Post by halos on Feb 28, 2011 14:07:32 GMT
Hi everyone,
I love the idea of the Harpy, even if the rules and stats for it are kinda lacking, but I find the codex description of 'a Trygon with wings' pretty uninspired so I decided to design my own.
First I looked at the statline; T5, 4+sv, 4W so it's clearly smaller and less armoured than the other TMCs I figured that those workhorses of the Tyranid converting scene the Warriors would make a pretty suitable base for a monster with this sort of statline.
I then looked at the models I already have, all my big flying things use bio-plasma jetpacks as opposed to wings, I figured that a monster which remains perpetually airborne would take this concept to the logical conclusion and be, effectively, a living bio-plasma jetpack.
With this in mind I sketched up this:
Long snake-like flight profile, weapons mounted in the mouth for aerodynamics, hundreds of bio-plasma vents on the underside. The fins would be used to guide the plasma and steer the creature.
The various plasma bits would glow pretty brightly so I've done a super-sloppy colour picture illustrating that:
As it now looks quite a lot different to the Harpy unit from the codex I've also drawn up some house rules for it:
Sky-Serpent Harpy Variant:
The Sky-Serpent is a rarely encountered Harpy variant resembling a twisting serpent twisting through the air. It generates huge quantities of bio-plasma within its elongated thorax, heating the air below itself. Monofilament flanges are used to catch the heated air and keep the creature aloft. Although this process sounds ponderous the Sky-Serpent is disarmingly quick, it's sinuous body capable of astounding mid-air maneouvres often the screeching of its bio-plasma generation is the only thing defenders hear before a tank is ripped to shreds or a unit decimated.
Profile:
WS3 BS3 S5 T5 W4 I5 A2 Ld10 Sv4+/5++ pts:190
Unit Type:
Monstrous Creature
Weapons and Biomorphs:
Hardened Carapace, Twin-Linked Venom Cannon, Wings
Special Rules:
Fearless, Instinctive Behaviour - Lurk, Aerial Expertise, Sonic Screech, Vacuum Wake, Bio-Plasma Beast
-Aerial Expertise:
The Sky-Serpent Harpy is born in the air and remains aloft until it dies. it is an expert at flight and it's unique propultion mechanism makes it blisteringly fast. Despite being a Monstrous Creature the Sky-Serpent can move as if it were a Jetbike. Additionally the Sky-Serpent recieves a 5+ invulnerable save against all shooting attacks to represent its incredible agility.
-Vacuum Wake:
The Sky-Serpent can move so quickly that it violently disrupts the air in its wake. This sudden change in air pressure is enough to buckle and rupture plate steel. After the Sky-Serpent has performed a Turbo-Boost move select one enemy vehicle unit it has moved over. On a 3+ that vehicle suffers a Str8 AP1 hit to the armour facing the Harpy moved through.
-Bio-Plasma Beast:
The Harpy generates bio-plasma at an excessive rate in order to remain airborne. This plasma can also be utilised in a number of ways. Once per turn a Sky-Serpent can perform one of the following actions:
•Bio-Cannon
If the Harpy has not moved in the movement phase it can choose to fire a Bio-plasma Cannon in lieu of its twin-linked main gun. This is a shooting attack with the following profile:
Range: 36" Strength: 7 AP:2 Type: Heavy 1, Large Blast*
*Any enemy model under the template hole suffers a str8 AP1 hit instead.
•Plasma Flare
Alternatively the Bio-plasma can be expended to increase the Sky-Serpents mobility, raising its invulnerable save from 5+ to 4+ and allowing it an extra D6" movement in the movement phase.
•Plasma Discharge
Finally the Sky-Serpent can unleash a discharge of Bio-Plasma when surrounded by opponents. If this option is chosen every enemy model in base contact with the Sky-Serpent takes a Str3 AP1 automatic hit as opposed to the Sky-Serpents normal attacks.
Options:
•Replace twin-linked heavy venom cannon for:
-twin-linked strangle thorn cannon...................free
-twin-linked brainleech devourers.....................free
•Take a Stinger Salvo or Cluster Spines............10pts
•Take Spore Mine Cysts.....................................20pts
•A Sky-Serpent Harpy may take:
-Adrenal Glands................................................10pts
-Toxin Sacs.......................................................10pts
-Regeneration..................................................15pts
I love the idea of the Harpy, even if the rules and stats for it are kinda lacking, but I find the codex description of 'a Trygon with wings' pretty uninspired so I decided to design my own.
