Suggestion to replace allies

[arnestig]

This is the description of Norn-Queens from the warhammer40k.wikia.com:

The Norn-Queens control the evolutionary course of the Tyranid swarm. Upon arrival at a new world they intend to strip of its biomass, the Tyranids disgorge the "Alpha" swarm of bio-forms.The Alpha swarm contains the genetic material of that particular Hive Fleet's ruling Norn-Queen. These creatures then relay telepathic information to the Norn-Queen on the new world's environmental conditions and battlefield requirements, which spawn the second and subsequent generations of Tyranid bio-forms, sometimes with tens of thousands of casualties in the collection of the data. Capture of an Alpha wave Tyranid bio-form can lead to the creation of a deadly neurotoxin which can directly affect the Norn-Queen, as was done by the Ultramarines during the invasion of Ultramar by Hive Fleet Behemoth. When a Norn-Queen is killed, the psychic backlash of its death in the Hive Mind causes nearby Tyranid Hive Ships to calve, creating more Norn-Queens within their interiors. This is an instinctual survival mechanism of the Tyranid species that is known as the Hydra Effect, and is the reason why when a Hive Fleet is defeated, it can quickly form splinter fleets that eventually become larger than the original.

To mimic this, the learning ability of the swarm, perhaps we could have some ability to spawn an additional set of units in round 2 or 3 when the opponent has shown what units he will deploy.

How this could work:
- We would set aside x points for this unit swap. Let's say 200p as an example.
- Combine three different units up to the chosen point limit.
- On round two or three, one of the three units that are set aside may enter play.

What do you guys think?

I don't like the idéa of Tyranids having allies and I know this doesn't really solve the dynamism of having allies but atleast it would make our lists a bit more adjustable and dynamic as Nids should be.

[raziel69r]

I like the sound of that!! Maybe set the point limit of this ability to maybe 15% of the total point limit you are playing..

[Squire]

I can see what you're getting at but it doesn't seem realistic to have an army adapting like this during a battle. With normal reserves I think of the reserve units as part of a plan already in place, or reinforcements called in who show up at the last minute to join in a fight. If a Tyranid army is engaged in a battle and suddenly discover they could use some hive guard to pop transports- where do those hive guard suddenly come from? Most likely it would be no sooner than the next battle that they'd be spawned and ready for action

I think a more practical way of implementing our adaptability in the game would be allowing Tyranids to change their army list more often during a campaign- but always based on enemies already faced rather than what is coming. This would only be practical if the Tyranid player has the chance to change their army before they know who they are facing next (or they'd simply tailor to the next player even if their swarm has never encountered the force they are facing)

In a campaign between few players this would work as described in the fluff, since the nid player would likely face the same opponents multiple times. It wouldn't be quite as practical in a bigger campaign involving lots of players who play each other only once, but would still allow us to fine tune a bit and would be better than nothing

[Davor]

How about just get rid of the FOC? Mandatory 1 HQ and 2 Troops, but EVERYTHING is fair game. Or 1 HQ, 2 Troops. Then to add anything else 1 Troop choice needs to be added as well.

[Raven]

Apr 27, 2013 18:43:04 GMT Davor said:

How about just get rid of the FOC? Mandatory 1 HQ and 2 Troops, but EVERYTHING is fair game.

The spam, the unholy amount of spam. Long Fangs everywhere, nearly all Riptide Tau, the horror.

[NidsAndMarines]

I'm sure he means just get rid of FoC for 'nids - not the space puppies or smelly fish men.

NidsAndMarines

[Psychichobo]

Doubling the FOC for Nids would be an entertaining option too. It would emphasise the swarm nature (even in Nidzilla style lists) and at least not make us feel TOTALLY shafted. Hell, we don't get that or emplacement manning either, we should at least have something.

[coredump]

Just let us 'ally' with another Nid Hive Fleet. They could even be allies of COnvenience

(Then we could spam 7 tervigons... ;P )

[ranmafan]

There are not enough bullets in the game that would stop 7 Tervigons and their spawn... assuming they don't get nerfed out the wazoo in 6th ed.

[Squire]

Apr 28, 2013 3:16:34 GMT ranmafan said:

There are not enough bullets in the game that would stop 7 Tervigons and their spawn... assuming they don't get nerfed out the wazoo in 6th ed.

They're bound to be nerfed, and should be really.

[infornography]

Yep, but in the mean time they are on the short list of units keeping us competitive.

I'm still against fielding more than 3 of them and honestly, I don't think I could bring myself to take more than 2.

[Squire]

Apr 28, 2013 5:49:24 GMT infornography said:

Yep, but in the mean time they are on the short list of units keeping us competitive.

I'm still against fielding more than 3 of them and honestly, I don't think I could bring myself to take more than 2.

I certainly don't support them being nerfed before a new codex comes out.

Two tervs is a good number. Pretty much necessary for competitive nid lists and for semi competitive play it lets us get away with a couple of uncompetitive units

[commandersasha]

Maybe, instead of having reserved non-specified units, you could instead do it biomorphs: maybe for example a unit of Gargoyles could have 3 gun options: Devourers for anti-GEQ, single shot AP3 for anti-MEQ, and a haywire equivalent for Anti-tank; if deep striking, they can specify their gun type on arrival (which is then kept for the rest of the game).

That would nicely reflect the reflective carapace referred to in the fluff in the codex against the Tau.

[rpricew]

Apr 28, 2013 3:16:34 GMT ranmafan said:

There are not enough bullets in the game that would stop 7 Tervigons and their spawn... assuming they don't get nerfed out the wazoo in 6th ed.

I ran 8 for a while, and I assure you... the pre 6th edition/post white dwarf flamers/screamers spam can and will take out 8 Tervigons and their babies!

[Raven]

Apr 27, 2013 22:31:52 GMT NidsAndMarines said:

I'm sure he means just get rid of FoC for 'nids - not the space puppies or smelly fish men.

*facepalm* In my defence, I was running on very little when I posted that.

Apr 28, 2013 3:16:34 GMT ranmafan said:

There are not enough bullets in the game that would stop 7 Tervigons and their spawn...

Dark Eldar says hi. With a list like that they'd just be killing off 2-3 Tervigons every turn as you slowly plodded towards them, killing Termangants through psychic backlash; and when all your Tervigons are dead your leadership 6 Termagants aren't gonna be doing much thanks to instinctive behaviour and morale tests. Dark Eldar will always be our worst matchup, but at least more balanced lists with Flyrants and deep strikers have a chance.