185 pts] 
Troop 2 : Termagant Brood, 10 Termagants (50) [50 pts]
Troop 3 : Genestealer Brood, 17 Genestealers (238) [238 pts] 
Troop 4 : Genestealer Brood, 17 Genestealers (238) [238 pts] 
Troop 5 : Genestealer Brood, 17 Genestealers (238) [238 pts] 
TOTAL [1749 pts] 

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PLAYER: FABIAN "g_g" PAULISTA

ARMY DESCRIPTION : TYRANIDS

HQ 1: Tervigon [160], catalyst [15], adrenal glands [10], toxin sacs [10}= [195]
ELITE 1: 3 hive guard [3*50] =[150]
ELITE 2: 3 hive guard [3*50] =[150]
ELITE 3: 5 Ymgarl- Genestealers [5*23] =[115]
TROOP 1: Tervigon [160], catalyst [15], adrenal glands [10]= [185]
TROOP 2: Tervigon [160], catalyst [15], adrenal glands [10]= [185]
TROOP 3: 10 Termagaunts [10*5]= [50]
TROOP 4: 10 Termagaunts [10*5]= [50]
TROOP 5: 15 genestealers [15*14]= [210]
HEAVY SUPPORT 1: Trygon [200], Prime [40], adrenal glands [10] =[250]
HEAVY SUPPORT 2: Trygon [200], adrenal glands [10] =[210]
[TOTAL = 1750pts]

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PLAYER 7: James Ramsay

ARMY DESCRIPTION: Tyranids

HQ1: Tyranid Prime (80), lash Whip and Bonesword (15), Scything Talons (0) - [95]
HQ2: Tervigon (160), Catalyst (15), Cluster Spines (0) – [175]
Elite1: 3 Hive Guard (150) - [150]
Elite2: 3 Hive Guard (150) - [150]
Elite3: 2 Hive Guard (100) - [100]
Troop1: 18 Genestealers (252) - [252]
Troop2: 18 Genestealers (252) - [252]
Troop3: 17 Genestealers (238) - [238]
Troop4: 10 Termagants (50) - [50]
Troop5: Tervigon (160), Catalyst (15), Cluster Spines (0) – [175]
Fast Attack1: 16 Gargoyles(96), adrenal glands (16)- [112]
[TOTAL POINTS - 1,749]

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PLAYER 2: Pekka Koskivirta

ARMY DESCRIPTION : Tyranids

HQ1 : Tyranid Prime (80) pair of boneswords (10) scything talons (0) [90pts]
HQ2 : Tervigon(160) cluster spines (0) adrenal glands (10) toxin sacs (10) catalyst (15) [195pts]
Elite1 : 3 Hive Guard (3*50) [150pts]
Elite2 : 3 Hive Guard (3*50) [150pts]
Elite3 : 3 Hive Guard (3*50) [150pts]
Troop1 : 20 Genestealers (20*14) [280pts]
Troop2 : 20 Genestealers (20*14) [280pts]
Troop3 : 15 Genestealers (15*14) [210pts]
Troop4 : 10 Termagants (10*5) [50pts]
Troop5 : Tervigon(160) cluster spines (0) adrenal glands (10) toxin sacs (10) catalyst (15) [195pts]
TOTAL [1750]

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PLAYER1: Stefanos Kapetanakis (Stefoserpent)
ARMY DESCRIPTION: CODEX:TYRANIDS 5th Ed.

HQ1:Hive Tyrant(170), LashWhip& Bonesword, Twin-linked Devourer with Brainleech Worms(15), Wings(60),Old Adversary(25), Paroxysm, Leece Essence(Total:270)
HQ2:Tervigon(160), Catalyst(15), Toxin Sacks(10), Claws and Teeth, Spine Clusters(Total: 185)
ELITES1: 3x Hive Guards(150)
ELITES2:2X Hive Guards(100)
ELITES3: 2xZoanthropes(120)
TROOPS1: 10x Termagant(50) Fleshborers(Total:50)
TROOPS2: Tervigon(160), Catalyst(15), Toxin Sacks(10), Adrenal Glands(10), Cluster Spines,Claws and Teeth (Total:195)
TROOPS3: 8xGenestealers (112), Toxin Sacks(24) (Total:136)
TROOPS4: 8xGenestealers (112), Toxin Sacks(24) (Total:136)
FASTATTACK1: 15x Gargoyles(90), Toxin Sacks(15), Adrenal Glands(15)(Total:120)
FASTATTACK2:14x Gargoyles(84), Toxin Sacks(14), Adrenal Glands(14)(Total:112)
FASTATTACK3:5x Raveners(150), Rending Claws(25)(Total:175)
TOTAL [1749pts]