First I looked at the statline; T5, 4+sv, 4W so it's clearly smaller and less armoured than the other TMCs I figured that those workhorses of the Tyranid converting scene the Warriors would make a pretty suitable base for a monster with this sort of statline.
I then looked at the models I already have, all my big flying things use bio-plasma jetpacks as opposed to wings, I figured that a monster which remains perpetually airborne would take this concept to the logical conclusion and be, effectively, a living bio-plasma jetpack.
With this in mind I sketched up this:
Long snake-like flight profile, weapons mounted in the mouth for aerodynamics, hundreds of bio-plasma vents on the underside. The fins would be used to guide the plasma and steer the creature.
The various plasma bits would glow pretty brightly so I've done a super-sloppy colour picture illustrating that:
As it now looks quite a lot different to the Harpy unit from the codex I've also drawn up some house rules for it:
Sky-Serpent Harpy Variant:
The Sky-Serpent is a rarely encountered Harpy variant resembling a twisting serpent twisting through the air. It generates huge quantities of bio-plasma within its elongated thorax, heating the air below itself. Monofilament flanges are used to catch the heated air and keep the creature aloft. Although this process sounds ponderous the Sky-Serpent is disarmingly quick, it's sinuous body capable of astounding mid-air maneouvres often the screeching of its bio-plasma generation is the only thing defenders hear before a tank is ripped to shreds or a unit decimated.
Profile:
WS3 BS3 S5 T5 W4 I5 A2 Ld10 Sv4+/5++ pts:190
Unit Type:
Monstrous Creature
Weapons and Biomorphs:
Hardened Carapace, Twin-Linked Venom Cannon, Wings
Special Rules:
Fearless, Instinctive Behaviour - Lurk, Aerial Expertise, Sonic Screech, Vacuum Wake, Bio-Plasma Beast
-Aerial Expertise:
The Sky-Serpent Harpy is born in the air and remains aloft until it dies. it is an expert at flight and it's unique propultion mechanism makes it blisteringly fast. Despite being a Monstrous Creature the Sky-Serpent can move as if it were a Jetbike. Additionally the Sky-Serpent recieves a 5+ invulnerable save against all shooting attacks to represent its incredible agility.
-Vacuum Wake:
The Sky-Serpent can move so quickly that it violently disrupts the air in its wake. This sudden change in air pressure is enough to buckle and rupture plate steel. After the Sky-Serpent has performed a Turbo-Boost move select one enemy vehicle unit it has moved over. On a 3+ that vehicle suffers a Str8 AP1 hit to the armour facing the Harpy moved through.
-Bio-Plasma Beast:
The Harpy generates bio-plasma at an excessive rate in order to remain airborne. This plasma can also be utilised in a number of ways. Once per turn a Sky-Serpent can perform one of the following actions:
•Bio-Cannon
If the Harpy has not moved in the movement phase it can choose to fire a Bio-plasma Cannon in lieu of its twin-linked main gun. This is a shooting attack with the following profile:
Range: 36" Strength: 7 AP:2 Type: Heavy 1, Large Blast*
*Any enemy model under the template hole suffers a str8 AP1 hit instead.
•Plasma Flare
Alternatively the Bio-plasma can be expended to increase the Sky-Serpents mobility, raising its invulnerable save from 5+ to 4+ and allowing it an extra D6" movement in the movement phase.
•Plasma Discharge
Finally the Sky-Serpent can unleash a discharge of Bio-Plasma when surrounded by opponents. If this option is chosen every enemy model in base contact with the Sky-Serpent takes a Str3 AP1 automatic hit as opposed to the Sky-Serpents normal attacks.
Options:
•Replace twin-linked heavy venom cannon for:
-twin-linked strangle thorn cannon...................free
-twin-linked brainleech devourers.....................free
•Take a Stinger Salvo or Cluster Spines............10pts
•Take Spore Mine Cysts.....................................20pts
•A Sky-Serpent Harpy may take:
-Adrenal Glands................................................10pts
-Toxin Sacs.......................................................10pts
-Regeneration..................................................15pts