Living Defense Line mechanics

[greyseer]

A few months back, I posted an idea about a Tyranid specific defense line. Instead of static walls, I imagined that the hive mind would evolve creatures with thick front armor / forelimbs that would run up and jam their arms into ground and form a living wall of chitin.

Game mechanically, they'd still function identically to an Aegis, but fluffily, they'd be able to move and redeploy between battles.

I've finally started on building my prototypes, and I have a few questions for those who have used an ADL before:

If an ADL is between a shooter and target, does the target always get the cover save as long as part of the target is obscured?

Does the shooter ignore the cover save if he / she is "right on top" of (in base contact with) the ADL and can look over / through it with nothing obscured?

Does the facing of the ADL matter? Basically, is there a difference between what's "in front of" or what's "behind" an ADL wall section?

Finally, if I create the living defense line using, say, warriors with overgrown talons as the walls, will having that extra body already behind the wall be a hindrance, mechanically?

I've never fielded any fortifications, so I'm inexperienced with the rules and their implementation, so guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks!

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[coredump]

For the most part, ADLs work like any other piece of terrain. The target needs to be at least 25% obsured, the firing model must still be able to see part of the model, it doesn't matter which 'side' you are on.

There *used* to be a rule (5E, 4E?) where if the firing model was in base contact with a wall/barricade, you didn't have to worry about that piece of terrain offering the target a cover save. But I think they removed that line.
The way I play it, I don't worry about models right up next to the ADL, only the ones a bit farther back. But even when they shoot at me, often times the ADL gives my nids a cover save.

I advise keeping the height of the model fairly short.

[Kwodd]

Would be a cool mechanic for tyrant guard, wall of chitin or whatever it's called. Provide 3+ cover for the tyrant if between him and the firing model.

[ranmafan]

There's already a sort of Apocalypse Formation for Nids involving Hive Guards, Tyrant Guards and Hive Tyrants that does this - Living Fortress or something. They get an extra cover save and some other special rules - kept my guys alive through a Titan's non D-weapon bombardment somehow.

[Obsidorox]

In the dawn of war 2 video game there was similar to the mechanic used by tyrant guard. You could enable an ability called "wall of armor" or something and the tyrant guard provided cover to creatures behind them. It was a pretty cool.

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[greyseer]

Thanks, coredump, for the clarification!

I would actually love to use Tyrant Guard for this conversion, but the number I'd need in order to come close to what an ADL includes would be cost prohibitive. Its something in the neighborhood of 10 models.

I have a bunch of extra warriors, though, so they're the current starting point. Who knows, if we see new Tyrant Guard plastics, then I could start from there instead.

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[gingerwerewolf]

One thing to make sure of is that if you plan to use the Aegis rules in the game, make sure its the same size, including the low and high sections, same width and has the same amount of sections splitting in the same way.

But it sounds like a fantastic idea!

[ranmafan]

I'd personally prefer to use a bunch of spare Carnifex carapaces and then GS in the underside, with some extra Scytals for legs.

[gingerwerewolf]

Nov 13, 2013 15:43:27 GMT ranmafan said:

I'd personally prefer to use a bunch of spare Carnifex carapaces and then GS in the underside, with some extra Scytals for legs.

They are also about the right size...

[greyseer]

Nov 13, 2013 15:45:13 GMT gingerwerewolf said:

Nov 13, 2013 15:43:27 GMT ranmafan said:

I'd personally prefer to use a bunch of spare Carnifex carapaces and then GS in the underside, with some extra Scytals for legs.

They are also about the right size...

They're actually a little small. The Tervigon carapace is what I believe matches more closely, last I looked (but my memory may be off). I bought an ADL for size comparison, but don't have it with me at the moment.

Also, I am, indeed, using carnifex carapaces simply due to how plentiful they are. I split them down the middle and putty them on to the scytals of a warrior. I then model the warrior crest to fit in between the split carapace pieces. The extra width and height approximate a full "short" ADL wall (one big plate, as opposed to the two big plates and small section).

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[gman25639]

sounds cool, best get cracking then.

[rpricew]

I'd like to see some pictures please...

[greyseer]

Nov 13, 2013 20:45:50 GMT rpricew said:

I'd like to see some pictures please...

Once I get a little further along, I'll definitely post some. They'll likely be in the Converting / Terrain section of these forums, titled with my usual "Kitbashed __________".


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