Local Tournament Batrep Round 1 - vs. SW

This was my first game of the day, and the first serious game since 2nd edition.  I roll up to the table and meet Mike, a very nice guy who had brought his nifty red and white Space Wolves.  After watching the amazing play with SW armies at NOVA Open, I was less than thrilled that my first game wasn't going to be against something soft and squishy like maybe a Tau battleforce army =p

Here's my list again:

2000pts
Swarmlord - 280
2x Tyrant Guard w/LW - 130
Parasite of Mortrex - 160
3x HG - 150
3x Zoans - 180
8x Ymgarl Genestealers - 184
8x Genestealers w/tox, Broodlord - 182
8x Genestealers w/tox, Broodlord - 182
8x Genestealers w/tox, Broodlord - 182
6x Raveners w/rending claws - 210
20x Gargoyles w/AG, TS - 160

The mission was pitched battle, annihlation; I saw drop pods on his tray and was worried about Jaws in a drop pod; fortunately no Jaws, no Murderous Hurricane, and what looked like a SW list I might have a chance against if I didn't screw up movement too badly:
RP - Chooser, Runic Armor
GH pack (9) - flamer, wolf standard, MotW
  Rhino - extra armor
GH pack (10) - flamer, meltagun, wolf standard, MotW
  Rhino - extra armor
GH pack (10) - flamer, meltagun, wolf standard, MotW
  Drop Pod
LF Squad (5+1 leader): 3x ML, 2x LC
LF Squad (5+1 leader): 3x ML, 2x LC
Wolf Scouts (5) - flamer, melta bomb, plasma pistol
Wolf Guard (5) - Melta bomb, TA SB - wolf claw (3), TA PW - wolf claw (3), TA SB - storm shield (2), TA PW chainfist (2); terminator armor
  Drop Pod
Dreadnaught - HF, MM, extra armor
  Drop Pod
TWC (4) - boltgun, meltabomb, powerfist, storm shield

The drop pod units, TWC, and the need to assault 3x GH squads with counterattack and MotW presented problems for my cunning plan to race across the board and eat his army like so much hairy biomass.  He won the roll and chose to go second.  I wound up deploying first, and bubble wrapped with my gargs, leaving holes near Swarmy and my HGs outside the wrap as pod bait on my right flank with partial LOS blockage, and infiltrating stealers on either flank to keep his melta scouts back.  Ymgarl asleep in the center hill.  He reserved his drop pods and scouts (surprise!) and the top of turn 1 looked something like this:

From Local tournay round 1 batrep

From Local tournay round 1 batrep

Rumor mongering: How would you amend the rules for the Harpy?

From Not Quite a Batrep - plus Hobby Update

If you haven't heard the rumors from Warseer yet, our much-maligned shake machine may get some amended rules in the "Summer of Fliers" via White Dwarf.

Rumors reposted:

I have been sitting on some information for a week now about upcoming Tyranid models I’ve been forgetting to report on.  My contact who allowed me to successfully report Catalyst becoming a psychic power that gave Feel No Pain and the Tervigon’s 3D6 spawning ability MONTHS before the release of the Tyranid codex has started talking with me again and has had a few things to report about Tyranid:

• First of all, apparently some Tyranid second wave models had to be redone into Finecast so that put an even further delay on anticipated models.
• Second, there is currently (well, as of last week) no concrete date set for the models to be released but a general timeframe will be late this summer and early fall.
• Third, all the models are done, and many are painted and have had their photos taken for promotional usage, but the release of the models will be staggered among several second waves.
• Fourth, the Harpy model has been done for a long LONG time, but apparently there is something that has been holding it back from being released (educated guess is that whole summer of fliers thing that might still happen).
• Fifth, the Harpy’s rules are looking at getting amended along with several other large flying non-vehicle models ala White Dwarf (who my contact is also affiliated with) some time in the future. These might just be optional rules or a preview of what’s to come with 6th, but you never know; they could make White Dwarf useful again. That would be a good way to get people like me to resubscribe.

