Jabberwocky Rises: The Consuming Wraith

[WarriorFish]

Yes, DE take a bit of learning but that will come with experience same with anything - then you might need to watch out :P A rematch would definitely be interesting. Your escalation games are doing good work in helping you get models painted, your progress continues to be great :D I'm fond of goyles visually if not particularly rules wise, they work well in your colour scheme :tu:

[Xenith]

Yea, the gargoyles did nothing in the game bar take up boardspace and die - they took an objective from the helldrake, which is good, though. I'm thinking that Crusade might offer them some uses if they get battle traits. Getting ObSec on them or +1 move might make things interesting. 

[Xenith]

So adding some finishing touches to my Psychic Hive Tyrant (Psyrant), I put the insectile barbs from the Mawloc onto his back, in an effort to make him more unique, but also reinforce the psychic hub/beacon he's going to be (In fluff and on the table).

Before:

After (blu tacced)

I think they actually look pretty decent!

On another note, I've been dying to use weirder units from the codex, and think I need a Mawloc to flip objectives, so was actively looking at purchasing a Tyrannocyte/Sporocyst, Tervigon and a Mawloc...and happened to come across someone selling all three!

They had some potentially non-legit FW stuff too, which I stayed away from. Though on my current Nid-love-train, I'm super tempted to get one of the Hierodules...

[Xenith]

I got in my third game in the Crusade last night, and my 5th game ever with Tyranids, and I'm still having great fun - it's nice to be able to throw units away to try and clog up the opponent's objective game.

This game I was back up against the custodes in a 39PL game, 14 more than the last 25PL one - and he brought some new tricks.

The army was:

Shield captain

Saggitarans

5 sisters

Culexus assassin (!)

5 Allarus terms

My force was:

Neuro - catalyst, smite

3 hive guard

20 gaunts

10 devilgants

Lictor

Tyrannofex with Acid

10 genestealers

The mission was The Ritual, I wont the roll off and elected to be the attacker in an attempt to neutralise the shield captain, thinking that I could overwhelm them on objectives.

Poor positioing on my part saw the genestealers get shot in turn 1 taking them down to 3 models, eveyrhting else pushed forwards. The saggitarans with their flat D3 beams are pretty nasty, and took down the TFex after it melted the sisters.

Hive guard killed a saggitaran before being mulched by the Allarus who DS in my DZ turn 2, as I foolishly double moved the TFex to threaten the saggitarans leaving a small window for them to appear. The Culexus appeared behind my lines and basically chased the Neuro around, he didnt kill much ,and I got him to 1w by the end of the game, which was disappointing.

Tyrant: Artificer devs, instictive Killer, scytals, regen wounds adaptation, smite, scream, cata

Neuro - cata, smite, +1 power

Horms - enhanced resistance

Terms - devs

Lictor - fleet of claw +1 move, advance, charge

Hive guard - enhanced resistance, Obsec

Gargoyles - borers

TFex - regen, acid spray

So my first few units have begun to gain ranks and get traits, and the Hormagaunts and Tyrannofex are 1 game away from levelling up also. The Hive Guard got Obsec and shoot+perform actions without failing - it was either that or +1 to hit and wound characters - maye that would be better actually? I can still choose until they play their next game.

The TFex will likely get a weapon enhancement, the bio acid is great, but struggling to get through good armour saves, while any of the enhancements will be amazing on it (+6" range, +1D, +1S, -1AP).

Custodes go first, photo after they shot the stealers.

Allarus teleport into a small gap on the left flank. The AP-3 and D2 boltguns made short work of everything.

Charged the gaunts in, and the unit got wiped by the captain and custodes. Next time I wont charge, it's basically free attacks for them.

I 'unending swarmed' the hormagaunts, and the custodes did the same again.

Between the -2 to cast from the culexus and the +1 to deny and a deny trait on the shield captain, my Neuro really struggled to get any powers off.

Tyrannofex before melting two of the custodes, with poor rolling. Return fire from the saggitarans knock most of the wounds off it.

The view from my dead pile

Edited May 11, 2021 by Xenith

[WarriorFish]

A Culexus and anti-psyker trait? Looks like your opponent learned a lot from the last game :P It's one of the reasons I try not to rely on psychic powers much, but easier said than done for an army like nids. Assassins are pretty squishy but it's all about spam fire for the Culexus - quantity over quality gets results. With other armies I had good results hunting them with flamers and the like :P

 

A few mistakes can make a big difference depending on where and how. Add in all the other variables and things can come unstuck fast! You learn more from defeat though ;) I think the +1 will be better than help with objectives as the Hive Guard will largely be busy elsewhere and more valuable shooting. Plus some characters are larger than others, so it could make a big difference against more significant threats?

