The Synapseless (almost) Hive Fleet

[SteveBerenyi]

As this is basically a list that does not rely on Synapse, I'd like your opinions

HQ
1 Hive Tyrant (Scaything Talons x2, AG WS, Ripper Symbiote)
3x Tyrant Guard (Scaything Talons)
(Deploy in Mycetic Spore)

1 Brood Lord (Scaything Talons, Rending Claws, Feeder tendrils, toxin sacs)
11 Genestealers (ST, RC, Toxin Sacs, Feeder Tendrils)

Fast Attack
3x Clouds of 3 Bio-acid Spore Mines (for that really annoying DS Termie Unit)

Troops
6x Broods of 12 Genestealers(ST, RC, Feeder Tendrils, Toxin Sacs, Scuttlers)

Heavy Support
3x Biovores with Bio-Acid Mines

Elites
2 Lictors

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

a tad risky, dont you think?

[SteveBerenyi]

Well, yes, but in the long run most people dont know how to deal with something like that. (In my experience) so they will be at a loss when their stuff starts being cut down. or it will bomb and i really dont mind (it is sometimes fun to watch everything go to hell)

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

well, that is a pretty tough HT you got there, but im still not convinced.

where i come from people single out synapse creatures to the expense of all else. just 1 HT is cryinjg out for a completely synapseless by turn2

as with regards to things going to hell.. .thats my ususal story!

[SteveBerenyi]

all i am really worried about is the biovores as they need synapse to shoot. what would you reccomend?

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

im not a big fan of them, but even a lone zoanthrope may help out

[SteveBerenyi]

hmmmm i was thinking maybe a shooty HT with ext carapace to join the Biovores. would that work?

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

something substantial will have to come out to accomodate a shooty tyrant

[SteveBerenyi]

i could take out a unit of the stealers.... but they are just so much fun. 7 units of stealers is kind of overkill though....

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

i wouldnt say overkill - with stealers you need every man you can get, but i do strongly suggest investing in more synapse creatures.

try ot a few games, even proxy ones, without synapse creatures to see how you go.

arguably, with so many stealers and lictors you dont need quite so many synapse creatures.

[SteveBerenyi]

Well, I've found that the biggest problem with nid armies isn't the fact that your opponents manage to kill enough to take down scoring units, but that if they take down your synapse, you have no way to do anything. that was the reason for this. i wanted to do a nid army that did not rely on synapse. given. nids need it to work, but i wanted to see if it could be done. I know that as CC oriented as this army is, it will have problems with shooty armies, so i added the biovores. (BTW i was wondering if you can have your vores carry more than one type of mine) but that is getting away from my point. with the stealers and lictors operating independantly, and the guards providing shield wall the HT should be able to do something. and that leaves the biovores.... all that is in need of synapse. the HT should be able to cover psychics, but i dont expect him to survive. (he is truly expendable) but the mycetic spore deployment is what makes him the useful part of CC.

I'm thinking if i do a HT for the Biovores, i'd arm him with Ext Carapace, 1 venom canon, 1 barbed strangler, toxin sacs, enhanced senses. that should make him useful beyond the synapse he provided for the biovores.

Droping a stealer unit wont really matter as there are still 6 to wreak havoc. and in the end i am aiming for a fun army to play. not a tourney army because i have no tourneys within 500 miles of me

Thoughts? do you think it is a playable army or just a hypothetical useless waste of time?

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

500 miles, eh?

well id say go for 1 less stealer unit and include a HT. id give him 2 of the same weapon (perhaps with magnetised arms to change from game to game?) since i dont like putting different weapons on a creature that has to target the same unit.

but thats just me.

[SteveBerenyi]

that is a good point. the same unit targeting sucks.... but i dont make the rules. which weapon would you suggest?

[Perturabo]

You could go for the "Quick Draw" Hive Tyrant version 2 sets of twin linked devourers-thats 12 shots, twin linked re-rolling to wound as well!