This has been on my mind off and on over the past few days - how will GW amend the Harpy and make it useful?  The second part - this being a big assumption given the FAQtastic history. Here's my guesses:

1. Simple: bumped to T6; no other changes.
2. Simple again; points dropped to 120-140 range.
3. Harpy takes on role of Harridan/Tervigon - Harpies spawn 2d6 Gargoyles rather than drop spore mines; ability ends on doubles a la Tervigon.
4. Points reduced to 100 and "standard" options become pay options; i.e. Spore Mine cysts 20 pts, Sonic Screech 10pts, etc..

How would you amend the Harpy, assuming you want players to shell out $$$ for the new model and therefore will make it a viable option to HG, Zoans, and Tfexes?  Care to make any predictions or guesses?

First tournament results

Hey all - spent most of yesterday at Games and Stuff in a low key tournament run by Brent from the Inner Circle.  The really cool part about this tournament is that it was intentionally low key - no painting restrictions, WYSIWIG/no proxies though.  There were quite a few people that weren't frequent players, i.e. only play in tournaments now and then etc..., so it was nice have people there with the same mindset and playing time issues I do - plus we had some excellent southwestern grub for lunch!  I did manage to take a few pictures, and will attempt to post semi-lucid batreps later.  Trying to write a big presentation up and need to get this out of my brain so I can concentrate.

Overall - this was a fun stop on the journey of learning and playing Tyranids.  I made lots of mistakes, took a list with components I really wanted to play rather than sticking to more conventional competitive lists, and paid the price for both.  In the end, I went 1W-1T-1L, to footdar, Space Wolves, and Nurgle marines respectively, finishing 15th of 18 players.

Here's the list - it is the variation of a swarmlord/stealer shock list I talked about (but didn't post) here:

2000pts
Swarmlord - 280
2x Tyrant Guard w/LW - 130
Parasite of Mortrex - 160
3x HG - 150
3x Zoans - 180
8x Ymgarl Genestealers - 184
8x Genestealers w/tox, Broodlord - 182
8x Genestealers w/tox, Broodlord - 182
8x Genestealers w/tox, Broodlord - 182
6x Raveners w/rending claws - 210
20x Gargoyles w/AG, TS - 160

This list was built with a couple concepts in mind: speed and the ability to use Swarmy's buffs effectively.  In hindsight yesterday, I was pretty disappointed with it.  After sleeping on it, I'm pretty sure the poor performance had a lot more to do with my poor play than it being a bad list.  When I did things right, it performed exactly as expected.  Coolest moments: Gargoyles and Parasite wiping out 4 TWC, and killing the untouched Nurgle daemon prince that charged my one-wound-left Swarmlord.

Models of the match:
- Broodlords: say it with me - "Initiative 7 kills."  These guys went first in every combat - and when I didn't forget - hypnotised power fists/power weapons. Hindsight talking: hypnotizing the Mark of the Wulfen dudes in the counterattacking SW squads would have been really useful.
- Zoanthropes: Psychic tests - yes; but if you wanna use the Hood, you've got to be in range, and you probably won't Hood all three of my boys.  Boom goes the dynamite.  The flexibility to obliterate both vehicles and MEQ makes these guys a winning pick, even with psychic tests - and 3++ is icing on the cake.

Most important list-building lesson: Genestealers take objectives - they really aren't built to hold them.  In a game built around objectives, you need something to hold objectives while your stealers unleash hell elsewhere.

Most important tactics lesson: I had some big-time fails on multi-charging.  This is absolutely a critical skill for a 'nid player.

The most disappointing part for me as a player: only 68 models, and I was probably the slowest player at the tournament.  Game 1 we only got through 2 turns, game 2 through 4, and game 3 only went 3.  This is mostly due to inexperience with the rules which I will only get by playing more; but I would definitely appreciate tips for speeding up play.  One of my opponents had a good point: only measure first/last models and move the between models w/o measuring.  What tips/tricks do you have for faster play?

List Evolution - the latest

Alrighty - stemming from my On Spam: The case for a flexible force post, here is the list in its current evolution.  Let me know what you think:


HQ (355pts)
Tervigon (195pts) AG, TS, Cat
The Parasite of Mortex (160pts)

Elites (480pts)
3x Hive Guard (150pts)
3x Hive Guard (150pts)
3x Zoanthrope (180pts)

Troops (660pts)
20x Genestealer (385pts) TS, Broodlord with Scything talons
3x Ripper Swarm (30pts)
Termagant Brood (50pts)
Tervigon (195pts) AG, TS, Cat

