Faces of the Great Devourer

[dc0315]

Your list is great!! By keeping the carnies seperate means lack of synapse isnt a problem. Your exos shoot the closest unit, wow great was gna do that anyway 90% of the time, ooh I got preferred enemy too, WIN! the only reason you need synapse is for the venomthropes turn 1. Ever thought about removing them and getting 2 more zoans so thats 4 warp charges more? With all tjose fmcs (especially THREE flyrants I doubt hell be firing at your exos or zoans on the floor

[coredump]

I understand limiting formations, and I understand limiting CADs, I don't really understand limiting formations but allowing multiple CADs.... but hey, ya play the tourney's they run...

I think the second Crone is better than the third Exo. (and this way its legal too... )

[N.I.B.]

Jul 16, 2014 22:32:06 GMT dc0315 said:

By keeping the carnies seperate means lack of synapse isnt a problem.

I wouldn't say that - a failed IB test still means that a Dakkafex is not shooting its 12 TL S6 shots that turn.

Jul 16, 2014 22:32:06 GMT dc0315 said:

Ever thought about removing Venoms and getting 2 more zoans so thats 4 warp charges more? With all tjose fmcs (especially THREE flyrants I doubt hell be firing at your exos or zoans on the floor

Nah. The Venoms can still be crucial in certain matchups to prevent the army being shot to shreds if my opponent takes first turn. They allow you better deployment even when the terrain setup is not optional.
Plus I'm not impressed with the new psychic phase - at all. If anything it's much weaker than our old Biomancy psyker spam. Adding more warp levels for the sake of casting psychic powers only buys you further into diminishing returns.

I understand limiting formations, and I understand limiting CADs, I don't really understand limiting formations but allowing multiple CADs.... but hey, ya play the tourney's they run...

core, I agree but there will also be a cap on max 3 of anything (except troops I hope) which helps to reign in the worst abuse (9 A-barges and such) while still allowing a lot of freedom.
Limiting formations goes in line with the TO not wanting to deal with digital stuff. And like you say, I can accept it or stay at home.


I just got an update from the TO on the likely restrictions (not set in stone yet):

Detachments? Max 3
Supplements? Yes, any that exist in print.
Formations? No (except the ones in Codex: Orks)
Dataslates? No (exceptions below)
Super Heavies? Yeah some. Simplified you can say any from Escalation except Flyers.
Allies/Battle Brothers? Yes but Battle Brothers are lowered a step.
Fortifications? No.

[N.I.B.]

Been reading up a bit on Frontline gaming, seems Reecius share a lot of my view when it comes to list building -

With my Nids, I have settled on a Nidzilla list with only 2 units of minimum Deep-striking Rippers as troops, and nearly all of my other points dumped into pure offense (I do take a unit of 2 Venomthropes as they are an incredibly good defensive buffing unit). I have found that while ObSec is great, the benefit of scoring Monstrous Creatures which add more offensively, is better. I find that they simply smush enemy ObSec units and then take the objectives over their lifeless corpses. Plus, deep-striking, Fearless Rippers that are now ObSec themselves are pretty incredible!

[N.I.B.]

We're discussing the restrictions with the TO. Seems there will perhaps be a further cap on HQ and Troops - only two of each choice. Seems buying a third Flyrant wont be necessary. It also means it might not be worth it to use more than one detachment just to have a fourth Elite or Heavy choice, seeing I would have to pay another 80 points for 2x10 sucky Termagants. What would it look like?


Dakka Flyrant, eGrubs
Dakka Flyrant, eGrubs

2 Venomthrope
Zoanthrope
3 Hive Guards

3 Ripper Swarm, deepstrike
3 Ripper Swarm, deepstrike

Hive Crone, Stinger Salvo
Hive Crone, Stinger Salvo

3 Dakkafexes
Exocrine
Exocrine

1995 points. Stinger Salvo because I had 25 useless points. I like the Hive Guards but I miss spreading the Venoms and Zoanthropes.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Keeping with double FOC and adhering to only 2 repeats of HQ could look like this:

Dakka Flyrant, eGrubs
Dakka Flyrant, eGrubs
Tervigon - AG, Shreddershard Beetles, Crusching Claws, Regeneration (because I had 30 points over)

Venomthrope
Venomthrope
Zoanthrope

3 Ripper Swarm, deepstrike
3 Ripper Swarm, deepstrike
10 Termagants
10 Termagants

Hive Crone

2 Dakkafex
Dakkafex
Exocrine
Exocrine

2000 points.

