Warriors as synapse

[muchonobueno]

I'm new to the gameplay aspect of 40k but I've been looking to build a list that's based on having as large a swarm of cheap gants as possible.

For synapse, I have an interesting idea:

A squad of 3 warriors is fairly cheap synapse with a 12" range; 60pts for 3 warriors.

Around the 3 warriors I could put 2 full units of gants, 30 in each unit for a total of 60 within that 12" synapse blob (60 x 4 = 120, so it's a 50% increase in cost by adding synapse for the gants).

The interesting part is this: if I model the gants to be raised up slightly (i.e. use jumping hormagaunt poses modelled to be in the air with some wire) and manage to make them just high enough to block line of sight wih the warriors, will that make them difficult enough to kill to be able to rely on them for the synapse?

I'm sure the warriors themselves wouldn't be able to shoot since they also wouldn't have line of sight, so they could be kept cheap.

Also I understand anything on a hill could snipe the warriors, but for the most part they'd be protected from most stuff on level ground, right?

What do you guys think? What alternatives could I use for synapse in a swarm army?

[zimko]

There's a few problems with all of this.

The biggest problem is, no you can not model for advantage. That's a big unsportsmanlike no no. You can't build a model in a pose specifically for the purpose of giving you an in-game advantage.

Second, there's no way you could even do this with gaunts to block LOS to a Warrior. There's always going to be a small piece of the warriors that can be seen.

Third, you only need 1 model from the 30 man gaunt blob to be within 12" of a synapse creature in order to benefit from being fearless. So I'm not sure why you're trying to cram a bunch of bodies within that 12" bubble.

Fourth, you need an HQ choice for an army to be legal. So you're going to have another Synapse creature that will likely have character 'look out sir' protection. Warriors are not taken for their synapse. They are used because they are Troops choice (and thus have objective secured) and are the most durable Troops choice we have.

Alterantives for Synapse in a swarm army? Neurothropes and Broodlords.

[infornography]

Not to mention, using warriors as lynchpin synapse is a bad idea because they are not sturdy enough or easy enough to hide to survive any dedicated firepower. And if you have them as the lone or even primary babysitters for a few hundred points of gaunts/gants they WILL be a target priority and be erased.

You would get far more utility out of Broodlord or Neurothrope and even a prime would be a better choice for this role.

Not to say that Warriors CAN'T be used for synapse, but you don't want a MSU of warriors to be a sole source of synapse.

[trashcan01]

What they said.
Tyranid warriors will die to dedicated firepower. To spend 60points on something that will hide in the mass of bodies, and pew-pew a wound per round isn't that good.
Just by investing 19 points more for a Tyranid Prime, you get a stable, untargetable (for ranged attacks) synapse - with even lesser fire output.
Neurothrope, which costs 35 more points you get all that + flying, 3++, self healing, mortal wounds dealer + dependable Onslaught/Catalyst spammer.

My alternative would be the Neurothrope. They add so much to the table for their points, even with "just" Synapse duty.

Ideally, for Termagant spam list, you want to take the Tervigon, but they are in the tight spot right now, due to the high priority targeting and high point value (investment that rarely pays off).

edit: Also, think twice about gaunt carpet army. It's hard to collect, harder to paint and damn exhausting to play. 

[purestrain]

Agreed, I only own 200 gaunts but holy (please do not swear) are they just the worst time consumer in all aspects.

[nidzy]

Nov 9, 2020 21:28:54 GMT purestrain said:

Agreed, I only own 200 gaunts but holy (please do not swear) are they just the worst time consumer in all aspects.

If you're doing more than a carapace color, a claw and a wash on those gaunts you're crazy

[hivefleetkerrigan]

Nov 10, 2020 0:18:53 GMT nidzy said:

Nov 9, 2020 21:28:54 GMT purestrain said:

Agreed, I only own 200 gaunts but holy (please do not swear) are they just the worst time consumer in all aspects.

If you're doing more than a carapace color, a claw and a wash on those gaunts you're crazy

Guilty!
Skin based, washed, dry brushed
Carapace based, highlighted
Gun/claws based, washed

[hiveoverall]

Nov 10, 2020 0:40:55 GMT hivefleetkerrigan said:

Nov 10, 2020 0:18:53 GMT nidzy said:

If you're doing more than a carapace color, a claw and a wash on those gaunts you're crazy

Guilty!
Skin based, washed, dry brushed
Carapace based, highlighted
Gun/claws based, washed

I also did like hivefleetkerrigan, all 7 steps (8 if I include the eyes), but it wasn’t very long at all. GSC and my 80 acolytes, now that was time consuming as F..K !!