[Xenith]

  I think the +1 will be better than help with objectives as the Hive Guard will largely be busy elsewhere and more valuable shooting. Plus some characters are larger than others, so it could make a big difference against more significant threats?

 

I think I might agree with you on that - it was more the perform actions and still shoot aspect of the rule, however as a largely stationary shooty unit, the HG will not likely ever be in a place to perform actions, while it might be possible to kill enough to get a snealy shot on a character. It might be worth it.

 

What do you reckon for warlord traits on the Hive Tyrant? my initial thought was Mind Eater, but I think that might be better on a brood lord (free move after character kill). Instinctive Killer lets me reroll all misses against a target datasheet for the game, or adaptive Biology gives me -1Damage after taking a wound. Normall I'd write that off, but after playing against Death guard, it seems pretty decent. 

[WarriorFish]

I'm not that sure on nid WLTs and general warlord/HQ options yet, I'm still finding my way with them. I've taken the -1D after taking a wound and that is nice, especially on something like a Hive Tyrant who is more likely to be facing multiple damage attacks. I tend to lean towards things to help survival, but this is a good reminder that I should spend a bit of time reading up more on them

[Xenith]

I don't have too much experience with them either, largely as they're mostly poor and you're better off with an Adaptation - however Crusade has the specific quirk where it's possible to get both, and combine relics, WLT and adaptations on the same model.

 

The other thought was to give my Neurothrope the advanced bionics and the adaptative biology WLT to make him 3++/5+++ and -1D after he takes a wound. Might be tough to remove!

 

I'm thinking I might add a Broodlord to the mix and give him mindeater, Instinctive Killer might work well on the tyrant, especially if I come against another assassin. With the Devourers, I'd hit the Culexus on 6's with full rerolls, and each 6 is a mortal...Should have given the tyrant the voracious ammo trait 

[WarriorFish]

The issue I have with more "specialised" things is the reduced option to make the use of them, plus their rather obvious nature means your opponent makes it difficult on top I don't think it's a big deal here though, by the time you stack bonuses and buffs on a model it'll be deadly enough?

[Xenith]

My pledge for A Bug's Life!

I, Xenith, Commander of the Hive, pledge to paint a unit of three Biovores to the value of 6PL or ~150 points in the month of June 2021

I've since got these beauties prepped and undercoated, their legs were a bit wonky and all kinds of flash and mould lines were on them, and they'll go on 40mm rounds the same as my other one came with in ~2000.

Halfords grey primer, then grey seer over the top.

Edited June 16, 2021 by Xenith

[Xenith]

Cross posting from the Bug's Life topic, I got the biovores done - this was a quick job, and I'll go back and paint in a hole/orifice in the spore mine launchers soon.

As I started this a week into June, You have until Next Sunday 4th July to complete June's vows. You then have until Sunday 1st August to Complete, and new Vows from 2nd August.

If you've already completed your vow, then you can make your July Vows from 1st July, and have until Sunday 2nd August to post finished photos.

Completed! And not a moment too soon as I go on vacation Monday...

3 Biovores to reinforce my army and harass my Custodes opponent.

Moving on to my next vow, my attitude since I'm running the challenge is go big or go home. I also have a load of nids to paint, so I need to step up and try to meet the 10PL/Month challenge.

Leading from the front:

I, Xenith, Tyrant of Fleet Jabberwocky pledge to paint one Hive Tyrant and 20 Spore mines for a total of 15.6 Power Level before the second of July.

6.3 PL worth of spore mines to go with the biovores (and for a cheeky sporefield strat in my Crusade games), along with my Psyrant. Been wanting to get this guy done for a while, and really need him painted for my crusade army, so time pressure, GO!

Edited July 15, 2021 by Xenith

[Xenith]

And some progress on the Mines of Sporia!

Man I love contrast paints. I got these bad boys half done in my fleet colours during a couple of episodes of Parks & Rec, a mix of my custom Akhellian tone, neat Akhellian, neat magos purple, magos:medium (40/60), neat shyish purple, apoc white. The tentacles will be in the colours of my Hive Fleets soft parts, so a 50/50 Flesh Tearer red:Medium mix.