Fast Attack (160pts)
20x Gargoyle (160pts) AG, TS

Heavy Support (345pts)
3x Biovore (135pts)
Trygon (210pts) AG

Flexible? Check.  Fast?  Check.  Brings its own cover?  Check.
Can target >3 enemy units with ranged fire per turn?  Check.
Can assault at least one enemy unit by turn 2? Check.
Can assault >3 enemy units by mid-game? Check.
Redundant synapse/SITW support, both forward and rear?  Check.
Redundant FNP?  Check.  Disruption?  Check.
Solid number of troop units?  Check.
Can deal with AV14?  Medium check =p

This list is built to have both durability and redundancy where needed, and allow the tactical flexibility to shift from being the gun line to the assaulter.  Debating painting a big target on the Trygon and naming him "Hal" though.  He's gonna soak fire like the Spanish fleet at the Battle of the Downs.  Some other options are maybe splitting the stealers to 2x9 (one with BL); maybe dropping the toxin; dropping the trygon for raveners, or dropping the rippers to make the trygon a prime (bit more shooty for the GKs); or swapping him for a carnifex with bioplasma and 4x brainleeches.

In other news, the day after I finally gave in and purchased a license for Army Builder so I can get a bit more serious with my list experimentation, I finally found a site hosting data repositories for Battlescribe: the fine folks over at Warmonger here.  Both are excellent.

The YTTH Litmus Test... and Tyranids

As is often the case, Stelek makes a pretty decent point, this time with his "Litmus Test" for army building skill post here.  Reposting the pertinent bits:

This isn’t about tabletop skill. This is about your army building skill, one that is sorely lacking in almost every player I meet. There are a few exceptions, some who have listened and learned from what I do here.
So let’s see who passes muster…
Can you beat this army?2000 Pts – Imperial Guard Roster
4 Company Command Squad, 160 pts (Flamer x1; Meltagun x2)
1 Company Commander
1 Astropath
1 Chimera
4 Company Command Squad, 130 pts (Flamer x1; Meltagun x2)
1 Company Commander
1 Chimera
4 Psyker Battle Squad, 115 pts
1 Overseer
1 Chimera
4 Psyker Battle Squad, 115 pts
1 Overseer
1 Chimera
4 Psyker Battle Squad, 115 pts
1 Overseer
1 Chimera
1 Infantry Platoon, 340 pts
4 Platoon Command Squad (Flamer x1; Meltagun x2)
1 Platoon Commander
1 Chimera
9 Infantry Squad (Meltagun x1)
1 Sergeant
1 Chimera
9 Infantry Squad (Meltagun x1)
1 Sergeant
1 Chimera
1 Infantry Platoon, 340 pts
4 Platoon Command Squad (Flamer x1; Meltagun x2)
1 Platoon Commander
1 Chimera
9 Infantry Squad (Meltagun x1)
1 Sergeant
1 Chimera
9 Infantry Squad (Meltagun x1)
1 Sergeant
1 Chimera
1 Infantry Platoon, 340 pts
4 Platoon Command Squad (Flamer x1; Meltagun x2)
1 Platoon Commander
1 Chimera
9 Infantry Squad (Meltagun x1)
1 Sergeant
1 Chimera
9 Infantry Squad (Meltagun x1)
1 Sergeant
1 Chimera
1 Scout Sentinel Squadron, 40 pts
1 Scout Sentinel (Autocannon)
1 Scout Sentinel Squadron, 40 pts
1 Scout Sentinel (Autocannon)
1 Scout Sentinel Squadron, 40 pts
1 Scout Sentinel (Autocannon)
1 Hydra Flak Tank Battery, 75 pts
1 Hydra Flak Tank
1 Hydra Flak Tank Battery, 75 pts
1 Hydra Flak Tank
1 Hydra Flak Tank Battery, 75 pts
1 Hydra Flak Tank
Total Roster Cost: 2000
Notes:
Every Chimera hull has a hull heavy flamer.
20 vehicles.
101 infantry.
Seriously, can you beat this?

From a list building standpoint, are you planning for your gribbly horde to handle something like this?  To be certain, it isn't an amazingly tuned list - but generally speaking - any fair general that can maneuver that many vehicles effectively is going to hurt you with it.  More importantly - this is the Magic white weenie deck equivalent of the 40k metagame.  Filled with cheap, efficient units in every FOC - it can and will overrun you unless you can deal with it.  This is saturation.  It has very little to do with target prioritization and everything to do with whether or not you can even stop it.  It exemplifies one of the most basic things any "all comers" list must be able to handle: volume.  At the heart of Stelek's challenge is this:  have you built your army so it can hurt enough of an army like the one above per turn to win?