New guy needs advice

[brohemoth]

Hi, everybody!

The local 40k group is starting a paint n play league, so I decided to try my luck with the Nids. Mostly because nobody else was playing them and there was a good deal on some used figs.

The rules for the first 500 points cover stuff like no models with more than 3 wounds (cept Tyrannid warriors), no vehicles with more than 33 total points of armor value, no fliers til the 1250 point level, and the force org is 1-6 troops with everything else being 0-1.

The models I have available are 24 termagaunts (none of the arms are attached yet), 24 hormagaunts, 10 gargoyles ( can proxy that up to 20 if needed),1 biovore, 1 zoanthrope, 3 hive guard, and 3 warriors. Basically I'm wondering what your thoughts are on a decent 500 points with that. Hive Guard look to be awesome, but the zoanthrope is another synapse creature in case those warriors go down too fast? The biovore should do well against the IG player, but I'd need to pop his 3 chimeras to get his guys out. Are gargoyles acceptably cheap/expendable enough screening units to protect my warriors and maintain synapse control? Might try to lobby for an exception to take a bone-stock Prime...

Any advice from the hive would be appreciated

Edit: forgot to add that I would be facing IG, Tau, probably some necrons, dark eldar, and more than a few SM/CSM

[casteel]

Well, it looks like you will need to make one of the warriors a prime. Doing so though will not allow use of the other two. (min. 3)

With a Prime HQ, that's about 100pts.

Next, I would take the Gants. You can place the Prime w/ this large unit or in between the two. If you do fleshborers, that's 20 for another 100. The Zoanthrope will add some additional Synapse. Since you are facing a IG unit, throw in the Biovore too.

So with a Prime (HQ-100) 20 Gants (Troops-100) a Zoanthrope (0-1 Elite60) Biovore (0-1Heavy45) that leaves roughly 200 pts. You could also add the Hormagants (Troops). Maybe a unit of 16 and then you drop the rest into gargoyles (0-1 Fast)

This is a lot of models in 500. It gives Org, and some options. With the models you have, it allows use of most of them. Just my 2 cents.

If you are worried about his transports, you can always drop the Zoan, some gargs, and the Biovore. Add the 3 Hive Guard. Now, I'm just rambling.

[superchum]

Hive Guard pop the Chimeras no problem, then follow up termagants with devourers to clean up the the guys that jump out. Tau are poor in close combat, so your large squad of hormagaunts might draw some fire and still have a good amount of numbers left from moving across the table to bring some damage.

I like the warriors with a Prime in low point games, just watch out for S8 guns that can ID them.

[GuardDog78]

Another option to consider...field 3 HG and add your prime to them. Majority T6 makes your prime more survivable ...

[TheContortionist]

just take all your gaunts. run your zoanthrope as a DOM. if you're playing 500 points do not put your doom in a pod. he will come out late. gaunts, zoanthrope, tervigons, warrior primes, DOM.

this would be the 500 with my models. not sure though.
Hq-
1-Tyranid Prime Devourer, rending claws,85
Troops-
24-Termagaunts-120
23-Termagaunts-115
Elite-
3-Zoanthrope-180
=500

idk. if you have to play tank guard guy keep the power on the zoanthrope. i'm guessing you'd wanna roll biomancy most games though. best thing i can come up with. you might want to split your squads intwo. maybe hormagaunts? actually yes. hormagaunts. if they get out of synape the have rage and are better(kinda.) i'm not changing my list but you get the idea.

[GuardDog78]

If you do run multiple zoeys...just remember...you swap out powers on a model by model basis...so you could have 2 with the standard code powers...then have the 3rd grab psychic shriek fir some anti infantry and roll hoping for something else good...

[brohemoth]

So how about this?

1 Tyranid Prime devourer, rending claws 85

16 Devilgaunts 160
25 Hormagaunts 150

1 Zoanthrope 60

1 Biovore 45

500 points. Would give me two synapse creatures and lots of gaunts to (hopefully) swarm the enemy. Maybe split the hormagaunts into 2 separate units?

[GuardDog78]

If there's anything I've learned about hormagaunts...anything less than 18 in a brood and by the time they get where they're going they've lost their effectiveness...