[Xenith]

I'm hoping to get a game in with my Nids next week, non-crusade this time, so I'm throwing soem ideas together. My opponent wants to start trying 2k points 'competitive' games, so I'm doing the old multiple Hive Fleets nonsense until we get better rules. Here's my first draft:

 

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Tyranids) [79 PL, 11CP, 1,434pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Detachment Command Cost

Gametype: Matched

Hive Fleet
. . Other: Hypermetabolic Acceleration, Metamorphic Regrowth

+ Stratagems +

Bounty of the Hive Fleet [-1CP]: 1 Extra Bio-artefact

+ HQ +

Broodlord [7 PL, 125pts]: Warlord

Hive Tyrant [9 PL, 185pts]: Adaptive Physiology, Monstrous Scything Talons, Power: Catalyst, Power: Smite, Power: The Horror, Resonance Barb, Two Devourers with Brainleech Worms

+ Troops +

Genestealers [12 PL, 168pts]: 4x Acid Maw, 4x Flesh Hooks, 4x Scything Talons
. . 12x Genestealer: 12x Rending Claws

Hormagaunts [9 PL, 126pts]
. . 21x Hormagaunt: 21x Scything Talons

Ripper Swarms [2 PL, 36pts]
. . 3x Ripper Swarm: 3x Claws and Teeth

Termagants [3 PL, 50pts]
. . 10x Termagant (Fleshborer): 10x Fleshborer

+ Elites +

Lictor [2 PL, 37pts]

Lictor [2 PL, 37pts]

+ Heavy Support +

Biovores [6 PL, 150pts]
. . 3x Biovore: 3x Spore Mine Launcher

Trygon Prime [10 PL, 180pts]: Adrenal Glands, Arachnacyte Gland, Prehensile Pincer Tail
. . Adaptive Physiology: Murderous Size

Tyrannofex [9 PL, 175pts]: Acid Spray

+ Flyer +

Harpy [8 PL, 165pts]: 2x Heavy Venom Cannon

++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Tyranids) [27 PL, -2CP, 565pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment Command Cost [-2CP]

Hive Fleet: Kronos

+ HQ +

Neurothrope [5 PL, 95pts]: Power: Smite, Power: Symbiostorm

+ Troops +

Termagants [3 PL, 50pts]
. . 10x Termagant (Fleshborer): 10x Fleshborer

+ Elites +

Hive Guard [12 PL, 270pts]
. . 6x Hive Guard (Impaler): 6x Impaler Cannon

Zoanthropes [7 PL, 150pts]: Power: Catalyst
. . 3x Zoanthrope: 3x Claws and Teeth

++ Total: [106 PL, 9CP, 1,999pts] ++
 

Created with BattleScribe 

 

It's more just a collection of what I have painted and want to use in-game. Standard Kronos patrol with the Neuro for Symbiostorm and HG for shennanigans. The damage output of these guys is unreal. I've also tossed in 3 Zoanthropes who'll move around and hopefully stay close to the centre of the board, but also within range of the neuro for the regeneration, and expand my blackest night strat or whatever it is. Might move the biovores to Kronos to really expand the area for the Deepest Shadow. 

 

Unsure what to run the Battalion as, I went with regen 1W/turn and reroll advances, however it's tempting to turn them into Kraken for Opportunistic advance and 3d6 advance. Arachnacyte gland on the Trygon prime is something I've wanted to try, and it seems funny. 3D6 pick 2 highest charge, combined with murderous size should make him into an efficient assassin. 

[Xenith]

Totting stuff up on Pile of Potential,  I have ~2600 points of painted nids...with another 5500 unpainted...how on earth did that happen?! 

 

I'm going to have tp up my game to get through them.

[The Pounder]

That’s quite the pile up! I’m sure you’ll get it done though.

 

Could you do me a favour? Let me know how you get on with the Harpy? I’m planning on trying one out in my next game so any intel would be good!

[Xenith]

Got my game in last night, using this final list - Sorry Jud, dropped the Harpy in the end, which I think proved to be a mistake.

