What IS the Parasite of Mortrex?

[hiveguardalpha]

I was planning on making a harpy model - I am going to buy the majority of the bits this morning. The overall plan was to use it as a standard harpy and then, if needs be, say it is the Parasite. However, upon looking at my codex this morning, the Parasite isn't a harpy. It doesn't have any of the same rules. The Doom has all of the same rules as the zoanthrope plus some extras, but the Parasite doesn't.

So, what IS it? A flyrant variant, although again, no matching rules...

I'm trying to work it out so I can build one. If my usual opponents hate a Calliduscassassin jumping out of a unit, wait until I pop rippers from everything coming from reserve!

[forteh]

As far as I'm aware its a shrike alpha variant, in the same way deathleaper is a lictor alpha.
Basically a warrior with wings and extra spiky bits ;D

[hiveguardalpha]

Ah...then I can do that! I have some Shrikes in progress

[roughjnick]

Well as far as I remember it's not really anything else but a completely unique biomorph. The only information we get about it is the picture in the codex and the fact that it's 'Warrior sized'.

When I made my conversion I basically took that to mean anything in the same line as a warrior / prime / shrike / ravener size would fit the bill pretty well. I'll try and post a picture or two later when I get home but it ended up as a ravener body with wings from a WH Fantasy Vampire counts Varghiest and some other add-ons designed to make it look more like the codex picture.

My Harpy by comparison is considerably larger. In fact it ended up only a little smaller than a trygon.

EDIT:
As promised here's my Parasite. Please ignore the paint job. I have gotten better since painting this!




and just for good measure my harpy (unfinished at the minute)

[chuckles]

Well despite being apparently made of wet toilet roll the Harpy is described as resembling a Trygon but with wings, so that's fair enough in my opinion.

I agree, it's fairly clear that the Parasite is a weird variation of a Tyranid Prime but with wings. I think a Ravener would make a perfect starting point for a conversion, put a cut down scything talon on the end of its tail with some green stuff, add some gargoyle wings (or similar) and go to town with extra bits and you're well on your way

[blindmage]

I made mine from a Venomthrope, meal nightmare wings and some Scything Talons. I tried to make to look like a smaller Malanthrope, with wings.

As to what it is the fluff? It's an odd one that's for sure. It was crated in the midst of a standard invasion with no obvious factors preceding it's creation. I'm hard pressed to explain why it was created, but I am very glad they made it. It gives me a codex viable HQ for my Ripper forces.

[jofan32]

I've just started my Pomp and will be using a ravener body and the foreword wings :-)

[jofan32]

Just found that the fw wings don't fit.well.on the ravener body :-(

[fragile]

Just check ebay out for wings. There are several you can fit to make a flyer.

[rpricew]

Feb 18, 2013 14:24:59 GMT fragile said:

Just check ebay out for wings. There are several you can fit to make a flyer.

The Varghast kit from fantasy has a good set of wings in it.

[jahatch42878]

Anyone else miss the days of previous codices (3rd edition right?) where you could buy biomorphs for your bugs....

Giant Ripper Swarms (used epic trygon miniatures)
Add Extra Strength or Armor to Warriors, Carnifexes...
Winged anything you wanted!!! (before the parasite and harpy were in print!)....

Next Codex with return to purchaseable upgrades and biomorphs? or just more strange variants like the Parasite and Doom? what's your preference....
Josh

[Rub My Penguin]

I would like to see the customisation come back. After all, the nids are meant to be adaptable, if flavour is anything to go by.