[coredump]

core, I agree but there will also be a cap on max 3 of anything (except troops I hope) which helps to reign in the worst abuse (9 A-barges and such) while still allowing a lot of freedom.
Limiting formations goes in line with the TO not wanting to deal with digital stuff. And like you say, I can accept it or stay at home.

Looking at his entire 'comp', I can see where he is coming from. But if you are not spamming... I can't see a reason to take 3 CADs. But thats okay, it doesn't hurt anything.

I have found that while ObSec is great, the benefit of scoring Monstrous Creatures which add more offensively, is better. I find that they simply smush enemy ObSec units and then take the objectives over their lifeless corpses.

This is the decision that has been bothering me the most when it comes to list building. I *have* been burnt by enemy troops 'stealing' an objective from my carnifex... but that may end up a rare occurrence. Plus my troops tend to be warriors, which helps a lot with the synapse coverage.

Your synapse coverage still makes me nervous.....

[coredump]

Can you ally with yourself instead of a CAD?

Is the limit of 2 for every slot, or only troops and HQ? (Seems odd to limit troops more than other slots...

I don't think venomthrope broods need more than 1.

Do you *want* a tervigon? Otherwise the 2CAD doesn't seem worth it.

[dc0315]

Hence why you should take exocrines and tfex over devilfex if you dont want to worry about synapse. If a fex is out of synapse you cant shoot, if an exo or tfex is out of synapse and you fail the IB test, you fire at the closest unit, which is much better. I feel that with this list youd be better off like that.

[N.I.B.]

Jul 18, 2014 0:18:10 GMT coredump said:

Can you ally with yourself instead of a CAD?

Is the limit of 2 for every slot, or only troops and HQ? (Seems odd to limit troops more than other slots...

I don't think venomthrope broods need more than 1.

Do you *want* a tervigon? Otherwise the 2CAD doesn't seem worth it.

Max 2 of the same HQ/Troops (weird on troops, agreed) max 3 of anything else.
I like to have separate Venomthropes because it gives me freedom in deployment and early game movement.
I like double FOC, partly because I feel 3 Dakkafex in one unit is one too many (often you get wasted shots into smallish units) and partly because I want to experiment with that CC Tervigon, stolen from Reece :

[coredump]

I can understand taking 2 broods of venoms, I was just commenting on a single brood of 2.... I would leave it as a single brood of 1 and save the 45pts.


I agree about splitting up the fexes, but I don't think taking another CAD for just that is worth it. Which is why I was asking about the terv, if you *wanted* the terv, then coolness... but if you were only 'meh' about it, then the second CAD doesn't seem worth it. If the Terv is of value... then okay-dokey.

[N.I.B.]

I played against an Ork fellow tonight, he's not really competitive and haven't got around to try his new codex yet so I tried to tone down my list with models I own.

Dakka Flyrant, eGrubs
Dakka Flyrant, eGrubs
Tervigon - AG, Shreddershard Beetles, Crusching Claws, Regeneration

Venomthrope
Venomthrope
Zoanthrope
Haruspex - Adrenal Glands

3 Ripper Swarm, deepstrike
3 Ripper Swarm, deepstrike
10 Termagants (3 Devourers)
10 Termagants (3 Devourers)

Hive Crone
6 Raveners, Rending Claws

2 Dakkafex
2 Biovores

1999 points.

I tabled him by the fifth turn. Haruspex was great fun. I'm tempted to try this list in a tournament and aim for mid-table fun.

[N.I.B.]

So, I want the Dimachaeron. The model is irresistible.



At this point there's nothing suggesting it will be allowed in tournaments in my region, but I can at least goof around with Armybuilder a bit -

WS 8
BS 3
S 6
T 6
W 6
I 6
A 5
LD 10
Sv 3+

Its a MC (Leaper)

Weapons & Biomorphs are
Sickle Claws
Grasping Talons
Thorax Spine Maw
Adrenal Glands

Special Rules
IB: Feed
Rampage

Leaper is kind of like a Jump Pack for it except it only 6" all the time, but it can jump over things which is handy.
If you DON'T use it in the Movement phase, you get +1s to your HOW and the HOW gains Strikedown.

Grasping Talons: +1S AP2 Melee with Spine Maw Strike

Spinemaw Strike: If you roll at least one 6 to hit, you get to make a Spine Maw Attack at Intiative step 1

Spine Maw Attack: Makes ONE attack that Auto Hits. May Target any Enemy Model that isn't Extremely Bulky. Only one of these Attacks may be made by this model in each phase.