Hes only 91 points so that isnt too expensive and leaves loads of points for upgrades if you want to!

[SteveBerenyi]

lol that guy is fun, but for backup to a brood of biovores, isnt 18" a little short?

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

id go for two venom cannons - the long range suits his role better, but im a sucker for a good old barbed strangler

[Dan296]

synapse isnt a problem with tyranids.
two assault warrior broods and a tyrant is more then enough to take care of synapse. 6 leaping warriors escorting a couple decent sized squads of hormagaunts is more effective, IMHO, then a tyrant and some genestealers.

[Perturabo]

I was just suggesting cheap and chearful-besides its worthit to see the look on your opponents face when they find out how many shots and both sets of re-rolls

[SteveBerenyi]

So the Revised List Would Be:

HQ
1 Hive Tyrant (Scaything Talons x2, AG WS, Ripper Symbiote)
3x Tyrant Guard (Scaything Talons)
(Deploy in Mycetic Spore)

1 Brood Lord (Scaything Talons, Rending Claws, Feeder tendrils, toxin sacs)
11 Genestealers (ST, RC, Toxin Sacs, Feeder Tendrils)

1 Hive Tyrant (Enhanced Senses, Extended Carapace, Toxin Sacs, 2 Venom Cannons)

Fast Attack
3x Clouds of 3 Bio-acid Spore Mines (for that really annoying DS Termie Unit)

Troops
5x Broods of 12 Genestealers(ST, RC, Feeder Tendrils, Toxin Sacs, Scuttlers)

Heavy Support
3x Biovores with Bio-Acid Mines

Elites
2 Lictors

Any more suggestions?

[SteveBerenyi]

i've never seen that look pert, but i can only imagine that it is truly priceless....

[SteveBerenyi]

wait, i cant do that that is 3 HQ....

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

LOL! how perceptive of us. hmmm... i guess you dont want to get rid of the patriarch... im sorry, brood lord?

[SteveBerenyi]

well, i could drop the brood lord and use a mycetic spore to drop in 2 different squads of Genestealers for roughly the same price and dropping scuttlers off of 3 broods would get me 3 broods by mycetic... hmmmm... i like that....

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

see! the list's evolving already!

[SteveBerenyi]

is it just me or is the thought of Deep Striking (well basically) Genestealers just plain scary?

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

not if im the marines rapid firing them the turn after they come down

but if they do get into combat, youre right

[SteveBerenyi]

Ok another Updated List:

HQ
1 Hive Tyrant (Scaything Talons x2, AG WS, Ripper Symbiote)
3x Tyrant Guard (Scaything Talons)
(Deploy in Mycetic Spore)

234 pts + 50 Mycetic Spore
284 PTS

1 Hive Tyrant (Enhanced Senses, Extended Carapace, Toxin Sacs, 2 Venom Cannons)190 PTS

Fast Attack
3x Clouds of 3 Bio-acid Spore Mines (for that really annoying DS Termie Unit)
108 PTS

Troops
3x Broods of 12 Genestealers (ST, RC, FT, TS) 864 + 150 SPORE 1014 PTS
3x Broods of 12 Genestealers(ST, RC, Feeder Tendrils, Toxin Sacs, Scuttlers)
972 PTS

Heavy Support
3x Biovores with Bio-Acid Mines165 PTS

Elites
2 Lictors
160 PTS

Grand Total 2893 PTS

Suggestions on bringing this down?

[DeAd_cOmMaNdO]

more spore mines - good! i like them. when tehy work out (and i mean when) the ycan be pretty good. plus they remind me of 2nd edition.

looks like a cool list, shame theres no warriors (i know why so theres no need to explain), sicne theyre my fave models/creatures, besides the carnifex, which i also notice is absent... what gives? i know theres no room for one really. and it makes a change to not see one


though for such an expensive army theres surprisingly little in it. how do yo ufancy this list doing against a shooty marine list of equal points?