Friday, June 10, 2011

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?

5 comments:

  1. Personally I'd bump the points down to ~150, give it BS4 and T6. The thing is stupidly overcosted right now. The spore mines thing is only once! per game.

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  2. Give it Stranglethorn/Heavy venom cannon with Assault 2.

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  3. Amend the Harpy? Depends on how the model will be, i.e. if it will be able to get a cover save from Gargoyles or not. Because if not, it will stay on the shelves. T6, 4+ save wont save it from autocannon/missile spam, and the price tag in points is far too high for what it brings to the table offensively.

    I'm mostly looking forward to finally getting a T-fex model, and hoping for plastic wings, lashwhips and boneswords.

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  4. The only way it will be worth it in terms of points value vs survivability, even with T6/4+, is with a major points drop - something has to take the pressure off the shooting/anti-tank slot in the elite FOC.

    Gotta agree on the tfex model and plastic lashes, boneswords,and wings. Too late for this go-round, but as I build out or build a 2nd themed army maybe it will help. I already gave in and ordered wings from Forgeworld for this one, and I just use trimmed gargoyle bodies for lash whips. Definitely a fan of these boneswords: http://cgi.ebay.com/Alien-weapon-biomorph-bonesword-3-pairs-Tyranids-/250837054864?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a670db590#ht_500wt_1156
    I've gotten them from Chapterhouse, which aren't bad, but I prefer these.

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  5. Love how they come with the whole arm! I have a few boneswords and lashwhips from paulsongames, haven't gotten around yet to put them on
    http://www.paulsongames.com/catalog/item/7434381/8653260.htm

    http://www.paulsongames.com/catalog/item/7434381/8653284.htm

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