The One attack it does is at +4S AP1 Instant Death and "Digestion Spine"

Digestion Spine: When a Spine Maw removes a model, the Dimachaeron gains a number of "Plasm Tokens" Equal to the number of wounds on the profile of the model removed. At the end of each of its following Turns, The Controlling player removes one token. Whilst it has a Token remaining, it gets FNP (4+)


Sickle Claws: Strength- User AP2 Melee Sickle Strike

Sickle Strike: On a roll of a 4+ to wound, an attack inflicted by a Sickle Claw has the Instant Death Rule !


200 Points
Fast Attack




The number of attacks are insane.

Base = 5
Two weapons = +1
On the charge = +1
Rampage = +1d3 if outnumbered
Extra = +1 if you roll a six to hit when using claws.
Extra = +1 HoW

So, 8-10 + 1 HoW @ I10 + 1 @ I1 most of the time. These will be at S8, HoW at S7 (or 6) and one at I1 @ S10.

What does it do really? What purpose does it fit in an army and what kind of backup does it need? It's a pure close combat MC with decent to good durability.
It's not a fast threat by any means, we're looking at a turn 2-3 impact. At least it doesn't need Synapse babysitting in most cases so deployment will be easy, as long as it start in a Spore Cloud. But what does it bring to the table? It's a unit that need to die before it hit enemy lines, after that, it might be too late to stop it.
It's HUGE and looks VERY intimidating, which should have a big impact when it comes to opponents target priority, at least against the non-top players and at least in the early meta.
So how do we patch the weakness (durability and mobility)? Venomthropes, of course. And by having many units that need to die early. I think a two-wave build could work – a first wave of FMC’s and other threats that have turn 1-2 impact should help the Dima survive and and do her thing. A 2000pts dual-CAD list could look something like this:


Dakka Flyrant, eGrubs
Dakka Flyrant, eGrubs

Venomthrope
Venomthrope
Zoanthrope
Haruspex – Adrenal Glands

3 Ripper Swarm, deepstrike
3 Ripper Swarm, deepstrike
10 Gants
10 Gants

Hive Crone
5 Raveners – Rending Claws

2 Dakkafex
Dimachaeron
Dimachaeron

1995 points

First wave is Flyrants, Crone and Raveners, second wave is Haruspex and Dimachaeron, Fleeting monsters that are a pain to kill once they are stuck in. Zoanthrope is mainly for Dakkafex babysitting. I’m temped to take it out along with the Dakkafexes to add a couple of Exocrines instead, but I feel Dakkafexes are more versatile with their S9 in combat and having Venomthropes and Gants running for my table edge by turn 2 would be too annoying.

[N.I.B.]

On second thought, while I have a recent crush on the Hentai-fex, a second unit of Raveners would probably be better. The Hentaifex bring Landraider-stopping ability to the army along with anti-tarpit abilities so the Dimas can roam free, but Raveners might work better in most cases. And it would allow me to do single-FOC and lost the Gants. Beefing up Raveners then:

Dakka Flyrant, eGrubs
Dakka Flyrant, eGrubs

Venomthrope
Venomthrope
Zoanthrope

3 Ripper Swarm, deepstrike
4 Ripper Swarm, deepstrike

Hive Crone
6 Raveners – Rending Claws
6 Raveners – Rending Claws

2 Dakkafex
Dimachaeron
Dimachaeron

2000 points

So a much more threatening first wave. Synapse will mostly be needed turn 1-2, Raveners keep pace with Flyrants no problem. Tau would pick it apart, but what's new.

[N.I.B.]

Oh no. I just learned that it's a Fast Attack choice. Wtf Geedub? It's slower than some HQ (wings), Troops (Bounding Leap, Outflank) and Heavy support (Deepstrike). Back to the drawing board *le sigh*

[N.I.B.]

Oh my God how stupid move by GW to put Dimas in Fast. They made sure you can't really have synergies in a Dima build.

I give you Hive Fleet Meh:

Dakka Flyrant, eGrubs
Dakka Flyrant, eGrubs

Venomthrope
Venomthrope
Zoanthrope

3 Ripper Swarm, deepstrike
3 Ripper Swarm, deepstrike

Dimachaeron
Dimachaeron
5 Shrikes – Scything Talons, Rending Claws, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs

2 Dakkafex
Tyrannofex - Adrenal Glands
Tyrannofex - Adrenal Glands

2000 points

A much weaker first wave, although better synapse. Slow-mo second wave push, but a lot of staying power.