 

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Tyranids) [78 PL, 10CP, 1,585pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Detachment Command Cost

Gametype: Matched

Hive Fleet: Kraken

+ Stratagems +

Bounty of the Hive Fleet [-1CP]: 1 Extra Bio-artefact

Progeny of the Hive [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Hive Tyrant [9 PL, 185pts]: Monstrous Scything Talons, Power: Catalyst, Power: Onslaught, Resonance Barb, Two Devourers with Brainleech Worms

Neurothrope [5 PL, 95pts]: Power: Psychic Scream, Power: Smite, Warlord

+ Troops +

Hormagaunts [9 PL, 175pts]: Adrenal Glands
. . 25x Hormagaunt: 25x Scything Talons

Hormagaunts [3 PL, 60pts]
. . 10x Hormagaunt: 10x Scything Talons

Ripper Swarms [2 PL, 36pts]
. . 3x Ripper Swarm: 3x Claws and Teeth

Termagants [3 PL, 50pts]
. . 10x Termagant (Fleshborer): 10x Fleshborer

+ Elites +

Lictor [2 PL, 37pts]

Lictor [2 PL, 37pts]

Zoanthropes [14 PL, 300pts]: Power: Smite, Power: The Horror
. . 6x Zoanthrope: 6x Claws and Teeth

+ Heavy Support +

Biovores [6 PL, 150pts]
. . 3x Biovore: 3x Spore Mine Launcher

Mawloc [6 PL, 130pts]: Adrenal Glands, Prehensile Pincer Tail

Tyrannofex [9 PL, 175pts]: Acid Spray

+ Flyer +

Harpy [8 PL, 155pts]: 2x Stranglethorn Cannon

++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Tyranids) [20 PL, -2CP, 415pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment Command Cost [-2CP]

Hive Fleet: Kronos

+ HQ +

Neurothrope [5 PL, 95pts]: Power: Smite, Power: Symbiostorm, The Norn Crown

+ Troops +

Termagants [3 PL, 50pts]
. . 10x Termagant (Fleshborer): 10x Fleshborer

+ Elites +

Hive Guard [12 PL, 270pts]
. . 6x Hive Guard (Impaler): 6x Impaler Cannon

++ Total: [98 PL, 8CP, 2,000pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe

 

Will add photos later. 

[The Pounder]

No worries! I’m going to try it out next game.

 

How did you get on?

[Xenith]

Some photos from my game:

My army was as above:

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Tyranids) [78 PL, 10CP, 1,585pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Detachment Command Cost

Gametype: Matched

Hive Fleet: Kraken

+ Stratagems +

Bounty of the Hive Fleet [-1CP]: 1 Extra Bio-artefact

Progeny of the Hive [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Hive Tyrant [9 PL, 185pts]: Monstrous Scything Talons, Power: Catalyst, Power: Onslaught, Resonance Barb, Two Devourers with Brainleech Worms

Neurothrope [5 PL, 95pts]: Power: Psychic Scream, Power: Smite, Warlord

+ Troops +

Hormagaunts [9 PL, 175pts]: Adrenal Glands
. . 25x Hormagaunt: 25x Scything Talons

Hormagaunts [3 PL, 60pts]
. . 10x Hormagaunt: 10x Scything Talons

Ripper Swarms [2 PL, 36pts]
. . 3x Ripper Swarm: 3x Claws and Teeth

Termagants [3 PL, 50pts]
. . 10x Termagant (Fleshborer): 10x Fleshborer

+ Elites +

Lictor [2 PL, 37pts]

Lictor [2 PL, 37pts]

Zoanthropes [14 PL, 300pts]: Power: Smite, Power: The Horror
. . 6x Zoanthrope: 6x Claws and Teeth

+ Heavy Support +

Biovores [6 PL, 150pts]
. . 3x Biovore: 3x Spore Mine Launcher

Mawloc [6 PL, 130pts]: Adrenal Glands, Prehensile Pincer Tail

Tyrannofex [9 PL, 175pts]: Acid Spray

+ Flyer +

Harpy [8 PL, 155pts]: 2x Stranglethorn Cannon

++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Tyranids) [20 PL, -2CP, 415pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment Command Cost [-2CP]

Hive Fleet: Kronos

+ HQ +

Neurothrope [5 PL, 95pts]: Power: Smite, Power: Symbiostorm, The Norn Crown

+ Troops +

Termagants [3 PL, 50pts]
. . 10x Termagant (Fleshborer): 10x Fleshborer

+ Elites +

Hive Guard [12 PL, 270pts]
. . 6x Hive Guard (Impaler): 6x Impaler Cannon

++ Total: [98 PL, 8CP, 2,000pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe

With my opponent having:

