Shrike concept

[desmo]

Just starting nids and really like the idea of Tyranid Shrikes.  I imagine there would be more differences in biology between warriors and shrikes though, apart from wings: 

 

• Pronounced sternum crest: deeper anchor for chest/wing muscles.
• Vertical crest: acts as rudder in-flight.
• Claws for feet: for perching and crushing (as opposed to hooves or a single claw..)
• Streamlined jaw/beak: also good for crushing.
• Flattened tail tip: assist in-flight steering.

[killercroc]

I like the idea of it, however if you're trying to keep it "realistic and fluffy" Tyranids only have 6 limbs total so maybe an alternative of having the scythes and wings as one piece, much like the harpy, or even have the ranged bio-morph be a chest piece like the Ravenors so limbs would be wings/scythes/claw-feet.

Just my two bits.

[zoat]

I really like this Pteradactylic head, would love to see a conversion of this.
Also I always wondered why a bioengineering genius like a norn queen cannot add 2 more limbs to their creatures. It can also create rather shapeless things like the spores and Sporocysts, so why not vary in some other schemes, too?

PS: Welcome to the Hive, desmo! We share the same color scheme, according to your avatar

[killercroc]

Well I guess there is nothing to stop them from having 8 limbs, but looking at if fluff wise it would take a bit of extra biomass for those two arms, when the beastie could easily have the weapon or scythes built in already so its making use of whats already there. Tyranids are thinking green, recycling and making best use of their resources, damn hippies!

As far as the spores go, I'd say they are the Platypus of the Tyranid army, the Norn queen was just like "I have a few extra tentacles and blobs of biomass... screw it lets mush it together and see what happens".

[Threeshades]

Nov 9, 2014 19:11:41 GMT killercroc said:

Well I guess there is nothing to stop them from having 8 limbs, but looking at if fluff wise it would take a bit of extra biomass for those two arms, when the beastie could easily have the weapon or scythes built in already so its making use of whats already there. Tyranids are thinking green, recycling and making best use of their resources, damn hippies!

Fluff-wise it would make more sense to have extra arms for the weapons because melee weapons integrated into the wings would be a serious hazard t the wing membranes, if used in combat, and guns in the wings would be very ahrd to aim right. Air planes can do it because they never have to flap an don't turn their entire wings in order to adjust course or just hold a stable trajectory.

Which is why i am converting all my nids to just have bug wings. Also it fits with their hornet scheme.

[LordPathos]

Back in Tyranid's 4th/5th edition codex I would have loved to use Shrikes. I even 'converted' 6 warriors by magnetizing the wings from FW and screwing tiny screws into the backs of their carapace. It looks kinda bad, maybe a fresh coat of paint over the screw heads would have made it look better. But I liked the idea of wings out of the back instead of no legs at all.