Kraken Detachment

Swarmlord

Neurothrope

5 Hive Guard

Lictor

Haruspex

16 Genestealers

30 Devilgaunts

9 Warriors - scytals

Carnifex - 2x scytals

GSC Patrol Detachment - Twisted Helix (-2CP)

Patriarch - Elixir of the prime specimen

Magus - somehow could get +2 to cast - I think Crouchling and the strat for models within 3". (-2CP)

Kellermorph

5 Acolytes

5 Jackals, demo charges, shotguns - rusted claw

Mission: Strike Force 13: Vital Intelligence (GT:2020)
Primary: Domination (2, 3, more)
My secondaries: Engage, Scramblers, WWSWF (Zoans, Hive Guard, Hive Tyrant)
Opponents' secondaries: Engage, Homer, Cut off the head

Table set up:

End of my T1. Warriors had been removed making the magus the closest model to the biovores, who then target him, and SMA'd to drop a load of spores around him.

End opponent turn 2 movement

Jackals try to clear the spore mines. Magus smites and kills the spore mine, then gets hosed by the TFex next turn.

Gaunts hold up the haruspex while the gant hold the objective

Opponent assault ?t2, swarmy fails a 4" charge into the zoans on a double 1, command rerolls...for another double 1. Patriarch goes into the zoans, kills maybe one, then in my t3 gets smited down to 1W, then the TFex charges in, hits, wounds and kills. Opposing T3 the swarmlord assaults the tfex and kills it before consolidating into the zoans.

We had to call it after T3 as my opponent arrived late and we had to go, but scoring was as follows:

Me: 69

Primary: 15, 15, 5 (35)

Engage: 3, 3, 3 (9)

Scramblers: 0, 0, 10 (10)

WWSWF (Zoans, Hive Guard, Hive Tyrant) (15)

Opponent: 30

Primary: 5, 5, 10, (20)

Engage: 2, 2, 2 (6)

Homer: 4 (4)

Cut off the head: 0. 0, 0 (0)

If we played to turn 5 (hypothetical)

Me: 80

Primary: 15, 15, 5, 5, 5, (45)

Engage: 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 (15)

Scramblers: 0, 0, 10 (10)

WWSWF (Zoans, Hive Guard, Hive Tyrant) (10)

Opponent: 62

Primary: 5, 5, 10, 15, 15 (45)

Engage: 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 (10)

Homer: 0, 0, 4 (4)

Cut off the head: 0. 0, 0, 0, 3 (0)

Stuff I learned:

The sporefield tax is too high. 3CP and points is a lot that could be spent on other stuff. Between this and the -2cp for the kronos patrol, I started at 7CP and was really hurting for CP through the game, and was down to none in turn 3 where I could have done with an SMA or similar. The Kronos detachment itself was a letdown as I didnt have the CP to fiel stuff like psychc fissure and deepest shadow, though these two are undeniably powerful. Pure Kronos may be an advantage next time. Symbiostorm was ok, bit of a mixed bag. In t3 I managed to get 1 shots with them and rolled 4 6's, which was ace.

Nids are mortal wound monsters - the zoans pumping out d3+3 was awesome, then another potential 4d3 from 3 smites and a psy scream just nukes units. I really like the 6 zoan unit and will use them again to hold the centre, but catalyst them into an unkillable blob of death.

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

Approaching completion with my Psyrant, he just needs the head glued on, basing, then varnishing.

My Psyrant is nearing completion, he's currently at the 'Ikea' stage.

Edited July 22, 2021 by Xenith

[WarriorFish]

I really need to get some Zoanthropes they look so great together... I don't think I've seen a nids vs nids fight before so I'll bet it was very interesting to learn from. It looks like your opponent would have done better without the GSC component, but perhaps that's down to you shutting down the Magus?

[Xenith]

Yea, they look so intimidating, then with 6 of them together it's downright scary. They're maybe the most...alien...of the tyranids. Everything else is roughly bi or quadrupedal, but these are...other. 

Edited July 22, 2021 by Xenith

[Xenith]

Got some more work done on the tyrant and stuck the head on at least, just the base to do now!

[The Pounder]

Xenith, wow just wow!

 

She looks a beauty. Love the head being used and in your colour scheme she looks really threatening and otherworldly!

 

Great job.

[WarriorFish]

The carapace colours works so well on the larger canvas, but this seems particularly crisp :tu:

[Majkhel]

Nice work indeed 

[Brother Lunkhead]

Very fine work Brother Zen Your color scheme is great. The simplicity and contrast is very pleasing on the eye and makes your figures really pop.